Not purloining, but showing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.
purloining.
2 Kings 5:20-24 But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, Behold, my master hath spared Naaman this Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought: but, as the LORD liveth, I will run after him, and take somewhat of him…
Luke 16:6-8 And he said, An hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty…
John 12:6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.
shewing.
Genesis 31:37,38 Whereas thou hast searched all my stuff, what hast thou found of all thy household stuff? set it here before my brethren and thy brethren, that they may judge betwixt us both…
Genesis 39:8,9 But he refused, and said unto his master's wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand; …
1 Samuel 22:14 Then Ahimelech answered the king, and said, And who is so faithful among all thy servants as David, which is the king's son in law, and goeth at thy bidding, and is honourable in thine house?
adorn.
Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Ephesians 4:1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
Philippians 1:27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;
the doctrine.
1 Timothy 5:17 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.
1 Timothy 6:1,3 Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed…
2 John 1:9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
God.
Titus 1:3 But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;
1 Timothy 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope;
Isaiah 12:2 Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.
but showing all good faith
This phrase highlights the positive behavior that should replace stealing. "Good faith" implies reliability, loyalty, and sincerity in one's duties. In the cultural context of the time, a slave's faithfulness could significantly impact the household's functioning and reputation. This aligns with the biblical principle of faithfulness as a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) and reflects the character of God, who is faithful (Deuteronomy 7:9). Demonstrating good faith serves as a witness to the transformative power of the Gospel in a believer's life.
so that in every respect they will adorn the teaching about God our Savior
This phrase reveals the ultimate purpose of the behavior described: to make the Gospel attractive. "Adorn" suggests enhancing or beautifying, indicating that the conduct of believers can positively influence how the message of salvation is perceived. The reference to "God our Savior" connects to the broader biblical narrative of God's redemptive work through Jesus Christ, who is often referred to as Savior (Luke 2:11, John 4:42). This reflects the missional aspect of Christian living, where believers' actions serve as a testimony to God's saving grace, echoing Jesus' teaching in Matthew 5:16 about letting one's light shine before others.
Paul has just urged Titus to “promote the kind of living that reflects sound doctrine” (Titus 2:1). After addressing older men, older women, younger women, and young men, he turns to bondservants. Their obedience matters because “the grace of God has appeared” to train believers “to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives” (Titus 2:11-12). In the same spirit as Ephesians 6:5-8 and 1 Timothy 6:1-2, Paul shows that everyday conduct either affirms or contradicts the gospel message.
“Not stealing” (Titus 2:10) speaks to petty theft, embezzlement, and time-wasting—anything that siphons resources from the one in authority.
• Exodus 20:15 exposes theft as rebellion against God.
• Luke 16:10-12 warns that unfaithfulness in “very small matters” reveals a deeper disloyalty.
• Ephesians 4:28 moves the believer from taking to giving.
Believers live under the watchful eye of the Savior, so secret pilfering is never hidden. Refusing to steal safeguards the credibility of our witness.
Paul doesn’t stop at prohibition; he calls slaves to proactive trustworthiness. “Good faith” is tangible:
• Completing tasks without supervision (Colossians 3:22-23).
• Carrying out promises (Proverbs 20:6).
• Guarding the master’s interests as stewards (1 Corinthians 4:2).
Consistency, punctuality, and diligence display that the gospel transforms hearts, not merely habits.
“Adorn” suggests dressing the doctrine in attractive garments. When servants act with honesty and loyalty, they make the gospel beautiful to onlookers.
• Matthew 5:16—good works cause others to “glorify your Father in heaven.”
• Philippians 2:14-16—blameless lives “shine as lights.”
• 1 Peter 2:12—upright behavior silences slander.
People may dismiss sermons, but they cannot ignore transformed lives.
The modern workplace replaces the ancient master-servant structure, yet the principle stands:
• Work as an act of worship, remembering “it is the Lord Christ you are serving” (Colossians 3:24).
• Refuse every form of pilfering—physical, digital, financial, or time-related.
• Cultivate reliability that exceeds expectations (Matthew 5:41).
• Handle company secrets, property, and reputation with integrity (2 Corinthians 8:21).
• Recognize that a consistent witness opens doors for verbal testimony (1 Peter 3:15-16).
Titus 2:10 calls believers to renounce theft and embody unwavering faithfulness, turning ordinary labor into a platform that showcases the beauty of the gospel. Honest, dependable service adorns “the teaching about God our Savior,” allowing doctrine and daily life to stand in perfect harmony.
(10) Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity.--It must be remembered that many of the slaves in the Roman empire were employed in other duties besides those connected with the house or on the farm. Some were entrusted with shops, and these being left often quite to themselves, of course great opportunities for dishonesty and fraud were constantly present. Others received an elaborate training, and as artists, or even physicians, worked in part for their masters. A slave in the days of St. Paul had a hundred ways of showing to his owner this true and genuine fidelity, opposed to mere assumed surface obedience and service.That they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.--A slave cheerfully accepting his hard yoke, and striving with hand and brain to please and advance the interest of his earthly master only for the dear love of Christ, must have been in those days of cynical self-love a silent, yet a most powerful preacher of a gospel which could so mould and elevate a character so degraded. Calvin remarks that it is indeed noteworthy how God deigns to receive an adornment from slaves, whose condition was so mean and abject that scarcely were they considered to rank among men at all; "they were ranked as 'possessions.' just like cattle or horses." Professor Reynolds very happily remarks here: "This teaching of St. Paul is in harmony with the words of the Lord Jesus--out of the mouths of babes and sucklings hast thou perfected praise. God gets His highest praise from the lips of little children, His robes of glory from the faithfulness, honour, and simplicity of born slaves."
Verse 10. - Purloining (νοσφιζομένους); literally, separating for their own use what does not belong to them. So Acts 5:2, 3, "to keep back part." It is used in the same sense by the LXX. Joshua 7:1 of Achan, and 2 Macc. 4:32 of Menelaus, and occasionally in classical Greek (Xenophon, Polybius, etc.). Showing (ἐνδεικνυμένους). It occurs eleven times in the New Testament, viz. twice in Hebrews, and nine times in St. Paul's acknowledged Epistles. All good fidelity. All fidelity means fidelity in everything where fidelity is required in a faithful servant - care of his master's property, conscientious labor, keeping of time, acting behind his master's back the same as before his face. The singular addition ἀγαθήν, coming after ἐνδεικνυμένους, must mean, as Bengel says, "in all good things." The duty of fidelity does not extend to crime or wrong-doing. The word "good" is like the addition in the oath of canonical obedience, "in all honest things," and is a necessary limitation to the preceding "all" (see Titus 3:1, and note). The doctrine (τὴν διδασκαλίον) as in ver. 1 (where see note). In Titus 1:9 (where see note) ἡ διδαχή is used in the same way. This use of διδασκαλία is confirmed by the reading of the R.T., which inserts a second τήν before τοῦ σωτῆρος. Adorn the doctrine. The sentiment is the same as that in 1 Peter 2:12; 1 Peter 4:11. Christians are exhorted to give glory to God, and support and honor to the gospel of God's grace, by their good works and holy lives. God our Savior (see 1 Timothy 1:1; 1 Timothy 2:3; 1 Timothy 4:10; and above, Titus 1:3, note). In all things (ἐν πᾶσιν); as 1 Peter 4:11.