This chapter embraces the following points: 1. The usual inscription and salutation; Titus 1:1. In this Paul declares himself to be the author of the epistle, and asserts in the strongest manner his claims to the apostleship. He alludes to the great cause in which, as an apostle, he was engaged - a... [ Continue Reading ]
PAUL, A SERVANT OF GOD, AND AN APOSTLE OF JESUS CHRIST - See notes at Romans 1:1; compare the notes at 1 Corinthians 9:1. ACCORDING TO THE FAITH OF GOD’S ELECT - Compare the Romans 8:33 note; Ephesians 1:4 note; 2 Timothy 2:10 note. The meaning of the word rendered here, “according to” - κατὰ kata... [ Continue Reading ]
IN HOPE OF ETERNAL LIFE - Margin, for. Greek, ἐπ ̓ ἐλπίδι ep' elpidi. This does not mean that Paul cherished the hope of eternal life, but that the “faith of the elect,” which he aimed to secure, was in order that people might have the hope of eternal life. The whole system which he was appointed... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT HATH IN DUE TIMES - At the proper time; the time which he had intended; the best time: see the notes at 1 Timothy 2:6; compare the notes at Matthew 2:2. MANIFESTED HIS WORD THROUGH PREACHING - See the notes at 2 Timothy 2:10. The meaning here is, that he has made known his eternal purpose throu... [ Continue Reading ]
TO TITUS - See the Introduction, Section 1. MINE OWN SON - Notes, 1 Timothy 1:2. AFTER THE COMMON FAITH - The faith of all Christians; - equivalent to saying “my son in the gospel.” That is, Paul had been the means of converting him by preaching that gospel which was received by all who were Chris... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THIS CAUSE LEFT I THEE IN CRETE - Compare the notes, 1 Timothy 1:3. On the situation of Crete, see the Introduction, Section 2. THAT THOU SHOULDEST SET IN ORDER THE THINGS THAT ARE WANTING - Margin, “left undone.” The Greek is: “the things that are left;” that is, those which were left unfinishe... [ Continue Reading ]
IF ANY BE BLAMELESS, THE HUSBAND OF ONE WIFE - See the notes at 1 Timothy 3:2. HAVING FAITHFUL CHILDREN - See the notes at 1 Timothy 3:4. That is, having a family well-governed, and well-trained in religion. The word here - πιστὰ pista - applied to the children, and rendered faithful, does not nece... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR A BISHOP MUST BE BLAMELESS - 1 Timothy 3:2. AS THE STEWARD OF GOD - See notes, 1 Corinthians 4:1. A man, in order to perform the duties of such an office, should be one against whom no accusation could lie. NOT SELF-WILLED - Compare 2 Peter 2:10. The word - αὐθάδης authadēs - does not elsewh... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT A LOVER OF HOSPITALITY - Notes, 1 Timothy 3:2. A LOVER OF GOOD MEN - Margin, “or things.” The Greek (φιλάγαθος philagathos) means, a lover of good, and may apply to any thing that is good. It may refer to good men, as included under the general term good; and there is no more essential qualifi... [ Continue Reading ]
HOLDING FAST THE FAITHFUL WORD - That is, the true doctrines of the gospel. This means that he is to hold this fast, in opposition to one who would wrest it away, and in opposition to all false teachers, and to all systems of false philosophy. He must be a man who is firm in his belief of the doctri... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THERE ARE MANY UNRULY AND VAIN TALKERS AND DECEIVERS - There are many persons who are indisposed to submit to authority (see the word unruly in Titus 1:6); many who are vain talkers - who are more given to talk than to the duties of practical religion (see the character of “Talkative,” in the Pi... [ Continue Reading ]
WHOSE MOUTHS MUST BE STOPPED - The word here rendered stopped - ἐπιστομιζειν epistomizein - occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. It means, properly, to check, or curb, as with a bridle; to restrain, or bridle in; and then, to put to silence. It is, of course, implied here that this was to be d... [ Continue Reading ]
ONE OF THEMSELVES - That is, one of the Cretans. The quotation here shows that Paul had his eye not only on the Jewish teachers there, but on the native Cretans. The meaning is, that, alike in reference to Jewish teachers and native-born Cretans, there was need of the utmost vigilance in the selecti... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS WITNESS IS TRUE - That is, this testimony long before borne by one of their own number, was true when the apostle wrote to Titus. The fact that this was the general Character of the people, was a reason why he should be on his guard in introducing men into the ministry, and in the arrangement o... [ Continue Reading ]
NOT GIVING HEED TO JEWISH FABLES ... - See the notes at 1 Timothy 1:4. AND COMMANDMENTS OF MEN THAT TURN FROM THE TRUTH - Notes, Matthew 15:3.... [ Continue Reading ]
UNTO THE PURE ALL THINGS ARE PURE - See the notes at Romans 14:14, Romans 14:20. There is probably an allusion here to the distinctions made in respect to meats and drinks among the Jews. Some articles of food were regarded as “clean,” or allowed to be eaten, and some as “unclean,” or forbidden. Pau... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY PROFESS THAT THEY KNOW GOD - That is, the Jewish teachers particularly, who are referred to in Titus 1:14. All those persons were professors of religion, and claimed that they had a special knowledge of God. BUT IN WORKS THEY DENY HIM - Their conduct is such as to show that they have no real a... [ Continue Reading ]