Titus 1:4
in Titus 1To Titus, my true child in our common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
to Titus, my true child after a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Saviour.
KJV
To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.
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This verse in Titus 1
Commentary
15 notes on this verseAnd the Apostle writes to his beloved son Titus, which is called in Greek, γνησίῳ τέκνῳ: and cannot be explained in Latin: for γνήσιος means this rather, when someone is called faithful and proper, and (so to speak) legitimate or genuine without comparison to another. From which we understand that there was much difference even among the sons of Paul, that he had some γνησίους, that is, most genuine, closely connected to himself, and born of true marriage and free procreation; but others almost from a handmaid and from Hagar, who cannot receive inheritance with the free son, Isaac.
This site's exposition
He has made His word evident
on Titus 1:3-4
Paul holds his trust by the command of God our Savior in verse 3. In verse 4 the same title is given to Christ Jesus our Savior, one title for each person.
This site's exposition
my true child
Titus was a Gentile, and Paul calls him a true child. Jerome notes that the Greek word for true means legitimate or genuine, a son by right.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
to Titus, my true child in a common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior. to Titus, my true child. For one is a child because they have been baptized by them, but not legitimately, because they are …
Natural generation does not operate by the assent of the one who is born, whereas the birth that comes from faith requires such assent. Although the one who preaches may sincerely believe, he who hears, unless he takes to himself what he learns with faith, …
"To Titus mine own son," that is, my true son. For it is possible for men not to be true sons, as he of whom he says, "If any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, with such an one no not to eat." (1 Cor. v. 11.) Here is a son, but not a true son. A son indeed he is, because he has once received the grace, and has been regenerated: but he is not a true son, because he is unworthy of his Father, and a deserter to the usurped sovereignty of another. For in children by nature, the true and the spurious are determined by the father that begot, and the mother who bore them. But it is not so in this case, but it depends on the disposition. For one who was a true son may become spurious, and a spurious son may become a true one. For it is not the force of nature, but the power of choice, on which it depends, whence it is subject to frequent changes. Onesimus was a true son, but he was again not true, for he became "unprofitable"; then he again became a true son, so as to be called by the Apostle his "own bowels." (Philem. 12.) Ver. 4. "To Titus, mine own son after the common faith." What is "after the common faith"? After he had called him his own son, and assumed the dignity of a father, hear how it is that he lessens and lowers that honor. He adds, "After the common faith"; that is, with respect to the faith I have no advantage over thee; for it is common, and both thou and I were born by it. Whence then does he call him his son? Either only wishing to express his affection for him, or his priority in the Gospel, or to show that Titus had been enlightened by him. On this account he calls the faithful both children and brethren; brethren, because they were born by the same faith; children, because it was by his hands. By mentioning the common faith, therefore, he intimates their brotherhood. Ver. 4. […]
The Medieval Church2 voices
The person greeted is mentioned when he says, to Titus, whom he describes from three marks: first, from his name; second, from his love; third, from his sonship. He is a son or child through love and the faith, which should be common, so that …
A son can also be not true, as a fornicating Christian, or a covetous one: such a son, although regenerated through baptism, is not true, because he is unworthy of the father. Having called Titus a son and having assumed for himself the title of …
7 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
My own son - Begot in the same image of God, and repaying a paternal with a filial affection. The common faith - Common to me and all my spiritual children.
To Titus, mine own son after the common faith,....
The Nineteenth Century5 voices
To Titus, mine own son - Him whom I have been the instrument of converting to the Christian faith; and in whom, in this respect, I have the same right as any man can have in his own begotten son. See the preface; and see on 1Ti 1:2 (note).
A commentator
Charles Spurgeon1834–1892
The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 2439: “Five Links in a Golden Chain” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition) · Written before 1892.
AMONG the friends of Paul, Titus was one of the most useful and one of the best beloved. Paul was the Apostle to the Gentiles and Titus was a Gentile. I should suppose that both his parents were Gentiles and, in this respect, he differed from Timothy, whose mother was a Jewess. Timothy would well serve as a preacher to the circumcision, but Titus would be a man after Paul's heart as a preacher to the Gentiles.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Phm 10). after the common faith--a genuine son in respect to (in virtue of) the faith common to all the people of God, comprising in a common brotherhood Gentiles as well as Jews, therefore embracing Titus a Gentile (2Pe 1:1; Grace, mercy, and peace--"mercy" is omitted in some of the oldest manuscripts.
