Titus 3 · Verse 2

Titus 3:2

To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.
Titus 3:2, King James Version

Titus 3:2 in other translations

BSBto malign no one, and to be peaceable and gentle, showing full consideration to everyone.
WEBto speak evil of no one, not to be contentious, to be gentle, showing all humility toward all men.
ASVto speak evil of no man, not to be contentious, to be gentle, showing all meekness toward all men.
YLTof no one to speak evil, not to be quarrelsome--gentle, showing all meekness to all men,
DARBYto speak evil of no one, not to be contentious, to be mild, shewing all meekness towards all men.
BBETo say no evil of any man, not to be fighters, to give way to others, to be gentle in behaviour to all men.
WebsterTo speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, showing all meekness to all men.

What does Titus 3:2 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
2. To speak evil of no man--especially, not of "dignities" and magistrates. no brawlers--"not quarrelsome," not attacking others. gentle--towards those who attack us. Yielding, considerate, not urging one's rights to the uttermost, but forbearing and kindly (see on Php 4:5). Very different from the innate greediness and spirit of aggression towards others which characterized the Cretans. showing--in acts. all--all possible. meekness--(See on 2Co 10:1); the opposite of passionate severity. unto all men--The duty of Christian conduct towards all men is the proper consequence of the universality of God's grace to all men, so often set forth in the pastoral Epistles.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 2. To speak evil of no man. Gr., "to blaspheme (βλασφημειν, compare Mt 9:3) no one." Doddridge renders it, "Calumniate no one." The idea is, that we are not to slander, revile, or defame any one. We are not to say anything to any one, or of any one, which will do him injury. We are never to utter anything which we know to be false about him, or to give such a colouring to his words or conduct as to do him wrong in any way. We should always so speak to him and of him in such a way that he will have no reason to complain that he is an injured man. It may be necessary, when we are called to state what we know of his character, to say things which are not at all in his favour, or things which he has said or done that were wrong; but

(1.) we should never do this for the purpose of doing him injury, or so as to find a pleasure in it; and

(2.) where it is necessary to make the statement, it should be so as to do him no injustice. We should give no improper colouring. We should exaggerate no circumstance. We should never attempt to express ourselves about his motives, or charge on him bad motives--for we know not what his motives were. We should state every palliating circumstance of which we have knowledge, and do entire justice to it. We should not make the bad traits of his character prominent, and pass over all that is good. In a word, we should show that we would rather find him to be a good man than a bad man--even if the result should be that we had been mistaken in our opinions. It is better that we should have been mistaken, than that he should be a bad man.

To be no brawlers. 1Timm 3:3. The same Greek word occurs in both places. It is not elsewhere found in the New Testament.

But gentle. The word here used is rendered moderation in Php 4:5; patient in 1Timm 3:3, and elsewhere gentle. 1Timm 3:3.

Showing all meekness unto all men. In the reception of injuries. Mt 5:6, Eph 4:2.

(b) "all meekness" Eph 4:2

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 2 To speak evil of no man - Μηδενα βλασφημειν· To blaspheme no person, to reproach none, to speak nothing to any man's injury; but, on the contrary, bearing reproach and contumely with patience and meekness.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Titus 3:1-7

Spiritual privileges do not make void or weaken, but confirm civil duties. Mere good words and good meanings are not enough without good works. They were not to be quarrelsome, but to show meekness on all occasions, not toward friends only, but to all men, though with wisdom, Jas 3:13. And let this text teach us how wrong it is for a Christian to be churlish to the worst, weakest, and most abject. The servants of…

Read the full comment on Titus 3:1-7 →

Titus 3:2 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.

μηδέναmēdenano oneG3367
βλασφημεῖν,blasphēmeinto denigrate,G987
ἀμάχουςamachouspeaceableG269
εἶναι,einaito be,G1511
ἐπιεικεῖς,epieikeisgentle,G1933
πᾶσανpasanallG3956
ἐνδεικνυμένουςendeiknumenousshowingG1731
πραΰτηταprautētahumilityG4236
πρὸςprostowardG4314
πάνταςpantasallG3956
ἀνθρώπους.anthrōpousmen.G444

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

Cross references for Titus 3:2

  • Ephesians 4:31

    Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:

  • 2 Timothy 2:24-25

    And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;

  • Ephesians 4:2

    With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

  • Colossians 3:12-13

    Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

  • 1 Timothy 3:3

    Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;

  • 1 Peter 3:10

    For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:

  • 1 Peter 3:8

    Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:

  • Matthew 11:29

    Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

  • Galatians 5:22

    But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

  • 1 Peter 2:17-18

    Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king. Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.

  • James 4:11

    Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.

  • Galatians 6:10

    As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
speak.
Ps 140:11; Pr 6:19; Ac 23:5; 1Co 6:10; 2Co 12:20; Eph 4:31
1Ti 3:11; Jas 4:11; 1Pe 2:1; 3:10; 4:4; 2Pe 2:10; Jude 1:8,10
no.
Pr 19:19; 25:24; 1Ti 3:3; 2Ti 2:24,25
gentle.
2Sa 22:36; Isa 40:11; Mt 11:29; 2Co 10:1; Ga 5:22; 6:1; Eph 4:2
Php 4:5; Col 3:12,13; 1Th 2:7; 2Ti 2:24,25; Jas 1:19,20; 3:17
1Pe 3:8
all men.
1Co 9:19; Ga 6:10; 1Th 5:14,15; 1Pe 2:17

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

Context

  • Titus 3:1

    Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,

  • Titus 3:2

    To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.

  • Titus 3:3

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

Read all of Titus 3

Titus 3:2 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Que á nadie infamen, que no sean pendencieros, sino modestos, mostrando toda mansedumbre para con todos los hombres.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		de n’injurier personne, de n’être pas querelleurs, mais modérés, montrant toute douceur envers tous les hommes.
German
Elberfelder 1871		niemand zu lästern, nicht streitsüchtig zu sein, gelinde, alle Sanftmut erweisend gegen alle Menschen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		neminem blasphemare, non litigiosos esse, sed modestos, omnem ostendentes mansuetudinem ad omnes homines.