@Tit 1:1-16. ADDRESS: FOR WHAT END TITUS WAS LEFT IN CRETE. QUALIFICATIONS FOR ELDERS: GAINSAYERS IN CRETE NEEDING REPROOF.
1. servant of God--not found elsewhere in the same connection. In
@Ro 1:1 it is "servant of Jesus Christ" (@Ga 1:10 Php 1:1;
compare @Ac 16:17 Re 1:1 15:3). In @Ro 1:1, there follows,
"called to be an apostle," which corresponds to the general
designation of the office first, "servant of
GOD," here, followed by
the special description, "apostle of Jesus Christ." The full
expression of his apostolic office answers, in both Epistles, to the
design, and is a comprehensive index to the contents. The peculiar form here would never have proceeded from a forger.
according to the faith--rather, "for," "with a view to subserve the
faith"; this is the object of my apostleship (compare
@Tit 1:4,9 Ro 1:5).
the elect--for whose sake we ought to endure all things
(@2Ti 2:10). This election has its ground, not in anything belonging
to those thus distinguished, but in the purpose and will of God from
everlasting (@2Ti 1:9 Ro 8:30-33; compare
@Lu 18:7 Eph 1:4 Col 3:12). @Ac 13:48 shows that all faith on the
part of the elect, rests on the divine foreordination: they do not
become elect by their faith, but receive faith, and so become
believers, because they are elect.
and the acknowledging of the truth--"and (for promoting) the
full knowledge of the truth," that is, the Christian truth
(@Eph 1:13).
after godliness--that is, which belongs to piety: opposed to the
knowledge which has not for its object the truth, but error, doctrinal
and practical (@Tit 1:11,16 1Ti 6:3); or even which has for its
object mere earthly truth, not growth in the divine life. "Godliness,"
or "piety," is a term peculiar to the Pastoral Epistles: a fact
explained by the apostle having in them to combat doctrine tending to
"ungodliness" (@2Ti 2:16; compare @Tit 2:11,12).
2. In hope of eternal life--connected with the whole preceding
sentence. That whereon rests my aim as an apostle to promote
the elect's faith and full knowledge of the truth, is, "the hope of
eternal life" (@Tit 2:13 3:7 Ac 23:6 24:15:28:20).
that cannot lie--(@Ro 3:4 11:29 Heb 6:18).
promised before the world began--a contracted expression for
"purposed before the world began (literally, 'before the ages of
time'), and promised actually in time," the promise springing from
the eternal purpose; as in @2Ti 1:9, the gift of grace was the
result of the eternal purpose "before the world began."
3. in due times--Greek, "in its own seasons," the seasons
appropriate to it, and fixed by God for it (@Ac 1:7).
manifested--implying that the "promise," @Tit 1:2, had lain
hidden in His eternal purpose heretofore (compare
@Col 1:26 2Ti 1:9,10).
his word--equivalent to "eternal life"
(@Tit 1:2 Joh 5:24 6:63 17:3,17).
through preaching--Greek, "in preaching," of rather as
ALFORD
(see on 2Ti 4:17), "in the
(Gospel) proclamation
(the thing preached, the Gospel) with which I was entrusted."
according to--in pursuance of (compare @1Ti 1:1).
of God our Saviour--rather as Greek, "of our Saviour God."
God is predicated of our Saviour (compare @Jude 1:25 Lu 1:47).
Also @Ps 24:5 Isa 12:2 45:15,21, Septuagint. Applied to Jesus,
@Tit 1:4 Tit 2:13 3:6 2Ti 1:10.
4. Titus, mine own son--Greek, "my genuine child"
(@1Ti 1:2), that is, converted by my instrumentality
(@1Co 4:17 Phm 1:10).
after the common faith--a genuine son in respect to (in virtue of)
the faith common to all the people of God, comprising in a common
brotherhood Gentiles as well as Jews, therefore embracing Titus a
Gentile (@2Pe 1:1 Jude 1:3).
Grace, mercy, and peace--"mercy" is omitted in some of the oldest
manuscripts. But one of the best and oldest manuscripts supports it
(compare Notes,
see on 1Ti 1:2;
2Ti 1:2). There are many
similarities of phrase in the Pastoral Epistles.
the Lord Jesus Christ--The oldest manuscripts read only "Christ
Jesus."
our Saviour--found thus added to "Christ" only in Paul's
Pastoral Epistles, and in @2Pe 1:1,11 2:20 3:18.
