Bible Commentaries
Titus 3

Verse 1

PASTORAL DUTIES OF THE FAITHFUL MINISTER

1) "Put them in mind." (hupomimneshe autous) "Remind thou them." Church members, every Christian, has an obligation to civic leaders and activities in his community.

a) "to be subject to principalities and powers." (archais Iksousiais hupotassesthai) "to be subject to rulers (and) or those in positions of authority." Our Lord and his apostles taught respect for civil government and civil law, Luke 20:25; Romans 13:1-7.

b) "to obey magistrates." (peitharchein) "to be persuaded by or to obey magistrates or chief rulers." Christians should never lead insurrection against any government of their citizenship. Changes that should be made should be by moral and spiritual influence, never defiance of law on civil matters. 1 Peter 2:13-17.

c) "to be ready to every good work." (pros pan ergon agathon etoimous einai) "to be ready to take part in every kind of morally good work" This refers to citizenship affairs, obligations of social and civic nature, Matthew 23:23; Matthew 22:21,

Verse 2

1) "To speak evil of no man." (medena blaspomein) "To speak evil of or rail at no man." 1 Corinthians 5:11, No company is to be kept with one who is a railer, or one who continually brings evil charges against people and things and ideas of others, Psalms 1:1-4.

2) "To be no brawlers." (amachous einai) "To be uncontentious, or not a continual brawler." Proverbs 25:23-24; 1 Peter 3:9. One must not return brawling for brawling or railing for railing. It is not the Spirit of Christ who, "when reviled, reviled not" or railed not in return, 1 Peter 2:23.

3) "But gentle, showing all meekness unto all men." (epiekeis pasan endeiknoumenous prauteta pros pantas anthropous) "Forbearing or learning to get along with all kinds of people, continually showing forth meekness toward all people." Ephesians 4:2; Galatians 6:1.

Verse 3

1) "For we ourselves also were sometimes.’ (hemen gar pote kai hemeis) "For we were also then" - in times past, while unsaved, 1 Corinthians 6:11: 1 Peter 4:3-4.

a) "foolish" - (anoetois) "senseless."

b) "disobedient” - (apeitheis) "unpersuaded." "unheeding,"

c) "deceived ’ - (planomenoi) "continuing in deception."

d) "serving divers lusts and pleasures." (douleuontes epithumiais kai hedonais) "serving as slaves to lust and pleasures of hedonistic nature. "

e ) "living in malice and envy. ’ (poikilais en kaka kai phthono diagontes) "going in ways of various (kinds) of evil and envy."

f) "hateful and hating one another." (stugetoi misontes allelous) "stewing venom and continually hating one another." This kind of envy, hating, and stewing will continue in hell in all unsaved, Revelation 22:11. In heaven love never ends, but in hell hating goes on forever, 1 Corinthians 13:13.

Verse 4

1) "But after that the kindness and love." (hote de he chrestotes) "Since, however, the kindness" -The appearance and manifestation of God’s kindness in Christ constitutes a rebuke to any of his professors who live in the ways of hate and envy and lust, etc. Ephesians 4:3-32.

2) "of God our Savior." (tou soteros hemon theou) "of our Savior-God." 1 Timothy 3:16; Galatians 4:4-5.

3) "toward man appeared." (kai he philanthropia epepane) "And the philanthropic (visible love of God) to man appeared or was made manifest.” John 1:7; John 1:14; John 1:17; 1 John 3:1-3.

Verse 5

1) "Not by works of righteousness." (ouk eks ergon dikasune) "Not out of works of righteousness." External, moral, or religious deeds do not qualify a sinner to enter heaven. Romans 11:6; Ephesians 2:4; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 10:3.

2) "Which we have done." (he epoiesamen hemeis) which works we did." Every unsaved man normally does some works or deeds of moral or religious righteousness; but as a proposed payment for his sins, while rejecting the already paid debt for his sins by Jesus Christ, he is at enmity with God. See Isaiah 64:6; Romans 10:3-4.

3) "But according to his mercy.’ (alla kata to autou heleos) "but according to the mercy of Him" - He is plenteous in mercy ready to pardon, Psalms 86:5; Psalms 86:15; Isaiah 55:7.

4) "He saved us." (esosen hemas) "He saved us." By his extended mercy, not our intrinsic (inner) or extrinsic (outer) merit. Ephesians 2:4; Ephesians 2:7; Ephesians 1:7.

5) "By the washing of regeneration." (dia loutrou paliggenesias) Through (the) instrument of washing, of generation again (birth again) or the new birth, John 3:3; John 3:5; John 3:7. The new birth is effected through the washing, quickening, or cleansing of the Holy Spirit on the basis of personal faith in the blood of Jesus Christ, John 3:8; John 6:63; 2 Corinthians 3:6; 1 John 5:1.

