The Meaning of Titus 1:13 Explained

Titus 1:13

KJV: This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;

YLT: this testimony is true; for which cause convict them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith,

Darby: This testimony is true; for which cause rebuke them severely, that they may be sound in the faith,

ASV: This testimony is true. For which cause reprove them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith,

KJV Reverse Interlinear

This  witness  is  true.  Wherefore  rebuke  them  sharply,  that  they may be sound  in  the faith; 

What does Titus 1:13 Mean?

Context Summary

Titus 1:10-16 - Reprove Those Whose Works Deny God
The Judaizing teachers, who insisted that men must become Jews before they could be Christians, were always on Paul's heels, visiting his churches and diverting his converts from the simplicity of the faith. Their motive in many cases was very largely self-aggrandizement. Such men were to be resisted to the uttermost and sharply rebuked. Where the work of grace is really commenced in the heart, a sharp rebuke will often turn the soul back to God. The gardener must not hesitate to use a pruning-knife, if the well-being of the tree is at stake.
Note the marvelous power we possess of viewing things in the light or gloom cast upon them from our own temperament. We see life and the world in a glass colored from within. Oh, that we might possess that pure and untarnished nature that passes through the world like a beam of sunshine, irradiating all but contaminated by none! The true test of the knowledge of God is a holy life. These act and react. The better you know God, the more you will resemble Him; compare Psalms 111:1-10; Psalms 112:1-10. The more you are like God, the better you will know Him. [source]

Chapter Summary: Titus 1

1  Paul greets Titus, who was left to finish the work in Crete
6  How those chosen as ministers ought to be qualified
11  The mouths of evil teachers to be stopped;
12  and what manner of men they be

Greek Commentary for Titus 1:13

Testimony [μαρτυρια]
Of the poet Epimenides. Paul endorses it from his recent knowledge. [source]
Sharply [αποτομως]
Old adverb from αποτομος — apotomos (from αποτεμνω — apotemnō to cut off), in N.T. only here and 2 Corinthians 13:10, “curtly,” “abruptly.” It is necessary to appear rude sometimes for safety, if the house is on fire and life is in danger. That they may be sound (ινα υγιαινωσιν — hina hugiainōsin). Final clause with ινα — hina and present active subjunctive of υγιαινω — hugiainō for which verb see note on 1 Timothy 1:10. [source]
That they may be sound [ινα υγιαινωσιν]
Final clause with ινα — hina and present active subjunctive of υγιαινω — hugiainō for which verb see note on 1 Timothy 1:10. [source]
Sharply [ἀποτόμως]
Only here and 2 Corinthians 13:10(note). Paul has ἀποτομία severity Romans 11:22(note). lxx, ἀποτόμως severelyonly Wisd. 5:22; ἀποτόμος severe(not in N.T.), Wisd. 5:20; 11:10; 12:9. From ἀποτέμνειν tocut off. It signifies abrupt, harsh, summary dealing. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Titus 1:13

Luke 5:31 They that are whole [οἱ ὑγιαίνοντες]
Both Matthew and Mark use ἰσχύοντες , the strong. This use of the verb in its primary sense, to be in sound health, is found in Luke 7:10; Luke 15:27; and once in John, 3Ep. 3 John 1:2. For this meaning it is the regular word in medical writings. Paul uses it only in the metaphorical sense: sound doctrine, sound words, sound in faith, etc. See 1 Timothy 1:10; 1 Timothy 6:3; Titus 1:13, etc. [source]
John 3:20 Lest his works should be reproved [ἵνα μὴ ἐλεγχθῇ τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ]
Rather, in order that his works may not be reproved. Ελέγχω , rendered reprove, has several phases of meaning. In earlier classical Greek it signifies to disgrace or put to shame. Thus Ulysses, having succeeded in the trial of the bow, says to Telemachus, “the stranger who sits in thy halls disgraces ( ἐλέγχει ) thee not” (“Odyssey, xxi., 424). Then, to cross-examine or question, for the purpose of convincing, convicting, or refuting; to censure, accuse. So Herodotus: “In his reply Alexander became confused, and diverged from the truth, whereon the slaves interposed, confuted his statements ( ἤλεγχον , cross-questioned and caught him in falsehood), and told the whole history of the crime” (i., 115). The messenger in the “Antigone” of Sophocles, describing the consternation of the watchmen at finding Polynices' body buried, says: “Evil words were bandied among them, guard accusing ( ἐλέγχων ) guard” (260). Of arguments, to bring to the proof; prove; prove by a chain of reasoning. It occurs in Pindar in the general sense of to conquer or surpass. “Having descended into the naked race they surpassed ( ἤλεγξαν ) the Grecian band in speed (“Pythia,” xi., 75). In the New Testament it is found in the sense of reprove (Luke 3:19; 1 Timothy 5:20, etc.). Convince of crime or fault (1 Corinthians 14:24; James 2:9). To bring to light or expose by conviction (James 5:20; Ephesians 5:11, Ephesians 5:13; John 8:46; see on that passage). So of the exposure of false teachers, and their refutation (Titus 1:9, Titus 1:13; Titus 2:15). To test and expose with a view to correction, and so, nearly equivalent to chasten (Hebrews 12:5). The different meanings unite in the word convict. Conviction is the result of examination, testing, argument. The test exposes and demonstrates the error, and refutes it, thus convincing, convicting, and rebuking the subject of it. This conviction issues in chastening, by which the error is corrected and the erring one purified. If the conviction is rejected, it carries with it condemnation and punishment. The man is thus convicted of sin, of right, and of judgment (John 16:8). In this passage the evil-doer is represented as avoiding the light which tests, that light which is the offspring of love (Revelation 3:19) and the consequent exposure of his error. Compare Ephesians 5:13; John 1:9-11. This idea of loving darkness rather than light is graphically treated in Job href="/desk/?q=job+24:13-17&sr=1">Job 24:13-17. -DIVIDER-
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[source]

