Titus 1:16
What does Titus 1:16 mean?
A plain-English look at Titus 1:16 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Titus 1:16 means
Paul concludes with a sobering test: some claim to know God, but their deeds deny him. Their lives are morally repulsive, disobedient to God’s will, and unfit for any good work. Orthodoxy without obedience is hypocrisy. True knowledge of God in Christ changes people; it produces good works as fruit, not as the root of acceptance. Titus must measure teachers and teachings by this criterion. Words alone cannot authenticate ministry—character and conduct must agree with confession. Where denial appears in deeds, the church must not be deceived by eloquence or lineage. Sound faith shows itself in sound life, because the gospel is transformative truth.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000They profess that they know God; but by their works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
KJV
King James Version · 1611They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901They profess that they know God; but by their works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949They say that they have knowledge of God, while by their acts they are turning their backs on him; they are hated by all, hard-hearted, and judged to be without value for any good work.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862God they profess to know, and in the works they deny <FI>Him<Fi> , being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work disapproved.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752They profess that they know God: but in their works they deny him: being abominable and incredulous and to every good work reprobate.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890They profess to knowGod, but in works deny [him], being abominable, and disobedient, and found worthless as to every good work.
Context
This verse closes the chapter’s section on false teachers by contrasting profession with practice. It gathers the themes of truth, godliness, and purity from the opening verses (vv. 1–3) and applies them in judgment on deceptive leaders. The next chapter will pivot to positive instruction for various groups in the church, showing what sound doctrine looks like in daily life.
v.15To 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.
v.16This passage
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 1 Timothy 5:8
But if any provideth not for his own, and specially his own household, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever.
- Romans 1:28
And even as they refused to have God intheirknowledge, God gave them up unto a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not fitting;
- Job 15:16
How much less one that is abominable and corrupt, A man that drinketh iniquity like water!
- Jude 1:4
For there are certain men crept in privily, even they who were of old written of beforehand unto this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
- Ezekiel 33:31
And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but do them not; for with their mouth they show much love, but their heart goeth after their gain.
- 1 John 2:4
He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him;
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