5. I left thee--"I left thee behind"
[ALFORD] when I left the
island: not implying permanence of commission (compare
@1Ti 1:3).
in Crete--now Candia.
set in order--rather as Greek, "that thou mightest follow up (the work begun by me), setting right the things that are wanting,"
which I was unable to complete by reason of the shortness of my stay in
Crete. Christianity, doubtless, had long existed in Crete: there were
some Cretans among those who heard Peter's preaching on Pentecost
(@Ac 2:11). The number of Jews in Crete was large (@Tit 1:10),
and it is likely that those scattered in the persecution of Stephen
(@Ac 11:19) preached to them, as they did to the Jews of Cyprus, &c.
Paul also was there on his voyage to Rome (@Ac 27:7-12). By all
these instrumentalities the Gospel was sure to reach Crete. But until
Paul's later visit, after his first imprisonment at Rome, the Cretan
Christians were without Church organization. This Paul began, and had
commissioned (before leaving Crete) Titus to go on with, and now reminds
him of that commission.
ordain--rather, "appoint," "constitute."
in every city--"from city to city."
as I . . . appointed thee--that is, as I directed thee; prescribing
as well the act of constituting elders, as also the manner of
doing so, which latter includes the qualifications required in a
presbyter presently stated. Those called "elders" here are called
"bishops" in @Tit 1:7. Elder is the term of dignity in
relation to the college of presbyters; bishop points to the
duties of his office in relation to the flock. From the unsound
state of the Cretan Christians described here, we see the danger of the
want of Church government. The appointment of presbyters was designed to
check idle talk and speculation, by setting forth the "faithful
word."
6. (Compare Notes,
see on 1Ti 3:2-4.)
The thing dwelt on here as the requisite in
a bishop, is a good reputation among those over whom he is to be set.
The immorality of the Cretan professors rendered this a necessary
requisite in one who was to be a reprover: and their unsoundness in
doctrine also made needful great steadfastness in the faith
(@Tit 1:9,13).
having faithful children--that is, believing children. He who
could not bring his children to faith, how shall he bring others?
[BENGEL].
ALFORD explains, "established in the faith."
not accused--not merely not riotous, but "not (even) accused of riot"
("profligacy" [ALFORD]; "dissolute life"
[WAHL]).
unruly--insubordinate; opposed to "in subjection"
(@1Ti 3:4).
7. For . . . must--The emphasis is on "must." The reason why I said
"blameless," is the very idea of a "bishop" (an overseer of the flock;
he here substitutes for "presbyter" the term which expresses his
duties) involves the necessity for such blamelessness, if he is
to have influence over the flock.
steward of God--The greater the master is, the greater the virtues
required in His servant [BENGEL],
(@1Ti 3:15); the Church is God's
house, over which the minister is set as a steward
(@Heb 3:2-6 1Pe 4:10,17). Note: ministers are not merely Church officers, but God's stewards; Church government is of divine
appointment.
not self-willed--literally, "self-pleasing"; unaccommodating to others;
harsh, the opposite of "a lover of hospitality" (@Tit 1:6); so
Nabal (@1Sa 25:1-44); self-loving and imperious; such a spirit would
incapacitate him for leading a willing flock, instead of
driving.
not given to
wine--(See on 1Ti 3:3;
1Ti 3:8).
not given to filthy lucre--not making the Gospel a means of gain
(@1Ti 3:3,8). In opposition to those "teaching for filthy lucre's
sake" (@Tit 1:11 1Ti 6:5 1Pe 5:2).
8. lover of hospitality--needed especially in those days
(@Ro 12:13 1Ti 3:2 Heb 13:2 1Pe 4:9 3Jo 1:5). Christians travelling
from one place to another were received and forwarded on their journey
by their brethren.
lover of good men--Greek, "a lover of (all that is) good," men
or things (@Php 4:8,9).
sober--towards one's self; "discreet"; "self-restrained"
[ALFORD],
(see on 1Ti 2:9).
just--towards "men."
holy--towards God
(see on 1Th 2:10).
temperate--"One having his passions, tongue, hand and eyes, at
command" [CHRYSOSTOM]; "continent."
9. Holding fast--Holding firmly to (compare @Mt 6:24 Lu 16:13).
the faithful--true and trustworthy (@1Ti 1:15).
word as he has been taught--literally, "the word (which is)
according to the teaching" which he has received (compare @1Ti 4:6,
end; @2Ti 3:14).
by--Translate as Greek, "to exhort in doctrine
(instruction) which is sound"; sound doctrine or instruction
is the element IN which his
exhorting is to have place . . . On
"sound" (peculiar to the Pastoral Epistles), see @1Ti 1:10 6:3.
convince--rather, "reprove" [ALFORD], (@Tit 1:13).
