Titus 2

The apostle exhorts Titus rightly to hold forth the sound doctrine and to instruct 2 old men 3 and old women 4 and with all by them the young women 6 young men how they ought to carry themselves and to exhort them thereunto both by words 7 and also by his own example in conversation and doctrine 9 afterwards also believing servants how they should carry themselves 11 and adjoins reasons which ought to move everyone to piety and to all Christian virtues taken both from te end whereof God hath revealed his gospel unto us 13 and from the hope of reward at the coming of Christ 14 and from the greatness fruit and end of the benefits of Christ bestowed upon us 15 willing him earnestly to press and inculcate this.

1. But thou [that is do not as these seducers but as a faithful teacher leaving such fables vain speaking and commandment of men preach the doctrine of the gospel purely]speak that which becometh sound doctrine [see 1 Timothy 1:10 and chapter 6.3]

2. That the old men be sober grave [or stayed composed descent] prudent [or temperate]sound in faith in love in patience .

3. the old women that in likewise that in their carriage [Gr fashion both namely in apparel and in their whole conversation]they even as becometh saints that they be no slanderers that they give themselves too much wine [Gr not making themselves slaves to much wine] but be teachers of that which is good.

4. That they teach the young women [they namely the old women by whom the young women may better and with less reproach be instructed there by men namely in private for to teach openly in the church is forbidden women 1Corinthians 14.34 1Timothy 2.12] to be prudent [or temperate as in the following verse] to over their husband and love their children.

5. To be temperate or prudent to be chaste or keep the house [that is not idle to run from house to house as 1Timothy 5.13 but to abide at home] to be good disposition ] to be subject to their own husband that the word of God may not be reproached [namely as is used to be done by enemies of the truth who fro the ill life embraced God words took occasion to reproach the word itself as if that maintained an evil life Romans 2:24]

6. young men like in manner exhort to be temperate [or prudent as verse 2,4]

7. Show all things in thyself a person of good works in doctrine [that is in propounding and preaching the doctrine of the gospel]show sincerity [Gr incorruptedness that is without mingling any false sophisticated doctrine or humane invention therewith whereby the pure doctrine is corrupted and falsified]gravity [or staidness the former concerns the doctrine itself and this the manner in which the same must be propounded]uprightness.

8. The word [see 1 Timothy 1:10 and 6.3 2Timothy 1.13 and chapter 4.3 Titus 1:9,13 namely that which thou shalt publicly preach or shalt privately use amongst men] sound and that may not be rejected [or unreproveable ,uncondemnable not to be despised which may be understood both of the word and also of the person of Titus]that he that is against it [that is who is yet a stranger and an enemy to the evangelical doctrine]may be ashamed [namely in his reproaching of the doctrine or teachers of the gospel]and have no evil thing to say [namely with rule]of you[others read of us namely us ministers of the gospel]

9. Exhorts servants to be obedient to their own masters to be well pleasing in all things [namely that they are not contrary to the commands of the supreme Lord Jesus Christ se Acts 4:19 and 5.29 and the annotate on Colossians 3:18,22] not gainsaying [namely the commands or reproofs of their masters]

10. Not purloining [that is privily by craft and by way of stealth getting any of their masters goods to themselves see of this word Acts 5:2,3] but showing all good fidelity that they may adorn [which is done when they practice the same and follow it in all things] the doctrine of God our savior [namely which commands this and which they have embraced and profess] in all things.

11. for now the apostle gives a reason why Titus must exhort all sorts of men old and young and even slaves or servants also to carry themselves piously ]the saving grace of God [that is the doctrine of grace of God shown us by Christ and contained in the gospel]hath appeared [namely as a light in the darkness of the shadows of the old testament and the ignorance of Gentiles Isaiah 42:7,16 Acts 26:18 Ephesians 5:8 1Peter 2.9 1John 2.8] unto all men [that is all sorts of men women ,old, young, free, and bondmen as appears from what goes before see the like 1Timothy 2.1 ,4 some join these words of all men the word of saving in the sense the grace of God saving all men hath appeared.]

12. And instructeth us that we denying [see Matthew 16:24] ungodliness and worldly lusts [that is which are sound and reign in worldly and unregenerate men and are described 1Peter .4.3 1John 2.16] should live soberly [namely in respect of ourselves] and justly [namely in respect of our neighbor]and godlily[namely in respect of God] in this present world [Gr age]

13. Looking for the blessed hope [that is salvation which the faithful hope for] and appearing [namely to judge quick and dead for so is this taken everywhere see 2Thessalonians 2.8 1Timothy 6.14 2Timothy 4.1,8] of the glory appearing shall be with great glory see Matthew 16:27 and 19.28 and 24.30 and 25.31 and 1Peter 4.13] of the great of God and our savior Jesus Christ [that is of Jesus Christ our great God savior for both these titles and are here ascribed to Jesus Christ as appears forasmuch as here is spoken of his glorious appearing of his glorious appearing in judgment and as the connection of the Greek word also shows a clear demonstration of God head .]

14. Who gave himself [namely unto death] for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity [that is not only to reconcile us unto God by a perfect satisfaction for our sins by his blood Ephesians 1:7 1Peter 1.18 1John 1.7 Revelations 5.9 but also by his spirit of regeneration to deliver us from the dominion of sin and iniquity Romans 6:3 Galatians 5:24 Colossians 2:11 ,12 1Peter 4.1,2] and might purify [namely by his spirit whereby as pure water the faithful are purified from filthiness of sin and are separated to be a people of God see Ezekiel 36:25,26] to himself a peculiar people [Gr Periousion by which word the Greek translator of the old testament expound the Hebrew word Segyllah Exodus 19:5 and signifieth properly that which as somewhat singular excellent and precious is laid up to be kept] zealous in good works

15. This speak and exhorts and reprove with all earnest [Gr command authority see of this word Romans 16:26 1Corinthians 7.6,25 2 Corinthians 8:8 that is show in teaching that thou speakest as an ambassador of God whose commands thou must propound with earnest]let no man despise thee .