Titus 3:3
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For at one time we too were foolish, disobedient, misled, and enslaved to all sorts of desires and pleasures—living in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
For--Our own past sins should lead us to be lenient towards those of others. "Despise none, for such wast thou also." As the penitent thief said to his fellow thief, "Dost thou not fear God . . . seeing that thou art in the same condemnation." we--Christians. were--Contrast Tit 3:4, "But when," that is, now: a favorite contrast in Paul's writing, that between our past state by nature, and our present state of deliverance from it by grace. As God treated us, we ought to treat our neighbor. sometimes--once. foolish--wanting right reason in our course of living. Irrational. The exact picture of human life without grace. Grace is the sole remedy for foolishness. disobedient--to God. deceived--led astray. The same Greek, "out of the way" (Heb 5:2). serving--Greek, "in bondage to," serving as slaves." divers--The cloyed appetite craves constant variety. pleasures--of the flesh. malice--malignity. hateful . . . hating--correlatives. Provoking the hatred of others by their detestable character and conduct, and in turn hating them.
Open source ↗The apostle here directs Titus about the faithful discharge of his own office generally (Tit 2:1), and particularly as to several sorts of persons (Tit 2:2-10) and gives the grounds of these and of other following directions (Tit 2:11-14), with a summary direction in the close (Tit 2:15).
Open source ↗3:3 Humility (3:2) is fitting, considering our state when God’s kindness and love came to us (3:4; see Eph 2:1-4; 5:8; Col 3:7; 1 Pet 4:3).
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
Once you were alienated from God and were hostile in your minds, engaging in evil deeds.
But thanks be to God that, though you once were slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were committed.
When you lived among them, you also used to walk in these ways.
But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the fruit you reap leads to holiness, and the outcome is eternal life.
As obedient children, do not conform to the passions of your former ignorance.
Leave your folly behind, and you will live; walk in the way of understanding.”
For I am afraid that when I come, I may not find you as I wish, and you may not find me as you wish. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, rage, rivalry, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder.
Jesus answered, “See to it that you are not deceived. For many will come in My name, claiming, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them.
For his eyes are too full of conceit to detect or hate his own sin.
‘I will not,’ he replied. But later he changed his mind and went.