---
title: "Clarke"
description: "Verse Titus 1:1. Paul, a servant of God — In several places of his other epistles St. Paul styles himself the servant of Jesus Christ, but this is the onl"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/titus/1"
---

Verse [Titus 1:1](../../../kjv/titus/1/1). ***Paul, a servant of God*** — In several places of his other epistles St. Paul styles himself the *servant of Jesus* *Christ*, but this is the only place where he calls himself *the* *servant of God*. Some think that he did this to vindicate himself against the Jews, who supposed he had renounced God when he admitted the Gentiles into his Church. But if *thus* to vindicate himself was at all necessary, why was it not done in his Epistle to the Romans, the grand object of which was to prove that the Gentiles came legally into the Church on believing in Christ, with out submitting to circumcision, or being laid under obligation to observe the rites and ceremonies of the Jewish law? This reason seems too fanciful. It is very likely that in the use of the phrase the apostle had no particular design; for, according to him, he who is the *servant of Christ* is the *servant of God*, and he who is *God's servant* is also the *servant of Christ*.
***The faith of God's elect*** — The Christians, who were now chosen in the place of the Jews, who, for their obstinate rejection of the Messiah, were reprobated; i.e. cast out of the Divine favour.
***The acknowledging of the truth*** — For the propagation of that truth, or system of doctrines, which is calculated to promote godliness, or a holy and useful life.

Verse [Titus 1:2](../../../kjv/titus/1/2). ***In hope of eternal life*** — In expectation of a state of *being* and *well being* which should last through eternity, when time should be no more. This includes, not only the *salvation of* *the soul* and its eternal *beatification*, but also the *resurrection* *of the body*. This was a point but ill understood, and not very clearly revealed, under the Mosaic law; but it was fully revealed under the Gospel, and the doctrine illustrated by the resurrection and ascension of Christ.
***Which God, that cannot lie, promised*** — We have often seen that the phrase, *the foundation of the world*, means the Jewish economy, and, *before the foundation of the world*, the times antecedent to the giving of the law. This is evidently the meaning here. See [2 Timothy 1:9-11](../../../kjv/2-timothy/1/9-11).
Supposing the word αιωνιων in this verse to signify *eternal*, says Dr. Macknight, the literal translation of προ χρονων αιωνιων would be, *before eternal times*; but that being a contradiction in terms, our translators, contrary to the propriety of the Greek language, have rendered it *before the world began*, as Mr. Locke observes on [Romans 16:25](../../../kjv/romans/16/25). The true literal translation is *before the secular times*, referring us to the Jewish *jubilees*, by which times were computed among the Hebrews, as among the Gentiles they were computed by *generations of men*. Hence, [Colossians 1:26](../../../kjv/colossians/1/26), *The mystery which was kept hid* απο των αιωνων και απο των γενεων, *from the ages and from the generations*, signifies the mystery which was kept hid from the Jews and from the Gentiles.

Verse [Titus 1:3](../../../kjv/titus/1/3). ***But hath in due times*** — καιροις ιδιοις. In its own times. See [2 Timothy 2:6](../../../kjv/2-timothy/2/6); [Galatians 4:4](../../../kjv/galatians/4/4); [Ephesians 1:10](../../../kjv/ephesians/1/10); [Ephesians 2:7](../../../kjv/ephesians/2/7). God caused the Gospel to be published in that time in which it could be published with the greatest effect. It is impossible that God should prematurely hasten, or causelessly delay, the accomplishment of any of his works. Jesus was manifested precisely at the time in which that manifestation could best promote the glory of God and the salvation of man.
***Manifested his word*** — τονλογοναυτου. *His doctrine*-the doctrine of eternal life, by the incarnation, passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
***Which is committed unto me*** — That is, to preach it among the Gentiles.
***According to the commandment of God our Saviour*** — This evidently refers to the commission which he had received from Christ. See [Acts 9:15](../../../kjv/acts/9/15): "He is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles." For, "I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; delivering thee from the people and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee; to open their eyes, to turn them from darkness to light," c, [Acts 26:16](../../../kjv/acts/26/16), c. This is the commandment and according to it he became the apostle of the Gentiles.
*God our Saviour*.-As the commission was given by Jesus Christ alone, the person whom he terms here *God our Saviour* must be Jesus Christ only; and this is another proof that St. Paul believed Jesus Christ to be GOD. This *eternal life* God had *promised* in a comparatively *obscure* way before the foundation of the world, the Jewish dispensation; but now under the Gospel, he had *made it* *manifest*-produced it with all its brightness, illustrations, and proofs.

