Titus 3:8 (ASV)

Passage

Faithful is the saying, and concerning these things I desire that thou affirm confidently, to the end that they who have believed God may be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men:

Nearby Context

Titus 3:6 which he poured out upon us richly, through Jesus Christ our Saviour;

Titus 3:7 that, being justified by his grace, we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Titus 3:8 Faithful is the saying, and concerning these things I desire that thou affirm confidently, to the end that they who have believed God may be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men:

Titus 3:9 but shun foolish questionings, and genealogies, and strifes, and fightings about law; for they are unprofitable and vain.

Titus 3:10 A factious man after a first and second admonition refuse;

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "good works", "faith", "faithful", "saying", "concerning", "things", "desire", and "thou". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "good works" and "faith", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 7's "that being justified by his grace we..." into verse 9's "but shun foolish questionings and genealogies and...", so "good works" and "faith" 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 "good works" and "faith" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.