TIT 1:1 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=minor/spelling Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) This letter is from Paul, a slave of God and a missionary of Yeshua the messiah and follower of the faith of the ones that God has chosen.
¶ I share the knowledge of the truth which leads to godliness

Key: light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the faith of the chosen people of God and knowledge of the truth that agrees with godliness,

UST I, Paul, write this letter to you, Titus. I am a servant of God and a representative of Jesus the Messiah. God sent me to teach the people whom he has chosen as his own to trust him more. I work to help his people to know what is true, so that they can live in a way that pleases God.

BSB Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ for [the] faith of God’s elect and [their] knowledge of [the] truth that leads to godliness,

BLB Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of the elect of God and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness,

AICNT Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ,[fn] according to the faith of God's chosen and the knowledge of the truth that is in accordance with godliness,

1:1, Christ: The Greek word for Christ means (1) fulfiller of Israelite expectation of a deliverer, the Anointed One, the Messiah, the Christ, (2) the personal name ascribed to Jesus, Christ. (BDAG, Χριστός)

OEB From Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, on behalf of the faith of God’s chosen people, and their knowledge of that truth which makes for godliness

WEBBE Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ,[fn] according to the faith of God’s chosen ones and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness,

1:1 “Christ” means “Anointed One”.

WMBB Paul, a servant of God and an emissary of Yeshua the Messiah,[fn] according to the faith of God’s chosen ones and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness,

1:1 “Messiah” means “Anointed One”.

MSG ^(1-4)I, Paul, am God’s slave and Christ’s agent for promoting the faith among God’s chosen people, getting out the accurate word on God and how to respond rightly to it. My aim is to raise hopes by pointing the way to life without end. This is the life God promised long ago—and he doesn’t break promises! And then when the time was ripe, he went public with his truth. I’ve been entrusted to proclaim this Message by order of our Savior, God himself. Dear Titus, legitimate son in the faith: Receive everything God our Father and Jesus our Savior give you!

NET From Paul, a slave of God and apostle of Jesus Christ, to further the faith of God’s chosen ones and the knowledge of the truth that is in keeping with godliness,

LSV Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of the chosen ones of God, and an acknowledging of truth that [is] according to piety,

FBV This letter comes from Paul, servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ. I'm sent to build up the trust of God's chosen people and to share the knowledge of the truth that leads to lives lived for God.

TCNT Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, appointed to further the faith of God's chosen ones and the knowledge of the truth that is in accordance with godliness,

T4T I, Paul, am writing this letter to you, Titus. God appointed me to be his servant and to be an apostle who represents Jesus Christ. God appointed me in order that I might teach those whom God has chosen to be his people to correctly believe in him. He wants me to teach them the true teachings about God, in order that they will learn to behave ◄in a godly manner/in a manner that pleases God►.

LEB Paul, a slave of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ for the faith of the chosen of God and the knowledge of the truth that is according to godliness,

BBE Paul, a servant of God, and an Apostle of Jesus Christ, in agreement with the faith of the saints of God and the full knowledge of what is true in harmony with religion,

Moff Paul a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ for the faith of God's elect and for their knowledge of the Truth that goes with a religious life,

Wymth Paul, a bondservant of God and an Apostle of Jesus Christ for building up the faith of God's own people and spreading a full knowledge of the truths of religion,

ASV Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness,

DRA Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of the elect of God and the acknowledging of the truth, which is according to godliness:

YLT Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of the choice ones of God, and an acknowledging of truth that [is] according to piety,

Drby Paul, bondman of [fn]God, and apostle of Jesus Christ according to [the] faith of [fn]God's elect, and knowledge of [the] truth which [is] according to piety;

1.1 Elohim

RV Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness,

SLT Paul, servant of God, and sent of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of the chosen of God, and the acknowledgment of the truth according to devotion;

Wbstr Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is according to godliness;

KJB-1769 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;

KJB-1611 ¶ Paul a seruant of God, and an Apostle of Iesus Christ, according to the Faith of Gods Elect, and the acknowledging of the trueth which is after godlinesse,
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from capitalisation and punctuation)

Bshps Paul a seruaunt of God, & an Apostle of Iesus Christe, according to the fayth of Gods elect, & the knowledge of ye trueth, whiche is after godlynesse,
(Paul a servant of God, and an Apostle of Yesus/Yeshua Christ, according to the faith of Gods elect, and the knowledge of ye/you_all truth, which is after godliness,)