6) "And the renewing of the Holy Ghost. ’ (kai anakainoseos pneumatos hagiou) Even (by the) making anew (a new man) by the Holy Spirit, 2 Corinthians 5:19; Ephesians 4:24; Colossians 3:10.

Verse 6

1) ’Which he shed on us abundantly." (ou eksecheen eph’ hemas plousios) "Which (mercy or kindness) he shed on us richly (plutocratically). This abundant, rich, plutocratic-like kindness Paul commends to the Ephesian brethren, Ephesians 2:4; See also Psalms 103:8-11. His mercy is great, high, deep and sufficient.

2) "Through Jesus Christ our Saviour." (dia iesou christou tou stoeros hemon) "Through Jesus Christ our Saviour or deliverer" - Our deliverer from hating and envy and hedonistic pleasures. What a Saviour! What mercy, Acts 4:12.

THE MERCY SEAT

There is a place of sweet repose, From every tide of stormy woes, A calm, steadfast retreat; A shelter from the wind that blows. And where it is, the Christian knows -’Tis at the mercy seat.

A place where joys of life abound, Where we may hear the soothing sound Of Jesus’ voice so sweet, We know, because of grace redound, A closer walk with God is found While at the mercy seat.

Because of prayer when day is done, Or at the early rise of sun, We suffer no defeat;

Whene’er we pray through with the Son, How many are the victories won Around the mercy seat.

John Caldwell Craig

Verse 7

1) "That being justified by his grace." (hina dikaiothentes te ekeinou cheriti) "In order that having been justified by the grace of that one" (Jesus Christ). Grace justification to salvation is a once for all impartation. The term "being justified" expresses a passive state or condition of being, not one of progressive participle action – Romans 3:24; Romans 3:18; Romans 5:1.

2) "We should be made heirs." (kleronomoi genethomen) "We might become heirs" - An heir is one who receives certain property rights by birth or adoption grant, sometimes conditioned upon conduct of the heir to be. Romans 8:17; 2 Timothy 2:12; 2 Peter 1:10-11; Revelation 5:10.

3) "According to the hope of eternal life." (kat’ elpida zoes ainiou) Justification of a believing sinner assures salvation, and obedient service to Jesus Christ seems to assure the right of positions of reigning on earth with Christ through the adopted, resurrected body, Romans 8:23. Hope of eternal life involves the resurrection of the body and service to Christ in the millennial for which we wait –Ephesians 1:14; Luke 19:15-19; Luke 22:28-30.

Verse 8

1) "This is a faithful saying." (pistos ho logos) "Faithful or trustworthy is the word." This refers to the certainty of salvation, and the right of heirship for each child of God, through obedient service to Christ to reign with him in the coming kingdom age, through the church, Ephesians 3:21.

2) "And these things I will that thou affirm constantly." (kai peri touton boulomai se diabebaiousthai) "And concerning these matters I wish you (Titus) to affirm confidently." As the cross must precede the crown, so must salvation precede obedient service which brings degrees of reward and heir-setting positions of varying degrees in the reign of Christ, Matthew 10:41-42; Matthew 16:27; 1 Corinthians 3:14; Colossians 2:18; 2 John 1:8.

3) "That they which have believed in God.’ (hina hoi pepisteukotes theo) "In order that those having believed God." After salvation one is called to good works, Romans 4:1-5.

4) "Might be careful to maintain good works." (phrontizosin kalon ergon poistasthai) "May take thought to stand forth in good works." Ephesians 2:10; James 1:22; James 2:18; James 2:24; 2 John 1:8.

5) "These things are good and profitable unto men." (tauta estin kala kai ophelima tois anthropois) The "these things," that are good and of profit to all men, refers to their obedient service of good works that give them, not an entrance into heirship, but an "abundant entrance", 2 Peter 1:5-11.

Verse 9

1) "But avoid" - (de peristaso) "But turn thou away from or avoid"

a) "Foolish questions" - (zeteses); 2 Timothy 2:16; 2 Timothy 2:23.

b) "and genealogies" - (kai genealogias) "And family lineage’s." These were the "we be Abram’s seed" type – John 8:33; John 8:37; John 8:39; John 8:44.

c) "and contentions" - (kai erin) "and strifes." Proverbs 22:10; Proverbs 26:17; Proverbs 26:20; James 3:16.

d) "and strivings about the law," (kai machas nomikas) "and legal fights." The Cretians were to be taught, like the Corinth brethren, that they should avoid legal suits before the world. 1 Corinthians 6:1-8.

