Commentari biblici

Titus 1:1. Paul, a servant of God,— This is the only epistle of St. Paul, wherein he begins with calling himself a servant, or slave, devoted for ever to the service of God. According to the flesh, would be rendered more properly, for the faith; that is to say, for promoting the faith of Christians; who, under the Messiah, are the elect people of God, as the Jews were under the Mosaic dispensation. Dr. Heylin well expresses the meaning of the passage,—To preach the faith of God's elect, and make known the truth, as it promotes piety.

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Titus 1:2. Before the world began— Προ χρονων αιωνιων, before the secular ages; or before the giving of the law of Moses. God had promised the gospel, in an obscure manner, to the patriarchs before Abraham; but to him it was promised more explicitly. Now that promise to Abraham, was before the secular times—the jubilees under the law, and, consequently, before the distinction of the world into Jews and Gentiles. But what the God, who cannot lie or break his word, had promised so long before to Abraham, the law of Moses, which intervened, could not disannul. See Romans 16:25.Galatians 3:17; Galatians 3:17.

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Titus 1:3. In due times— In his own proper times. See 1 Timothy 2:6. Galatians 4:4.Ephesians 1:10; Ephesians 1:10; Ephesians 2:7. In this the apostle might probably allude to the prophesies, and particularly to the celebrated prophesy of Daniel concerning the seventy weeks; Daniel 9:24. Instead of commandment, some read appointment. Dr. Benson upon the 4th verse, observing that the words mercy and the Lord are omitted in some manuscripts, makes this remark, which deserves much attention: "It is not very material," says he, "as to the sense, whether these words be left out or retained; and indeed, I have found this observation to hold good concerning most of the various readings: that is, it is of little or no moment, as to the sense and connection, whether you receive or reject them."

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Titus 1:5.— Before he proceeds to the principal design of this epistle, the apostle briefly reminds Titus of his leaving him in Crete, to settle the churches which he had planted there, and to ordain elders in every city, to be bishops over the several churches. After this he describes the characters of such as he was to ordain; namely, that they should be men of integrity, and of an unspotted reputation; and particularly such as understood the liberty of the Gentile Christians; and that would oppose the Judaizers; who were bad men, and very industrious in making proselytes, Titus 1:5-16. It is well known that the word πολις, rendered city, frequently signifies a country town only, and sometimes a village. Crete had formerly been famous for having a hundred cities; but Pliny, who wrote not long after the sending of this epistle to Titus, found only forty cities there, and the bare memory of sixty more; and most of these forty called cities, were little better than villages. Strabo says, that Crete had many cities, but only three of any great note.

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Titus 1:6. Having faithful children— Having believing children. This is mentioned with great propriety; for if a man were not careful to instruct his children in the principles of Christianity, there would be great reason to doubt whether he were heartyinthebeliefof it himself; and if a man had only unbelieving children in his house, that is to say, such as were so obstinate that they could not be brought to embrace Christianity, byany of the arguments which could be laid before them, in that age of miracles, it would be a great discouragement, and in some circumstances a great hindrance to him, from pursuing the duties of a Christian elder, or bishop; and those evils into which such obstinate infidel children might fall, would very probably bring a reproach upon the family, which might in a degree hurt the character of him who presided in it. See 2 Timothy 2:24; 2Ti 2:26 and 1Ti 3:1; 1 Timothy 3:16.

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Titus 1:7. Not self-willed— 'Αυθαδη : pleased with himself, and despising others; supercilious, haughty, insolent,surly. This vice, in our ordinary conversation, is directly opposed to affability or courtesy.

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Titus 1:8. Sober— Prudent, as the word may be rendered. The following word temperate includes all sobriety.

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Titus 1:10. For there are many unruly, &c.— St. Paul had his eye from the beginning of the epistle all along, upon the persons whom he describes in this and the following verses. This close and excellent writer never loses sight of his subject; but he proceeds so gradually to speak plainly, that we may lose sight of it, if we do not attend very carefully. See 1 Timothy 1:6-7.

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