The Meaning of Titus 2:15 Explained

Titus 2:15

KJV: These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

YLT: these things be speaking, and exhorting, and convicting, with all charge; let no one despise thee!

Darby: These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise thee.

ASV: These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

These things  speak,  and  exhort,  and  rebuke  with  all  authority.  Let  no man  despise  thee. 

What does Titus 2:15 Mean?

Verse Meaning

This last verse concludes the section of instructions to various groups in the church (ch2). Paul urged Titus to teach, exhort, and reprove, in accord with what the apostle had just revealed, with full authority since it was divine revelation. He should let no one intimidate him because the truth was at stake.
"The minister"s authority rests in the nature of his message; he is not raised above the truth but the truth above him." [1]

Context Summary

Titus 2:9-15 - How We May "adorn The Doctrine"
The servants addressed in this tender and priceless paragraph were household slaves, employed in the most menial drudgery, but they were taught that even they might adorn the Gospel as jewels adorn the brow of beauty. Their holy lives might display and set forth its loveliness. To please one's superiors, in all things so far as our loyalty to Christ permits, is to commend Christ to our households, and win His approval. The grace of God has ever offered salvation, but in Jesus it was brought to our doors. In its first appearance, it came to teach; in its second appearance, it will bring us glory. Have we sat sufficiently long in the school of grace, that our gentle Teacher may instruct us how to live? It must be soberly in regard to ourselves, righteously toward others, and godly toward God. And we cannot realize any one of these unless we resolutely deny ungodliness and worldly lusts. This was the aim and purpose of Jesus in coming to die for us. He wanted to redeem us from all iniquity, purify us as His own, and use us in all manner of good works. It is a solemn question whether that supreme purpose has been realized in our own experience. If not, why not? [source]

Chapter Summary: Titus 2

1  Directions given unto Titus both for his doctrine and life
10  Of the duty of servants, and in general of all Christians

Greek Commentary for Titus 2:15

With all authority [μετα πασης επιταγης]
See note on 1 Corinthians 7:6; 2 Corinthians 8:8. Assertion of authority is sometimes necessary. [source]
Let no man despise thee [μηδεις σου περιπρονειτω]
Present active imperative in prohibition of περιπρονεω — periphroneō old verb, only here in N.T., to think around (on all sides). Literally, “let no man think around thee” (and so despise thee). In 1 Timothy 4:12 it is καταπρονειτω — kataphroneitō (think down on), a stronger word of scorn, but this one implies the possibility of one making mental circles around one and so “out-thinking” him. The best way for the modern minister to command respect for his “authority” is to do thinking that will deserve it. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Titus 2:15

