3:7a-c
There are two main ways to understand the structure of 3:7a-c:
(1) The words “having been justified” indicate the basis or grounds for God making us his heirs. For example:
And so, since we have been justified by his grace, we become heirs with the confident expectation of eternal life (NET Bible)
(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version (2011 Revision), English Standard Version, King James Version, New American Standard Bible, NET Bible, New Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible, New Century Version, New Jerusalem Bible)
(2) The words “having been justified” are part of God’s purpose. For example:
so that we might be justified by his grace
Paragraph 3:8
3:8 provides a link between paragraph 3:3–7 and the next paragraph, 3:9–11. It concludes the teachings in 3:4–7 with an assurance that these teachings are true and a command to Titus to emphasize them. Then, in 3:8d, Paul said that these teachings were “excellent and profitable,” in contrast with the “foolish” and “pointless” teachings he would talk about in 3:9–11.
Different translations start the new paragraph at different places. Because this paragraph is a link between two other paragraphs, it may be best to make it a paragraph by itself, as a number of English versions have done (for example, Good News Bible, New Century Version). You should put the paragraph breaks wherever is most helpful to your readers.
3:8a
This saying is trustworthy: This phrase refers back to what Paul has just written, probably 3:4–7, but possibly 3:1-7. Here are some other ways to translate this:
This is doctrine that you can rely on. (New Jerusalem Bible)
saying: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as saying is literally “word, message.” It refers to what Paul had just been writing in the previous paragraph. It does not refer to just one word or one statement.
trustworthy: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as trustworthy means “reliable,” “sure,” “certain to be true,” “something you can trust.” Paul was telling Titus that he could depend on and trust what he has just told him.
3:8b
And I want you: The phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as And I want you is a way of introducing a request or polite command. You can translate it as:
And so I request that
-or-
And so you should
-or-
And please
to emphasize: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as to emphasize means “to insist on” or “to stress.” This verb is in the present tense, which means that Paul wanted Titus to do this frequently or regularly, that is, to keep on emphasizing these matters.
In some languages it may be necessary to indicate to whom Titus was “to emphasize these things.” If this is the case in your language, you could say that Titus was to emphasize these teachings to the believers in Crete, who are mentioned in the following verse part, 3:8c. For example:
I want you to insist on these things to those who have trusted in God
these things: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as these things refers back to the same teachings as 3:8a, that is, the teachings Paul had just given in 3:4–7. You can also translate this phrase as:
these matters
-or-
these teachings
-or-
these instructions
3:8c
so that: The Greek word the Berean Standard Bible translates as so that here introduces the purpose or desired result of Paul’s instructions. Paul wanted Titus to emphasize his teachings in order that the believers in Crete would live in a right way.
those who have believed God: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as who have believed God refers to Christian believers in Crete. They were people who had trusted God to save them through Jesus Christ. If you have supplied an explicit description of them in 3:8b, here you may just refer back to them with a pronoun such as “they/them.”
will take care to devote themselves to good deeds: This long phrase indicates that Paul wanted the believers to think seriously about how to practice good works. He wanted them to consider carefully how they could do good to others and make a strong effort to do so.
Here are some other ways to translate this:
will be careful to use their lives for doing good (New Century Version)
-or-
will be sure to do good deeds (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
may be intent on engaging in good works (NET Bible)
to good deeds: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as good deeds is literally “good works.” See the comment on this in the note on 2:7a.
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
good works (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
good things (God’s Word)
-or-
good deeds (Good News Bible)
3:8d
These things are excellent and profitable for the people: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as These things refers to the advice and doctrinal truths that Paul had written about in the preceding verses, 3:4–7, or possibly 3:1–7. Here are some other ways to translate this verse part:
These things are good and will help everyone. (New Century Version)
-or-
These things are good and beneficial for all people. (NET Bible)
excellent: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as excellent means “good.”
profitable: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as profitable means “helpful, useful, beneficial.”
for the people: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as for the people is literally “for men.” This is, however, a use of “men” that refers to people in general.
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