Adornment through Action: Participles and Purpose in Titus 2:10

μὴ νοσφιζομένους, ἀλλὰ πίστιν πᾶσαν ἐνδεικνυμένους ἀγαθήν, ἵνα τὴν διδασκαλίαν τοῦ σωτῆρος ἡμῶν Θεοῦ κοσμῶσιν ἐν πᾶσιν. — Titus 2:10

The Gospel Made Visible

This verse presents a powerful vision of Christian witness—not through words, but through conduct. Addressing Christian slaves, Paul exhorts them not to steal (μὴ νοσφιζομένους) but to demonstrate faithful character (πίστιν… ἐνδεικνυμένους). The participial constructions serve as behavioral descriptors, and the purpose clause (ἵνα… κοσμῶσιν) reveals the goal: to make the teaching about God our Savior attractive in every respect.

Negative and Positive Participles

The structure is antithetical: μὴ… ἀλλὰ—“not… but.” The first participle, νοσφιζομένους (“stealing” or “embezzling”), is negated, warning against dishonest behavior. The second, ἐνδεικνυμένους (“showing” or “demonstrating”), is a positive imperative expressed through a participle: slaves should show πίστιν πᾶσαν ἀγαθήν—“all good faith.” The phrase combines moral integrity with theological depth.

ἵνα κοσμῶσιν: Beautifying Doctrine

The purpose clause (ἵνα κοσμῶσιν) makes a striking claim: behavior can “adorn” the teaching about God our Savior. The verb κοσμέω literally means “to adorn” or “to beautify.” This implies that doctrinal truth is not only taught but also seen—through conduct. When believers act in integrity, they enhance the credibility and beauty of the gospel.

The Beauty of a Living Witness

Titus 2:10 teaches that sound doctrine is more than words—it is something that can be adorned by behavior. The participles describe how a Christian life should look: honest, faithful, good. The subjunctive κοσμῶσιν reveals that the ultimate goal of ethical conduct is not self-improvement but gospel testimony. Through grammar, Paul reminds us that theology must be embodied, and that the gospel shines most clearly when it is lived.

Parsing the Core Verbal Forms