Titus 3:8

θεῷ. The rec. text, following the majority of the cursives, prefixes τῷ; but all the uncials omit it.

καλά. The rec. text, following D2cEKLP, prefixes τά; but it is not found in אACD2*G and a considerable number of cursives.

8. πιστὸς ὁ λόγος. The ‘faithful saying’ in question is certainly to be found in the preceding Titus 3:4-7; it has even been supposed by some that we have here a fragment from a hymn on the way of salvation (see on 1 Timothy 3:16; 2 Timothy 2:10), but there is not sufficient evidence to confirm the hypothesis. No nobler statement of doctrine is found anywhere in the Pauline Epistles than these verses present.

καὶ περὶ τούτων βούλομαί σε διαβεβαιοῦσθαι, and concerning these things I will (see on 1 Timothy 2:8) that thou affirm confidently. See for διαβεβαιοῦσθαι on 1 Timothy 1:7.

ἵνα φροντίζωσιν καλῶν ἔργων προἶστασθαι οἱ πεπιστευκότες θεῷ, that they who have believed God may be careful to maintain good works. Right belief must exhibit its fruits in life; this is the continual burden of St Paul’s exhortations in the Pastoral Epistles; see on 1 Timothy 2:10. φροντίζειν does not happen to occur again in the N.T., but it is frequent in the LXX. For the translation maintain good works the R.V. gives the marginal alternative “profess honest occupations.” There is no doubt that this is an admissible meaning for προῑ̓στασθαι, and ‘honest trades’ would give a very good sense to the injunction here, and again at Titus 3:14. But the usage of the phrase καλὰ ἔργα in the Pastorals (see on 1 Timothy 2:10) is decisive for the rendering good works here, as in the other instances of its occurrence; and προῑ̓στασθαι may very well mean ‘be forward in,’ ‘be foremost in the practice of’ (see 1 Thessalonians 5:12, and 1 Timothy 3:4-5; 1 Timothy 3:12). We therefore retain with confidence the ordinary rendering of the words.

ταῦτά ἐστιν καλὰ καὶ ὠφέλιμα τοῖς�. These things, sc. the preceding injunctions, are good and profitable unto men. For ὠφέλιμος see on 1 Timothy 4:8.