3:1 {To be in subjection to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient} (archais exousiais hupotassesthai peitharchein). Remarkable double asyndeton, no kai (and) between the two substantives or the two verbs. Peitharchein (to obey), old verb (from peithomai, archē), in N.T. only here and Ac 27:21.
{To be ready unto every good work} (pros pan ergon agathon hetoimous einai). Pauline phrase (2Co 9:8; 2Ti 2:21; 3:17), here adjective hetoimos (2Co 9:5), there verb.

3:2 {To speak evil} (blasphēmein). See Col 3:8; 1Ti 6:4.
{Not to be contentious} (amachous einai). "To be non-fighters" (1Ti 3:3), originally "invincible."
{Gentle} (epieikeis). See 1Ti 3:3.
{Meekness} (prautēta). Praotēta. See Col 3:12.

3:3 {Aforetime} (pote). "Once" in our unconverted state as in Eph 2:3.
{Foolish} (anoētoi). See Ro 1:14,21.
{Disobedient} (apeitheis). See Ro 1:30.
{Deceived} (planōmenoi). Present passive participle of planaō though the middle is possible. {Divers lusts} (hēdonais poikilais). "Pleasures" (hēdonais from hēdomai, old word, in N.T. only here, Lu 8:14; Jas 4:1,3; 2Pe 2:13). Poikilais (old word) is many-coloured as in Mr 1:34; Jas 1:2; 2Ti 3:6, etc.
{Living} (diagontes). See 1Ti 3:6 (supply bion).
{In malice} (en kakiāi). See Ro 1:29. {Envy} (phthonōi). See Ro 1:29.
{Hateful} (stugētoi). Late passive verbal from stugeō, to hate. In Philo, only here in N.T.
{Hating one another} (misountes allēlous). Active sense and natural result of being "hateful."

3:4 {The kindness} (hē chrēstotēs). See Ro 2:4 for this very word used of God as here.
{His love toward man} (hē philanthrōpia). "The philanthrophy of God our Saviour." Old word from philanthrōpos, for love of mankind, in N.T. only here and Ac 28:2.
{Appeared} (epephanē). See 2:11 and here as there the Incarnation of Christ. See 1Ti 1:1 for sōtēr with theos (God).

3:5 {Done} (not in the Greek, only the article tōn), "not as a result of works those in righteousness which we did." Same idea as in Ro 3:20f.
{According to his mercy he saved us} (kata to autou eleos esōsen). See Ps 109:26; 1Pe 1:3; Eph 2:4. Effective aorist active indicative of sōzō.
{Through the washing of regeneration} (dia loutrou palingenesias). Late and common word with the Stoics (Dibelius) and in the Mystery-religions (Angus), also in the papyri and Philo. Only twice in the N.T. (Mt 19:28 with which compare apokatastasia in Ac 3:21, and here in personal sense of new birth). For loutron, see Eph 5:26, here as there the laver or the bath. Probably in both cases there is a reference to baptism, but, as in Ro 6:3-6, the immersion is the picture or the symbol of the new birth, not the means of securing it.
{And renewing of the Holy Spirit} (kai anakainōseōs pneumatos hagiou). "And renewal by the Holy Spirit" (subjective genitive). For the late word anakainōsis, see Ro 12:2. Here, as often, Paul has put the objective symbol before the reality. The Holy Spirit does the renewing, man submits to the baptism after the new birth to picture it forth to men.

3:6 {Which} (hou). Genitive case by attraction from ho (grammatical gender) to the case of pneumatos hagiou. We do not have grammatical gender (only natural) in English. Hence here we should say "whom," even if it does not go smoothly with execheen (he poured out, second aorist active indicative of ekcheō). The reference is to the great Pentecost (Ac 2:33) as foretold by Joel (Joe 2:28).
{Richly} (plousiōs). Then and to each one in his own experience. See Ro 10:12; 1Ti 6:17.

