This chapter comprises the following subjects: (1) Titus was to instruct his hearers to be subject to lawful authority, and in general to manifest meekness and gentleness towards all classes of men; Titus 3:1. (2) A reason is assigned why they should do this; Titus 3:3. They who were Christians we... [ Continue Reading ]
PUT THEM IN MIND TO BE SUBJECT ... - See the duty here enjoined, explained in the notes at Romans 13:1, following. PRINCIPALITIES AND POWERS - See these words explained in the notes at Romans 8:38. The word here rendered “powers” (ἐξουσίαις exousiais), is not, indeed, the same as that which is fo... [ Continue Reading ]
TO SPEAK EVIL OF NO MAN - Greek, “to blaspheme (βλασφημεῖν blasphēmein, compare the notes at Matthew 9:3) no one.” Doddridge renders it, “calumniate no one.” The idea is, that we are not to slander, revile, or defame anyone. We are not to say anything to anyone, or of anyone, which will do him inj... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR WE OURSELVES - We who are Christians. There is no reason for supposing, as Benson does, that this is to be understood as confined to Paul himself. There are some things mentioned here which were not probably true of him before his conversion, and the connection does not require us to suppose tha... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT AFTER THAT - Greek, when - ὅτε hote The meaning is, that “when the love of God was manifested in the plan of salvation, he saved us from this state God appeared” after we had sinned in this way, but that when his mercy was thus displayed we were converted from our sins, and made pure in his si... [ Continue Reading ]
NOT BY WORKS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS WHICH WE HAVE DONE - The plan was not based on our own good works, nor are our own good works now the cause of our salvation. If people could have been saved by their own good works, there would have been no need of salvation by the Redeemer; if our own deeds were now t... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH HE SHED ON US - Greek, “Which he poured out on us” - ἐξέχην exechēn; see the notes at Acts 2:17. The same Greek word is used there as here. It occurs also in the same sense in Acts 2:18, Acts 2:33. ABUNDANTLY - Margin, as in Greek, “richly.” The meaning is, that the Holy Spirit had been imp... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT BEING JUSTIFIED BY HIS GRACE - Not by our own works, but by his favor or mercy; see the notes at Romans 3:24. WE SHOULD BE MADE HEIRS - See the notes at Romans 8:15, Romans 8:17. ACCORDING TO THE HOPE OF ETERNAL LIFE - In reference to the hope of eternal life; that is, we have that hope in vi... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS IS A FAITHFUL SAYING - See the notes at 1 Timothy 1:15. The reference here is to what he had been just saying, meaning that the doctrine which he had stated about the method of salvation was in the highest degree important, and entirely worthy of belief. AND THESE THINGS I WILL THAT THOU AFFIRM... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT AVOID FOOLISH QUESTIONS AND GENEALOGIES - See the 1 Timothy 1:4 note; 2 Timothy 2:16, 2 Timothy 2:23 notes. AND CONTENTIONS, AND STRIVINGS ABOUT THE LAW - Such as the Jews started about various matters connected with the law - about meats and drinks, etc.; the notes at 1 Timothy 1:4; compare th... [ Continue Reading ]
A MAN THAT IS AN HERETIC - The word “heretic” is now commonly applied to one who holds some fundamental error of doctrine, “a person who holds and teaches opinions repugnant to the established faith, or that which is made the standard of orthodoxy.” Webster. The Greek word here used αἱρετικὸς hair... [ Continue Reading ]
KNOWING THAT HE THAT IS SUCH IS SUBVERTED - Literally, “is turned out;” or, “is changed,” i. e., for the worse. He has gone from the right way, and therefore he should be rejected. AND SINNETH, BEING CONDEMNED OF HIMSELF - His own conscience condemns him. He will approve the sentence, for he knows... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN I SHALL SEND ARTEMAS UNTO THEE - This person is not elsewhere mentioned in the New Testament, and nothing more is known of him. OR TYCHICUS - Notes, Acts 20:4. BE DILIGENT - Notes, 2 Timothy 4:9. “To come unto me to Nicopolis.” It was at this place, probably, that this epistle was written. In... [ Continue Reading ]
BRING ZENAS THE LAWYER - - This person is not elsewhere mentioned in the New Testament, and nothing more is known of him. He belonged doubtless to that class of persons so often mentioned in the New Testament as lawyers; that is, who were regarded as qualified to expound the Jewish laws; see the not... [ Continue Reading ]
AND LET OURS - Our friends; that is, those who were Christians Paul had just directed Titus to aid Zenas and Apollos himself, and he here adds that he wished that others who were Christians would be char acterized by good works of all kinds. TO MAINTAIN GOOD WORKS - Margin, profess honest trades. T... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL THAT ARE WITH ME SALUTE THEE - Notes, Romans 16:3. Paul, at the close of his epistles, usually mentions the names of those who sent affectionate salutations. Here it would seem to be implied that Titus knew who were with Paul, and also that he himself had been traveling with him. He evidently re... [ Continue Reading ]