Titus
From the Original 1599 Geneva Bible Notes
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Tit 1:1
1:1 Paul, {1} a {a} servant
of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's {b}
elect, {2} and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;
(1) He vouches his
apostleship (not for Titus, but for the Cretian's sake) both by the
testimony of his outward calling, and by his consent in which he agrees with
all the elect from the beginning of the world.
(a) A minister, as Christ himself, in his office of minister and head of the
Prophets, is called a servant; Isa 43:10 .
(b) Of those whom God has chosen.
(2) The faith in which all the elect agree, is the true and sincere
knowledge of God for this purpose, that worshipping God correctly, they may
at length obtain everlasting life according to the promise of God, who is
true, which promise was exhibited in Christ in due time according to his
eternal purpose.
Tit 1:2
1:2 In {c} hope of eternal
life, which God, that cannot lie, {d} promised before the {e} world began;
Tit 1:3
1:3 {3} But hath in due times
manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to
the commandment of God our {f} Saviour;
(3) This truth is not to be
sought anywhere else, but in the preaching of the apostles.
(f) This word "Saviour" does not only signify a preserver of life, but also
a giver of life.
Tit 1:4
1:4 {4} To Titus, [mine] own
son after the common faith: {5} Grace, mercy, [and] peace, from God the Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.
(4) The apostle exhorts the
Cretians to hear Titus, by setting forth his consent and agreement with them
in the faith, and in addition shows by what special note we may distinguish
true ministers from false.
(5) There is but one way of salvation, common both to the pastor and the
flock.
Tit 1:5
1:5 {6} 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:
Tit 1:6
1:6 If any be blameless, the
husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or {g}
unruly.
(g) This word is used of
horses and oxen, who will not tolerate the yoke.
Tit 1:7
1:7 {7} For a bishop must be
blameless, as the {h} steward of God; not {i} selfwilled, not soon angry, not
given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;
(7) The second admonition:
what faults pastors (whom he referred to before under the word elders) ought
to be void of, and what virtues they ought to have.
(h) Whom the Lord has appointed steward of his gifts.
(i) Not stubborn and hard to please.
Tit 1:8
1:8 But a lover of
hospitality, a lover of good men, {k} sober, just, holy, temperate;
(k) Cautious, and of a
sound judgment, and of a singular example of moderation.
Tit 1:9
1:9 {8} Holding fast the
faithful word as he hath been taught, {9} that he may be able by sound
doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
(8) The third admonition:
the pastor must hold fast that doctrine which the apostles delivered, and
pertains to salvation, leaving behind all curious and vain matters.
(9) The fourth admonition: to apply the knowledge of true doctrine to use,
which consists in two things, that is, in governing those who show
themselves able to learn, and confuting the obstinate.
Tit 1:10
1:10 {10} For there are many
unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the {l} circumcision:
(10) An applying of the
general proposition to a particular: the Cretians above all others need
sharp reprehensions: both because their minds are naturally given to lies
and slothfulness, and because of certain covetous Jews, who under a pretence
of godliness, partly combined certain vain traditions, and partly old
ceremonies with the Gospel.
(l) Of the Jews, or rather of those Jews who went about to join Christ and
the Law.
Tit 1:12
1:12 {m} One of themselves,
[even] a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians [are] alway liars, evil
beasts, slow bellies.
(m) Epimenides, who was
considered a prophet amongst them. See Laertius, and Cicero in his first
book of divination.
Tit 1:13
1:13 This witness is true.
Wherefore rebuke them {n} sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;
(n) Clearly and plainly,
and do not go about the bush with them.
Tit 1:15
1:15 {11} Unto the pure all
things [are] pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving [is] nothing
pure; but even their {o} mind and conscience is defiled.
(11) He shows in few words,
that purity consists not in any external worship, and that which is
according to the old Law (as indifference of meats, and washings, and other
such things which are abolished) but in the mind and conscience. And whoever
teaches otherwise, does not know what true religion really is, and also is
not to be heeded.
(o) If our minds and consciences are unclean, what cleanness is there in us
before regeneration?
Tit 2:1
2:1 But {1} speak thou the
things which become sound doctrine:
(1) The fifth admonition:
the doctrine must not only be generally pure, but also be applied to all
ages and orders of men, according to the diversity of circumstances.
Tit 2:2
2:2 {2} That the aged men be
sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.
(2) What are the principal
virtues for old and young, both men and women: and how they ought to be
stirred up to do them continually.
Tit 2:5
2:5 [To be] discreet, chaste,
{a} keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of
God be not blasphemed.
Tit 2:7
2:7 {3} In all things shewing
thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine [shewing] uncorruptness, {b}
gravity, sincerity,
(3) The sixth admonition:
that both the pastor's life and doctrine must be sound.
(b) Not such a gravity as may drive men from coming to the minister, but
such as may cause them to come in a most reverent and honest way.
Tit 2:9
2:9 {4} [Exhort] servants to
be obedient unto their own masters, [and] to please [them] well in all {c}
[things]; not answering again;
(4) The seventh admonition,
concerning the duty of servants to their masters.
(c) Which may be done without offence to God.
Tit 2:11
2:11 {5} For the grace of God
that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
(5) The eighth admonition
belongs to all the godly: seeing that God calls all men to the Gospel, and
Christ has so justified us, that he has also sanctified us, all of us must
therefore give ourselves to true godliness, and righteousness, setting
before us a sure hope of that immeasurable glory. And this thing must be so
learned by them that the deniers also must be reproved, by the authority of
the mighty God.
Tit 2:12
2:12 Teaching us that,
denying ungodliness and {d} worldly lusts, we should live soberly,
righteously, and godly, in this present world;
(d) Lusts of the flesh,
which belong to the present state of this life and world.
Tit 2:13
2:13 {e} Looking for that
blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour
Jesus Christ;
(e) Christ is here most
plainly called that mighty God, and his appearance and coming is called by
the figure of speech metonymy, our hope.
Tit 2:14
2:14 Who gave himself for us,
that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a {f}
peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Tit 2:15
2:15 These things speak, and
exhort, and rebuke with all {g} authority. Let no man despise thee.
Tit 3:1
3:1 Put {1} them in mind to
be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to
every good work,
(1) He declares
particularly and separately that which he said before generally, noting out
certain main and principal duties which men owe to men, and especially
subjects to their magistrates.
Tit 3:3
3:3 {2} For we ourselves also
were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and
pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, [and] hating one another.
(2) He confirms again the
former exhortation by propounding the free benefit of our regeneration, the
symbol of which is our baptism. (Ed.)
Tit 3:5
3:5 Not by works of {a}
righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by
the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the {b} Holy Ghost;
(a) Literally, "of works
which are done in righteousness": and this passage fully refutes the
doctrine of meritorious works.
(b) Which the power of the Holy Spirit works.
Tit 3:8
3:8 {3} [This is] a faithful
saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which
have believed in God might be careful to maintain {c} good works. These things
are good and profitable unto men.
(3) Again with great
earnestness emphasises how we ought to give ourselves to true godliness and
avoid all vain questions, which serve to nothing but to cause strife and
debate.
(c) Give themselves earnestly to good works.
Tit 3:10
3:10 {4} A man that is an
heretick after the first and second admonition reject;
(4) The ministers of the
word must at once cast off heretics, that is, those who stubbornly and
seditiously disquiet the Church, and will pay no attention to ecclesiastical
admonitions.
Tit 3:12
3:12 {5} When I shall send
Artemas unto thee, or Tychicus, be diligent to come unto me to Nicopolis: for
I have determined there to winter.
(5) Last of all, he writes
a word or two regarding personal matters, and commends certain men.
