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Vincent's Word Studies in the NT

Titus 3:9

Foolish questions, etc. See on 2 Timothy 2:23. For genealogies see on 1 Timothy 1:4.

Strivings about the law [μ α χ α ς ν ο μ ι κ α ς]. The phrase N. T. o. Comp. 1 Timothy 1:7. Nomikov mostly in Luke. Everywhere except here a lawyer, with the article or tiv.

Unprofitable [α ν ω φ ε λ ε ι ς]. Only here and Hebrews 7:18.

Vain [μ α τ α ι ο ι]. Only here in Pastorals. Twice in Paul, 1 Corinthians 3:20, cit.; 1 Corinthians 14:17 (note). Very frequent in LXX The sense is aimless or resultless, as mataiov eujch a prayer which cannot obtain fulfilment. The questions, genealogies, etc., lead to no attainment or advancement in godliness. Comp. mataiologia jangling, 1 Timothy 1:6 : mataiologoi vain talkers, verse 10 mataiothv vanity, Romans 8:20; Ephesians 4:17 : ejmataiwqhsan were made vain, Romans 1:21 : mathn in vain, Matthew 14:9.

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See also Titus 3:9 in other biblical comments:

  • A Textual Commentary On The Greek New Testament by Bruce M. Metzger

    TITUS 3:9 e;reij On the one hand, from the point of view of transcriptional probability it is more likely that copyists would have altered e;rin to e;reij, in agreement with the plurals before and af...

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse 9. _AVOID FOOLISH QUESTIONS, AND GENEALOGIES_] In these the Jews particularly delighted; they abounded in the most frivolous questions; and, as they had little piety _themselves_, they were soli...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    BUT AVOID FOOLISH QUESTIONS AND GENEALOGIES - See the 1 Timothy 1:4 note; 2 Timothy 2:16, 2 Timothy 2:23 notes. And contentions, and strivings about the law

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    III. IN RELATION TO THE WORLD AND FALSE TEACHERS CHAPTER 3 _ 1. Instructions (Titus 3:1)_ 2. Warnings (Titus 3:9) 3. Directions (Titus 3:12)...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    TITUS 3:8 _B_ - TITUS 3:11. FINAL CHARGE TO TITUS. (_a)_ Maintain good works a characteristic demand in the Pastorals; (_b_) avoid useless controversy (_cf._ 1 Timothy 1:3 *); (_c_) shun the factious...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    This is a saying which we are bound to believe--and I want you to keep on affirming these things--that those who have put their faith in God must think and plan bow to practise fine deeds. These are f...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    THE CHRISTIAN CITIZEN (Titus 3:1-2)...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    AVOID., Greek. _periistemi_. Elsewhere, John 11:42. Act 25:7. 2 Timothy 2:16. FOOLISH QUESTIONS. Compare 2 Timothy 2:23. GENEALOGIES. Greek. _genealogia_. Only here and...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    The summary of the other chief topic of the letter; the dealing with the false teaching and evil living of the day. See note above. _avoid foolish questions_ The Greek puts the errors first in stronge...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    FINAL INJUNCTIONS. (_a_) MAINTAIN GOOD WORKS...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    ἜΡΕΙΣ. So אcACKLP and all the versions (except the Aethiopic); but the rec. text has ἔριν with א*D2EG _aeth_. See critical note on 1 Timothy 6:4. 9. (_b_) AVOID CONTROVERSY 9. ΜΩΡᾺΣ ΔῈ ΖΗΤΉΣΕΙΣ ΚΑῚ...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

    ΜΩΡΌΣ (G3474) тупой, глупый, безумный (AS), ΖΉΤΗΣΙΣ (G2214) расспрос, размышление (1 Timothy 1:4). ΓΕΝΕΑΛΟΓΊΑ (G1076) генеалогия (1 Timothy 1:4). ΈΡΙΣ ...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    TRUTH AND ERROR Titus 3:8-11 _TEXT 3:8-11_ 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 ma...

  • Combined Bible Commentary

    But avoid foolish questions, —Foolish questions are unprofitable. It would be wasteful for a man to spend his time arguing just for the sake of disputation. and genealogies, —The Jews put great emphas...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. FOOLISH, [ mooras (G3474)] - 'insipid:' producing no moral fruit. GENE...

