The Meaning of Titus 2:10 Explained

Titus 2:10

KJV: Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.

YLT: not purloining, but showing all good stedfastness, that the teaching of God our Saviour they may adorn in all things.

Darby: not robbing their masters, but shewing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the teaching which is of our Saviour God in all things.

ASV: not purloining, but showing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Not  purloining,  but  shewing  all  good  fidelity;  that  they may adorn  the doctrine  of God  our  Saviour  in  all things. 

What does Titus 2:10 Mean?

Context Summary

Titus 2:9-15 - How We May "adorn The Doctrine"
The servants addressed in this tender and priceless paragraph were household slaves, employed in the most menial drudgery, but they were taught that even they might adorn the Gospel as jewels adorn the brow of beauty. Their holy lives might display and set forth its loveliness. To please one's superiors, in all things so far as our loyalty to Christ permits, is to commend Christ to our households, and win His approval. The grace of God has ever offered salvation, but in Jesus it was brought to our doors. In its first appearance, it came to teach; in its second appearance, it will bring us glory. Have we sat sufficiently long in the school of grace, that our gentle Teacher may instruct us how to live? It must be soberly in regard to ourselves, righteously toward others, and godly toward God. And we cannot realize any one of these unless we resolutely deny ungodliness and worldly lusts. This was the aim and purpose of Jesus in coming to die for us. He wanted to redeem us from all iniquity, purify us as His own, and use us in all manner of good works. It is a solemn question whether that supreme purpose has been realized in our own experience. If not, why not? [source]

Chapter Summary: Titus 2

1  Directions given unto Titus both for his doctrine and life
10  Of the duty of servants, and in general of all Christians

Greek Commentary for Titus 2:10

Not purloining [μη νοσπιζομενους]
Present middle participle of νοσπιζω — nosphizō old verb (from νοσπι — nosphi apart), in middle to set apart for oneself, to embezzle, in N.T. only here and Acts 5:2. [source]
Fidelity [πιστιν]
See note on Galatians 5:22; 1 Timothy 5:12 for πιστις — pistis in the sense of faithfulness. Nowhere else in the N.T. do we have αγατη — agathē with πιστις — pistis as here, but an Oxyr. papyrus (iii. 494, 9) has this very phrase Westcott and Hort put αγαπην — agapēn in the margin. See note on Titus 3:2. That they may adorn (ινα κοσμωσιν — hina kosmōsin). Final clause with ινα — hina and present active subjunctive. See note on 1 Timothy 2:9 for κοσμεω — kosmeō Paul shows slaves how they may “adorn” the teaching of God. [source]
That they may adorn [ινα κοσμωσιν]
Final clause with ινα — hina and present active subjunctive. See note on 1 Timothy 2:9 for κοσμεω — kosmeō Paul shows slaves how they may “adorn” the teaching of God. [source]
Purloining [νοσφιζομένους]
Only here and Acts 5:2, Acts 5:3. lxx, Joshua 7:1; 1Timothy href="/desk/?q=1ti+2:9&sr=1">1 Timothy 2:9. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Titus 2:10

