_Princes and powers. At the time St. Paul wrote this epistle to Titus, there were many Jews, particularly the disciples of Judas of Gaulan, who maintained that the Hebrews were under no obligation of obeying any other than God, or at most the rulers of their own nation. St. Paul here admonishes them... [ Continue Reading ]
We may see in this portrait of a child of Adam, drawn by the hand of a master, what we should have been without Jesus Christ, and what we perhaps have been, as often as he has abandoned us to ourselves. Whoever cannot read in this his own depravity, has never studied as he ought his own heart.... [ Continue Reading ]
_The goodness and kindness. Literally, humanity of our Saviour. By humanity [1] some expound Christ's appearing in his human nature, but by the Greek is meant the love of God towards mankind. (Witham)_ [BIBLIOGRAPHY] Benignitas et humanitas, _Greek: chrestotes kai philanthropia. See Estius._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Not by the works, &c. St. Paul in this verse alludes to the sacrament of baptism. This text is brought by divines to prove that baptism, like every other sacrament, produces its effect by its own power, (or, as it is termed in the schools, ex opere operato) independently of any disposition on the p... [ Continue Reading ]
All presumption of human merits, which have not the grace of Jesus Christ for their principle, is here completely confounded; and the whole glory of our salvation is justly attributed to the mercy of God, through Jesus Christ. A new birth, new creature, new spirit. The effusion of the water upon the... [ Continue Reading ]
This admirable, and I may say divine adoption, is the sole foundation of a Christian's hope, as the eternal life of the blessed is the sole end of this adoption.... [ Continue Reading ]
_It is a faithful saying. He means what he has already said, of our being justified by the grace and mercy of God. --- And of these things I will have thee to affirm [3] earnestly. The sense is not, I would herein confirm thee, (as Mr. N. translates, without attention to the Greek, which in so many... [ Continue Reading ]
_A man that is, &c. Many ancient copies have this passage thus, Avoid a heretic after one reprehension. St. Irenæus, Tertullian, St. Cyprian, St. Ambrose, &c. and many ancient Greek copies, omit a second reprehension. They thought once warning a heretic sufficient; a second correction only served to... [ Continue Reading ]
_Knowing that he that is such a one is subverted: [4] a metaphor, from a house that is thrown down, even to the foundation, by the Greek. He speaks of heretics whose obstinacy seems evident, for no one is properly a heretic but who is obstinate in his errors. --- And sinneth, being [5] condemned; or... [ Continue Reading ]
_ Let our men (that is, all Christians) also learn to excel in good and charitable works, by furnishing to others, for necessary uses, according to their wants. (Witham)_... [ Continue Reading ]
There is no tie so tender or so strong as that of faith and charity. Nothing unites us truly together, but that which unites us all to God and to Jesus Christ, by an union of the same sentiments of faith, the same emotions of love, and the same inclinations of grace.... [ Continue Reading ]