2) "For they are unprofitable and vain." (eisin gar anopheleis kai mataioi) Such presumptions are from the wisdom and lusts of this world order, 1 Corinthians 1:18; 1 Corinthians 1:20; James 1:5.

Verse 10

1) "A man that is an heretic," (airetikon anthropon) "A factious man," one who will not be instructed, a contentious know all.

2) "After the first and second admonition." (meta mian kai deuteran nouthesian) "After one and a second effort to instruct him," after a first and second conference, Deuteronomy 19:15; Matthew 18:15-17.

3) "Reject. “ (paraitou) "Ask no more questions alongside or no longer appeal to, entreat him." Such an unteachable person was to be expelled from the congregational fellowship for persistence in:

a) foolish questioning of truth.

b) defense of family lineage, genealogy -personal goodness.

c) contentions, strifes, persistent factionalism.

d) and threatening of legal recourse to have his own way.

Verse 11

1) "Knowing that he that is such." (eidos hoti ho toioutos) "Perceiving or recognizing that such a man," or this kind of a man.

2) "Is subverted, and sinneth." (eksestraptai kai amartanei) "has been perverted and misses the mark of righteousness in his behavior."

3) "Being condemned of himself." (hon autokatakritos) "being self-condemned." His very speech betrays his nature of enmity and rebellion against God, Matthew 26:47-49; Matthew 26:73.

Verse 12

1) "When I shall send.“ (hotan pempso) "Whenever I shall send," at an unfixed, or uncertain future time." The Greek term (pempso) indicates the sending of one by influence, request, or desire - not with or by command or commission of authority as denoted by (Gk. apostello).

2) "Artemas unto thee or Tychicus." (arteman pros se he Tuchikon) "Artemas or Tychicus to your aid or assistance" - Artemas shortened form of name Artemidorus. Tychicus was from Asia, Acts 20:4; He was a faithful minister, a councilor and companion in missionary travels, Ephesians 6:21-22. He, too, was a message carrier for Paul, Colossians 4:7; 2 Timothy 4:12.

3) "Be diligent to come unto me to Nicopolis.” (spoudason elthein pros me eis nikopolin) "Hasten to come, if you are willing, or of your volition, to me into Nicopolis, city of conquerors, or city of victory.

4) "For I have determined there to winter." (ekei gar kekrika paracheimasai) "For out there I have decided to spend the winter." The island was in the Adriatic Sea, between Italy and upper western Greece, where the Adriatic merges with the Mediterranean.

Verse 13

1) "Bring Zenas the lawyer." (zenan ton nomikon) Perhaps Paul desired the fellowship and council of this respected interpreter of Law as he prepared for his defense of his life and the gospel later in Rome.

2) "And Apollos on their journey diligently." (kai Apollon spoudaios propempson) "And Apollos send forward urgently, as soon as you can" - Note also Paul urged Titus to send these brethren (pempson, not stellon) not by commissioning authority, but by urgency of his influence, if Zenas the lawyer and Apollos the orator were willing.

3) "That nothing be wanting unto them." (hina meden autois leipe) "In order that not one thing may be lacking to them." It appears that Paul desired to communicate information to and elicit help from these brethren in Christian fellowship, who might confirm the Word still, after he was gone.

Verse 14

1) "And let ours also learn." (monthanetosan de kai hoi hemeteroi) "And let our people also learn." To the very end of life Paul desired that church members where he had labored be continual learners, students, God approved, 2 Timothy 2:15.

2) "To maintain good works for necessary uses." (kai on ergon proistasthai eis tas anagkaias chreias) "To be continually standing forth in good works to meet necessary needs or uses." Good moral and religious deeds and working with ones hands befits the Christian profession always. Romans 12:11; Ecclesiastes 9:10.

3) "That they be not unfruitful.” (hina me hosin akarpoi) "In order that they be not unfruitful." Our Lord and his true prophets have always sanctioned and admonished to fruitful service, Psalms 126:5-6; Ecclesiastes 11:6; John 15:2; 2 Peter 1:8-14.

Verse 15

1) "All that are with me salute thee." (aspazontai se oi met’ emou pantes) "All those in close fellowship with me salute thee or greet thee."

2) "Greet them that love us in the faith.” (aspasai tous philountas hemas en pistei) "Greet those who affectionately love us in (the) faith, or a faithful way."

3) "Grace be with you all. Amen.” (he charis meta panton humon) "The keeping grace be in closeness with all of you." 2 Corinthians 13:14; Hebrews 13:9; Revelation 22:21. It is this "abiding grace" that Paul desired to dwell with Titus and the Cretian brethren.