Titus 1

 

 1 Paul (1) a (a) servant of God, and an Apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the (*) faith of God’s (b) elect, (2) and the acknowledging of the truth, which is according to godliness,

 

(1) He voucheth his Apostleship (not for Titus, but for the Cretian's sake) both by the testimony of his outward calling, and by his consent wherein which he agreeth with all the elect from the beginning of the world.
(a) Minister, as Christ himself, in that which he was a minister and head of the Prophets, is called a servant; Isaiah 43:10 .

(*) That is, to preach the faith, to increase their knowledge, to teach them to live godly that at length they may obtain eternal life.
(b) Of those whom God hath chosen.
(2) The faith wherein all the elect consent, is the true and sincere knowledge of God, tending to this end, that worshipping God aright that they at length obtain life everlasting according to the promise of God, who is true, which promise was exhibited to Christ in due time according to his eternal purpose.

 

 2 Unto the (c) hope of eternal life, which God that cannot lie, hath (d) (♣) promised before the (*) (e) world began;

 

(c) Hope is the end of faith.
(d) Freely, and of his mere liberality.

(♣) Hath willingly, and of his mere liberality promised without foreseeing our faith or works as a cause to move him to this free mercy.

(*) Romans 16:25; Ephesians 3:9; Colossians 1:26; 2 Timothy 1:9; 1 Peter 1:20 .
(e) Look at 2 Timothy 1:9 .

 

 3  (3) But hath made his word manifest in due time through the preaching, which is (*) committed unto me according to the commandment of God our (f) (♣) Saviour;

 

(3) This truth is no other where to be sought, but in the preaching of the Apostles.

(*) Galatians 1:1 .
(f) This word (Saviour) doeth not only signify a preserver of life, but also a giver of life.

(♣) Who both giveth life and preserveth life.

 

 4  (4) To Titus my natural (*) son according to the common faith, (5) Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.

 

(4) The Apostle moveth the Cretians to hear Titus, by setting forth his consent and agreement with them in the faith, and therewithal sheweth by what special note we may distinguish true ministers from false.

(*) In respect of faith which was common to them both, so that hereby they are brethren; but in respect of the ministry Paul begat him his son in faith.
(5) There is but one way of salvation, common both to the Pastor and the flock.

 

 5  (6) For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest continue to redress the things that remain, and shouldest ordain Elders in every city, as I appointed thee;

 

(6) The first admonition: to ordain Elders in every city.

 

 6  (*) If any (♣) be unreproveable, the husband of one wife, having faithful children, which are not slandered of riot, neither are (g) disobedient.

 

(*) 1 Timothy 3:2 .

(♣) That is, without all infamy whereby his authority might be diminished.

(g) This word is proper to horses and oxen, which will not abide tolerate the yoke.

 

 7  (7) For a Bishop must be unreproveable, as (*) God’s (h) steward, not (i) (♣) froward, not angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre,

 

(7) The second admonition: what faults pastors (whom he comprehended afore under the word Elders) ought to be void of, and what virtues they ought to have.

(*) Who hath the dispensation of his gifts.
(h) Whom the Lord hath appointed steward of his gifts.
(i) Not hard conditioned, and evil to please.

(♣) Or self will.

 

 8 But harberous, one that loveth (♠) goodness, (k) wise, (*) righteous, (♣) holy, temperate,

 

(♠) Or, good men.

(k) Circumspect, of a sound judgment, and of a singular example of moderation.

(*) Toward men.

(♣) Toward God.

 

 9  (8) Holding fast the faithful word according to doctrine, (9) that he also may be able to exhort with wholesome doctrine, and convince them that say against it.

 

(8) The third admonition: The pastor must hold fast that doctrine, which the Apostles delivered, and pertaineth to salvation, leaving behind all curious and vain matters.
(9) The fourth admonition: To apply the knowledge of true doctrine unto use, which consisteth in two things, to wit, in governing them which shew themselves apt to learn, and confuting the obstinate.

 

 10  (10) For there are many disobedient and vain talkers and deceivers of minds, chiefly they of the (l) (*) Circumcision,

 

(10) An applying of the general proposition to a particular: The Cretians above all others need sharp reprehensions; both because their minds are naturally given to lies and slothfulness, and also because of certain covetous Jews, which under a color of godliness, joined partly certain vain traditions, and partly old ceremonies with the Gospel.
(l) Of the Jews, or rather of those Jews, which went about to join Christ and the Law together.

(*) Which were not only the Jews, but also the Hebionites, and Cherinthians heretics, which taught that the Law must be joined with Christ.

 

 11 Whose mouths must be stopped, which subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.

 

 12  (m) One of themselves, even one of their own (*) prophets said, The Cretians are always liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.

 

(m) Epimenides, who was counted a Prophet amongst them. Look upon Laertius and Cicero in his first book of Divination.

(*) He calleth Epimenides the Philosopher, or Poet, whose verse he here reciteth, a Prophet, because the Cretians so esteemed him; and as Laetitius writeth, they sacrificed unto him as to a God, forasmuch as he had a marvelous gift to understand things to come; which thing Satan by the permission of God hath opened to the infidels from time to time, but it turneth to their greater condemnation.

 

 13 This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them (n) sharply, that they may be sound in the faith,

 

(n) Roughly and plainly, and go not about the bush with them.

 

 14 And not taking heed to (*) Jewish fables and commandments of men, that turn away from the truth.

 

(*) 1 Timothy 1:4 .

 

 15  (11) Unto the pure (*) are all things pure, but unto them that are defiled, and unbelieving is nothing pure, but even their (o) minds and consciences are defiled.

 

(11) He sheweth in few words, that purity consisteth not in any external worship, and that which is according to the old Law, (as in difference of meats, and washing and other such things which are abolished) but in the mind and conscience; and whosoever teach otherwise, knows not what is true religion indeed, and also are nothing less than that they would seem to be.

(*) Romans 14:20 .
(o) If our minds and consciences be unclean, what cleanness is there in us before regeneration?

 

 16 They profess that they know God, but by (*) works they deny him, and are abominable and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

 

(*) For as much as they stay at things of nothing, and pass not for them, that are of importance, and so give themselves to all wickedness.

 

Steve

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