1.
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 lie, promised before the world began;
Verse 2
Promised; in the counsels of his own will.
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.
5.
For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:
Verse 5
Left I thee in Crete. The ship in which Paul performed his voyage to Rome, as recorded at the close of the Acts, touched repeatedly at the ports of Crete. This is the only case in which any record remains of Paul's visiting the island. At what time he put Titus in charge there, and when this Epistle was written to him, are both wholly unknown.--Elders; pastors; called bishops in Titus 1:7.
6.
If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.
Verse 6
These directions (Titus 1:6-9) correspond very closely with those given to Timothy on the same subject. (Titus 1:6-9; 1 Timothy 3:2-9; 1 Timothy 3:2-9.)--Riot, dissoluteness of manners, or excess of any kind.
7.
For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, 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 sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
Verse 9
The faithful word; the word worthy of faith; that is, truths well established and sure.--Sound doctrine; sound instruction.--Gainsayers; opposers.
10.
For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:
Verse 10
They of the circumcision; the Jews.
11.
Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.
Verse 11
For filthy lucre's sake. In what way precisely this pharisaical sanctity was turned to the purposes of gain, is not known. There are frequent allusions, however, to the fact that this was done. (Compare 1 Timothy 6:5. 2 Timothy 3:6; 2 Timothy 3:6, 2 Timothy 3:7.)
12.
One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.
Verse 12
A prophet; a pagan prophet.
13.
This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;
14.
Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.
15.
Unto 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.
Verse 15
All things are pure; that is, all kinds of meats and drinks. The idea is the same that the apostle has, in his other Epistles, so often advanced,--that he whose heart is pure need not be solicitous about ceremonial distinctions and prohibitions.
16.
They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.