The verse paints a stark picture of humanity's fallen state, but notice the subtle but crucial word choice: "going astray" rather than simply "deceived." This emphasizes that we actively wander from God's path, not just passively tricked, highlighting our responsibility even within our enslaved condition. It also shows how this outward wandering led to a deep, internal state of malice and envy, a pervasive atmosphere of hate rather than isolated incidents.
For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is urging Titus to teach the Cretan Christians to live peaceful, orderly lives, reflecting God's grace. He argues that their past life before Christ was characterized by foolishness, disobedience, and self-serving desires, leading to malice, envy, and hatred. By reminding them of this former state and their rescue by God’s kindness, he aims to motivate them to gentleness and respect toward others, even those who are currently living in such sin.
Before finding our footing in faith, we were all once adrift. This verse paints a stark picture of that former life.
Paul doesn't hold back here. He includes himself and all believers in this description of a life before Christ:
This isn't about personal failure; it's about a collective human condition apart from God’s grace.
What did it mean to be truly enslaved before finding freedom in Christ? This verse details the chains that bound us.
The verse highlights a profound lack of self-control. We weren't just indulging; we were serving:
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This isn't just about physical desires, but any pursuit that enslaves us, pulling us away from God and true fulfillment.
Beyond personal struggles, the verse describes a relational breakdown – a world poisoned by negative emotions.
The inner turmoil of being 'foolish' and 'led astray' inevitably spilled out into how we treated others:
This paints a picture of society without Christ: a place where suspicion, bitterness, and conflict are the norm.
Understand the original words
anoētos · Greek Adjective
The state of being lacking in spiritual wisdom or understanding, often referring to a heart that is darkened and opposed to the truth of God.
epithymia · Greek Noun
Refers to a life driven by disordered desires and self-serving longings, which ultimately lead a person away from God and into bondage to sin.
kakia · Greek Noun
A settled disposition of ill will, desire for harm, or active spite against others, which is fundamentally contrary to the love commanded by God.
chrēstotēs · Greek Noun
The active kindness or benevolence of God, which is the source of His gracious intervention in human history and the salvation of sinners.
philanthrōpia · Greek Noun
A deep, affectionate benevolence; it specifically highlights God's love for humanity as His creation, often translated as 'philanthropy' in a theological sense.
sōzō · Greek Verb
The act of delivering a person from the power, guilt, and penalty of sin, accomplished solely through the work of Christ.
eleos · Greek Noun
Divine compassion that does not give the sinner what they deserve, but instead provides forgiveness and grace according to God's sovereign will.
palingenesia · Greek Noun
The new birth or spiritual 're-creation' that occurs when a person is united with Christ; it is the fundamental change of state from death to life.
anakainōsis · Greek Noun
The ongoing process by which the Holy Spirit imparts new life and transforms the believer into the image of Christ, reversing the effects of the Fall.
This passage describes a similar list of vices and behaviors, including being filled with every kind of wickedness, greed, and malice, and also being full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, and malice. It paints a parallel picture of humanity estranged from God.
Ephesians 2:1-3This text highlights a past state of being 'dead in trespasses and sins,' enslaved to the desires of the flesh and mind, much like the 'slaves to various passions and pleasures' mentioned in Titus. It emphasizes that this was the former condition of believers, both Jew and Gentile.
Colossians 1:21This verse directly speaks to the state of believers before their transformation, stating they were 'formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds.' This mirrors the Titus passage's description of a life characterized by malice, envy, and hatred.
1 Peter 4:3-4Peter addresses a similar past life of 'sensuality, passions, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry,' noting that believers 'once walked in these things.' This reinforces the idea of a shared past experience of being led astray by various desires and pleasures.
ellicottTitus 3:3: "For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another."
(3) For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived. —Better rendered, For we were once ourselves foolish, disobedient, going astray. Surely, the Apostle argues, Christians can never refuse obedience to one in authority, or decline to be meek, courteous, kind, and forbearing to their neighbours, beca…
pooleTitus 3:3: "For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another."
For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish; without any knowledge, wisdom, or spiritual understanding. Disobedient: the word signifieth as well unbelieving as disobedient, neither persuaded to assent to the truth, nor yet to live up to the rule of the gospel. Deceived by the deceitfulness of sin. Serving divers lusts…
The verse paints a stark picture of humanity's fallen state, but notice the subtle but crucial word choice: "going astray" rather than simply "deceived." This emphasizes that we actively wander from God's path, not just passively tricked, highlighting our responsibility even within our enslaved condition. It also shows how this outward wandering led to a deep, internal state of malice and envy, a pervasive atmosphere of hate rather than isolated incidents.
Paul is urging Titus to teach the Cretan Christians to live peaceful, orderly lives, reflecting God's grace. He argues that their past life before Christ was characterized by foolishness, disobedience, and self-serving desires, leading to malice, envy, and hatred. By reminding them of this former state and their rescue by God’s kindness, he aims to motivate them to gentleness and respect toward others, even those who are currently living in such sin.
Paul is urging Titus to teach the Cretan Christians to live peaceful, orderly lives, reflecting God's grace. He argues that their past life before Christ was characterized by foolishness, disobedience, and self-serving desires, leading to malice, envy, and hatred. By reminding them of this former state and their rescue by God’s kindness, he aims to motivate them to gentleness and respect toward others, even those who are currently living in such sin.
"For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior…" — The verse paints a stark picture of humanity's fallen state, but notice the subtle but crucial word choice: "going astray" rather than simply "deceived." This emphasizes that we actively wander from…
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Last reviewed October 2026
