Titus 1

Titus 1:1-4

In this chapter we have, (1.) The preface or introduction to the epistle, ver. 1—4. (2.) The end of Titus’s being left at Crete, ver. 5. And, (3.) How the same should be pursued in reference both to good and bad ministers, from ver. 6, to the end.

PAUL a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth, which is after godliness: 2. In hope of eternal life, which God that cannot lye, promised before the world began; 3. But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me, according to the commandment of God our Saviour: 4. To Titus mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.

The apostle opens with his usual address.

1. He sets forth his own divine commission and apostleship. This epistle comes from Paul, who counts it his highest honour

to be called a servant of God in the gospel of his dear Son, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, sent to bear the glad tidings of his salvation to Gentile lands, according to the faith of God’s elect, the doctrine which is to be embraced by all whom the Lord hath chosen, and is pleased effectually to call to the acknowledging of the truth, which is after godliness, and which, having heartily embraced myself, I now with delight publish to others: in hope of eternal life, which all, who live godly in Christ Jesus, are sure to attain unto, because God, who cannot lye, hath promised it unto them, in Christ their head, before the world began; but hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me, according to the commandment of God our Saviour: and I have with all fidelity laboured to discharge the important truth. Note, (1.) The highest dignity is to be the servant of the living God. (2.) There is an elect of God, to whom the gospel will be in- lability effectual. (3.) All, who are chosen in Christ Jesus before the world began, are in the fulness of time brought to confess the faith, acknowledge the truth, and in all godliness to shew its influence upon their hearts. (4.) Eternal life is as sure to all the faithful as the promise of an unchangeable God can make it: he must be false to his word before they can fail of their inheritance in glory. (5.) They, who are ministers of God, must be indefatigable in preaching. Dumb dogs that cannot, or will not bark, are not of the Great Shepherd’s appointment.

2. He Chapter II.

3. He wishes Titus the heft of bleflings. To Titus, mine soon son after the common faith, my spiritual child, begotten in the gospel, be grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father, and the Lord John Christ our Son-in. Note, (1.) All believers have one common faith, and are united to the same Jesus. (2.) If Christ be indeed our Son-in, then God’s sovereign and ever-falling sin and mercy, in all their boundless import of pardon and salvation to the utterance, and peace of conscience present and eternal, will be our blessed portion.

4. For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldst set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee. 6. “If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children, not accused of riot, or unruly. 7. For a bishop must be blameless, as the Reward of God, not self-willed, not soon angry, not given to wine, no thicker, not given to filthy lucre; 8. “But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; 9. “Holding fast the faithful word, as he hath been taught, that he may be able by found doctrine, both to exhort and to convince the gaulsayers. 10. For there are many unruly and vain talkers and decreters, especially they of the circumcision: 11. Whoever mourns most he stopped, who subvert whole houses, reaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.

5. 5—11. St. Paul,

6. Reminds him of the end for which he was left in Crete. For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldst set in order the things that are wanting, directing them concerning the proper discipline, worship, and conduct, to be observed by this lately concerned church; and ordain elders in every city, as I have appointed thee, such as shall be found duly qualified for the ministerial work.

7. He describes the character of those whom he should ordain. If any be blameless, having a good report of those who know him heft, the husband of one wife, no polygamist, having faithful children, brought up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord; not accused of riot, or unruly, diffusive and refractory, but kept under due restraint; neither a disgrace to themselves or their parents. For a bishop must be blameless, as the Reward of God, appointed to that high charge in his holy family, and therefore of a character irreproachable; not self-willed, of a rash and obfuscated temper; not soon angry, and firing at every provocation; not given to wine, addicted to drunkenness, or fond of the glass; as thicker, violent in his passions; not given to filthy lucre, a mercenary wretch, who serves for hire, but out of seat for Christ and the souls of men. He must be also a lover of hospitality, entertaining poor strangers, and Christians driven from their homes by the fury of persecution; a lover of good men, without prejudice or exception; sober, grave and prudent in his carriage and deportment; just and upright in his conversation; holy in all his conduct; temperate in his defies and appetites; holding fast the faithful word, maintaining the purity of the gospel, and dispelling it with all fidelity, as he hath been taught by us; that he may be able, by found doctrine, both to exhort and comfort the true members of Christ’s church, and to convince predilem of their errors. For such spiritual wisdom is necessary, because there are many unruly and vain talkers and decreters, in Crete as well as other churches, who, though professing Christianity, walk disorderly, and with their heretical tenets draw away disciples after them; especially they of the circumcision, who are the great corrupters of the faith, urging circumcision and the observance of the musical institutions as necessary to salvation; whole mouth must be shaped, not by force, but by found truth and scriptural arguments to detect their fallacies and silence their cavils; some subversely whole houses, infirmating themselves into the families of professors, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake, adapting their teaching to the palates of their hearers, in order to infatuate into their confidence, and enrich themselves at their expense.

