Definition: For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, [and] hating one another.
Explanation: Okay, let’s break down that passage from Titus 3:3. It’s a really important verse about how we can be flawed and hurt by our thoughts and feelings. Here’s what it means in simpler terms: Basically, this verse is saying: “We, as believers, have struggled with things like selfishness, wanting to do wrong, being misled, and feeling angry or jealous towards others.” Let's unpack each part a little further: "For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish..." : This means we all have made mistakes. We’ve all at some point felt tempted to do something that wasn’t right, or that wasn’t aligned with God’s will. It’s not about being perfect; it's about recognizing that we are human and can stumble. "...disobedient..." : This means we didn’t always follow God’s instructions perfectly. We sometimes chose to do things that weren’t good, even when we knew they were wrong. We might have been swayed by our own desires or emotions. "...deceived..." : This refers to being tricked or misled by others, or perhaps by ourselves. It means we may have been shown false information or had a distorted view of the truth. "...serving divers lusts and pleasures..." : This is where it gets a little more detailed. “Lusts” and “pleasures” here mean things like wanting to be admired, enjoying selfish things, being easily distracted by pleasure (like food, games, or excitement), and sometimes seeking something that isn’t truly good for us. "...living in malice and envy..." : This means we were often filled with bitterness and resentment towards others. We might have been jealous of their blessings or felt angry at them for things they didn't deserve. It was a feeling of being wronged by someone else. "...hateful, [and] hating one another." : This is the core of it all. We were often unkind and angry towards each other. We might have treated people poorly, judged them unfairly, and caused pain to those around us. So, what’s the takeaway? Titus 3:3 reminds us that we all struggle with these things. It’s a call to repentance – a turning away from these negative patterns of thought and behavior. It's about striving to be more like Christ, who was completely obedient and loving towards others. It encourages us to actively work on being better people – to forgive, to love, and to treat each other with kindness. Does that make sense? Do you want me to explain any of these points in a bit more detail or perhaps give an example of how we might deal with these struggles?