Gnva Paul a seruaunt of God, and an Apostle of Iesus Christ, according to the faith of Gods elect, and the acknowledging of the trueth, which is according vnto godlines,
(Paul a servant of God, and an Apostle of Yesus/Yeshua Christ, according to the faith of Gods elect, and the acknowledging of the truth, which is according unto godlines, )

Cvdl Pavl the seruaunt of God, and an Apostle off Iesus Christ, to preach the faith off Gods electe, and the knowlege of ye trueth, which ledeth vnto godlynes,
(Paul the servant of God, and an Apostle off Yesus/Yeshua Christ, to preach the faith off Gods electe, and the knowledge of ye/you_all truth, which leadeth/leads unto godlynes,)

TNT Paul the seruaunt of God and an Apostle of Iesu Christ to preache the fayth of goddis electe and the knowledge of that trueth which is after godlynes
(Paul the servant of God and an Apostle of Yesu Christ to preach the faith of gods electe and the knowledge of that truth which is after godlynes )

Wycl Poul, the seruaunt of God, and apostle of Jhesu Crist, bi the feith of the chosun of God, and bi the knowing of the treuthe,
(Poul, the servant of God, and apostle of Yhesu Christ, by the faith of the chosen of God, and by the knowing of the truth,)

Luth Paulus, ein Knecht Gottes, aber ein Apostel JEsu Christi nach dem Glauben der Auserwählten Gottes und der Erkenntnis der Wahrheit zur GOttseligkeit,
(Paulus, a servant/farmhand God’s, but a apostles Yesu Christi after to_him faith the/of_the chosen_(ones) God’s and the/of_the knowledge the/of_the truth to/for Godblessedkeit,)

ClVg Paulus servus Dei, Apostolus autem Jesu Christi secundum fidem electorum Dei, et agnitionem veritatis, quæ secundum pietatem est[fn]
(Paulus servant of_God, Apostolus however Yesu of_Christ after/second faith of_the_elect of_God, and lambtionem to_the_truths, which after/second piety it_is )

1.1 Argumentum Titum commonefacit et instruit de constitutione presbyterii et de spirituali conversatione, et hæreticis vitandis, qui in traditionibus Judaicis credunt, scribens ei a Nicopoli. Paulus servus, etc. Conditione non tamen peccati misera servitute. sed Dei. Quidam nobilitate, qualiter Moyses et David servi sunt appellati, et Maria ancilla. Secundum fidem electi. Id est quam tenent vel qua salvantur electi Dei, et ideo per ea magis laborandum.

1.1 Argumentum Titum commonefacit and instructs from/about constitutione presbyterii and from/about spiritual conversation, and heretics vitandis, who/which in/into/on traditionibus Yudaicis they_believe, scribens to_him from Nicopoli. Paulus servant, etc. Conditione not/no nevertheless of_sin miserable servitude. but of_God. Some nobletate, how/as Moses and David slaves are appealsi, and Maria maid. After/Second faith chosen. That it_is how tenent or which saventur chosen of_God, and therefore/for_that_reason through them more workandum.

UGNT Παῦλος, δοῦλος Θεοῦ, ἀπόστολος δὲ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, κατὰ πίστιν ἐκλεκτῶν Θεοῦ, καὶ ἐπίγνωσιν ἀληθείας, τῆς κατ’ εὐσέβειαν
(Paulos, doulos Theou, apostolos de Yaʸsou Ⱪristou, kata pistin eklektōn Theou, kai epignōsin alaʸtheias, taʸs kat’ eusebeian)

SBL-GNT Παῦλος δοῦλος θεοῦ, ἀπόστολος δὲ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ κατὰ πίστιν ἐκλεκτῶν θεοῦ καὶ ἐπίγνωσιν ἀληθείας τῆς κατʼ εὐσέβειαν
(Paulos doulos theou, apostolos de Yaʸsou Ⱪristou kata pistin eklektōn theou kai epignōsin alaʸtheias taʸs katʼ eusebeian)

