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Contemporary English Version

Titus 2:8

Use clean language that no one can criticize. Do this, and your enemies will be too ashamed to say anything against you.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Example;   Minister, Christian;   Thompson Chain Reference - Conversation;   Men;   Silence-Speech;   Silenced, Men;   Speech;   The Topic Concordance - Conduct;   Sobriety;   Speech/communication;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Temptation;   Tongue;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Shame;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Condemn;   Health;   Typology;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Evil Speaking;   Knop;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Adversary;   Condemnation;   Example;   Godliness;   Love;   Shame ;   Timothy and Titus Epistles to;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - 42 Evil Wicked;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Papyrus;   Text and Manuscripts of the New Testament;  

Devotionals:

- Every Day Light - Devotion for October 26;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Your message is to be sound beyond reproach, so that any opponent will be ashamed, because he doesn’t have anything bad to say about us.
King James Version (1611)
Sound speech that cannot be condemned, that hee that is of the contrarie part, may bee ashamed, hauing no euill thing to say of you.
King James Version
Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.
English Standard Version
and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.
New American Standard Bible
sound in speech which is beyond reproach, so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us.
New Century Version
Speak the truth so that you cannot be criticized. Then those who are against you will be ashamed because there is nothing bad to say about us.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
sound in speech which is beyond reproach, so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us.
Legacy Standard Bible
sound in word which is irreproachable, so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us.
Berean Standard Bible
and wholesome speech that is above reproach, so that anyone who opposes us will be ashamed that he has nothing bad to say about us.
Complete Jewish Bible
let everything you say be so wholesome that an opponent will be put to shame because he will have nothing bad to say about us.
Darby Translation
a sound word, not to be condemned; that he who is opposed may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say about us:
Easy-to-Read Version
And your teaching should be clearly right so that you cannot be criticized. Then anyone who is against you will be ashamed. There will not be anything bad they can say about us.
Geneva Bible (1587)
And with the wholesome woorde, which can not be condemned, that hee which withstandeth, may be ashamed, hauing nothing concerning you to speake euill of.
George Lamsa Translation
Choose sound words that are instructive so that no man can point the finger of scorn at us, and so that he who is against us may be shamed, when he can find nothing evil to say about us.
Good News Translation
Use sound words that cannot be criticized, so that your enemies may be put to shame by not having anything bad to say about us.
Lexham English Bible
a sound message beyond reproach, in order that an opponent may be put to shame, because he has nothing bad to say concerning us.
Literal Translation
in sound speech, without condemnation, that he of opposition may he ashamed, having nothing bad to say about you.
Amplified Bible
sound and beyond reproach in instruction, so that the opponent [of the faith] will be shamed, having nothing bad to say about us.
American Standard Version
sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of us.
Bible in Basic English
Saying true and right words, against which no protest may be made, so that he who is not on our side may be put to shame, unable to say any evil of us.
Hebrew Names Version
and soundness of speech that can't be condemned; that he who opposes you may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say about us.
International Standard Version
Use wholesome speech that cannot be condemned. Then any opponent will be ashamed because he cannot say anything bad about us.Nehemiah 5:9; 2 Thessalonians 3:14; 1 Timothy 5:14; 6:3; 1 Peter 2:12,15; 3:16;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
and which no man will despise, that he who riseth against us may be ashamed when he cannot say any thing hateful against us.
Murdock Translation
such as is sober and uncorrupt; and let no one despise it: so that he who riseth up against us, may be ashamed, seeing he can say nothing odious against us.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Wholsome worde, vnrebukeable, that he which withstandeth, may be ashamed, hauyng no euyll thyng to say of you.
English Revised Version
sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of us.
World English Bible
and soundness of speech that can't be condemned; that he who opposes you may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say about us.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
that he who is on the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of us.
Weymouth's New Testament
and healthy language which no one can censure, so that our opponents may feel ashamed at having nothing evil to say against us.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
An hoolsum word, and vnrepreuable; that he that is of the contrarie side, be aschamed, hauynge noon yuel thing to seie of you.
Update Bible Version
sound speech, that can't be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of us.
Webster's Bible Translation
Sound speech that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say concerning you.
New English Translation
and a sound message that cannot be criticized, so that any opponent will be at a loss, because he has nothing evil to say about us.
New King James Version
sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you. [fn]
New Living Translation
Teach the truth so that your teaching can't be criticized. Then those who oppose us will be ashamed and have nothing bad to say about us.
New Life Bible
You should be wise in what you say. Then the one who is against you will be ashamed and will not be able to say anything bad about you.
New Revised Standard
and sound speech that cannot be censured; then any opponent will be put to shame, having nothing evil to say of us.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
healthful discourse that cannot be condemned, in order that, he that is of the contrary part, may relent, having nothing to say concerning us that is disparaging:
Douay-Rheims Bible
The sound word that can not be blamed: that he who is on the contrary part may be afraid, having no evil to say of us.
Revised Standard Version
and sound speech that cannot be censured, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say of us.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
worde which cannot be rebuked that he which withstondeth maye be a shamed havynge no thinge in you yt he maye disprayse.
Young's Literal Translation
discourse sound, irreprehensible, that he who is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say concerning you.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
worde which can not be rebuked: that he which withstodeth maye be ashamed, hauynge nothinge in you that he maye disprayse.
Mace New Testament (1729)
gravity; let your doctrine be sound and inoffensive, that your opponents may be ashamed, and have nothing that is ill to say of us.
Simplified Cowboy Version
Teach nothing except the truth and then, even when you are criticized, your critics won't have a leg to stand on. They'll end up making fools of themselves when they fall.

