Titus 3:2

to speak evil of noman] Cf. 1 Timothy 1:20; 1 Timothy 6:1; Titus 2:5. In the first place used absolutely -to blaspheme," as Acts 26:11, -I strove to make them blaspheme."

to be no brawlers, but gentle Better, as R.V., not to be contentious; the word only occurs in N. T., 1 Timothy 3:3, where it is joined, as here, with -gentle" or -forbearing"; see note there.

shewing all meekness The compound form of the word has occurred 1 Timothy 6:11, coupled with -patience," see note. The distinction between -gentleness" above and -meekness" is given by Aquinas (quoted in N. T. Syn. p. 152), as twofold, (1) -gentleness," clementia, is -lenitas superioris ad inferiorem"; meekness, mansuetudo, is -cuiuslibet ad quemlibet": (2) -gentleness" is in outward acts, -est moderativa exterioris punitionis"; -meekness" is in the inner spirit, -proprie diminuit passionem irae." But besides its separateness of force in combination with -gentleness," the -meekness" here is especially fitted to lead on to the argument of the next verse from its own proper sense. -It is an inwrought grace of the soul; and the exercises of it are first and chiefly towards God, when we accept His dealings with us without disputing. He that is meek indeed will know himself a sinner amongst sinners; or if there was One who could not know Himself such, yet He too bore a sinner's doom and endured therefore the contradiction of sinners, Matthew 11:29, "I am meek and lowly of heart;" and this knowledge of his own sin will teach him to endure meekly the provocations with which they may provoke him, and not to withdraw himself from the burdens which their sin may impose upon him (Galatians 6:1; 2 Timothy 2:25)." N. T. Syn. p. 150.