Verse 4. ***To Titus*****, mine*****own son*** — Him whom I have been the instrument of converting to the Christian faith; and in whom, in this respect, I have the same right as any man can have in his own begotten son. See the preface; and [1 Timothy 1:2](../../../kjv/1-timothy/1/2).

Verse 5. ***For this cause left I thee in Crete*** — That St. Paul had been in Crete, though nowhere else intimated, is clear from this passage. That he could not have made such an important visit, and evangelized an island of the first consequence, without its being mentioned by his historian, Luke, had it happened during the period embraced in the Acts of the Apostles, must be evident. That the journey, therefore, must have been performed *after* the time in which St. Luke ends his history, that is, after St. Paul's first imprisonment at Rome, seems almost certain.
***Set in order the things that are wanting*** — It appears from this that the apostle did not spend much time in Crete, and that he was obliged to leave it before he had got the Church properly organized. The supplying of this defect, he tells Titus, he had confided to him as one whose spiritual views coincided entirely with his own.
***Ordain elders in every city*** — That thou mightest *appoint*, καταστησης, *elders* - persons well instructed in Divine things, who should be able to instruct others, and observe and enforce the discipline of the Church. It appears that those who are called *elders* in this place are the same as those termed *bishops* in [Titus 1:7](../../../kjv/titus/1/7). We have many proofs that bishops and elders were of the same order in the apostolic Church, though afterwards they became distinct. Lord Peter King, in his view of the primitive Church, has written well on this subject.
*In every city*. - κατα πολιν. This seems to intimate that the apostle had gone over the whole of the *hecatompolis* or *hundred* *cities* for which this island was celebrated. Indeed it is not likely that he would leave one in which he had not preached Christ crucified.

Verse 6. ***If any be blameless*** — [1 Timothy 3:2](../../../kjv/1-timothy/3/2), c.
***Having faithful children*** — Whose family is converted to God. It would have been absurd to employ a man to govern the Church whose children were not in subjection to himself for it is an apostolic maxim, that he who cannot rule his own house, cannot rule the Church of God; [1 Timothy 3:5](../../../kjv/1-timothy/3/5).

Verse 7. ***Not self-willed*** — μη αυθαδη. Not one who is determined to have his own way in every thing; setting up his own judgment to that of all others; expecting all to pay homage to his understanding. Such a governor in the Church of God can do little good, and may do much mischief.
***Not soon angry*** — μη οπγιλον. Not a choleric man; one who is irritable; who is apt to be inflamed on every opposition; one who has not proper command over his own temper.

Verse 8. ***A lover of hospitality*** — φιλοξενον. *A lover of* *strangers*. [1 Timothy 3:2](../../../kjv/1-timothy/3/2). Instead of φιλοξενον, one MS. has φιλοπτωξον, *a lover of the poor*. That minister who neglects the *poor*, but is frequent in his visits to the *rich*, knows little of his Master's work, and has little of his Master's spirit.
***A lover of good men*** — φιλαγαθον. *A lover of goodness* or of *good things* in general.
***Sober*** — Prudent in all his conduct. *Just* in all his dealings. *Holy* in his heart. *Temperate*-self-denying and abstemious, in his food and raiment; not too nice on points of honour, nor magisterially rigid in the exercise of his ecclesiastical functions. Qualifications rarely found in spiritual governors.

Verse 9. ***Holding fast the faithful word*** — Conscientiously retaining, and zealously maintaining, the true Christian doctrine, κατα την διδαχην, *according to the instructions*, or according to the *institutions, form of sound doctrine*, or *confession of faith*, which I have delivered to thee.
***That he may be able by sound doctrine*** — If the doctrine be not *sound*, vain is the profession of it, and vain its influence. It is good to be zealously affected in a good thing; but zeal for what is not of God will do no good to the souls of men, how sincere soever that zeal may be.
***To exhort*** — Them to hold the faith, that they may persevere.
***And to convince*** — Refute the objections, confound the sophistry, and convert the gainsayers; and thus defend the truth.

Verse 10. ***There are many unruly*** — Persons who will not receive the sound doctrine, nor come under wholesome discipline.
***Vain talkers*** — Empty boasters of knowledge, rights, and particular privileges; all noise, empty parade, and no *work*.
***Deceivers*** — Of the souls of men by their specious pretensions.
***They of the circumcision*** — The Judaizing teachers, who maintained the necessity of circumcision, and of observing the rites and ceremonies of the Mosaic law, in order to the perfecting of the Gospel.

Verse 11. ***Whose mouths must be stopped*** — Unmask them at once; exhibit them to the people; make manifest their ignorance and hypocrisy; and let them be confounded before the people whom they are endeavouring to seduce.
***Subvert whole houses*** — Turn whole Christian families from the faith, attributing to the *broad way* what belongs only to the *strait gate*; ministering to disorderly passions, and promising salvation to their proselytes, though not saved from their sins.

