Titus 3:9 (ASV)

Passage

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

Nearby Context

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;

Titus 3:11 knowing that such a one is perverted, and sinneth, being self-condemned.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "shun", "foolish", "questionings", "genealogies", "strifes", "fightings", "unprofitable", and "vain". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "shun" and "foolish", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 8's "Faithful is the saying and concerning these..." into verse 10's "A factious man after a first and...", so "shun" and "foolish" 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 "shun" and "foolish" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.