RP-GNT Παῦλος, δοῦλος θεοῦ, ἀπόστολος δὲ Ἰησοῦ χριστοῦ, κατὰ πίστιν ἐκλεκτῶν θεοῦ καὶ ἐπίγνωσιν ἀληθείας τῆς κατ' εὐσέβειαν,
(Paulos, doulos theou, apostolos de Yaʸsou ⱪristou, kata pistin eklektōn theou kai epignōsin alaʸtheias taʸs kat' eusebeian,)

TC-GNT Παῦλος, δοῦλος Θεοῦ, ἀπόστολος δὲ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, κατὰ πίστιν ἐκλεκτῶν Θεοῦ καὶ ἐπίγνωσιν ἀληθείας τῆς κατ᾽ εὐσέβειαν,
(Paulos, doulos Theou, apostolos de Yaʸsou Ⱪristou, kata pistin eklektōn Theou kai epignōsin alaʸtheias taʸs kat eusebeian, )

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, orange:accents differ, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 1:1–4: Greetings

In New Testament times, when a Christian wrote a letter, he usually began with three things. He wrote his own name and the name of anyone else who was sending the letter. Then he wrote the name of the person or people to whom he was sending the letter. And then he would give a Christian greeting. Paul included all three of these elements in his letter to Titus:

In 1:1–3, Paul introduced himself as the writer of the letter.
In 1:4a, he named Titus as the person receiving the letter.
1:4b contains Paul’s Christian greeting to Titus.

When people in your area write letters, they may use a different order. Perhaps they put the name of the writer at the end, as we do in English. However, when you translate Titus, you should keep the name of the writer, the name of the one receiving the letter, and the greeting in the opening section. Once you have decided on the best and most natural way to do this in your language, follow that way in all of Paul’s letters.

In Greek this section is one long sentence. Some English versions also translate it as just one sentence. However, you will probably want to break it up into several sentences as you try to express all the different ideas that Paul mentioned.

1:1a

Paul, a servant of God

¶ This letter is from Paul. I am a slave/servant of God
¶ I, Paul, am writing this letter. I serve God,

Paul: The apostle Paul was the writer of this letter. He began the letter with his name. In some languages it is not natural for a person to refer to himself only by his name, as Paul did here. If that is the case in your language, you may want to say:

I, Paul

Paul did not use a verb here. In some languages, it may be natural to supply a verb. For example:

I, Paul, am sending/writing this letter

This letter is from me, Paul

a servant of God: The Greek word that the BSB translates as servant normally refers to an unpaid servant or slave. Paul said that he was God’s slave. This implied that he belonged to God and that he served God by doing what God told him to do.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

a slave of God (NET)

a worker of/for God

I serve God

1:1b

and an apostle of Jesus Christ

and an apostle of Jesus Christ.
and I have been sent by Jesus Christ.

an apostle of Jesus Christ: The Greek word that the BSB translates as an apostle means “a messenger” or “a person who is sent on a mission.” It refers to a person who is given authority to do a task or give a message. This person represents the person who sent him and has his authority. In this context, Paul was sent by Jesus Christ to represent him and do the task that Jesus gave him.

Here are some ways to translate the phrase an apostle of Jesus Christ:

a person sent to speak/act on behalf of Jesus Christ

a special messenger from Jesus Christ

a representative of Jesus Christ

a man with authority from Jesus Christ

See how you translated apostle in Romans 1:1b, 1 Corinthians 1:1a and 1 Timothy 1:1b. Translate here in the same way that you did there. Be careful to choose different terms for “apostle,” “angel,” “elder,” and “prophet.”

of Jesus Christ: In the phrase Jesus Christ, Jesus is a personal name and Christ is a title. The title Christ is the Greek translation of the Hebrew word “Messiah.” Your translation should not imply that Christ is a surname.

