Titus 2:10
Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.
Study Note
Study Note
The instruction that servants should not misappropriate but show 'all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things' applies the concept of cosmetics ('adorn,' kosmeō — whence 'cosmetics') to the doctrinal witness of daily behavior. The metaphor insists that doctrine is not merely an intellectual proposition to be assented to but a 'teaching' (didaskalia) that is visually presented or disfigured by the conduct of those who hold it. The specific context of servants or slaves adds sociological weight: the most powerless members of the household, whose conduct most fully reflects the moral quality of the master's household, are also the primary adorners of the gospel in the wider Roman world. The verse has been significant in Christian workplace ethics and in discussions of the relationship between institutional power and the public credibility of Christian witness.
Other Translations
not purloining, but showing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.
not purloining, but showing all good stedfastness, that the teaching of God our Saviour they may adorn in all things.
Not taking what is not theirs, but giving clear signs of their good faith, in all things doing credit to the teaching of God our Saviour.
Cross References
The Lord render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness: for the Lord delivered thee into my hand to …
Then Ahimelech answered the king, and said, And who is so faithful among all thy servants as David, which is …
And when he came to the tower, he took them from their hand, and bestowed them in the house: and …
But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, Behold, my master hath spared Naaman this Syrian, in …
Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and …
He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in …
And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in …
And he said, An hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, …
But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back …
And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and …