Acts 5:2 Kept back [ἐνοσφίσατο]
Only here, Acts 5:3, and Titus 2:10, where it is rendered purloining. From νόσφι , aloof, apart. The verb means to set apart for one's self; hence to appropriate wrongfully. [source]
Acts 5:2 Kept back [ενοσπισατο]
First aorist middle indicative of νοσπιζω — nosphizō old verb from νοσπι — nosphi afar, apart, and so to set apart, to separate for oneself, but only here, Acts 4:3; Titus 2:10 in the N.T. [source]
Romans 3:3 Faith of God []
Better, as Rev., faithfulness; the good faith of God; His fidelity to His promises. For this sense see on Matthew 23:23. Compare Titus 2:10, and see on faithful, 1 John 1:9; see on Revelation 1:5; see on Revelation 3:14. Compare 1 Corinthians 1:9; 1 Corinthians 10:13; 2 Corinthians 1:18. [source]
1 Timothy 1:1 Our Savior [σωτῆρος ἡμῶν]
Comp. Luke 1:47; Judges 1:25. oP. Six times in the Pastorals. Used of both God and Christ (see Titus 1:3, Titus 1:4; Titus 2:10, Titus 2:13; Titus 3:4, Titus 3:6). The saving of men appears as God's direct will and act, 1 Timothy 2:4; Titus 3:5; 2 Timothy 1:9as Christ's work, 1 Timothy 1:15, comp. 2 Timothy 2:10. In lxx σωτὴρ occurs twenty times, and in all but two instances, of God. [source]
1 Timothy 1:1 Of God our Saviour [τεου σωτηρος ημων]
Genitive case with επιταγην — epitagēn In the lxx σωτηρ — sōtēr (old word from σωζω — sōzō for agent in saving, applied to deities, princes, kings, etc.) occurs 20 times, all but two to God. The Romans called the emperor “Saviour God.” In the N.T. the designation of God as Saviour is peculiar to Luke 1:47; Judges 1:25; 1 Timothy 1:3; 1 Timothy 2:3; 1 Timothy 4:10; Titus 1:3; Titus 2:10; Titus 3:4. In the other Epistles Paul uses it of Christ (Philemon 3:20; Ephesians 5:23) as in 2 Timothy 1:10. In 2 Peter 1:1 we have “our God and Saviour Jesus Christ” as in Titus 2:13. Our hope (της ελπιδος ημων — tēs elpidos hēmōn). Like Colossians 1:27. More than the author and object of hope, “its very substance and foundation” (Ellicott). [source]
1 Timothy 2:9 Adorn themselves [κοσμειν εαυτας]
Present active infinitive after βουλομαι — boulomai understood. Old word from κοσμος — kosmos (arrangement, ornament, order, world). See note on Luke 21:5 and note on Titus 2:10. See note on 1 Corinthians 11:5. for Paul‘s discussion of women‘s dress in public worship. In modest apparel (εν καταστοληι κοσμιωι — en katastolēi kosmiōi). Καταστολη — Katastolē is a late word (a letting down, καταστελλω — katastellō of demeanour or dress, arrangement of dress). Only here in N.T. Κοσμιος — Kosmios is old adjective from κοσμος — kosmos and means well-arranged, becoming. W. H. have adverb in margin (κοσμιως — kosmiōs). With shamefastness Old word for shame, reverence, in N.T. only here and Hebrews 12:28. Sobriety (σωπροσυνης — sōphrosunēs). Old word, in N.T. only here, 1 Timothy 2:15, and Acts 26:15 (Paul also). Not with braided hair Old word from πλεκω — plekō to plait, to braid, for nets, baskets, here only in N.T. Cf. 1 Peter 3:1 And gold (εν χρυσιωι — en chrusiōi). Locative case with εν — en repeated. Some MSS. read χρυσωι — chrusōi Both used for gold ornaments. Or pearls See note on Matthew 7:6 for this word. Or costly raiment (η ιματισμωι πολυτελει — ē himatismōi polutelei). ιματισμος — Himatismos a common Koiné{[28928]}š word from ιματιζω — himatizō to clothe. Πολυτελης — Polutelēs old word from πολυς — polus and τελος — telos (great price). See Mark 14:3. [source]
1 John 4:14 The Savior of the world []
See the same phrase, John 4:42, and compare John 3:17. Σωτήρ Savioroccurs in John only here and John 4:42. Elsewhere it is applied both to God (1 Timothy 1:1; 1 Timothy 2:3; Titus 1:3; Titus 2:10; Titus 3:4; Judges 1:25), and to Christ (Luke 2:11; Acts 5:31; Acts 13:23; 2 Timothy 1:10; Titus 1:4, etc.). The title is found in Paul's Epistles of the Captivity (Ephesians 5:23; Philemon 3:20), and in the Pastorals (see above), but not in Corinthians, Romans, Galatians, or Thessalonians. In classical writings the term is applied to many deities, especially to Zeus (Jupiter); also to Hermes (Mercury), Apollo, Hercules, and even to female deities, as Fortune and Aphrodite (Venus). “Zeus Soter” (Zeus Savior) was used as a formula in drinking at banquets. The third cup was dedicated to him. Compare Plato: “Then, by way of a third libation to the savior Zeus, let us sum up and reassert what has been said” (“Philebus,” 66). The drinking of this cup was a symbol of good fortune, and the third time came to mean the lucky time. “Twice then has the just man overthrown the unjust; and now comes the third trial, which, after Olympic fashion, is sacred to Zeus the savior, … and surely this will prove the greatest and most decisive of falls” (Plato, “Republic,” 583). Hence the proverb, τὸ τρίτον τῳ σωτῆρι , lit., the third to the savior; i.e., the third or lucky time. The name was also given later to princes or public benefactors. The kindred noun σωτηρία salvationdoes not occur in John's Epistles, and appears only once in the Gospel (John 4:22). It is found thrice in Revelation (Revelation 7:10; Revelation 12:10; Revelation 19:1). Σώζειν tosave occurs six times in John's Gospel, and once in Revelation (Revelation 21:24). It does not appear in the Epistles. [source]

What do the individual words in Titus 2:10 mean?

not pilfering but all fidelity showing good so that the doctrine of the Savior of us God they may adorn in all things
μὴ νοσφιζομένους ἀλλὰ πᾶσαν πίστιν ἐνδεικνυμένους ἀγαθήν ἵνα τὴν διδασκαλίαν τὴν τοῦ Σωτῆρος ἡμῶν Θεοῦ κοσμῶσιν ἐν πᾶσιν

νοσφιζομένους  pilfering 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Middle, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: νοσφίζω  
Sense: to set apart, separate, divide.
πίστιν  fidelity 
Parse: Noun, Accusative 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.
ἐνδεικνυμένους  showing 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Middle, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: ἐνδείκνυμι  
Sense: to point out.
ἀγαθήν  good 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: ἀγαθός 
Sense: of good constitution or nature.
ἵνα  so  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ἵνα  
Sense: that, in order that, so that.
διδασκαλίαν  doctrine 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: διδασκαλία  
Sense: teaching, instruction.
Σωτῆρος  Savior 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: σωτήρ  
Sense: saviour, deliverer, preserver.
ἡμῶν  of  us 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 1st Person Plural
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
Θεοῦ  God 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: θεός  
Sense: a god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities.
κοσμῶσιν  they  may  adorn 
Parse: Verb, Present Subjunctive Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: κοσμέω  
Sense: to put in order, arrange, make ready, prepare.
πᾶσιν  all  things 
Parse: Adjective, Dative Neuter Plural
Root: πᾶς  
Sense: individually.