3:7 {Being justified by his grace} (dikaiōthentes tēi ekeinou chariti). First aorist passive participle of dikaioō and instrumental case of charis as in Ro 3:24; 5:1.
{That we might be made heirs} (hina klēronomoi genēthōmen). Purpose with hina and first aorist passive of ginomai. See Ro 4:13; 8:17.

3:8 {The saying} (ho logos). In verses 4-7.
{I will} (boulomai). See 1Ti 2:8.
{That thou affirm confidently} (se diabebaiousthai). Indirect command. For the verb see 1Ti 1:7. {That they may be careful} (hina phrontizōsin). Sub-final use of hina with present active subjunctive of phrontizō, old verb, only here in N.T.
{To maintain good works} (kalōn ergōn pro‹stasthai). Present middle infinitive of proistēmi, intransitive use, to stand before, to take the lead in, to care for. Paul is anxious that "believers" may take the lead in good works.

3:9 {Fightings about the law} (machas nomikas). "Legal battles." See 1Ti 6:4; 2Ti 2:23. Wordy fights about Mosaic and Pharisaic and Gnostic regulations.
{Shun} (periistaso). Present middle imperative of periistēmi, intransitive, step around, stand aside (2Ti 2:16). Common in this sense in the literary "Koinē".
{Unprofitable} (anōpheleis). Old compound adjective (a privative and ophelos), in N.T. only here and Heb 7:18.

3:10 {Heretical} (hairetikon). Old adjective from hairesis (haireomai, to choose), a choosing of a party (sect, Ac 5:17) or of teaching (2Pe 2:1). Possibly a schism had been started here in Crete.
{Refuse} (paraitou). Present middle imperative of paraiteō, to ask from, to beg off from. See same form in 1Ti 4:7; 5:11. Possibly an allusion here to Christ's directions in Mt 18:15-17.

3:11 {Is perverted} (exestraptai). Perfect passive indicative of ekstrephō, old word to turn inside out, to twist, to pervert. Only here in N.T.
{Self-condemned} (autokatakritos). Only known example of this double compound verbal adjective (autos, kata, krinō).

3:12 {When I shall send} (hotan pempsō). Indefinite temporal clause with hotan and the first aorist active subjunctive (or future indicative) of pempō (same form).
{Artemas} (Artemān). Perhaps abbreviation of Artemidorus. Nothing more is known of him.
{Or Tychicus} (ē Tuchikon). Paul's well-known disciple (Col 4:7; Eph 6:21; 2Ti 4:12).
{To Nicopolis} (eis Nikopolin). Probably in Epirus, a good place for work in Dalmatia (2Ti 4:10).
{I have determined} (kekrika). Perfect active indicative. I have decided.
{To winter there} (ekei paracheimasai). First aorist active infinitive of paracheimazō, a literary "Koinē" word for which see Ac 27:12; 1Co 16:6.

3:13 {Zenas the lawyer} (Zēnān ton nomikon). Possibly abbreviation of Zenodorus and may be one of the bearers of the Epistle with Apollos. Probably an expert in the Mosaic law as the word means in the Gospels. A converted Jewish lawyer. The Latin term is "jurisconsultum" for nomikon.
{Apollos} (Apollōn). Paul's friend (Ac 18:24-19:1; 1Co 1:12ff.).
{Set forward} (propempson). First aorist active imperative of propempō, old verb, to send on ahead (1Co 16:6,11; Ro 15:24).
{That nothing be wanting unto them} (hina mēden autois leipēi). Purpose with hina and present (or second aorist lipēi, some MSS.) subjunctive of leipō, old verb to leave, to remain, to lack. With dative case here (autois).

3:14 {Our people} (hoi hēmeteroi). "Our folks." The Cretan converts, not just Paul's friends.
{Let learn} (manthanetōsan). Present active imperative, keep on learning how.
{To maintain} (pro‹stasthai). See verse 8.
{For necessary uses} (eis anagkaias chreias). "For necessary wants." No idlers wanted. See 1Th 4:12; 2Th 3:10f.
{Unfruitful} (akarpoi). See 1Co 14:14; Eph 5:11.

3:15 {That love us} (tous philountas hēmās). Paul craved the love of his friends as opposed to 2:8.