Titus 1:1–4 – Parts of Speech Guide

Please define each of the grammar parts of speech below , using examples from Titus 1: 1-4 , ESV .

1 Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness,
2 in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began
3 and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior;
4 To Titus, my true child in a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.

ChatGPT said:

Excellent — this is exactly how you learn grammar: define + locate + see it in context.

PARTS OF SPEECH

1️⃣ N = Noun

Definition:
A word that names a person, place, thing, or idea.

Examples in Titus 1:1–4:

Paul (person)
servant (person/role)
God (person)
apostle (person/office)
faith (abstract idea)
knowledge (abstract idea)
truth
godliness
hope
life
ages
time
word
preaching
command
Savior
Titus
child
faith

Notice: Many theological words are abstract nouns (faith, truth, hope, godliness).

2️⃣ V = Verb

Definition:
A word that shows action or a state of being.

Main verbs in the passage:

accords (which accords with godliness)
promised
began
manifested
have been entrusted
(implied verb in greeting: “Grace and peace be…”)

Key skill: Find the main verb of the sentence first. In verse 1–3, the core verb connected to Paul is: have been entrusted.

3️⃣ Adj = Adjective

Definition:
A word that describes or modifies a noun.

Examples:

eternal (life)
proper (time)
true (child)
common (faith)
God’s (elect — possessive adjective)
his (word)
our (Savior)

If it answers “What kind?” or “Which one?” — it’s likely an adjective.

4️⃣ Adv = Adverb

Definition:
A word that modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. Often answers: how? when? where? to what extent?

Examples:

never (who never lies) → modifies lies
before (before the ages began) → tells when
at the proper time (adverbial phrase — tells when manifested)

Many time expressions function adverbially.

5️⃣ Prep = Preposition

Definition:
A word that shows relationship (usually of place, time, direction, cause).

Examples:

of
for
in
before
at
through
with
by
to

Prepositions almost always begin a prepositional phrase.

6️⃣ PrepP = Prepositional Phrase

Definition:
Preposition + object (noun) + modifiers.

Examples:

of God
of Jesus Christ
for the sake of the faith
of God's elect
of the truth
with godliness
in hope
of eternal life
before the ages
at the proper time
in his word
through the preaching
by the command
of God our Savior
To Titus
in a common faith

In Titus 1:1–3 Paul stacks prepositional phrases heavily. This is classic Pauline style.

7️⃣ RelCl = Relative Clause

Definition:
A clause that begins with who, which, that and describes a noun.

Examples:

which accords with godliness (modifies truth)
which God… promised (modifies eternal life)
who never lies (modifies God)
with which I have been entrusted (modifies preaching)

Relative clauses add theological explanation.

8️⃣ Part = Participle

Definition:
A verb form used as an adjective (often ends in -ing or -ed).

Examples:

began (past tense verb, not participle here)
manifested (past participle form)
entrusted (past participle in “have been entrusted”)

Not strong -ing participles in this section, but:

preaching (gerund/participle form functioning as noun)

“Entrusted” is part of a passive verb construction.

9️⃣ Conj = Conjunction

Definition:
A word that joins words, phrases, or clauses.

Examples:

and
who
which

Main conjunction: and. Paul chains thoughts together using “and.”

Now Let’s See the Structure

Hendricks-Style Observation (Living by the Book)

You mentioned studying with Howard Hendricks. Here’s what he would have you observe:

Titus 1:1–4 – Parts of Speech Guide

You said:

ChatGPT said:

PARTS OF SPEECH

1️⃣ N = Noun

Examples in Titus 1:1–4:

2️⃣ V = Verb

Main verbs in the passage:

3️⃣ Adj = Adjective

Examples:

4️⃣ Adv = Adverb

Examples:

5️⃣ Prep = Preposition

Examples:

6️⃣ PrepP = Prepositional Phrase

Examples:

7️⃣ RelCl = Relative Clause

Examples:

8️⃣ Part = Participle

Examples:

9️⃣ Conj = Conjunction

Examples:

Now Let’s See the Structure

Hendricks-Style Observation (Living by the Book)

Next Steps