Luke 6:24 Consolation [παράκλησις]
From παρά , to the side of, and καλέω , to call or summon. Literally, a calling to one's side to help; and therefore entreaty, passing on into the sense of exhortation, and thence into that of consolatory exhortation; and so coming round to mean that which one is summoned to give to a suppliant - consolation. Thus it embodies the call for help, and the response to the call. Its use corresponds with that of the kindred verb παρακαλέω , to exhort or console. In its original sense of calling for aid the noun appears in the New Testament only in 2 Corinthians 8:4: with much entreaty. The verb appears frequently in this sense, rendered beseech, pray (Matthew 8:34; Matthew 14:36; Mark 1:40; Mark 5:12, etc.). In the sense of consolation or comfort the noun occurs in Luke 2:25; Luke 6:24; 2 Corinthians 1:3; 2 Corinthians 7:4; Philemon 1:7. The verb, in Matthew 2:18; Matthew 5:4:; Luke 16:25; 2 Corinthians 1:4. In some instances, however, the meaning wavers between console and exhort. In the sense of exhortation or counsel, the noun may be found in Acts 13:15; Romans 12:8; Hebrews 13:22. The verb, in Acts 2:40; Acts 11:23; Acts 14:22; Romans 12:8; Titus 2:15. Neither the noun nor the verb appear in the writings of John, but the kindred word παράκλητος the Paraclete, Comforter, or Advocate, is peculiar to him. On this word, see on John 14:16. It should be noted, however, that the word comfort goes deeper than its popular conception of soothing. It is from the later Latin confortare, to make strong. Thus Wycliffe renders Luke 1:80, “the child waxed, and was comforted in spirit” (A. V., waxed strong )and Tyndale, Luke 22:43, “there appeared an angel from heaven comforting him” (A. V., strengthening )The comfort which Christ gives is not always soothing. The Holy Spirit, the Comforter, is to convince of sin and ofjudgment. Underlying the word is the sense of a wise counsel or admonition which rouses and braces the moral nature and encourages and strengthens it to do and to endure. When, therefore, Christ says “they that mourn shall be comforted,” he speaks in recognition of the fact that all sorrow is the outcome of sin, and that true comfort is given, not only in pardon for the past, but in strength to fight and resist and overcome sin. The atmosphere of the word, in short, is not the atmosphere of the sick-chamber, but the tonic breath of the open world, of moral struggle and victory; the atmosphere for him that climbs and toils and fights. [source]
John 3:20 Lest his works should be reproved [ἵνα μὴ ἐλεγχθῇ τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ]
Rather, in order that his works may not be reproved. Ελέγχω , rendered reprove, has several phases of meaning. In earlier classical Greek it signifies to disgrace or put to shame. Thus Ulysses, having succeeded in the trial of the bow, says to Telemachus, “the stranger who sits in thy halls disgraces ( ἐλέγχει ) thee not” (“Odyssey, xxi., 424). Then, to cross-examine or question, for the purpose of convincing, convicting, or refuting; to censure, accuse. So Herodotus: “In his reply Alexander became confused, and diverged from the truth, whereon the slaves interposed, confuted his statements ( ἤλεγχον , cross-questioned and caught him in falsehood), and told the whole history of the crime” (i., 115). The messenger in the “Antigone” of Sophocles, describing the consternation of the watchmen at finding Polynices' body buried, says: “Evil words were bandied among them, guard accusing ( ἐλέγχων ) guard” (260). Of arguments, to bring to the proof; prove; prove by a chain of reasoning. It occurs in Pindar in the general sense of to conquer or surpass. “Having descended into the naked race they surpassed ( ἤλεγξαν ) the Grecian band in speed (“Pythia,” xi., 75). In the New Testament it is found in the sense of reprove (Luke 3:19; 1 Timothy 5:20, etc.). Convince of crime or fault (1 Corinthians 14:24; James 2:9). To bring to light or expose by conviction (James 5:20; Ephesians 5:11, Ephesians 5:13; John 8:46; see on that passage). So of the exposure of false teachers, and their refutation (Titus 1:9, Titus 1:13; Titus 2:15). To test and expose with a view to correction, and so, nearly equivalent to chasten (Hebrews 12:5). The different meanings unite in the word convict. Conviction is the result of examination, testing, argument. The test exposes and demonstrates the error, and refutes it, thus convincing, convicting, and rebuking the subject of it. This conviction issues in chastening, by which the error is corrected and the erring one purified. If the conviction is rejected, it carries with it condemnation and punishment. The man is thus convicted of sin, of right, and of judgment (John 16:8). In this passage the evil-doer is represented as avoiding the light which tests, that light which is the offspring of love (Revelation 3:19) and the consequent exposure of his error. Compare Ephesians 5:13; John 1:9-11. This idea of loving darkness rather than light is graphically treated in Job href="/desk/?q=job+24:13-17&sr=1">Job 24:13-17. -DIVIDER-
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[source]

1 Timothy 5:20 Rebuke [ἔλεγχε]
Comp. 2 Timothy 4:2; Titus 1:9, Titus 1:13; Titus 2:15. See on reproved, John 3:20. [source]

What do the individual words in Titus 2:15 mean?

These things speak and exhort rebuke with all authority No one you let despise
Ταῦτα λάλει καὶ παρακάλει ἔλεγχε μετὰ πάσης ἐπιταγῆς μηδείς σου περιφρονείτω

Ταῦτα  These  things 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.
λάλει  speak 
Parse: Verb, Present Imperative Active, 2nd Person Singular
Root: ἀπολαλέω 
Sense: to utter a voice or emit a sound.
παρακάλει  exhort 
Parse: Verb, Present Imperative Active, 2nd Person Singular
Root: παρακαλέω  
Sense: to call to one’s side, call for, summon.
ἔλεγχε  rebuke 
Parse: Verb, Present Imperative Active, 2nd Person Singular
Root: ἐλέγχω  
Sense: to convict, refute, confute.
ἐπιταγῆς  authority 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: ἐπιταγή  
Sense: an injunction, mandate, command.
μηδείς  No  one 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: μηδείς 
Sense: nobody, no one, nothing.
περιφρονείτω  let  despise 
Parse: Verb, Present Imperative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: περιφρονέω  
Sense: to consider or examine on all sides i.