We were once foolish (Titus 3:3)

“We ourselves

Were once

Foolish,

Disobedient,

Led astray,

Slaves

To various passions

And pleasures.

We passed

Our days

In malice,

And envy,

Hating one another.”

Ἦμεν γάρ ποτε καὶ ἡμεῖς ἀνόητοι, ἀπειθεῖς, πλανώμενοι, δουλεύοντες ἐπιθυμίαις καὶ ἡδοναῖς ποικίλαις, ἐν κακίᾳ καὶ φθόνῳ διάγοντες, στυγητοί, μισοῦντες ἀλλήλους.

Paul said, “We ourselves (καὶ ἡμεῖς) were once (Ἦμεν γάρ ποτε) foolish (ἀνόητοι), disobedient (ἀπειθεῖς), led astray (πλανώμενοι), slaves (δουλεύοντες) to various (ποικίλαις) passions (ἐπιθυμίαις) and pleasures (καὶ ἡδοναῖς).  We passed our days (διάγοντες) in malice (ἐν κακίᾳ) and envy (καὶ φθόνῳ), hating (στυγητοί) one another (μισοῦντες ἀλλήλους).”  Only this letter to Titus used this word στυγητοί, that means hateful, detestable, or disgusting.  Paul then made a general confession about all humanity and more particularly about his own life before Jesus Christ came into his life.  He admitted that he was foolish, disobedient, deceived, and a slave to passions and pleasures.  He spent most of his time doing evil, envious of others, and at the same time hating them.  A life without Christ was a degenerating vicious brutal life, full of self-indulgence and hatred.  How do you spend your life?