To make it clear that Christ is a title, you may want to:

Put the title before the name. For example:
Christ Jesus
Translate it as “Messiah” or “the Messiah.” For example:
Messiah Jesus
Jesus the Messiah
Indicate in some other way that Christ is a title. One way to do this in English is to use the article “the” before a title. For example:
Jesus the Christ

1:1c

for the faith of God’s elect

I have been sent to strengthen the faith of those whom God has chosen
He sent me to help God’s chosen people trust/believe in him

for the faith of God’s elect: The Greek conjunction that the BSB translates as for here probably indicates purpose. It introduces Jesus’ purpose in choosing Paul to be his apostle. Scholars have interpreted the phrase for the faith of God’s elect in at least two ways:

It means that Paul was made an apostle to help believers to believe more strongly in Jesus. For example:
to help the faith of God’s chosen people (NCV) (BSB, NIV, GNT, NET, CEV, NCV, RSV)
It means that Paul was made an apostle in order to explain the gospel to people who were not yet believers, so that they would begin to believe. For example:
to lead God’s chosen people to faith (GW) (NJB, NLT, GW)

Both were Paul’s job, and we cannot be certain which one Paul was focusing on here. If you can translate this verse so that it can mean both things, you may do so. If you must make a choice, it is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because the term God’s elect most naturally refers to those who are already Christians.Of the two interpretations given for 1:1c, probably the first is closer to Paul’s meaning. In this letter to Titus, Paul talks about teaching believers true teachings and how believers should behave. So it is more likely that in 1:1c he is talking about helping believers to believe more strongly. Also, in other places in the NT, the word elect (Greek: eklektos) refers to people who are already believers (for example, see Colossians 3:12, 1 Peter 1:1–2, 2:9, Revelation 17:14).

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

in order to encourage the faith of God’s chosen ones

for the sake of the faith of God’s elect (NRSV)

In some languages it may be natural to supply a verb and translate this as a complete sentence. For example:

I was sent to help the faith of God’s chosen people (NCV)

I encourage God’s own people to have more faith (CEV)

God’s elect: This phrase refers to the people whom God chose to believe in him and be his special people.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

those chosen of God (NASB)

those chosen by God

the people whom God chose to be his own/special people

1:1d

and their knowledge of the truth

and to increase their knowledge of what is true.
and learn more about the true teaching/message.

and their knowledge of the truth: This phrase indicates the second purpose for which Paul was made an apostle. Paul was also made an apostle in order to help God’s chosen people know the truth better. The word truth refers to the gospel message, that is, the teachings of Christianity and the truth about Jesus Christ and his work.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

and to strengthen their knowledge of the true things about Jesus

and to help them know the truth (NCV)

In some languages it may be natural to translate this as a separate sentence. For example:

I teach them to understand his true message (EASY)

1:1e

that leads to godliness,

This will teach/help them to live as God wants them to live.
This true teaching/message will guide them to act/behave in a way that honors/pleases God.

that leads to godliness: There are two ways to interpret the Greek word that the BSB translates as godliness:

It means a way of life that pleases God. For example:
that shows people how to serve God (NCV) (BSB, NIV, ESV, RSV, NET, GW, NLT, NCV, KJV, NASB)
It means religion. For example:
taught by our religion (GNT) (GNT, CEV, NJB, REB, NABRE)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). Paul was saying that this true teaching causes people to behave in a way that honors God.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

that shows them how to live godly lives (NLT)

As a result they will live in a way that pleases God. (EASY)

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

κατὰ πίστιν ἐκλεκτῶν Θεοῦ καὶ ἐπίγνωσιν ἀληθείας

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Παῦλος δοῦλος Θεοῦ ἀπόστολος δέ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ κατά πίστιν ἐκλεκτῶν Θεοῦ καί ἐπίγνωσιν ἀληθείας τῆς κατʼ εὐσέβειαν)

The words faith, knowledge, and truth are abstract nouns. If it would be more clear in your language, you could express those ideas in another way. Alternate translation: [to help God’s chosen people to continue to trust him and to know every true thing]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

ἐκλεκτῶν Θεοῦ

˱of˲_˓the˒_chosen_‹ones› ˱of˲_God

If your language does not use this passive form, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: [of the people whom God has chosen]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

καὶ ἐπίγνωσιν ἀληθείας

Paul is leaving out some of the words that in many languages a sentence would need in order to be complete. You could supply these words from earlier in the sentence if it would be clearer in your language. Alternate translation: [and for their knowledge of the truth] or [and so that the chosen people of God might know the truth]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

τῆς κατ’ εὐσέβειαν

which_‹is› according_to devoutness

Here, godliness is an abstract noun that refers to living in a way that pleases God. Alternate translation: [that is suitable for honoring God]

Parallel TIT 1:1

Section 1:1–4: Greetings

1:1a

1:1b

1:1c

1:1d

1:1e