8. “One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are always liars, evil beasts, flow bellies. 13. This witness is true: wherefore rebule them sharply, that they may be found in the faith; 14. Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men that turn from the truth. 15. ‘Umm the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving, is nothing pure: but even their mind and conscience is defiled. 16. They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

9. 12—16. The national character of the Cretians was very bad, therefore they would need sharp rebule.

10. The apostle quotes one of their own writers. One of them: Sisters, even a prophet, or poet, of their own; Epistomides; said, the Cretians are always liars, peculiarly addicted to this tin; evil beasts, ravenous, gluttonous, and infatuate in their appetites; firm bellies, luxurious and indolent: and this womanly is true, it is their just character. Wherefore,

11. Rebuke them sharply; such scandalous deeds required severe and cutting remonstrances, that, their sin and danger being set before them, they may be found in the faith, warned by those rebukes of others to be more watchful, or recovered from such grievous backfishing; we giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, the ridiculous legends and vain traditions of those judaising teachers, that turn from the truth, appallants themselves, and labouring to pervert the faith of others, and to adulterate the blessed gospel of grace, by enforcing upon the conscience the abrogated rites of the musical law. One the pure all things are pure, and no ceremonial uncleanness contracted by the touch or talk of things forbidden by the lawless institutions: but unto them that are defiled by the reigning impurity of their hearts and lives, and unbelieving, destitute of faith in Jesus, there is nothing pure, all they do and lay in abominable in the light of God; but even their mind and conscience is defiled, and, when the fountain is thus polluted, every fireman which flows from it must need be found. They profess indeed to know God, and make great beasts of their wilson; but in work they deny him, and act as infidels, being abominable in their spirit and conduct, disobedient to all God’s holy laws, as well as enemies to his gospel, and, in short, to every good work reprobate, unfit and unable for, as well as disinclined to, the practice of them. Note, (1.) Stubborn Sinners call for severe rebule. Lenny, where the knife is required, is real cruelty to the patient. (2.) The best preservative against the wiles of deceivers is being found in the faith. They who are here grounded on Christ will not really be shaken. (3.) They who are destitute of right principles must necessarily err in all their conduct: every thing they do, even what is in itself right, as to the matter and deed itself, becomes sin to them, because it proceeds from wrong principles, and is directed to wrong ends. (4.) It is not founding professions, but holy lives, which characterize real Christians. Non magna liquimar, sed vivim.

Titus 1:8-14

In this epistle we have the preface, ver. 1—7. The substance and body of it, ver. 8—21. And then the consousian, ver. 22, to the end.

PAUL a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved and fellow-labourer, 2. And to our beloved Apphia, and a Archippus’ our fellow-soldier, and to a the church in thy house: 3. a Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. 4. I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers, 5. a Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints; 6. That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by a the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. 7. For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are rescribed by thee, brother.

6. 1—7. We have here the preface to this short but beautiful epistle, and may observe,

7. The persons from whom it comes: from Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, now suffering for the gospel cause; and Timothy our brother: and where two such eminent servants of the Saviour concurred in a requést, what could be denied them?

8. The persons to whom it is directed: unto Philemon our dearly beloved brother in Christ, and fellow-labourer in the gospel; and to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellow-soldier, in the glorious warfare under Christ the Captain of our salvation; and to the church in thy house, his whole family being converts to the

faith, or the faithful at Colosse assemblad there for worship; and by thus saluting them he serme destrous to interest them on his behalf, and to solsicit their concurrence in the requést he was about to make.

