Titus 1:15
What does Titus 1:15 mean?
A plain-English look at Titus 1:15 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Titus 1:15 means
Paul lays down a principle: for the pure, all things are pure; for the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure because mind and conscience are stained. Purity is not achieved by external rules about foods or rituals; it springs from a heart cleansed by God. Legalism multiplies taboos but cannot cleanse the conscience. Those who reject the gospel’s cleansing will find contamination everywhere and create ever-tightening restrictions. Conversely, those renewed by grace receive God’s gifts with gratitude and discernment. This does not excuse sin, but it exposes the futility of outward religion without inward renewal. Christ makes people pure; man-made regulations cannot.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000To the pure all things are pure: but to them that are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but both their mind and their conscience are defiled.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901To the pure all things are pure: but to them that are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but both their mind and their conscience are defiled.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949To the clean in heart all things are clean: but to those who are unclean and without faith nothing is clean; they become unclean in mind and in thought.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862all things, indeed, <FI>are<Fi> pure to the pure, and to the defiled and unstedfast <FI>is<Fi> nothing pure, but of them defiled <FI>are<Fi> even the mind and the conscience;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752All things are clean to the clean: but to them that are defiled and to unbelievers, nothing is clean: but both their mind and their conscience are defiled.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890All things [are] pure to the pure; but to the defiled and unbelieving nothing [is] pure; but both their mind and their conscience are defiled.
Context
This principle counters the myths and commandments of men mentioned in verse 14, especially around ceremonial or dietary issues. It also sets up the closing indictment in verse 16, where profession without transformation is unmasked. The flow moves from rejecting false standards of purity to affirming the necessity of inner renewal, preparing the reader to evaluate teachers by their lives.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Romans 14:23
But he that doubteth is condemned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith; and whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
- Haggai 2:13
Then said Haggai, If one that is unclean by reason of a dead body touch any of these, shall it be unclean? And the priests answered and said, It shall be unclean.
- 1 Timothy 4:3
forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by them that believe and know the truth.
- 1 Corinthians 10:25
Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, eat, asking no question for conscience’ sake;
- 1 Corinthians 10:31
Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
- 1 Corinthians 8:7
Howbeit there is not in all men that knowledge: but some, being used until now to the idol, eat as of a thing sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.
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