Contextual Overview

1 Titus, you must teach only what is correct. 2 Tell the older men to have self-control and to be serious and sensible. Their faith, love, and patience must never fail. 3 Tell the older women to behave as those who love the Lord should. They must not gossip about others or be slaves of wine. They must teach what is proper, 4 so the younger women will be loving wives and mothers. 5 Each of the younger women must be sensible and kind, as well as a good homemaker, who puts her own husband first. Then no one can say insulting things about God's message. 6 Tell the young men to have self-control in everything. 7 Always set a good example for others. Be sincere and serious when you teach. 8 Use clean language that no one can criticize. Do this, and your enemies will be too ashamed to say anything against you. 9 Tell slaves always to please their owners by obeying them in everything. Slaves must not talk back to their owners 10 or steal from them. They must be completely honest and trustworthy. Then everyone will show great respect for what is taught about God our Savior.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Sound: Mark 12:17, Mark 12:28, Mark 12:32, Mark 12:34, 1 Timothy 6:3

that he: Nehemiah 5:9, 1 Timothy 5:14, 1 Peter 2:12, 1 Peter 2:15, 1 Peter 3:16

may: Isaiah 66:5, Luke 13:17, 2 Thessalonians 3:14

having: Philippians 2:14-16

Reciprocal: Nehemiah 6:13 - that Job 11:3 - make thee Job 16:3 - what emboldeneth Psalms 119:39 - Turn Proverbs 10:32 - know Daniel 6:4 - but Matthew 5:19 - do Matthew 17:27 - lest Matthew 18:7 - unto Matthew 26:60 - found none Luke 4:22 - the gracious Acts 26:25 - words Romans 2:24 - the name 1 Thessalonians 2:10 - how 1 Thessalonians 4:12 - ye may walk 1 Timothy 3:7 - lest 1 Timothy 6:1 - that the 2 Timothy 1:13 - the form Titus 1:9 - sound 2 Peter 2:2 - pernicious ways