Romans 11:22 Goodness and severity [χρηστότητα καὶ ἀποτομίαν]
For goodness, see on Romans 3:12. Ἁποτομία severityonly here in the New Testament. The kindred adverb, ἀποτόμως sharplyoccurs 2 Corinthians 13:10; Titus 1:13. From ἀποτέμνω tocut off. Hence that which is abrupt, sharp. [source]
2 Corinthians 13:10 That I may not when present deal sharply [ινα παρων αποτομως χρησωμαι]
Late adverb from αποτομος — apotomos curt, cut off. In N.T. only here and Titus 1:13. [source]
1 Timothy 5:20 Rebuke [ἔλεγχε]
Comp. 2 Timothy 4:2; Titus 1:9, Titus 1:13; Titus 2:15. See on reproved, John 3:20. [source]
1 Timothy 3:7 A good report [μαρτυριαν καλὴν]
Comp. Acts 6:3. Not only does καλός occur in the Pastorals nearly twice as many times as in Paul, but the usage is different. Out of 16 instances in Paul, there is but one in which καλός isnot used substantively (Romans 7:16), while in the Pastorals it is, almost without exception, used adjectively. Μαρτυρίαν , better testimony. Comp. Titus 1:13. Not in Paul, who uses μαρτύριον . [source]
2 Timothy 1:6 Wherefore [δἰ ἣν αἰτίαν]
Lit. for which cause. Ἁιτία not in Paul. The phrase in 2 Timothy 1:12; Titus 1:13; also in Luke, Acts, and Hebrews. Paul's expression is διό or διὰ τοῦτο . [source]
2 Timothy 1:6 For the which cause [δι ην αιτιαν]
“For which cause,” stronger than διο — dio So in 2 Timothy 1:12; Titus 1:13. Only example of αιτια — aitia by Paul save in Acts 28:20. [source]
Titus 2:1 Befit [πρεπει]
Old verb to be becoming, seemly. See note on 1 Timothy 2:10; Ephesians 5:3. With dative case διδασκαλιαι — didaskaliāi Sound (υγιαινουσηι — hugiainousēi). Healthful as in Titus 1:13; Titus 2:2; 1 Timothy 1:10, common word in the Pastorals. [source]
Titus 2:1 Sound [υγιαινουσηι]
Healthful as in Titus 1:13; Titus 2:2; 1 Timothy 1:10, common word in the Pastorals. [source]

What do the individual words in Titus 1:13 mean?

The testimony this is TRUE for which cause rebuke them severely so that they may be sound in the faith
μαρτυρία αὕτη ἐστὶν ἀληθής δι’ ἣν αἰτίαν ἔλεγχε αὐτοὺς ἀποτόμως ἵνα ὑγιαίνωσιν ἐν τῇ πίστει

μαρτυρία  testimony 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Singular
Root: μαρτυρία  
Sense: a testifying.
αὕτη  this 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Nominative Feminine Singular
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.
ἀληθής  TRUE 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Feminine Singular
Root: ἀληθής  
Sense: true.
αἰτίαν  cause 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: αἰτία  
Sense: cause, reason.
ἔλεγχε  rebuke 
Parse: Verb, Present Imperative Active, 2nd Person Singular
Root: ἐλέγχω  
Sense: to convict, refute, confute.
ἀποτόμως  severely 
Parse: Adverb
Root: ἀποτόμως  
Sense: abruptly, precipitously.
ἵνα  so  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ἵνα  
Sense: that, in order that, so that.
ὑγιαίνωσιν  they  may  be  sound 
Parse: Verb, Present Subjunctive Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: ὑγιαίνω  
Sense: to be sound, to be well, to be in good health.
πίστει  faith 
Parse: Noun, Dative Feminine Singular
Root: πίστις  
Sense: conviction of the truth of anything, belief; in the NT of a conviction or belief respecting man’s relationship to God and divine things, generally with the included idea of trust and holy fervour born of faith and joined with it.