A commentator
Charles Spurgeon1834–1892
The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 2439: “Five Links in a Golden Chain” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition) · Written before 1892.
proposed
AMONG the friends of Paul, Titus was one of the most useful and one of the best beloved. Paul was the Apostle to the Gentiles and Titus was a Gentile. I should suppose that both his parents were Gentiles and, in this respect, he differed from Timothy, whose mother was a Jewess. Timothy would well serve as a preacher to the circumcision, but Titus would be a man after Paul's heart as a preacher to the Gentiles. He seems to have been a man of great common sense, so that, when Paul had anything difficult to be done, he sent Titus. When the collection was to be made at Corinth on behalf of the poor saints at Jerusalem, Paul sent Titus to stir the members up and, with him, another brother to take charge of the contributions. Titus appears to have been a man of business capacity and strict honesty, as well as a man who could order the Church aright and preach the Gospel with power. Paul was, on one occasion, comforted by the coming of Titus. At another time, he was sad because Titus was not where he had hoped to meet with him. Though we know little about him from the Acts of the Apostles, or anywhere else, he appears to have been in every way one of the ablest of the companions of Paul—and the Apostle takes care to mention him over and over again in his Epistles to the Galatians and to the Corinthians—rendering honor to whom honor is due. It is a great pity when eminent men forget those who help them and it is a sad sign when any of us do not gratefully feel how much we owe to our coworkers. What can any servant of God do unless he has kind friends to bear him up by their prayers and their help? Paul did not forget to mention his friend and helper, Titus. Dear Brothers and Sisters, in this particular verse, which I have chosen for my text, it seems to me that Paul has brought together five points in which he was one with Titus.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
To Titus - See the Introduction, Section 1. Mine own son - Notes, 1Ti 1:2. After the common faith - The faith of all Christians; - equivalent to saying “my son in the gospel.” That is, Paul had been the means of converting him by preaching that gospel which was received by all who were Christians. Grace, mercy, and peace ... - See the notes at Rom 1:7.
The words behind it
18 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Τίτῳ | tito | To Titus | G5103 → | |
| γνησίῳ | gnesio | [my] true | G1103 → | |
| τέκνῳ | tekno | child | G5043 → | |
| κατὰ | kata | according to | G2596 → | 468 times |
| κοινὴν | koinen | [our] common | G2839 → | |
| πίστιν· | pistin | faith: | G4102 → | 242 times |
| χάρις | charis | Grace | G5485 → | 153 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| εἰρήνη | eirene | peace | G1515 → | |
| ἀπὸ | apo | from | G575 → | |
| θεοῦ | theou | God | G2316 → | 1312 times |
| πατρὸς | patros | [the] Father | G3962 → | |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| Χριστοῦ | christou | Christ | G5547 → | 523 times |
| Ἰησοῦ | iesou | Jesus | G2424 → | 908 times |
| τοῦ | tou | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| σωτῆρος | soteros | Savior | G4990 → | 24 times |
| ἡμῶν.¶ | hemon | of us. | G3165 → | 1936 times |
ΤίτῳTo Titus
titoG5103 →
γνησίῳ[my] true
gnesioG1103 →
τέκνῳchild
teknoG5043 →
κατὰaccording to
kataG2596 →468 times
κοινὴν[our] common
koinenG2839 →
πίστιν·faith:
pistinG4102 →242 times
χάριςGrace
charisG5485 →153 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
εἰρήνηpeace
eireneG1515 →
ἀπὸfrom
apoG575 →
θεοῦGod
theouG2316 →1312 times
πατρὸς[the] Father
patrosG3962 →
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ΧριστοῦChrist
christouG5547 →523 times
ἸησοῦJesus
iesouG2424 →908 times
τοῦthe
touG3588 →19766 times
σωτῆροςSavior
soterosG4990 →24 times
ἡμῶν.¶of us.
hemonG3165 →1936 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Jude 1:3Beloved, although I made every effort to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt it necessary to write and urge you to contend earnestly for the faith entrusted once for all…
it leads to
- 1 Timothy 6:12
Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made the good confession before many witnesses.
- Philippians 1:27
Nevertheless, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm…
- Jude 1:20
But you, beloved, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit,
- 2 Timothy 1:13
Hold on to the pattern of sound teaching you have heard from me, with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
- 2 Timothy 4:7–8
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
- 1 Timothy 6:12
Through
2 Peter 1:11and you will receive a lavish reception into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
it leads to
- Revelation 5:10
You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign upon the earth.”
- Revelation 5:10
Through
2 Peter 1:1Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours:
it leads to
- Titus 2:13
as we await the blessed hope and glorious appearance of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.
- Romans 3:21–26
But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed, as attested by the Law and the Prophets.
- Titus 2:13
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies9
About Titus
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on 12 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Charles Spurgeon, The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 2439: “Five Links in a Golden Chain” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Commentary on Titus; John Chrysostom, Homily on Titus 1; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Oecumenius, COMMENTARY ON TITUS; Theodoret of Cyrus, INTERPRETATION OF THE LETTER TO TITUS; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Titus and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Titus.