Cross-References

Genesis 2:8
The Lord made a garden in a place called Eden, which was in the east, and he put the man there.
Genesis 2:9
The Lord God placed all kinds of beautiful trees and fruit trees in the garden. Two other trees were in the middle of the garden. One of the trees gave life—the other gave the power to know the difference between right and wrong.
Genesis 3:24
Then God put winged creatures at the entrance to the garden and a flaming, flashing sword to guard the way to the life-giving tree.
Genesis 4:16
But Cain had to go far from the Lord and live in the Land of Wandering, which is east of Eden.
Genesis 13:10
This happened before the Lord had destroyed the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. And when Lot looked around, he saw there was plenty of water in the Jordan Valley. All the way to Zoar the valley was as green as the garden of the Lord or the land of Egypt.
2 Kings 19:12
The Assyrian kings before me destroyed the towns of Gozan, Haran, Rezeph, and everyone from Eden who lived in Telassar. What good did their gods do them?
Isaiah 51:3
Though Zion is in ruins, the Lord will bring comfort, and the city will be as lovely as the garden of Eden that he provided. Then Zion will celebrate; it will be thankful and sing joyful songs.
Ezekiel 27:23
You also did business with merchants from the cities of Haran, Canneh, Eden, Sheba, Asshur, and Chilmad,
Ezekiel 28:13
You lived in the garden of Eden and wore jewelry made of brightly colored gems and precious stones. They were all set in gold and were ready for you on the day you were born.
Ezekiel 31:16
This tree will crash to the ground, and I will send it to the world below. Then the nations of the earth will tremble. The trees from Eden and the choice trees from Lebanon are now in the world of the dead, and they will be comforted when this tree falls.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Sound speech that cannot be condemned,.... In the public ministry, the wholesome words of our Lord Jesus should be used, and the doctrines of the Gospel be expressed, as near as can be, in the words which the Holy Ghost teacheth, and not in the enticing words of man's wisdom; such speech or language should be chosen, that is plain, easy, and acceptable, and conveys just ideas of things; and which being agreeable to the Scriptures of truth, and the analogy of faith, cannot be justly found fault with: or this may refer to private conversation, in which no rotten speech, or corrupt communication should proceed out of the mouth; nothing but what is pure, sound, graceful, and edifying; no filthiness, nor foolish talking and jesting, which are not convenient, and are rightly condemned.

That he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed: that is, that he who is on the other side of the question, who opposes the truths of the Gospel, and is an adversary to them; whether he be an Heathen philosopher, or a Jewish Rabbi, or a judaizing teacher, or an heretical man, under the Christian name, may be put to shame and confusion; partly on account of that uncorruptness in doctrine and conversation, which he observes in the true and faithful ministers of the word, and is wanting in himself; and so being convinced, may be converted and brought to repentance, and to the acknowledgment of the truth; and partly on the account of the false charges and accusations brought by him against such:

having no evil thing to say of you; whether with respect to doctrine or practice. The Vulgate Latin version, and all the Oriental versions, read "us", instead of "you". The whole body is reproached for the sake of one or more.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Sound speech - Notes, 1 Timothy 1:10. He was to use language that would be spiritually “healthful” (ὑγιῆ hugiē); that is, true, pure, uncorrupted. - This word, and its correlatives, is used in this sense, in the New Testament, only by the apostle Paul. It is commonly applied to the body, meaning that which is healthful, or whole; see Luke 5:31; Luke 6:10; Luke 7:10; Luke 15:27; Matthew 12:13; Matthew 15:31; Mark 3:5; Mark 5:34; John 5:4, John 5:6,John 5:9, John 5:11, John 5:14-15; John 7:23; Acts 4:10; 3 John 1:2. For Paul’s use of the word see 1 Timothy 1:10; 1 Timothy 6:3; 2 Timothy 1:13;2 Timothy 4:3; Titus 1:9, Titus 1:13; Titus 2:1-2, Titus 2:8. It does not elsewhere occur.

That cannot be condemned - Such as cannot be shown to be weak, or unsound; such that no one could find fault with it, or such as an adversary could not take hold of and blame. This direction would imply purity and seriousness of language, solidity of argument, and truth in the doctrines which he maintained.

That he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed ... - Ashamed that he has opposed such views.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 8. Sound speech — λογον υγιη. Sound or healing doctrine. Human nature is in a state of disease; and the doctrine of the Gospel is calculated to remove the disease, and restore all to perfect health and soundness. All false doctrines leave men under the influence of this spiritual disease; the unadulterated doctrine of the Gospel alone can heal men.

He that is of the contrary part — Whether this may refer to the Judaizing teachers in general, or to some one who might, by his false doctrine, have been disturbing the peace of the Churches in Crete, we cannot tell.

Having no evil thing to say of you. — Against a person who is sound in his doctrine, and holy in his life, no evil can be justly alleged. He who reports evil of such a person must be confounded when brought to the test. Instead of περι υμων, of YOU, περι ημων, of US, is the reading of CDEFG, and about forty others; with both the Syriac, all the Arabic, Slavonic, Vulgate, Itala, and several of the primitive fathers. This reading makes a better sense, and is undoubtedly genuine.


 
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