Titus 1:9
in Titus 1He must hold firmly to the faithful word as it was taught, so that he can encourage others by sound teaching and refute those who contradict it.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
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.
KJV
Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
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This verse in Titus 1
Commentary
16 notes on this verseTo Titus he gives commandment that among a bishop's other virtues [which he briefly describes] he should be careful to seek a knowledge of the Scriptures. A bishop, he says, must hold fast "the faithful word as he has been taught that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers." In fact, want of education in a clergyman prevents him from doing good to any one but himself.
This site's exposition
he must be hospitable
on Titus 1:8-9
Verse 9 gives the office its task: to encourage others by sound teaching and refute those who contradict it. The word for sound, hugiaino, means healthy, and it opens a thread that runs through the whole letter.
This site's exposition
hold firmly to the faithful word
The elder holds the teaching he received and uses it two ways. It encourages the church and refutes those who contradict it. Origen notes that Paul here makes the bishop a teacher, and Chrysostom asks how a man unskilled in speaking could answer the objectors.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers5 voices
"But [he should be] hospitable, a lover of good, chaste, just, holy, continent or abstinent, one who holds to the correct doctrine, faithful in speech, so that [he] is able to comfort [others] in sound doctrine and refute those who contradict it." Above all, hospitality is required of a future bishop. For if everyone wishes to hear it from the Gospel: "I was a stranger and you took me in" (Matt. 25:35): how much more should a bishop, whose house should be a common inn for everyone!
If anyone says, however, that if teachers are made learned by the Holy Spirit then they do not need to be taught by educators what they should say or how they should say it, he should also say that we should not pray because the Lord says, "for your Father knows what is needful for you, before you ask him." With such a false premise one might argue that the apostle Paul should not have taught Timothy and Titus what or how they should teach others. One upon whom is imposed the personage of a teacher in the church should have these three apostolic epistles before his eyes. Do we not read in the first epistle to Timothy … and in the second epistle is it not said … again, does he not say to Titus that a bishop should persevere in "that faithful word which is according to doctrine, that he may be able to exhort in sound doctrine and to convince the gainsayers"?
When Paul describes the character of those who are called bishops and portrays what sort of a man a bishop ought to be, he instructs that he should be a teacher. He must be "able also to refute the adversaries," that by his wisdom he may restrain those who speak vainly and deceive souls. He prefers for the episcopate a man once married rather than one twice married, and a man unblamable rather than blameable, and a sober man rather than one not of this character, and a prudent man rather than one imprudent, and an orderly man rather than one even slightly disorderly. In the same way he most wishes that the one who is to be selected as bishop should be a teacher and capable of "refuting adversaries."
"For the bishop," he says, "must hold to the faithful word which is according to the teaching, that he may be able to convict even the gainsayers." How, then, if he is inexperienced at speaking, as they say, will he be able to convict the objectors and to stop their mouths? If it is permissible to welcome such inexperience in the episcopacy, then why should any church leader bother to read books and study the Scriptures? This is all just a pretense and excuse and a pretext for carelessness and indolence.
holding firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he may be able both to encourage with sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict it. holding firmly to the trustworthy message. Or of the true, or of that which is …
8 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church3 voices
A commentator
BonaventureCollations on the Hexaemeron, Collation 22 · Written in the 13th century.
proposed
There are three orders: the priestly, corresponding to the Thrones; the episcopal, corresponding to the Cherubim; and the patriarchal, corresponding to the Seraphim--not properly speaking on account of the imposition of some new character, since there is no level above the priesthood, but because of …
Above, he described what a bishop should be in his conduct; here he shows how he should be equipped in doctrine: first, he shows that he should apply himself diligently to study; second, he describes what he should study; third, its profit. In regard to …
Instead of: caring, taking concern for this matter. "Faithful," that is, handed down through faith, and not through reasoning. Therefore he also said: "according to the teaching," showing that he could teach even without external wisdom. It is not grandeur of expression that is needed, …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
I have kept the faith, was Paul's comfort ( 2 Tim. iv. 7 ), and not shunned to declare the whole counsel of God; there was his faithfulness, Acts xx. (2.) Here is the end: That he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort, and to convince the gainsayers, to persuade and draw others to the true faith, and to convince the contrary-minded.
Holding fast the faithful word,....
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Holding fast the faithful word - That is, the true doctrines of the gospel. This means that he is to hold this fast, in opposition to one who would wrest it away, and in opposition to all false teachers, and to all systems of false philosophy. He must be a man who is firm in his belief of the doctrines of the Christian faith, and a man who can be relied on to maintain and defend those doctrines in all circumstances; compare notes, 2Th 2:
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
Lu 16:13). the faithful--true and trustworthy (1Ti 1:15). word as he has been taught--literally, "the word (which is) according to the teaching" which he has received (compare 1Ti 4:6, end; 2Ti 3:14). by--Translate as Greek, "to exhort in doctrine (instruction) which is sound"; sound doctrine or instruction is the element IN which his exhorting is to have place . . .
