1:9
In 1:6–8 Paul said that church leaders must behave in a way that pleases God. Now in 1:9 he wrote that church leaders must think and teach correctly about the gospel.
This is the last part of Paul’s list of requirements for church leaders. If it is natural in your language, you could begin 1:9 with a linking word such as “Finally.”
1:9a
He must hold firmly to the faithful word: Many English versions begin this verse with the pronoun He. It refers to the people whom Titus was to appoint as elders. Paul has been talking about these people since 1:5b. If you use a pronoun here, you need to check that it is clear that these people are still being referred to. If it is not clear, you will need to use a noun like “an elder” (see New Century Version). In some languages it may be more natural to use a plural form.
Here are some other ways to translate this clause:
He must hold firmly to the faithful message (NET Bible)
-or-
He must be devoted to the trustworthy message (God’s Word)
-or-
He must have a strong belief in the trustworthy message (New Living Translation (2004 Revision))
hold firmly: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as hold firmly means to believe strongly and persistently in something. It refers to holding something in one’s mind rather that in one’s physical body. Use the expression that is natural in your language for faithful belief in something.
the faithful word: This phrase refers to the gospel teachings about Jesus Christ. The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as faithful means “reliable” or “sure.” It refers to something that is true and does not change. Paul was saying that the gospel is something that people can trust and depend on.
The phrase faithful word also occurs in 3:8, 1 Timothy 1:15, 1 Timothy 4:9; 2 Timothy 2:11.
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
the teachings that are true
-or-
the good news that does not change
-or-
the true message (Contemporary English Version)
as it was taught: Paul said that elders should strongly believe the gospel as it was taught. A literal English translation of the Greek is “according to the teaching.” Paul is saying that the church leaders must firmly believe the same teaching about Jesus Christ that he and the other apostles taught. They must not change those teachings.
This clause is passive. There are several ways to translate it:
• Use a passive verb. For example:
he was taught (New Living Translation (2004 Revision))
• Use an active verb. The subject could be Paul and the other apostles (exclusive of Titus), or Paul and his fellow workers (inclusive of Titus). For example:
as we(excl) apostles taught it to you(sing)
-or-
just as we(incl) taught it to him/them
1:9b
so that he can encourage others by sound teaching: The conjunction so that here introduces Paul’s purposes in giving his instruction in 1:9a. This verse part gives the first purpose. If it is natural to do so in your language, you could begin a new sentence here. For example:
He must do this so that he can encourage others by teaching doctrine that is true.
In some languages it may be natural to translate this purpose clause as a clause that indicates the expected result. For example:
Then he can use these accurate teachings to encourage people. (God’s Word)
-or-
Then he will be able to encourage others with wholesome teaching. (New Living Translation (2004 Revision))
-or-
In this way he will be able to encourage others with the true teaching (Good News Bible)
he can encourage others: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as encourage does not have an explicit object. The Berean Standard Bible has supplied the object others. In some languages it may be natural to supply a different object. For example:
overseers can help people (New Century Version)
by sound teaching: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as sound means “healthy, wholesome.” Here it is used figuratively to describe a body of teaching that is true or correct. This kind of teaching is spiritually health-giving. It helps believers to become healthy in their minds and spirits and to think and act in a way that pleases God.
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
with the true teaching (Good News Bible)
-or-
with wholesome teaching (New Century Version)
teaching: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as teaching means “teaching/instruction.” Here it refers to the true teaching about Jesus.
1:9c
and refute those who contradict it: This is another purpose for Paul’s instruction that an elder should firmly believe the trustworthy message about Jesus. There will be people who contradict the message and refuse to believe it. An elder is to firmly believe the gospel so that he can refute those people. To refute them means to show them that they are wrong.
Here are some other ways to translate this clause:
and also to show the error of those who are opposed to it (Good News Bible)
-or-
and show those who oppose it where they are wrong (New Living Translation (2004 Revision))
-or-
and show those who are against the true teaching that they are wrong
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All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible. BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.