Titus 1:3 in 8 translations
8 distinct wordings, grouped by what each translation is trying to do. Differences from the King James text are marked below.
Early modern English
Seventeenth-century wording and sentence shape. Familiar, rhythmic, and the version most quotations you have heard are taken from.
But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;
1611 / 1769 · Public domain · The Authorised Version, revised to the 1769 Blayney text. Includes the Apocrypha as printed in 1611.
Literal, word-for-word
Follows Hebrew and Greek word order and grammar closely, even where the English becomes stiff. Useful for seeing what the underlying sentence is doing.
but in his own seasons manifested his word in the message, wherewith I was intrusted according to the commandment of God our Saviour;
1901 · Public domain · The American revision of the English Revised Version. Deliberately literal, and the base text behind several later translations.
but has manifested in its own due season his word, in [the] proclamation with which *I* have been entrusted, according to [the] commandment of our Saviour God;
1890 · Public domain · John Nelson Darby's translation, made for close study rather than public reading. Often exposes grammatical detail other versions smooth over.
(and He manifested in proper times His word,) in preaching, which I was entrusted with, according to a charge of God our Saviour,
1898 · Public domain · The most extreme word-for-word rendering here, keeping Hebrew and Greek tense and word order at the cost of natural English.
Modern English
Contemporary vocabulary and punctuation, aiming for the sentence a present-day reader would write while staying close to the source.
but in his own time revealed his word in the message with which I was entrusted according to the commandment of God our Savior;
2000s · Public domain · A modern-English update of the ASV. Reads close to contemporary speech while staying in the literal tradition. Includes the Apocrypha.
and has revealed at his own time in his message, with the preaching of which I was entrusted by the command of God our Savior.
in progress · Public domain (CC0) · A modern open-licensed translation, still being completed. Some Old Testament books are not yet available.
and has revealed at his own time in his message, with the preaching of which I was entrusted by the command of God our Saviour.
in progress · Public domain (CC0) · The Commonwealth spelling edition of the Open English Bible. Identical wording to the US edition apart from spelling.
Simplified English
Built from a deliberately small vocabulary so the sense stays reachable for new readers and non-native speakers. Trades nuance for clarity.
Who, in his time, made clear his word in the good news, of which, by the order of God our Saviour, I became a preacher;
1949 · Public domain · Written with roughly a thousand basic English words plus a small Bible vocabulary. The plainest reading available here.
What changes between the King James and modern wording
The modern rendering is printed below with every word that differs from the King James text marked, so the actual divergence is visible rather than left for you to spot.
But in his own time revealed his word in the message with which I was entrusted according to the commandment of God our Savior;
Word-for-word swaps
- preaching→in
- me→I
- Saviour→Savior
The verses either side
King James text. A comparison is easier to judge when you can see the sentence the verse sits inside.