Titus 2:9
in Titus 2Slaves are to submit to their own masters in everything, to be well-pleasing, not argumentative,
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Exhort servants to be in subjection to their own masters, and to be well-pleasing to them in all things; not gainsaying;
KJV
Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again;
⋯
This verse in Titus 2
Commentary
14 notes on this verseSlaves should be subject to their masters in all things: pleasing, not contradicting, not stealing; but showing all good faith, so as to adorn the doctrine of our Savior God in all things. For our Lord and Savior, who says in the Gospel: Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will refresh you (Matt. 11:28), considers no condition, age, sex, or beatitude to be foreign.
This site's exposition
Slaves are to submit
on Titus 2:9-10
As at Ephesus and Colossae, slaves are to submit to their masters, not argumentative, not stealing from them, the petty theft Roman masters assumed, but showing all good faith. The section's crown belongs to them, so that in every respect they will adorn the teaching about God our Savior. The verb is kosmeo, the jeweler's word, and the lowest station in the household receives the highest purpose in the list.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers4 voices
Concerning slaves, so that they themselves may also serve worthily of the grace of Christ.
Slaves, be obedient to your own masters with all respect, to please them in everything, not being argumentative or pilfering, but showing all good faith:, so that in everything they may adorn the teaching of our Savior God. Therefore, it is not proper to take …
A bishopric necessarily pertains to him who is the head of the household. It is a superintendence of the faith of the members of the household, lest any fall into heresy. It extends to the wife, to a son or a daughter; it extends also to a slave, for he has also been redeemed at so great a price. The apostolic teaching assumes the placement of the master above the slave and the slave beneath the master, but Christ has given the same price for each of them. Do not neglect even the lowliest among your household.
Ver. 9. "Exhort servants to be obedient to their own masters, and to please them well in all things." Dost thou see what he has previously said, "that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you." He therefore is deserving of condemnation, who under pretense of continence separates wives from their husbands, and he who under any other pretext takes away servants from their masters. This is not "speech that cannot be condemned," but it gives great handle to the unbelieving, and opens the mouths of all against us. "Not answering again." Ver. 10. "Not purloining, but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things." Thus he has well said in another place, "Doing service as to the Lord, and not to men." For if thou servest thy master with good will, yet the occasion of this service proceeds from thy fear, and he who with so great fear renders Him service, shall receive the greater reward. For if he restrain not his hand, or his unruly tongue, how shall the Gentile admire the doctrine that is among us? But if they see their slave, who has been taught the philosophy of Christ, displaying more self-command than their own philosophers, and serving with all meekness and good will, he will in every way admire the power of the Gospel. For the Greeks judge not of doctrines by the doctrine itself, but they make the life and conduct the test of the doctrines. […]
The Medieval Church1 voice
Therefore, he is worthy of condemnation who separates wives and husbands under the pretext of continence, and who separates servants from masters under the pretext of piety. For he gives much occasion for reproach to all and opens the mouths of all against the faith.
7 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church1 voice
Then, at exhort servants, he shows how servants should be instructed: first, he does this; second, he gives the reason for it, at for the grace of God (Titus 2:11). In regard to the first he does three things: first, he urges servants to be …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
Please them in all things - Wherein it can be done without sin. Not answering again - Though blamed unjustly. This honest servants are most apt to do.
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.
Exhort servants to be obedient to their own masters,....
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Exhort servants to be obedient to their own masters - See this explained in the notes at Eph 6:5, following, and 1Ti 6:1-4. And to please them well in all things - That is, so far as they lawfully may, or in those things which are not contrary to the will of God; compare Eph 6:6. It should be an object with one who is a servant, to meet the approbation of his master, as long as this relation continues.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
1Pe 2:18) was, that in no rank was there more danger of the doctrine of the spiritual equality and freedom of Christians being misunderstood than in that of slaves. It was natural for the slave who had become a Christian, to forget his place and put himself on a social level with his master.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
Exhort servants to be obedient - The apostle refers to those who were slaves, and the property of their masters; even these are exhorted to be obedient ιδιοις δεσποταις, to their own despots, though they had no right over them on the ground of natural justice. Please them well in all things - They were to endeavor to do this in all things, though they could not hope to succeed in every thing. Not answering again - Μη αντιλεγοντας· Not contradicting or gainsaying. This is no part of a servant’s duty; a servant is hired to do his master’s work, and this his master has a right to appoint.
The words behind it
10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Δούλους | doulous | Servants | G1401 → | |
| ἰδίοις | idiois | to [their] own | G2398 → | 114 times |
| δεσπόταις | despotais | masters | G1203 → | |
| ὑποτάσσεσθαι, | hupotassesthai | are to be subject, | G5293 → | 38 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| πᾶσιν | pasin | everything | G3956 → | 1235 times |
| εὐαρέστους | euarestous | well-pleasing | G2101 → | |
| εἶναι, | einai | to be, | G1511 → | 123 times |
| μὴ | me | not | G3361 → | 1066 times |
| ἀντιλέγοντας, | antilegontas | gainsaying, | G483 → |
ΔούλουςServants
doulousG1401 →
ἰδίοιςto [their] own
idioisG2398 →114 times
δεσπόταιςmasters
despotaisG1203 →
ὑποτάσσεσθαι,are to be subject,
hupotassesthaiG5293 →38 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
πᾶσινeverything
pasinG3956 →1235 times
εὐαρέστουςwell-pleasing
euarestousG2101 →
εἶναι,to be,
einaiG1511 →123 times
μὴnot
meG3361 →1066 times
ἀντιλέγοντας,gainsaying,
antilegontasG483 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
5 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
Ephesians 5:24Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
it leads to
- Ephesians 5:33
Nevertheless, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
- Colossians 3:20
Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord.
- Titus 2:7
In everything, show yourself to be an example by doing good works. In your teaching show integrity, dignity,
- Colossians 3:22
Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything, not only to please them while they are watching, but with sincerity of heart and fear of the Lord.
- Exodus 29:35
This is what you are to do for Aaron and his sons based on all that I have commanded you, taking seven days to ordain them.
- Ephesians 5:33
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies5
About Titus
This page draws on 13 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, SERMONS 94; 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; 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.