Titus 3:9 (KJV)

Passage

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

Nearby Context

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

Titus 3:8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.

Titus 3:9 But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.

Titus 3:10 A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;

Titus 3:11 Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.

Study Lenses

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

The nearby context moves from verse 8's "This is a faithful saying and these..." into verse 10's "A man that is an heretick after...", so "avoid" 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 "avoid" and "foolish" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.