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
Holding fast the faithful word - Conscientiously retaining, and zealously maintaining, the true Christian doctrine, κατα την διδαχην, according to the instructions, or according to the institutions, form of sound doctrine, or confession of faith, which I have delivered to thee. That he may be able by sound doctrine - If the doctrine be not sound, vain is the profession of it, and vain its influence. It is good to be zealously affected in a good thing; but zeal for what is not of God will do no good to the souls of men, how sincere soever that zeal may be. To exhort - Them to hold the faith, that they may persevere. And to convince - Refute the objections, confound the sophistry, and convert the gainsayers; and thus defend the truth.
The words behind it
21 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ἀντεχόμενον | antechomenon | holding | G472 → | |
| τοῦ | tou | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| κατὰ | kata | according to | G2596 → | 468 times |
| τὴν | ten | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| διδαχὴν | didachen | teaching | G1322 → | |
| πιστοῦ | pistou | of [the] faithful | G4103 → | 67 times |
| λόγου, | logou | word, | G3056 → | 329 times |
| ἵνα | ina | that | G2443 → | 668 times |
| δυνατὸς | dunatos | able | G1415 → | |
| ᾖ | e | he may be | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| καὶ | kai | both | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| παρακαλεῖν | parakalein | to encourage | G3870 → | 108 times |
| ἐν | en | with | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| τῇ | tea | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| διδασκαλίᾳ | didaskalia | teaching | G1319 → | 21 times |
| τῇ | tea | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ὑγιαινούσῃ | hugiainouse | sound | G5198 → | 12 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| τοὺς | tous | those | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἀντιλέγοντας | antilegontas | contradicting [it] | G483 → | |
| ἐλέγχειν.¶ | elegchein | to convict. | G1651 → | 17 times |
ἀντεχόμενονholding
antechomenonG472 →
τοῦ<the>
touG3588 →19766 times
κατὰaccording to
kataG2596 →468 times
τὴνthe
tenG3588 →19766 times
διδαχὴνteaching
didachenG1322 →
πιστοῦof [the] faithful
pistouG4103 →67 times
λόγου,word,
logouG3056 →329 times
ἵναthat
inaG2443 →668 times
δυνατὸςable
dunatosG1415 →
ᾖhe may be
eG1510 →2333 times
καὶboth
kaiG2532 →9120 times
παρακαλεῖνto encourage
parakaleinG3870 →108 times
ἐνwith
enG1722 →2738 times
τῇ<the>
teaG3588 →19766 times
διδασκαλίᾳteaching
didaskaliaG1319 →21 times
τῇ<the>
teaG3588 →19766 times
ὑγιαινούσῃsound
hugiainouseG5198 →12 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
τοὺςthose
tousG3588 →19766 times
ἀντιλέγονταςcontradicting [it]
antilegontasG483 →
ἐλέγχειν.¶to convict.
elegcheinG1651 →17 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
1 Timothy 1:15This is a trustworthy saying, worthy of full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the worst.
it leads to
- Mark 2:17
On hearing this, Jesus told them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
- Luke 19:10
For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
- John 3:16–17
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
- John 12:47
As for anyone who hears My words and does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I have not come to judge the world, but to save the world.
- Mark 2:17
Through
1 Timothy 1:10for the sexually immoral, for homosexuals, for slave traders and liars and perjurers, and for anyone else who is averse to sound teaching
it leads to
- 2 Timothy 4:3
For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 2 Timothy 4:3
Through
2 Timothy 1:13Hold on to the pattern of sound teaching you have heard from me, with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
it leads to
- 2 Timothy 3:14
But as for you, continue in the things you have learned and firmly believed, since you know from whom you have learned them.
- Philippians 4:9
Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me, put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
- 2 Timothy 3:14
Through
2 Thessalonians 2:15Therefore, brothers, stand firm and cling to the traditions we taught you, whether by speech or by letter.
it leads to
- 1 Corinthians 11:2
Now I commend you for remembering me in everything and for maintaining the traditions, just as I passed them on to you.
- 1 Corinthians 11:2
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Titus
This page draws on 15 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); Augustine of Hippo, ON CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE 4.16.33; Bonaventure, Collations on the Hexaemeron, Collation 22; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, LETTERS 53.3; Jerome, Commentary on Titus; John Chrysostom, ON THE PRIESTHOOD 4.8; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, COMMENTARY ON TITUS; Origen of Alexandria, AGAINST CELSUS 3.48; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Titus and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Titus.