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

    14 The ransom of Christ has a present power. Lawlessness is that basic conception of sin in which it is viewed as a departure from the normal and natural course of things. The ransom Of Christ will ev...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    THE SUBSTANCE AND MANNER OF THE TEACHING TO BE GIVEN. FAREWELL 1-15. 'Remind the Cretans to be loyal citizens, good neighbours. As, through no merit of ours, God won us to Himself, so we must live go...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    A GUIDE FOR CHRISTIAN LEADERS TITUS _HILDA BRIGHT AND HELEN POCOCK_ CHAPTER 3 THE CHRISTIAN CITIZEN V1 Remind the people about these things. The people should let the government and the rulers h...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    BUT AVOID FOOLISH QUESTIONS, AND GENEALOGIES. — The “questions” and “genealogies” have been discussed above (1 Timothy 1:4). The Apostle characterises them as “foolish,” because they were of an utterl...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    To sum up what I have been saying: Belief in God is not a matter of theory or of speculation, but of practice; it must be accompanied by good works. This true religion unites the beautiful and the pro...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    ζητήσεις and γενεαλογίαι are associated together in 1 Timothy 1:4 (where see notes). Here they are co-ordinated; there the γενεαλογίαι are one of the sources whence ζητήσεις originate. The nature of t...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    MAINTAINING GOOD WORKS Titus 3:8 It is wise advice that we should try to shun controversy and disputations. Small benefit accrues from such methods of advancing the truth. After all, the Lord's test...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    The final section of the epistle has to do with the Church and the State, dealing with the duty of the Church, arguments impelling to the fulfilment of duty, and the method of realization. The duty of...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    A RESPONSE TO THE FALSE TEACHERS The false teachers would have had one believe salvation was through works of the law of Moses. However, Paul has just shown it is by God's mercy which man finds throug...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    (9) В¶ But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. (10) A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonit...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    The epistle to Titus has much in common with those to Timothy, as all must observe; not only as being addressed to a fellow-servant, and indeed a son in the faith, but in general similarity of charact...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    9_But avoid foolish questions _There is no necessity for debating long about the exposition of this passage. He contrasts “questions” with sound and certain doctrine. Although it is necessary to seek,...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    With respect to the conduct of Christians towards the world, grace has banished violence, and the spirit of rebellion and resistance which agitates the heart of those who believe hot, and which has it...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    BUT AVOID FOOLISH QUESTIONS,.... Such as were started in the schools of the Jews; see 2 Timothy 2:23 AND GENEALOGIES; of their elders, Rabbins, and doctors, by whom their traditions are handed down f...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. Ver. 9. _But foolish questions_] Such as is that of the Papists, whethe...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _But avoid foolish questions_ Questions of no consequence; _and genealogies_ See on 1Ti 1:4; 2 Timothy 2:23; _and contentions, &c., about the law_ About the observance of the ceremonial law, or some l...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    THE CONDUCT OF TITUS TOWARD FALSE TEACHERS AND HERETICS....

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    BUT AVOID FOOLISH QUESTIONS, AND GENEALOGIES, AND CONTENTIONS, AND STRIVINGS ABOUT THE LAW; FOR THEY ARE UNPROFITABLE AND VAIN...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    Though we are not of this world, as the blessed hope of Chapter 2:13 reminds us, yet while in it, our relationships toward it are to bear true Christian character. God has Himself constituted proper a...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    8-11 When the grace of God towards mankind has been declared, the necessity of good works is pressed. Those who believe in God, must make it their care to maintain good works, to seek opportunities f...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    BUT AVOID FOOLISH QUESTIONS; in the discharge of thy ministry meddle not with idle questions, 2 TIMOTHY 2:23, tending to no godly edifying. AND GENEALOGIES; and sifting out genealogies, 1 TIMOTHY 1:4....

  • NT Verse References in the Ante-Nicene Fathers

    Tertullian The Prescription Against Heretics and "unprofitable questions,"[75]...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Titus 3:9 But G1161 avoid G4026 (G5732) foolish G3474 disputes G2214 G2532 genealogies G1076 G2532 contentions...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    _What Titus is to teach on the duties of social life_ (Titus 3:1-2) _enforced by a long argument drawn from the change which Christians had them-selves experienced through grace_ (Titus 3:3-7) _Exhort...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    Titus 3:9. THE QUESTIONS to be avoided were such controverted points as were worse than unimportant, silly. Such were many disputed over by the errorists, notably those about Old Testament genealogies...

  • Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament

    FIGHTINGS ABOUT THE LAW (μαχας νομικας). "Legal battles." See 1 Timothy 6:4; 2 Timothy 2:23. Wordy fights about Mosaic and Pharisaic and Gnostic regulations.SHUN (περιιστασο). Present middle imper...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Titus 3:1. _Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,_ You see, they were a rough, wild, rebellious people in Crete, and Christ...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Titus 3:1. _Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, to speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekne...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Further instructions concerning pastoral work of a true minister. CHARACTERS: God, Christ, Holy Spirit, Paul, Titus, Artemas, Tychicus, Zenas, Apollos. CONCLUSION: The ministers of Christ...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Titus 3:1. _Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers._ See on Romans 13:1. Titus 3:5. _Not by works of righteousness which we have done._ Good works being strongly enforced here, we...

  • The Bible Study New Testament

    BUT AVOID STUPID ARGUMENTS. See note on Titus 1:15. The _circumcision party_ were very proud of their family records, and tried to use such things to make slaves of the Gentile Christians. See 1 Timot...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    TITUS—NOTE ON TITUS 3:9 The Problem Restated: False Teachers. Paul returns to the problem of false teachers. Thus, the discussion of gospel living (Titus 2:1) is followed by discussio

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _CRITICAL AND EXPLANATORY NOTES_ Titus 3:9. AVOID.—As in 2 Timothy 2:16. “The meaning seems to come from a number of persons falling back from an object of fear or loathing and standing at a distance...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION TITUS 3:1 In _subjection _for _subject, _A.V.; _rulers _for _principalities. _A.V.; _to authorities _for _and powers, _A.V. and T.R.; _to be obedient _for _to obey magistrates, _A.V.; _un...

  • The Typology of Scripture by Patrick Fairbairn

    Ver. 9. In contrast to such sound teaching, he again warns against that frivolous and disputative sort of teaching which he had previously characterized (Titus 1:10-14): _but foolish questionings, and...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    But put them in mind to be subject to the principalities and powers, and to obey the magistrates, and to be ready to every good work (Titus 3:1), So here as in many other places, the Christian is exho...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Corinthians 13:2; 1 Corinthians 8:1; 1 Timothy 1:3; 1 Timothy 4:7;...

  • William Burkitt's Expository Notes

    We have the same charge given to Timothy. 1 Timothy 1:4 See the Note upon it. And learn hence, That disputes about matters which only serve to beget strife and contention, and tend little to our edifi...

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Old Testament