3. The salutation. Grace to you, in all its comprehensive import; and peace, flowing from a sense of pardon, acceptance, and the assured inheritance of glory; and both proceeding from God the Father, from his eternal, sovereign, boundless love, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, by whom all spiritual blessings have been purchased, and through whom alone they are beslowed upon us.

4. His thankfulness and prayer. I thank my God, in a covenant of everlassing love, making mention of thee always in my prayers, whenever I approach a throne of grace; bearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints; for which I offer my uncealing praises, and add my servant prayers, that the communication of thy faith may become effectual, to engage then to every farther instance of generosity and benevolence, by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in, or towards, Christ Jesus, to whom much glory will re-dound, and many thanks be offered by those who feel the benefit of those gracious dispositions which the Saviour hath implanted, and which mansest themselves in every work and labour of love towards his people for his sake: for we have great joy and consolation in bearing of thy distinguished love, because the bowels of the saints are rescribed by thee, brother, who gratefully acknowledge thy extensive charity; and this emboldens me to hope, that in the present instance my petition will be succesasul.

5. Wherefore, a though I might be much bold in a Thosi. Christ, to enjoin thee that which is convenient, 9. 6. Yet for love sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ. 1 Ver. 2.

n Col. 10. p. Christ. 10. I befeech thee for my son * Onefimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds: 11. Which in time paft was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me: 12. Whom I have fent again: thou therefore receive him, that is mine own bowels. 13. Whom I would have retained with me, * that in thy fleau he might have minifred unto me in the bonds of the gospel. 14. But without thy mind would I do nothing, * that thy befeas should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.

The apolite comes to the main business of the epistle, to intrest for poor Onefimus: and he infunars a multitude of the most powerful arguments, which should engage Philemon to grant his request, and be reconciled to his fugitive servant.

1. He might have used his apolistic authority, but he prefers the intresty of love. Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ, is again that that which is convenient, and it would have been your duty in the present case implicitly to obey; yet for how I take I rather befeech thee, waving all superiority, and pleading by that love which Jesus hath shown to you, and I feel towards you, being such an one as Paul the aged, grown old in the service of our common Lord, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ; therefore I cannot but be assured, whatever would be a comfort to me in these declining years, and serve to make my chain lighter, Philemon, for his Master’s sake and mine, will not fail to grant.—Inimitable is the manner in which the apolite introduces the point which he had in view. Having raised every tender sentiment of love and friendship in his bosom, he,

2. Beautifully introduces in the most endearing light the subject of his request. I befeech thee for my son, one that now stands in that near relation to me,—and startle not at the name,—frange as it may appear,—the person is no other than Onefimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds. So mysterious are the ways of providence, that, though a fugitive from thee, divine grace has led him to my prison, there to become a partaker of the blefeling of the gospel.

3. He fuggeth the happy change now wrought upon him, which in time paft was to thee unprofitable; with penitent shame he hath acknowledged his former ill behaviour, over which I would cast a veil of oblivion; but now can speak of him as a different man, whose spirit and actions I am confident will comprehend with his name, and he will be found profitable to thee, if received again into thy service; and, as I have proved by some experience, would have been most useful to me. Note, (1.) When we speak of the faults of penitents, it should be with tenderness, not fivety. (2.) Wherever divine grace comes, it makes a blessed alteration. (3.) A Christian servant is a truly profitable member in every family.

4. Has own love to thus signal convert should engage Philemon’s to him. Whom I have fent again back to thy service; thou therefore receive him, that is mine own bowels; most tenderly beloved, and for whom I plead with all the affection that I should feel for my own child.

5. He had deprived himself of the very useful service which Onefimus would have afforded him, that he might restore him to his rightful master; referring it to Philemon whether he would send him back again to Rome, or not. Whom I would have returned with me, that in thy stead he might have manifest unto me in the bond of the gospel, and done me those kind effects which I know thou wouldest have been happy to have afforded me thyself. But without thy mind would I do nothing, nor obtain him longer here; that, if it shall please thee to do me the favour of sending him hither again to minister unto me, thy benefit should not appear to be as it were of necessity, but willingly, as a voluntary act of generosity and friendship.