Verse 12. ***One of themselves*****, even*****a prophet of their own*** — This was *Epimenides*, who was born at *Gnossus*, in Crete, and was reckoned by many the *seventh wise man* of Greece, instead of *Periander*, to whom that honour was by them denied. Many fabulous things are related of this poet, which are not proper to be noticed here. He died about 538 years before the Christian era. When St. Paul calls him a *prophet of their own*, he only intimates that he was, by the *Cretans*, reputed a *prophet*. And, according to Plutarch, (*in Solone*,) the Cretans paid him divine honours after his death. *Diogenes Laertius* mentions some of his prophecies: beholding the fort of Munichia, which guarded the port of Athens, he cried out: "O ignorant men! if they but knew what slaughters this fort shall occasion, they would pull it down with their teeth!" This prophecy was fulfilled several years after, when the king, Antipater, put a garrison in this very fort, to keep the Athenians in subjection. See *Diog. Laert*., lib. i. p. 73.
Plato, *De Legibus*, lib. ii., says that, on the Athenians expressing great fear of the Persians, Epimenides encouraged them by saying "that they should not come before *ten* years, and that they should return after having suffered great disasters." This prediction was supposed to have been fulfilled in the defeat of the Persians in the battles of Salamis and Marathon.
He predicted to the Lacedemonians and Cretans the captivity to which they should one day be reduced by the Arcadians. This took place under Euricrates, king of Crete, and Archidamus, king of Lacedemon; vide *Diog. Laert*., lib. i. p. 74, edit. *Meibom*.
It was in consequence of these prophecies, whether true or false, that his countrymen esteemed him a *prophet*; that he was termed ανηρ αθειος, *a divine man*, by Plato; and that Cicero, *De* *Divin*., lib. i., says he was *futura praesciens, et vaticinans per* *furorem*: "He knew future events, and prophesied under a divine influence." These things are sufficient to justify the epithet of *prophet*, given him here by St. Paul. It may also be remarked that *vates* and *poeta, prophet* and *poet*, were synonymous terms among the Romans.
***The Cretians*****are*****always liars*** — The words quoted here by the apostle are, according to St. *Jerome, Socrates, Nicephorus*, and others, taken from a work of Epimenides, now no longer extant, entitled περι χρησμων. *Concerning Oracles*. The words form a hexameter verse:-
That the Cretans were reputed to be egregious liars, several of the ancients declare; insomuch that κρητιζειν, *to act like a* *Cretan*, signifies *to lie*; and χρησθαι κρητισμω, to deceive. The other Greeks reputed them liars, because they said that among them was the sepulchre of Jupiter, who was the highest object of the Greek and Roman worship. By telling this *truth*, which all others would have to pass for a *lie*, the Cretans showed that the object of their highest admiration was only a *dead man*.
***Evil beasts*** — Ferocious and destructive in their manners.
***Slow bellies.*** — Addicted to voluptuousness, idleness, and gluttony; sluggish or hoggish men.

Verse.13. ***This witness is true.*** — What Epimenides said of them nearly 600 years before continued still to be true. Their original character had undergone no moral change.
***Rebuke them sharply*** — αποτομως. *Cuttingly, severely*; show no indulgence to persons guilty of such crimes.
***That they may be sound in the faith*** — That they may receive the incorrupt doctrine, and illustrate it by a holy and useful life.

Verse 14. ***Not giving heed to Jewish fables*** — See on [1 Timothy 1:4](../../../kjv/1-timothy/1/4); [1 Timothy 4:7](../../../kjv/1-timothy/4/7).
***Commandments of men*** — The injunctions of the scribes and Pharisees, which they added to the law of God.
***That turn from the truth.*** — For such persons made the word of God of none effect by their traditions. Sometimes the verb αποστρεφομαι signifies to be *averse from, slight*, or *despise*. So, here, the persons in question despised the truth, and taught others to do the same.

Verse 15. ***Unto the pure all things are pure*** — This appears to have been spoken in reference to the Jewish distinctions of *clean* and *unclean meats*. To the genuine Christian every kind of meat proper for human nourishment is pure, is lawful, and may be used without scruple. This our Lord had long before decided. See on [Luke 11:39-41](../../../kjv/luke/11/39-41).
***But unto them that are defiled*** — In their consciences, and *unbelieving*, απιστοις, *unfaithful* both to *offered* and *received* grace, *nothing is pure*-they have no part in Christ, and the wrath of God abides upon them. Their *mind* is contaminated with impure and unholy *images* and *ideas*, and *their conscience is* *defiled* with the *guilt of sins* already committed against God.