10. unruly--"insubordinate."
and--omitted in the oldest manuscripts. "There are many unruly persons,
vain talkers, and deceivers"; "unruly" being predicated of both
vain talkers and deceivers.
vain talkers--opposed to "holding fast the faithful word"
(@Tit 1:9). "Vain jangling" (@1Ti 1:6); "foolish questions,
unprofitable and vain" (@Tit 3:9). The source of the evil was
corrupted Judaism (@Tit 1:14). Many Jews were then living in Crete,
according to JOSEPHUS; so the Jewish leaven remained in some of them
after conversion.
deceivers--literally, "deceivers of the minds of others"
(Greek, @Ga 6:3).
11. mouths . . . stopped--literally, "muzzled," "bridled" as an
unruly beast (compare @Ps 32:9).
who--Greek, "(seeing that they are) such men as"; or "inasmuch
as they" [ELLICOTT].
subvert . . . houses--"overthrowing" their "faith" (@2Ti 2:18).
"They are the devil's levers by which he subverts the houses of God"
[THEOPHYLACT].
for filthy lucre--(@1Ti 3:3,8 6:5).
12. One--Epimenides of Phæstus, or Gnossus, in Crete, about 600.
He was sent for to purify Athens from its pollution occasioned by Cylon.
He was regarded as a diviner and prophet. The words here are taken
probably from his treatise "concerning oracles." Paul also quotes
from two other heathen writers, ARATUS (@Ac 17:28) and
MENANDER
(@1Co 15:33), but he does not honor them so far as even to mention
their names.
of themselves . . . their own--which enhances his authority as a
witness. "To Cretanize" was proverbial for to lie: as "to
Corinthianize" was for to be dissolute.
alway liars--not merely at times, as every natural man is.
Contrast @Tit 1:2, "God that cannot lie." They love "fables"
(@Tit 1:14); even the heathen poets laughed at their lying assertion
that they had in their country the sepulchre of Jupiter.
evil beasts--rude, savage, cunning, greedy. Crete was
a country without wild beasts. Epimenides' sarcasm was that its
human inhabitants supplied the place of wild beasts.
slow bellies--indolent through pampering their bellies.
They themselves are called "bellies," for that is the member for
which they live (@Ro 16:18 Php 3:19).
13. This witness--"This testimony (though coming from a Cretan) is
true."
sharply--Gentleness would not reclaim so perverse offenders.
that they--that those seduced by the false teachers may be
brought back to soundness in the faith. Their malady is strifes
about words and questions (@Tit 3:9 1Ti 6:4).
14. Jewish
fables--(See on 1Ti 1:4;
1Ti 4:7;
2Ti 4:4). These formed the transition stage to subsequent
Gnosticism; as yet the error was but profitless, and not tending to
godliness, rather than openly opposed to the faith.
commandments of men--as to ascetic abstinence
(@Tit 1:15 Mr 7:7-9 Col 2:16,20-23 1Ti 4:3).
that turn from the truth--whose characteristic is that they turn away
from the truth (@2Ti 4:4).
15. all things--external, "are pure" in themselves; the distinction of
pure and impure is not in the things, but in the disposition of
him who uses them; in opposition to "the commandments of men"
(@Tit 1:14), which forbade certain things as if impure intrinsically.
"To the pure" inwardly, that is, those purified in heart by faith (@Ac 15:9 Ro 14:20 1Ti 4:3), all outward things are pure; all are
open to, their use. Sin alone touches and defiles the soul
(@Mt 23:26 Lu 11:41).
nothing pure--either within or without (@Ro 14:23).
mind--their mental sense and intelligence.
conscience--their moral consciousness of the conformity or discrepancy
between their motives and acts on the one hand, and God's law on the
other. A conscience and a mind defiled are represented as the source of
the errors opposed in the Pastoral Epistles (@1Ti 1:19 3:9 6:5).
16. They profess--that is, make a profession acknowledging God.
He does not deny their theoretical knowledge of God, but that they
practically know Him.
deny him--the opposite of the previous "profess" or "confess" Him
(@1Ti 5:8 2Ti 2:12 3:5).
abominable--themselves, though laying so much stress on the contracting
of abomination from outward things (compare @Le 11:10-13 Ro 2:22).
disobedient--to God (@Tit 3:3 Eph 2:2 5:6).
reprobate--rejected as worthless when tested
(see on Ro 1:28;
1Co 9:27;
2Ti 3:8).