Titus 3:9

But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, arguments, and quarrels about the law, because these things are pointless and worthless.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Paul writes to Titus, his delegate in Crete, placing this warning between an exhortation to good deeds (v. 8) and a command to reject divisive men after warning (v. 10).

The words — μωράς (mōras) is the adjective "foolish, senseless," applied to the controversies themselves rather than to the people pursuing them. ζητήσεις (zētēseis) derives from ζητέω, "to seek, pursue," making these active, effortful engagements rather than passive disputes.

The thread — Paul repeats the same warning in 2 Timothy 2:14 (quarreling over words), 2 Timothy 2:23 (foolish and ignorant speculation), and 1 Timothy 4:7 (rejecting irreverent, silly myths).

Why it lands — It tells the reader that some arguments have no productive end, and that disengagement is a pastoral duty rather than a failure of courage.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

μωρὰςmōrasFoolish δὲdehowever ζητήσειςzētēseiscontroversies καὶkaiand γενεαλογίαςgenealogiasgenealogies καὶkaiand ἔρειςereisarguments καὶkaiand μάχαςmachasquarrels νομικὰςnomikasabout [the] Law περιΐστασο·periistasodo yourself avoid;εἰσὶνeisinthey are γὰρgarfor ἀνωφελεῖςanōpheleisunprofitable καὶkaiand μάταιοι.mataioiworthless.

King James Version

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

Cross-references

2 Timothy 2:14 Remind the believers of these things, charging them before God to avoid quarreling over words, which succeeds only in leading the listeners to ruin.
1 Timothy 4:7 But reject irreverent, silly myths. Instead, train yourself for godliness.
2 Timothy 2:23 But reject foolish and ignorant speculation, for you know that it breeds quarreling.
Titus 1:14 and will pay no attention to Jewish myths or to the commands of men who have rejected the truth.
2 Timothy 2:16 But avoid irreverent, empty chatter, which will only lead to more ungodliness,
Job 15:3 Should he argue with useless words or speeches that serve no purpose?
1 Timothy 1:3 As I urged you on my departure to Macedonia, you should stay on at Ephesus to instruct certain men not to teach false doctrines
1 Corinthians 8:1 Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.
1 Corinthians 13:2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have absolute faith so as to move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.