Titus 1 · Verse 9

Titus 1:9

Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
Titus 1:9, King James Version

Titus 1:9 in other translations

BSBHe must hold firmly to the faithful word as it was taught, so that he can encourage others by sound teaching and refute those who contradict it.
WEBholding to the faithful word which is according to the teaching, that he may be able to exhort in the sound doctrine, and to convict those who contradict him.
ASVholding to the faithful word which is according to the teaching, that he may be able both to exhort in the sound doctrine, and to convict the gainsayers.
YLTholding--according to the teaching--to the stedfast word, that he may be able also to exhort in the sound teaching, and the gainsayers to convict;
DARBYclinging to the faithful word according to the doctrine taught, that he may be able both to encourage with sound teaching and refute gainsayers.
BBEKeeping to the true word of the teaching, so that he may be able to give comfort by right teaching and overcome the arguments of the doubters.
WebsterHolding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.

What does Titus 1:9 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
9. Holding fast--Holding firmly to (compare Mt 6:24; Lu 16:13). the faithful--true and trustworthy (1Ti 1:15). word as he has been taught--literally, "the word (which is) according to the teaching" which he has received (compare 1Ti 4:6, end; 2Ti 3:14). by--Translate as Greek, "to exhort in doctrine (instruction) which is sound"; sound doctrine or instruction is the element IN which his exhorting is to have place ... On "sound" (peculiar to the Pastoral Epistles), see 1Ti 1:10; 6:3. convince--rather, "reprove" [Alford], (Tit 1:13).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 9. Holding fast the faithful word. That is, the true doctrines of the gospel. This means, that he is to hold this fast, in opposition to one who would wrest it away, and in opposition to all false teachers, and to all systems of false philosophy. He must be a man who is firm in his belief of the doctrines of the Christian faith, and a man who can be relied on to maintain and defend those doctrines in all circumstances. Comp. 2Thes 2:15.

As he hath been taught. Marg., in teaching. Gr., "according to the teaching." The sense is, according to that doctrine as taught by the inspired teachers of religion. It does not mean as he had individually been taught; but he was to hold the faith as it was delivered by those whom the Saviour had appointed to make it known to mankind. The phrase, "the doctrine," or "the teaching," had a sort of technical meaning, denoting the gospel as that which had been communicated to mankind, not by human reason, but by teaching.

That he may be able by sound doctrine. By sound teaching, or instruction. 1Timm 1:10; 1Timm 4:16. He was not to dictate, or to denounce; but to seek to convince by the statement of the truth. 2Ti 2:25.

Both to exhort and to convince. To persuade them, or to bring them over to your views by kind exhortation, and by the instruction which shall convince. The former method is to be used where men know the truth, but need encouragement to follow it; the latter, where they are ignorant, or are opposed to it. Both exhortation and argument are to be used by the ministers of religion.

The gainsayers. Opposers. Literally, those who speak against; that is, against the truth. Rom 10:21.

(f) "Holding fast" 2Thes 2:15 (3) "as he hath been taught" "in teaching"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 9 Holding fast the faithful word - Conscientiously retaining, and zealously maintaining, the true Christian doctrine, κατα την διδαχην, according to the instructions, or according to the institutions, form of sound doctrine, or confession of faith, which I have delivered to thee. That he may be able by sound doctrine - If the doctrine be not sound, vain is the profession of it, and vain its influence. It is good to be zealously affected in a good thing; but zeal for what is not of God will do no good to the souls of men, how sincere soever that zeal may be. To exhort - Them to hold the faith, that they may persevere. And to convince - Refute the objections, confound the sophistry, and convert the gainsayers; and thus defend the truth.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Titus 1:5-9

The character and qualification of pastors, here called elders and bishops, agree with what the apostle wrote to Timothy. Being such bishops and overseers of the flock, to be examples to them, and God's stewards to take care of the affairs of his household, there is great reason that they should be blameless. What they are not to be, is plainly shown, as well as what they are to be, as servants of Christ, and able…

Read the full comment on Titus 1:5-9 →

Titus 1:9 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ἀντεχόμενονantechomenonholdingG472
τοῦtou<the>G3588
κατὰkataaccording toG2596
τὴνtēntheG3588
διδαχὴνdidachēnteachingG1322
πιστοῦpistouof [the] faithfulG4103
λόγου,logouword,G3056
ἵναinathatG2443
δυνατὸςdunatosableG1415
ᾖēhe may beG1510
καὶkaibothG2532
παρακαλεῖνparakaleinto encourageG3870
ἐνenwithG1722
τῇtēa<the>G3588
διδασκαλίᾳdidaskaliateachingG1319
τῇtēa<the>G3588
ὑγιαινούσῃhugiainousēsoundG5198
καὶkaiandG2532
τοὺςtousthoseG3588
ἀντιλέγονταςantilegontascontradicting [it]G483
ἐλέγχειν.¶elegcheinto convict.G1651

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Titus 1:9

  • 2 Thessalonians 2:15

    Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.

  • 2 Timothy 1:13

    Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

  • 1 Timothy 6:3

    If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;

  • 1 Timothy 1:10

    For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;

  • Revelation 3:3

    Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.

  • Revelation 3:11

    Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.

  • 1 Timothy 1:15

    This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

  • 1 Corinthians 14:24

    But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:

  • 2 Timothy 2:2

    And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

  • Proverbs 23:23

    Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.

  • Acts 18:28

    For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.

  • 2 Timothy 4:3

    For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Holding.
Job 2:3; 27:6; Pr 23:23; 1Th 5:21; 2Th 2:15; 2Ti 1:13; Jude 1:3
Re 2:25; 3:3,11
fast.
1Ti 1:15; 4:9; 6:3; 2Ti 2:2
as he hath been taught. or, in teaching. sound.
2:1,7,8; 1Ti 1:10; 6:3; 2Ti 4:3
to convince.
11; Ac 18:28; 1Co 14:24; 2Ti 2:25

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Titus 1:8

    But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;

  • Titus 1:9

    Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.

  • Titus 1:10

    For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:

Read all of Titus 1

Titus 1:9 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Retenedor de la fiel palabra que es conforme á la doctrina: para que también pueda exhortar con sana doctrina, y convencer á los que contradijeren.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		tenant ferme la fidèle parole selon la doctrine, afin qu’il soit capable, tant d’exhorter par un sain enseignement, que de réfuter les contredisants.
German
Elberfelder 1871		anhangend dem zuverlässigen Worte nach der Lehre, auf daß er fähig sei, sowohl mit der gesunden Lehre zu ermahnen, als auch die Widersprechenden zu überführen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		amplectentem eum, qui secundum doctrinam est, fidelem sermonem: ut potens sit exhortari in doctrina sana, et eos qui contradicunt, arguere.