Bible Commentaries
Titus 1

Verse 1

Titus 1:1

Paul, a servant of God,—[The full representation which Paul gives of his apostolic office is designed at once to mark the authority by which he gives the instructions that follow, and to serve as an index to the contents of the whole Epistle. He describes himself as “a servant of God.” The title seems to mark the relation of (1) one who had once been a servant of sin, but having become free through Christ Jesus was still, so far as obligation, service, and life were concerned, a servant of God; (2) his devotion to God after the type of the Old Testament services, Moses and the prophets being pre­eminently called the servants of God; (3) his ministry in the service of a royal Master (Matthew 18:23-35), who makes him a member of his household, a pillar in the temple, a sharer of his throne (Revelation 3:21).]

and an apostle of Jesus Christ,—[This is a more exact defini­tion of his office: (1) He had his commission from him. (2) He had all the signs and proofs of an apostle in him for he had received power to work miracles as well as to declare divine truth. (3) It is therefore, vain and deceptive for anyone to assume the name who cannot show the signs of an apostle.]

according to the faith of God’s elect, and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness,—The faith of those chosen in Christ Jesus. It is a little difficult to see clearly how he was sent “according to the faith of God’s elect.” All critics think it means that he was sent in order to produce faith in those who would accept the gospel, and in order that others might acknowledge the truth that leads to godliness. This seems a little strained, but as nothing; better is suggested all accept it as the true meaning.

Verse 2

Titus 1:2

in hope of eternal life,—The last dispensation of God was to be eternal. So before the introduction of the final dispen­sation—that through the Lord Jesus Christ—the promise of eternal life was included in the eternal purpose of God, though it was not revealed till after the creation of man in time and in the various dispensations granted to him. That which the apostle had in view in prosecuting the work of his apostleship is the hope for himself and for all believers of eternal life. This is the glorious goal set before him and which in leading men to the full knowledge of the truth he set before them eternal life through Jesus Christ. Knowledge and faith as he preached it, rested on a background of promise and hope, which, in a manner, reached from eternity to eternity, having God’s primeval promise for its origin, and a participation in his everlasting life for an end.

which God, who cannot lie,—The words are here used to show the certainty of the fulfillment of the promise made be­fore the ages. (Hebrews 6:18.)

promised before times eternal;—The promise of eternal life was the result of a divine purpose fixed from eternity.

Verse 3

Titus 1:3

but in his own seasons manifested his word in the message, wherewith I was intrusted—In the fitting seasons fixed by God for the manifestation of the gospel in preaching the message, Paul does not shrink from calling his preaching the vehicle in which the word of the gospel was to be publicly manifested because he was conscious of the fact that he was divinely instructed in the secrets of the eternal counsels.

according to the commandment of God—[The command­ment came direct from God: on the road to Damascus when the Lord appeared to him (Acts 9:5-6); spoke encouragement to him at Corinth (Acts 18:9-10): and at Jerusalem (Acts 23:11).]

our Saviour;—[In this place and in 1 Timothy 1:1, we must understand that this refers to God the Father because through the death of his Son he redeemed us from death and made us heirs of eternal life. The Lord Jesus Christ is likewise a possessor of the title because he shed his blood as the price of our redemption and made us heirs of eternal life.]

Verse 4

Titus 1:4

to Titus, my true child after a common faith:—Paul had been instrumental in leading him to Christ and having thus been made a sharer of his faith. He was a faithful servant of God, and he calls him his true child after the faith common to all Christians. [Titus was a Gentile; and in “common faith” there is likely an allusion to the higher bond of unity by which this “common faith in Christ bound them, though one was a Jew and the other a Gentile.” (Galatians 5:6; Colossians 3:11.)]

Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Saviour.—Grace the favor and approbation of God, and peace, the consequence of this manifested favor of God, producing internal happiness, quietness, and assurance.

Verse 5

Titus 1:5

For this cause left I thee in Crete,—Paul, clearly from this, had been at some time in the Island of Crete, south of Greece, and had preached the gospel there. Titus was with him, and he had left him to remain in the island for a time.

that thou shouldest set in order the things that were want­ing, and appoint elders in every city, as I gave thee charge;—While there were persons from Crete in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:11), it is likely that up to the time of Paul’s visit but little effort had been made to spread the gospel. None among the Gentiles, who chiefly inhabited the island, had heard the gospel till Paul and Titus preached and planted churches there. Just when or how long Paul remained there we do not know, yet it is certain that he labored there for a time and planted churches. After preaching he hastened else­where before the Christians had time to develop themselves in the work of the Lord. So he left Titus, no doubt a gifted teacher, to supply the needed teaching, and as the members proved their capacity put them in the lead that were fitted to teach and lead in the work of the Lord.

