Titus 2:8
in Titus 2and wholesome speech that is above reproach, so that anyone who opposes us will be ashamed, having nothing bad to say about us.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of us.
KJV
Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.
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This verse in Titus 2
Commentary
13 notes on this versesound speech, and blamelessness; so that the opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say about us. sound speech. Clearly, that of the doctrines. For when these are added to the teaching, he who opposes, whether the slanderer or the heretic, will be ashamed, …
This site's exposition
urge the younger men
on Titus 2:6-8
Titus himself becomes the lesson: show yourself to be an example by doing good works. The word for example is tupos, the stamp others are struck from.
This site's exposition
wholesome speech
Wholesome speech is healthy speech, the same idea as the sound doctrine of verse 1, as Barnes notes. Clarke reads the gospel as healing doctrine for a diseased human nature. The aim is that opponents find nothing bad to say.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
Similarly, exhort the youth to be pure in all things, setting yourself as an example of good works in teaching, integrity and chastity, in sound and irreproachable speech, so that the outsider may respect us, having nothing bad to say about us.
Ver. 7. "In all things showing thyself a pattern of good works." Let the elder women, he says, teach the younger, but do thou thyself exhort young men to be soberminded. And let the luster of thy life be a common school of instruction, a pattern of virtue to all, publicly exhibited, like some original model, containing in itself all beauties, affording examples whence those who are willing may easily imprint upon themselves any of its excellences. Ver. 7, 8. "In [thy] doctrine showing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, Sound speech that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you." By "him that is of the contrary part," he means the devil, and every one who ministers to him. For when the life is illustrious, and the discourse corresponds to it, being meek and gentle, and affording no handle to the adversaries, it is of unspeakable advantage. Of great use then is the ministry of the word, not any common word, but that which is approved, and cannot be condemned, affording no pretext to those who are willing to censure it.
The Medieval Church2 voices
Then he shows how he should act in doctrine and in word; and he says that he should have the sound word that cannot be blamed or corrupted by falsity: follow the pattern of the sound words which you have heard from me, in the …
That is, orthodox, containing nothing blameworthy. The adversary he calls either the devil, or anyone who serves him. …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Thus must there be soundness in charity or love. Aged persons are apt to be peevish, fretful, and passionate; and therefore need to be on their guard against such infirmities and temptations. Faith, love, and patience, are three main Christian graces, and soundness in these is much of gospel perfection.
5 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
They must make it appear that the design of their preaching is purely to advance the honour of God, the interest of Christ and his kingdom, and the welfare and happiness of souls; that this office was not entered into nor used with secular views, not from ambition nor covetousness, but a pure aim at the spiritual ends of its institution.
Sound speech that cannot be condemned,....
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
Sound speech - Λογον ὑγιη· Sound or healing doctrine. Human nature is in a state of disease; and the doctrine of the Gospel is calculated to remove the disease, and restore all to perfect health and soundness. All false doctrines leave men under the influence of this spiritual disease; the unadulterated doctrine of the Gospel alone can heal men. He that is of the contrary part - Whether this may refer to the Judaizing teachers in general, or to some one who might, by his false doctrine, have been disturbing the peace of the Churches in Crete, we cannot tell.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
2Ti 2:25), whether he be heathen or Jew. may be ashamed--put to confusion by the power of truth and innocence (compare Tit 2:5, 10; 6:1). no evil thing--in our acts, or demeanor. of you--So one of the oldest manuscripts. Other very old manuscripts read, "of US," Christians.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Sound speech - Notes, 1Ti 1:10. He was to use language that would be spiritually “healthful” (ὑγιῆ hugiē); that is, true, pure, uncorrupted. - This word, and its correlatives, is used in this sense, in the New Testament, only by the apostle Paul. It is commonly applied to the body, meaning that which is healthful, or whole; see Luk 5:31; Luk 6:10; Luk 7:10; Luk 15:27; Mat 12:13; Mat 15:31; Mar 3:5; Mar 5:34; Joh 5:4, Joh 5:6,Joh 5:9, Joh 5:11, Joh 5:14-15; Joh 7:23; Act 4:10; 3Jn 1:2. For Paul’s use of the word see 1Ti 1:10; 1Ti 6:3; 2Ti 1:13;2Ti 4:3; Tit 1:9, Tit 1:13; Tit 2:1-2, Tit 2:8. It does not elsewhere occur. That cannot be condemned - Such as cannot be shown to be weak, or unsound; such that no one could find fault with it, or such as an adversary could not take hold of and blame. This direction would imply purity and seriousness of language, solidity of argument, and truth in the doctrines which he maintained. That he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed ... - Ashamed that he has opposed such views.
The words behind it
14 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| λόγον | logon | speech | G3056 → | 329 times |
| ὑγιῆ, | hugie | sound, | G5199 → | |
| ἀκατάγνωστον, | akatagnoston | beyond reproach, | G176 → | |
| ἵνα | ina | so that | G2443 → | 668 times |
| ὁ | ho | he who is | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἐξ | ex | of the | G1537 → | 911 times |
| ἐναντίας | enantias | contrary | G1727 → | |
| ἐντραπῇ | entrapea | may be ashamed | G1788 → | |
| μηδὲν | meden | nothing | G3367 → | 90 times |
| ἔχων | echon | having | G2192 → | |
| λέγειν | legein | to say | G3004 → | |
| περὶ | peri | concerning | G4012 → | 332 times |
| ἡμῶν | hemon | us | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| φαῦλον.¶ | phaulon | evil. | G5337 → |
λόγονspeech
logonG3056 →329 times
ὑγιῆ,sound,
hugieG5199 →
ἀκατάγνωστον,beyond reproach,
akatagnostonG176 →
ἵναso that
inaG2443 →668 times
ὁhe who is
hoG3588 →19766 times
ἐξof the
exG1537 →911 times
ἐναντίαςcontrary
enantiasG1727 →
ἐντραπῇmay be ashamed
entrapeaG1788 →
μηδὲνnothing
medenG3367 →90 times
ἔχωνhaving
echonG2192 →
λέγεινto say
legeinG3004 →
περὶconcerning
periG4012 →332 times
ἡμῶνus
hemonG3165 →1936 times
φαῦλον.¶evil.
phaulonG5337 →
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 Peter 2:12Conduct yourselves with such honor among the Gentiles that, though they slander you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us.
it leads to
- 1 Peter 3:16
keeping a clear conscience, so that those who slander you may be put to shame by your good behavior in Christ.
- Matthew 5:16
In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
- Titus 2:7–8
In everything, show yourself to be an example by doing good works. In your teaching show integrity, dignity,
- Philippians 2:15–16
so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine as lights in the world
- 2 Corinthians 8:21
For we are taking great care to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord, but also in the eyes of men.
- 1 Peter 3:16
Through
1 Peter 3:16keeping a clear conscience, so that those who slander you may be put to shame by your good behavior in Christ.
it leads to
- 1 Peter 2:12
Conduct yourselves with such honor among the Gentiles that, though they slander you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 1 Peter 2:15
For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorance of foolish men.
- 1 Peter 2:12
Through
1 Peter 2:15For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorance of foolish men.
it leads to
- 1 Peter 3:17
For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
- 1 Peter 3:17
Where this verse is studied
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About Titus
This page draws on 12 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on the New Testament; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Commentary on Titus; John Chrysostom, Homily on Titus 4; 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; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Titus and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Titus.