Titus 1:9

Ver. 9. Then follows at the close what more especially pertained to the teaching function of his office: holding fast the faithful word according to the teaching, in order that he may be able with the sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince (or reprove) the gainsayers. There can be no reasonable doubt as to the faithful word which the true Christian pastor is to hold fast: the expression is often used in these epistles (1 Timothy 1:15 1 Timothy 3:1, 1 Timothy 4:9; 2 Timothy 2:11; 2 Timothy 3:8), and always means the word which is entitled to our confidence, the word which is in itself the proper ground of trust and hope God's word. The only question is, in what sense or respect is it said to be according to the teaching? Does this mean, what the person has been taught, or what he himself teaches? Of itself the expression might be taken either way, and has been so taken by commentators, though both the more natural, and the more generally received view, is that which understands it of the teaching imparted by the apostles, and which constituted by way of eminence the teaching the church's normal instruction and rule in spiritual things. The Authorized Version gives unambiguous expression to this, by rendering “the faithful word as he hath been taught,” putting, however, the other view on the margin (“in his teaching”). It was natural that the apostle, when he was going to refer to a sort of teaching that was unsound and perilous, should not only point attention to that which was of another character, and might fitly serve as a corrective, but should also give some hint of its nature should indicate the source whence it came, and the authority on which it rested. This is what he does, briefly yet not uncertainly, in the expression: “the faithful word according to the teaching;” that, namely, which is recognised as true and authoritative in the apostolic church. Hence, as standing on this solid foundation, and having such choice materials to handle, he should be able by his own sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. But as the pastor is supposed here to accomplish the end in question by his own sound doctrine or teaching, this confirms the view taken of the preceding statement that the teaching there spoken of was what he had previously received, and by which he was qualified for giving forth a teaching that should be at once sound and effective. This teaching is presented under a twofold aspect one having respect to those within, and the other to those without the Christian community. It was the first part of the duty of the overseers of such a community to exhort, that is, to instruct and edify its own members; and only secondarily, and as occasion required, to resist and expose the false teaching of those who assailed the Christian faith, if so be they might be able to convince them of their errors. So that the qualification here associated with the true Christian pastor corresponds to the aptness to teach mentioned in 1 Timothy 3:2; only here it is more specifically described, and its importance indicated with reference as well to the hostile as to the friendly elements, amid which the church in Crete was placed. Having there very pragmatical and troublesome disputants to deal with, much necessarily depended on the men who stood at the helm of affairs being possessed both of enlightened views and strong convictions; as they might otherwise, even with the best motives and intentions, misrepresent and embarrass the cause of the gospel. But both duties had to be discharged; therefore, “he is the true bishop who holds the right faith, and who properly uses his knowledge to edify the people, and check the wantonness of the adversaries” (Calvin).