Verse 6

Titus 1:6

if any man is blameless,—Guilty of no wrong to his fellow men; he must be of such a character that no one can bring a reasonable accusation against him. Blameless must be his life, spotless his name.

the husband of one wife,—Having one wife only and faithful to her—a faithful husband.

having children that believe,—He must so bring up his chil­dren in the nurture and the admonition of the Lord that they are believing children.

who are not accused of riot or unruly.—The family is the nursery of the church and these two act and react upon each other so that a bad or weak father can never be an efficient elder. If he cannot “rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God”? (1 Timothy 3:5.) His children ought to be believers that they “may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.” (Titus 2:10.) There must be evidence that they have been brought up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

Verse 7

Titus 1:7

For the bishop must be blameless, as God's steward;—Guilty of no wrong to his fellows. It is important that those entrusted as stewards with the truth of God should be honest and faithful in teaching all that God has revealed for the sal­vation of the world. He who refuses to teach the whole will of God is dishonest toward God and unfaithful to man.

not self-willed,—This does not mean that he is not to be firm and steadfast in his purpose, but that he must not be of such a stubborn spirit that he clings to his own will and re­fuses to listen to reason or facts. One in such position must have the sincere desire to fully investigate all sides, to know the full truth, and then be guided by it, and not by the self-will of his own.

not soon angry,—One who can restrain and govern himself. [He should not be one ever ready with an angry, hasty word, remembering always his Master, “who, when he was reviled, reviled not again.” (1 Peter 2:23.)]

no brawler,—Not given to the use of wine. It was recog­nized as an evil, and one occupying the position of bishop must not be given to its use.

no striker,—No man of God should ever, even under sore provocation, so far forget himself as to raise his hand against his fellow man.

not greedy of filthy lucre;—Not anxious for gaining riches. He is to avoid gain by wrong means. A man who is anxious for riches is not fit for a bishop of a congregation of Christians.

Verse 8

Titus 1:8

but given to hospitality,—Ready to entertain strangers, and care for the homeless and needy. [The significance of the words have deeper meaning added to them in the following beautiful words: “Let love of the brethren continue. For­get not to show love unto strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” (Hebrews 13:1-2.)]

a lover of good,—A lover of good or benevolence generally. [The appellation points here to that large heart which finds room for sympathy with all that is good and noble and gen­erous.]

sober-minded,—Not light and frivolous, but serious and sober in deportment. [In this expressive word mastery of self is especially implied—that self-command which wisely regu­lates pleasures and passions.]

just,—The one who is just is one who tries strictly to per­form his duties toward men—the duties which integrity and justice seem imperatively to ask of him in his relation with his neighbor.

holy,—Devoted to God. The three words—sober, just, holy—present the three sides of human duty—duty to oneself, duty to men, and duty to God. In all these the man of God is to show himself a true man.

self-controlled;—Holding all his desires and appetites in restraint so moderate in their gratification. The bishop not only must be able to control his tongue, his eyes, and his hands, but must show a just and wise moderation.

Verse 9

Titus 1:9

holding to the faithful word which is according to the teaching,—God’s truth is better expressed in the words which the Holy Spirit chooses than in those of man’s choosing. While we, in our languages, have not the words used by the Holy Spirit, still we have those in our languages into which they have been translated to give the truth, and we should be careful to hold fast to the faithful words God has given us, that by these words of God we may be able to encourage to the belief and practice of the same sound doctrine.

that he may be able both to exhort in the sound doctrine, and to convict the gainsayers.—With the sound, healthful teaching he was to exhort the adversaries; and with the same true words he was to confute their arguments.

Verse 10

Titus 1:10

For there are many unruly men, vain talkers and de­ceivers,—There were many who did not reverence the word of God. [They were nominally in the congregations of the Chris­tians, but in reality refusing all obedience, acting for them­selves, factious, and insubordinate, and unfortunately their tribe is with us today. They have broken the peace of many a home and disrupted the peace and prosperity of many con­gregations.]

specially they of the circumcision,—The Judaizing Chris­tians. These unhappy men evidently did not belong to the stern and rigid Jewish party who bitterly hated all the fol­lowers of the Lord Jesus but were of the number of those vicious opponents of Paul.

Verse 11

Titus 1:11

whose mouths must be stopped;—They must either be convinced themselves so as to cease talking or they must be so met and confuted that others will not listen to them. [Vain talkers are the pests of churches and families, sowing the seeds of distrust and turning men’s minds against the gospel.]

men who overthrow whole houses,—They not only destroy themselves, but they lead astray whole houses. [The mis­chief they were doing to the cause of Christ was incalculable. It was no longer individuals that their poisonous teaching affected, but they were undermining the faith of whole fam­ilies.]

teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.—They subverted the truth for gain. [It is a significant fact that elders and teachers are to take heed to themselves and then to the church (Acts 20:28), and to be ensamples to the flock (1 Peter 5:3), show that they are “doers of the word, and not hearers only,” and that they have already reduced to prac­tice the good lessons they are to teach others (1 Timothy 4:12). It is a shame and a reproach upon the cause of Christ that some preachers and teachers at the present day seem to have but little sense of common honesty, honorable dealing, in­tegrity, and uprightness; they do not attach sufficient im­portance to keeping their word and paying their debts.]