6. For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever; 16. Not now as a servant, but above a servant, * a brother beloved, especially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh and in the Lord? 17. If thou count me therefore * a partner, receive him as myself. 18. If he hath wronged thee, or oweeth thee ought, put that on mine account. 19. I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou oweeth unto me even thine own self besides. 20. Yes, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord. 21. * Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say.

Titus 1:15-21

The apolite proceeds to fuggeth other arguments, to engage Philemon kindly to receive this fugitive.

1. The mercy God had shewed him. For perhaps he therefore departed for a season; so tenderly does the apolite mention his fault in dying his master’s service, since it was now so wonderfully by God’s good providence over-ruled for good; that thou shouldest receive him for ever, as a servant for life, to dwell together for eternity: yet not now as a common servant, or slave, but above a servant, even as a brother in the gospel, beloved and dear; especially of me, who have been the happy instrument of his conversion; but both much more to thee, both in the flesh, as a member of thy family, become most faithful and industrious; and in the Lord, as equally a partaker in all the blefeling of the Redeemer’s grace and love. Note, (1.) God sometimes amazingly over-rules our most perverse ways, to bring out of them the greatest good. Onefimus, under all the blefeling of Philemon’s ministry, and sharing all the ordinances of his holy family, continued abandoned, turns thief and runagate, and flies to Rome; there the Lord finds him, and makes him a monument of mercy. (2.) Though Christianity maintains in the thriftless manner all due subordination of stations, yet really Christian servants will have especial respect and regard shown them by their masters, who, as members of the same body, esteem them as their beloved brethren.

2. The communion which subsisted between them, as fellow-heirs of the same kingdom. If thou count me therefore a partner, a partaker of the same grace, and an inheritor of the same glory with thee, receive him as myself, with hearty affection and sincere reconciliation.

3. He becomes Onefimus’s surety for any wrong Philemon had sustained. If, as I have reason to apprehend, he hath wronged thee, or oweeth thee ought, put that on mine account. I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it, and engage hereby to make you full satisfaction if demanded. About I do not say to thee how deeply thou art indebted to me, as the instrument under God, and that thou oweeth unto me, what is infinitely more valuable than all the wealth of the world, even thou own soul also.

4. This instance of his condescension to his request would give the apolite singular satisfaction, as a fresh proof of Philemon’s fidelity. Yes, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: on thy own account, as well as for the sake of Onefimus, I ask it, that I may have rejoicing over thee, as a living member of Jesus. Resteeth my benefit in the Lord, and give me this consolation in my bonds, for that Redeemer’s sake in whole name I urge my request. Note, (1.) Christians are brethren, and, as such, should delight to serve each other. (2.) It is highly the people’s duty to endeavour to comfort their ministers, and to do every thing which may give them joy, and encourage them under their labours and sufferings for the gospel’s sake.

5. He concludes with expressing his confidence in Philemon, which laid the strongest obligations upon him not to disappoint his expectations. Having confidence in thy obedience to our Lord’s command to forgive every injury, I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say, and shew greater kindness to poor Onefimus than I have requested, exceeding even my desire.

6. But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that * through your prayers I shall be given unto you. 23. There salute thee * Epaphras, my fellow-prisoner in Christ Jesus; 24. * Marcus, * Aristarchus, * Demas, Lucas, my fellow-labourers. 25. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be * with your spirit. Amen.

Titus 1:22-25

Having finished his main business, he closes, 1. With the intimation of a visit shortly. But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be delivered from my preient confinement, and be given unto you, as a fresh act of favour from God, who for your further edification will enable me once more to minister his blessed gospel among you. Note, (1.) Prayer is the effectual means to procure all mercies for ourselves, and for each other. (2.) To have God’s ministers spared to labour yet longer among us, is a signal favour.

2. He sends the salutations of many who desired to be kindly remembered to him. There salute thee Epaphras, my fellow-prisoner in Christ Jesus, sharing my honourable bonds for the same glorious cause; Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellow-labourers.

3. He concludes with his usual benediction. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, in all its happy fruits, and eternally permanent effects, be with your spirit, with thee, and with all that are near and dear to thee, so elect, preserve, and keep you for his ever-lasting kingdom. Amen.

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