Titus 2:9 (ASV)

Passage

[Exhort] servants to be in subjection to their own masters, [and] to be well-pleasing [to them] in all things; not gainsaying;

Nearby Context

Titus 2:7 in all things showing thyself an ensample of good works; in thy doctrine [showing] uncorruptness, gravity,

Titus 2:8 sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of us.

Titus 2:9 [Exhort] servants to be in subjection to their own masters, [and] to be well-pleasing [to them] in all things; not gainsaying;

Titus 2:10 not purloining, but showing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.

Titus 2:11 For the grace of God hath appeared, bringing salvation to all men,

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "all things", "exhort", "servants", "subjection", "masters", "well-pleasing", and "gainsaying". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "all things" and "exhort", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 8's "sound speech that cannot be condemned that..." into verse 10's "not purloining but showing all good fidelity...", so "all things" and "exhort" belong inside that flow. In Titus context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "all things" and "exhort" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.