Verse 12

Titus 1:12

One of themselves, a prophet of their own, said,—The words quoted were written by the famous Epimenides of Grossus in Crete, about six hundred years B.C., who is called “a prophet of their own,” for he is described by classic writers as a philosophic seer and priest, venerated for his predictions, around whose memory popular legends gathered, and to whom almost sacred honors came to be paid.

Cretans are always liars,—This terrible estimate of the Cretan character is amply borne out by the testimony of many profane writers. The word to “Cretanize,” or to play the part of a Cretan, was invented as a word synonymous with “to deceive” or “to utter a lie.”

evil beasts,—Not only liars, but gross and sensual, living in animalism and for it. All men may be called “beasts” who attend to their animal appetites as a means of gratification rather than for relief. He who seeks happiness from his senses rather than from his spiritual nature is no better than a beast. [The happiness of a true man cannot stream from without; it must well up from his own spiritual nature enlightened by the word of God.]

idle gluttons.—Their gluttony made them dull, heavy, and indolent. These sins were true of the Cretans generally in their unregenerate state; but sins prevalent among a people before they become Christians will possibly be their besetting sins after they become such. The sins of lying and gluttony seem to indicate a ferocious and vindictive spirit, and that they were lazy and given to gluttony.

Verse 13

Titus 1:13

This testimony is true.—This was still true; they re­tained their evil characters; the Christians were still tempted into the sins which these qualities would lead; they were gross sins and demoralizing in their character.

For which cause reprove them sharply,—Because of this he admonishes Titus to rebuke them sharply—reprove all aberra­tions from the truth. [As the surgeon cuts out the diseased flesh in order, by the painful operation, to restore the patient to health, so must the words of Titus be severe when necessary. Titus had to deal with those who were rough and uncultivated, and therefore should be dealt with accordingly. There must be in reproving a distinguishing between sins; some are more gross and heinous in their nature or in the manner of their commission with openness and boldness to the greater dis­honor of God and danger and hurt to men and between sin­ners; some are of a more tender and tractable temper, more apt to be wrought upon by gentleness and to be greatly dis­couraged by too much roughness and severity; others are more hardy and stubborn and need more sharp language to beget in them remorse and shame. Wisdom therefore is requisite to temper and manage reproofs aright as may be most likely to bring about the desired result. To that end the inspired directions are: “On some have mercy, who are in doubt; and some save, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.” (Judges 1:22-23.)]

that they may be sound in the faith,—That they may remain faithful and true to the faith in God as revealed through Jesus Christ.

Verse 14

Titus 1:14

not giving heed to Jewish fables,—Jewish fables were the traditions and practices that had through a long period of time crept into their teachings and displaced the commandments God had given them. (Matthew 15:1-10.) Christ gives a sample of how they turned from and annulled the commandments of God by their traditions and myths. Jesus then warns them: “But in vain do they worship me, teaching as their doctrines the precepts of men.” (Matthew 15:9.)

and commandments of men who turn away from the truth.—Every reasoning or influence that turns man from the word of God is hurtful and ruinous. All the commandments of men turn from the truth and are to be avoided. Any man who puts the theories and devices of men upon an equality with the commandments of God or who displaces the appointments of God with the devices of man turns from the truth of God.

Verse 15

Titus 1:15

To the pure all things are pure:—The reference here is to the use of meats as in Romans 14:13-23; 1 Corinthians 10:14-33. All things indeed are pure; but “it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.” (Romans 14:20.) In the passage before us he says: “To the pure all things are pure.” It is the heart, not the meats that must be clean to make the offering to the service acceptable to God,

but to them that are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure;—But unto those whose hearts are defiled and whose lives are sinful, no offering they can bring to the Lord will he accept as pure.

but both their mind and their conscience are defiled.—[The mind is the willing as well as the thinking part of man. Defilement of this mind means that the thoughts, wishes, purposes, and activities are all stained and debased. The conscience is the moral conscience within, that which is ever bringing up the memory of the past with its omissions and commissions, its errors, its cruel, heartless unkindness, its selfish disregard of others. When this is defiled, then this last safeguard of the soul is broken down. The man and woman of the defiled conscience is self-satisfied, hard, and impenitent to the last.] Because when the mind and conscience are de­filed and corrupt, nothing the man can do is acceptable to God.

Verse 16

Titus 1:16

They profess that they know God; but by their works they deny him,—This is all spoken of those claiming to be servants of God. One denies God in his works whenever he turns from God’s laws, God’s teachings, and God’s ways to other ways. To own God in our actions is to obey him in all things, to prefer his ways above the ways of all other beings in the universe. To deny him in our works is to prefer other ways to his own ways.

being abominable,—This signifies that the actions of these persons, who professed to be his servants, had made them hateful in the sight of God.

and disobedient,—Rebellious and opposed to all law and order.

and unto every good work reprobate.—Given over to every evil work. Only the things God commands are good works. They are God’s works, and he who prefers any other ways than God’s cannot do God’s works.