1._But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine _He points out the remedy for driving away fables, namely, that Titus should devote himself to edification. He gives the appellation of _sound doctrine _to that which may instruct men to godliness; for all trifles vanish away, when that which... [ Continue Reading ]
2._That aged men be sober _He begins with particular duties, that the discourse may be better adapted to the instruction of the people. And he does so, not only that he may accommodate himself to their capacity, but that he may press every one more closely; for a general doctrine produces a less pow... [ Continue Reading ]
3._That aged women in like manner _We very frequently see, that females advanced in age either continue to dress with the lightness of youthful years, or have something superstitious in their apparel, and seldom hit the golden mean. Paul wished to guard against both extremes, by enjoining them to fo... [ Continue Reading ]
4._That they may teach young women temperance _That they may be more attentive to duty, he shows that it is not enough if their own life be decent, if they do not also train _young women, _by their instructions, to a decent and chaste life. He therefore adds, that by their example they should train... [ Continue Reading ]
When he adds, _that the word of God may not be evil spoken of_, it is supposed that this relates strictly to women who were married to unbelieving husbands, who might judge of the gospel from the wicked conduct of their wives; and this appears to be confirmed by 1 Peter 3:1. But what if he does not... [ Continue Reading ]
6_Exhort likewise younger men _He merely enjoins that young men be instructed to be _temperate; _for temperance, as Plato shows, cures the whole understanding of man. It is as if he had said, “Let them be well regulated and obedient to reason.”... [ Continue Reading ]
7._In all things shewing thyself _For doctrine will otherwise carry little authority, if its power and majesty do not shine in the life of the bishop, (242) as in a mirror. He wishes, therefore, that the teacher may be a pattern, which his scholars may copy. (243) _A pattern of good works in doctrin... [ Continue Reading ]
8._Sound speech, unblamable _(245) “Sound speech” relates (in my opinion) to ordinary life and familiar conversation; for it would be absurd to interpret it as relating to public instruction, since he only wishes that Titus, both in his actions and in his words, shall lead a life that agrees with hi... [ Continue Reading ]
9._Servants, that they be subject to their masters _It has been already said that Paul merely glances at some things by way of example, and does not explain the whole of these subjects, as if he undertook, expressly, to handle them. Accordingly, when he enjoins servants _to please their masters in a... [ Continue Reading ]
10_Not thievish but shewing all good faith _He censures two vices that are common among servants, petulant replies, and a propensity to steal. (246) The comedies are full of instances of excessively ready talk, by which servants cheat their masters. Nor was it without reason that an exchange of name... [ Continue Reading ]
11_For the grace of God _(248) _hath appeared _He argues from the design of redemption, which he shews to be a desire to live a godly and upright life. Hence it follows, that the duty of a good teacher is rather to exhort to a holy life than to occupy the minds of men with useless questions. “He hat... [ Continue Reading ]
12_Teaching us that, denying, ungodliness _He now lays down the rule for regulating our life well, and how we ought to begin, namely, with renouncing our former life, of which he enumerates two parts, “ungodliness and worldly desires.” Under _ungodliness, _I include not only superstitions, in which... [ Continue Reading ]
13_Looking for that blessed hope _From the hope of future immortality he draws an exhortation, and indeed, if that hope be deeply seated in our mind, it is impossible that it should not lead us to devote ourselves wholly to God. On the contrary, they who do not cease to live to the world and to the... [ Continue Reading ]
14_Who gave himself for us_. This is another argument of exhortation, drawn from the design or effect of the death of Christ, who offered himself for us, that he might redeem us from the bondage of sin, and purchase us to himself as his heritage. His grace, therefore, necessarily brings along with i... [ Continue Reading ]
15_Speak these things, and exhort, and reprove _This conclusion is of the same meaning as if he enjoined Titus to dwell continually on that doctrine of edification, and never to grow weary, because it cannot be too much inculcated. He likewise bids him add the spurs of “exhortations and reproofs;” f... [ Continue Reading ]