Devine Scripture

Titus 2:1

What does Titus 2:1 mean?

A plain-English look at Titus 2:1 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Titus 2:1 means

Paul charges Titus to speak in a way that matches healthy, reliable teaching. Sound doctrine is not only correct ideas; it produces fitting words and fitting lives. Titus must choose content and tone that nourish believers, heal errors, and build stable churches. His teaching should guard the gospel from distortion and guide ordinary Christians into wise conduct. In a place like Crete, where false voices were loud, Titus’s steady, truth-shaped instruction would act like medicine to a sick body—clarifying what God has revealed and how it should shape daily behavior. The aim is not novelty, but faithfulness that results in observable fruit.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

But speak thou the things which befit the sound doctrine:

KJV

King James Version · 1611

But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

But speak thou the things which befit the sound doctrine:

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

But let your words be in agreement with true and right teaching:

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And thou--be speaking what doth become the sound teaching;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

But speak thou the things that become sound doctrine:

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

But do thou speak the things that become sound teaching;

Context

After exposing false teachers in chapter 1, Paul turns from warning to positive instruction. Verse 1 sets the heading for the whole chapter: Titus must teach what accords with sound doctrine. The verses that follow apply that soundness to different groups in the church—older men, older women, younger women, younger men, and servants. This opening line frames everything that comes next as practical outworking of true teaching, not mere rules. The ethical instructions will then be grounded, in verses 11–14, in the appearing of God’s grace in Jesus Christ.

v.1This passage

v.2that aged men be temperate, grave, sober-minded, sound in faith, in love, in patience:

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • 2 Timothy 1:13

    Hold the pattern of sound words which thou hast heard from me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

  • 1 Timothy 6:3

    If any man teacheth a different doctrine, and consenteth not to sound words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;

  • Titus 2:11

    For the grace of God hath appeared, bringing salvation to all men,

  • Titus 3:8

    Faithful is the saying, and concerning these things I desire that thou affirm confidently, to the end that they who have believed God may be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men:

  • Titus 1:9

    holding to the faithful word which is according to the teaching, that he may be able both to exhort in the sound doctrine, and to convict the gainsayers.

  • 1 Timothy 1:10

    for fornicators, for abusers of themselves with men, for menstealers, for liars, for false swearers, and if there be any other thing contrary to the sound doctrine;

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