What does Titus 3:3 mean?

For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. Titus 3:3

Explanation

Titus 3:3 reflects on the past condition of believers before they experienced the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit. The verse candidly lists a number of vices and negative behaviors that were once characteristic of those who now follow Christ. These behaviors include foolishness, disobedience, deception, serving diverse lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, and being hateful and hating one another. This verse serves as a reminder of the transformation that has occurred in the lives of believers through God’s mercy and the influence of the Holy Spirit. It underscores the universal sinful nature and the commonality of human failings before being renewed by faith.

Historical Context

Titus was a companion of the Apostle Paul, and the Book of Titus is one of the Pastoral Epistles in the New Testament. Paul wrote this letter to guide Titus in his leadership of the churches in Crete during the first century A.D. The historical context is the early Christian church within the Greco-Roman world, where various religious beliefs and moral standards were prevalent. These emerging Christian communities were affected by both Judaizer influences, which attempted to impose Jewish laws on Christians, and licentious Greco-Roman practices. This verse provides a contrast to the life believers led before conversion in comparison to the life they are called to live as Christians.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, this verse touches on several critical concepts:

1. Human Depravity: It acknowledges the innate sinfulness of humanity, indicating a universal need for redemption.
2. Transformation: The stark description of the pre-Christian state emphasizes the dramatic change that Christian conversion is believed to bring about.
3. Grace: Implicit in this reflection is the idea that such transformation is not due to human merit but to the grace of God through Christ.

Different theological traditions interpret these concepts with varying emphases. For example, Calvinists might use this verse to support the doctrine of Total Depravity, while Arminians might highlight God’s prevenient grace that enables free will to accept salvation.

Practical Applications

The practical applications of Titus 3:3 are numerous:

1. Humility: It serves as a reminder for believers not to be prideful, remembering their own past imperfections.
2. Empathy: Encourages empathy toward non-believers, understanding that they are in a condition that believers once shared.
3. Motivation for Evangelism: It may motivate believers to share their faith, recalling the positive change in their own lives.
4. Forgiveness: This verse can inspire forgiveness, knowing everyone has the capacity for negative behaviors.

Cross-References

• Ephesians 2:1-3 – “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience…”
• 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 – “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived… And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified…”
• Romans 3:23 – “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”

Language Study

Key words in the original Greek language of this verse include:

• “foolish” (ἀνόητοι – anoētoi): Lacking understanding or perception, often used to describe someone who is morally and spiritually insensitive.
• “disobedient” (ἀπειθεῖς – apeitheis): Unwilling to be persuaded or to obey; unruly.
• “deceived” (πλανώμενοι – planomenoi): Being led astray or wandering.
• “serving” (δουλεύοντες – douleuontes): To be in bondage or servitude, emphasizing the control these vices had over individuals.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In ancient mythology, themes of transformation and redemption are common, but the Christian idea of moral regeneration is distinct. Greco-Roman myths often depicted the capriciousness of gods and the inevitability of fate, whereas the Christian narrative of Titus emphasizes the possibility of fundamental moral change through divine intervention.

Scientific Perspectives

Scientific perspectives would approach the concept of behavioral change from psychological and sociological angles, examining how beliefs, community, and individual experiences contribute to behavioral transformation. However, the supernatural aspect of change described in Titus 3:3 transcends empirical scientific underpinnings.

Commentaries

Various experts and biblical commentators interpret this verse in diverse ways. John Stott emphasizes the grace of God in Christian transformation, Matthew Henry speaks of the darkness of man’s natural condition, and William Barclay highlights the radical turn from self-centeredness to God-centeredness. These commentaries often focus on the merciful nature of God’s saving action in the midst of human sinfulness.