Verse [Titus 1:16](../../../kjv/titus/1/16). ***They profess that they know God*** — He still speaks concerning the unbelieving Jews, the seducing teachers, and those who had been seduced by their bad doctrine. None were so full of pretensions to the knowledge of the true God as the Jews. They would not admit that any other people could have this knowledge; nor did they believe that God ever did or ever would reveal himself to any other people; they supposed that to give the *law* and the *prophets* to the Gentiles would be a profanation of the words of God. Hence they became both proud, uncharitable, and intolerant; and in this disposition they continue till the present day.
***But in works they deny*** him] Their profession and practice were at continual variance. Full of a pretended faith, while utterly destitute of those *works* by which a genuine faith is accredited and proved. *Dio Cassius* represents Caesar as saying of his mutinous soldiers: Ονομα Ῥωμαιων εχοντας, εργα δε Κελτων δρωντας. "Having the name of Romans, while they had the manners of the Gauls." How near are those words to the saying of the apostle!
***Being abominable*** — βδελυκτοι. This word sometimes refers to unnatural lusts.
***And disobedient*** — απειθεις. *Unpersuadable, unbelieving*, and consequently *disobedient*. Characters remarkably applicable to the Jews through all their generations.
***Unto every good work reprobate.*** — αδοκιμοι. *Adulterate*; like bad coin, deficient both in the *weight* and *goodness* of the *metal*, and without the proper *sterling stamp*; and consequently not *current*. If they did a good work, they did not do it in the spirit in which it should be performed. They had the name of God's people; but they were counterfeit. The prophet said; *Reprobate silver shall men call them*.
1. THOUGH the principal part of this chapter, and indeed of the whole epistle, may be found in nearly the same words in the *First* Epistle to Timothy, yet there are several circumstances here that are not so particularly noted in the other; and every minister of Christ will do well to make himself master of both; they should be carefully registered in his memory, and engraven on his heart.
2. The *truth*, which is *according to godliness*, in reference to *eternal life*, should be carefully regarded. The substantial knowledge of the truth must have *faith* for its foundation, *godliness* for its rule, and *eternal life* for its object and end. He who does not begin well, is never likely to finish fair. He who does not refer every thing to *eternity*, is never likely to live either well or happily in *time*.
3. There is one subject in this chapter not sufficiently attended to by those who have the authority to appoint men to ecclesiastical offices; none should be thus appointed who is *not* *able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convince the* *gainsayers*. The powers necessary for this are partly *natural*, partly *gracious*, and partly *acquired*. 1. If a man have not good natural abilities, nothing but a miracle from heaven can make him a proper preacher of the Gospel; and to make a man a Christian minister, who is unqualified for any function of *civil life*, is sacrilege before God. 2. If the *grace of God* do not communicate ministerial qualifications, no natural gifts, however splendid, can be of any avail. To be a successful Christian minister, a man must *feel the worth* of immortal souls in such a way as God only can show it, in order to spend and be spent in the work. He who has never passed through the travail of the soul in the work of regeneration in his own heart, can never make plain the way of salvation to others. 3. He who is employed in the Christian ministry should *cultivate his mind* in the most diligent manner; he can neither learn nor know too much. If called of God to be a preacher, (and without such a call he had better be a galley slave,) he will be able to bring all his knowledge to the assistance and success of his ministry. If he have human learning, so much the better; if he be accredited, and appointed by those who have authority in the Church, it will be to his advantage; but no human learning, no ecclesiastical appointment, no mode of ordination, whether Popish, Episcopal, Protestant, or Presbyterian, can ever supply the *Divine unction*, without which he never can convert and build up the souls of men. The piety of the flock must be faint and languishing when it is not animated by the heavenly zeal of the pastor; *they* must be blind if *he* be not enlightened; and their faith must be wavering when he can neither encourage nor defend it.
4. In consequence of the appointment of improper persons to the Christian ministry, there has been, not only a decay of piety, but also a corruption of religion. No man is a true Christian minister who has not *grace, gifts*, and *fruit*; if he have the grace of God, it will appear in his holy life and godly conversation. If to this he add genuine abilities, he will give full proof of his ministry; and if he give full proof of his ministry, he will have *fruit*; the souls of sinners will be converted to God through his preaching, and believers will be built up on their most holy faith. How contemptible must that man appear in the eyes of common sense, who boasts of his clerical education, his sacerdotal *order*, his legitimate authority to preach, administer the Christian sacraments, c., while no soul is benefited by his ministry! Such a person may have legal authority to take tithes, but as to an appointment from God, *he* has none else his word would be with power, and his preaching the means of salvation to his perishing hearers.

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