Titus 3:9 But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless.

◄ Titus 3:9 ►

Parallel Verses

New International Version
But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless.

English Standard Version
But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless.

New American Standard Bible
But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and strife and disputes about the Law, for they are unprofitable and worthless.

King James Bible
But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But avoid foolish debates, genealogies, quarrels, and disputes about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless.

International Standard Version
But avoid foolish controversies, arguments about genealogies, quarrels, and fights about the Law. These things are useless and worthless.

American Standard Version
but shun foolish questionings, and genealogies, and strifes, and fightings about law; for they are unprofitable and vain.

Douay-Rheims Bible
But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law. For they are unprofitable and vain.

Darby Bible Translation
But foolish questions, and genealogies, and strifes, and contentions about the law, shun; for they are unprofitable and vain.

Young's Literal Translation
and foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about law, stand away from -- for they are unprofitable and vain.

Cross References

1 Timothy 1:4
Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.

2 Timothy 2:14
Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.

2 Timothy 2:16
But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase to more ungodliness.

2 Timothy 2:23
But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do engender strifes.

James 4:1
From where come wars and fights among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?

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Commentaries

Matthew Henry's Commentary

3:8-11 When the grace of God towards mankind has been declared, the necessity of good works is pressed. Those who believe in God, must make it their care to maintain good works, to seek opportunities for doing them, being influenced by love and gratitude. Trifling, foolish questions must be avoided, and subtle distinctions and vain inquiries; nor should people be eager after novelties, but love sound doctrine which tends most to edifying. Though we may now think some sins light and little, if the Lord awaken the conscience, we shall feel even the smallest sin heavy upon our souls.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

9. avoid—stand aloof from. Same Greek, as in 2Ti 2:16; see on [2538]2Ti 2:16.

foolish—Greek, "insipid"; producing no moral fruit. "Vain talkers."

genealogies—akin to the "fables" (see on [2539]1Ti 1:4). Not so much direct heresy as yet is here referred to, as profitless discussions about genealogies of aeons, &c., which ultimately led to Gnosticism. Synagogue discourses were termed daraschoth, that is, "discussions." Compare "disputer of this world (Greek, 'dispensation')."

strivings about the law—about the authority of the "commandments of men," which they sought to confirm by the law (Tit 1:14; see on [2540]1Ti 1:7), and about the mystical meaning of the various parts of the law in connection with the "genealogies."