Titus 2:14
What does Titus 2:14 mean?
A plain-English look at Titus 2:14 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Titus 2:14 means
Jesus “gave himself for us” to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify a people for His own possession, zealous for good works. Here is the heart of the gospel: the self-giving of Christ in our place. His purpose is both liberating and cleansing—He frees us from sin’s guilt and power, and He claims us as His treasured people. Good works are not the price but the product of redemption; zeal rises where grace has taken hold. The church is meant to be visibly different because it belongs to Him. This verse anchors ethics in the cross and defines Christian identity by Christ’s saving initiative.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a people for his own possession, zealous of good works.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a people for his own possession, zealous of good works.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Who gave himself for us, so that he might make us free from all wrongdoing, and make for himself a people clean in heart and on fire with good works.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862who did give himself for us, that he might ransom us from all lawlessness, and might purify to himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity and might cleanse to himself a people acceptable, a pursuer of good works.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all lawlessness, and purify to himself a peculiar people, zealous for good works.
Context
Following the hope of Christ’s appearing in verse 13, verse 14 looks back to His accomplished work. It explains why believers can live godly lives: they have been redeemed and purified for a purpose. This climactic statement ties together the chapter’s earlier commands across all groups and roles. Next, the final verse (15) will charge Titus to teach and enforce these truths with authority, ensuring that doctrine and conduct remain linked in Crete’s churches.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Galatians 1:4
who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us out of this present evil world, according to the will of our God and Father:
- Ezekiel 37:23
neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions; but I will save them out of all their dwelling-places, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them: so shall they be my people, and I will be their God.
- Malachi 3:3
and he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi, and refine them as gold and silver; and they shall offer unto Jehovah offerings in righteousness.
- Romans 14:7
For none of us liveth to himself, and none dieth to himself.
- 1 Peter 2:9
But ye are an elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that ye may show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
- Matthew 3:12
whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing-floor; and he will gather his wheat into the garner, but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire.
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