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Titus Chapter
Three
Titus 3
With respect to the conduct of Christians towards the
world, grace has banished violence, and the spirit of rebellion and resistance
which agitates the heart of those who believe hot, and which has its source in
the self-will that strives to maintain its own rights relatively to others.
The Christian has his portion, his inheritance, elsewhere; he is
tranquil and submissive here and ready to do good. Even when others are violent
and unjust towards him, he bears it in remembrance that once it was no
otherwise with himself: a difficult lesson, for violence and injustice stir up
the heart; but the thought that it is sin, and that we also were formerly its
slaves, produces patience and piety. Grace alone has made the difference, and
according to that grace are we to act towards others.
The apostle gives a grievous summary of the
characteristics of man after the flesh-that which we once were. Sin was
foolishness-was disobedience; the sinner was deceived-was the slave of lusts,
filled with malice and envy, hateful, and hating others. Such is man
characterized by sin. But the kindness of God, of a Saviour-God, His good-will
and charity towards men (sweet and precious character of God!) [1] has appeared. The character that He assumed
is that of Saviour, a name especially given Him in these three epistles, in
order that we should bear its stamp in our walk, that it should pervade our
spirit. Our walk in the world and our conduct towards others depend on the
principles of our relationships with God. That which has made us different from
others is not some merit in ourselves, some personal superiority: we were
sometime even as they. It is the tender love and grace of the God of mercy. He
has been kind and merciful to us: we have known what it is, and are so to
others. It si true that in cleansing and renewing us this mercy has wrought by
a principle, and in a sphere of a life, that are entirely new,, so that we
cannot walk with the world as we did before; but we act towards others who are
still in the mire of this world, as God has acted towards us to bring us out of
it, that we might enjoy those things which, according to the same principle of
grace, we desire that others also should enjoy. The sense of what we once were,
and of the way in which God has acted towards us, combine to govern our conduct
towards others.
Now when the kindness of a Saviour-God appeared, it was
not something vague and uncertain; He has saved us, not by works of
righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy by washing and
renewing us. This is the double character of the work in us, the same two
points which we find in John 3 in the Lords' discourse with Nicodemus; except that
here is added that which has now its place because of the work of Christ,
namely, that the Holy Ghost is also shed on us abundantly to be the strength of
that new life of which He is the source. The man is washed, cleansed. He is
washed from his former habits, thoughts, desires, in the practical sense. We
wash a thing that exists. The man was morally bad and defiled in his inward and
outward life. God has saved us by purifying us; He could not do it otherwise.
To be in relationship with Himself there must be practical purity.
But this purification was thorough. It was not the
outside of the vessel. It was purification by means of regeneration; identified
with the communication of a new life no doubt, which is the source of new
thoughts, in connection with God's new creation, and capable of enjoying His
presence and in the light of His countenance, but which in itself is a passage
from the state we were in into a wholly new one, from flesh by death into the
status of a risen Christ.
But there was a power which acted in this new life and accompanies it
in the Christian. It is not merely a subjective change, as they say. There is
an active divine Agent who imparts something new, of which He is Himself the
source-the Holy Ghost Himself. It is God acting in the creature (for it is by
the Spirit that God always acts immediately on the creature); and it is in the
character of the Holy Ghost that He acts in this work of renewal. It is a new
source of thoughts in relationship with God; not only a vital capacity, but an
energy which produces that which is new in us.
It has been a question, When does this renewal by the
Holy Ghost take place? Is it at the commencement, [2] of
which the apostle speaks? I think that the apostle speaks of it according to
the character of the work; and adds "shed on us" (that which
characterizes the grace of this present period) to shew that there is an
additional truth, namely, that the Holy Ghost, as "shed on us,"
continues in order to maintain by His power the enjoyment of the relationship
into which He has brought us. The man is cleansed in connection with the new
order of things; but the Holy Ghost is a source of an entirely new life,
entirely new thoughts; not only of a new moral being, but of the communication
of all that in which this new being develops itself. We cannot separate the
nature from the objects with regard to which the nature develops itself, and
which form the sphere of its existence and characterize it.
It is the Holy Ghost who gives the thoughts, who creates
and forms the whole moral being of the new man. The thought and that which
thinks, cannot be separated, morally, when the heart is occupied with it. The
Holy Ghost is the source of all in the saved man: he is ultimately saved,
because this is the case with him.
The Holy Ghost does not only give a new nature; He gives
it us in connection with an entirely new order of things ("a new
creation"), and fills us as to our thoughts with the things that are in
this new creation. This is the reason, that, although we are placed in it once
for all, this work-as to the operation of the Holy Ghost-continues; because He
ever communicates to us more and more of the things of this new world into which
He has brought us. He takes of the things of Christ and shews them to us; and
all that the Father has is Christ's. I think that the "renewing of the
Holy Ghost" embraces all this; because he says, "which shed on us
abundantly." So that it is not only that we are born of Him, but that He
works in us, communicating to us all that is ours in Christ.
The Holy Ghost is shed on us abundantly by means of Jesus
Christ our Saviour, in order that, having been justified by the grace of this
Saviour, we should be heirs according to the hope of eternal life. I think that
the antecedent of "in order that" is "the washing of
regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Ghost;" and that the sentence,
"which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour," is
an accessory parenthesis introduced to shew us that we have the fullness of the
enjoyment of these things by the power of the Holy Ghost.
Thus he has saved us by this renewing that we may be
heirs according to the hope of eternal life, It is nothing outward, earthly, or
corporeal. Grace has given us eternal life, In order to this, we have been
justified by the grace of Christ. [3] Thus
there is energy, power, hope, through the rich gift of the Holy Ghost. In order
to our participating in it we have been justified by His grace, and our
inheritance is in the incorruptible joy of eternal life.
God has saved us, not by works--[4]
anything that we are, but by His mercy. But the He has acted towards us
according to the riches of His own grace, according to the thoughts of His own
heart.
With these things the apostle desires that Titus would be
occupied-with that which brings us with thanksgiving into practical connection
with God Himself and makes us feel what our portion is, our eternal portion,
before Him. This acts upon the conscience, fills us with love and good works,
makes us respect all the relationships of which God Himself is the center. We
are in relationship with God according to His rights; we are before God, who
causes everything that He has Himself established to be respected by the
conscience.
Idle questions and disputes on the law Titus was to
avoid, together with everything that would destroy the simplicity of our
relationship with God according to the immediate revelation of Himself and of
His will in Jesus Christ. It is still the Gnostic Judaism setting itself up
against the simplicity of the gospel; it is the law and human righteousness,
and that which, by means of intermediate beings, destroys the simplicity and
the immediate character of our relationship with the God of grace.
When a man tried to set up his own opinions, and by that
means to form parties in the assembly, after having admonished him once and a
second time, he was to be rejected; his faith was subverted. He sins, he is
judged of himself. He is not satisfied with the assembly of God, with the truth
of God: he wants to make a truth of his won. Why is he a Christian, if
Christianity, as God has given it, does no suffice him? By making a party for
his own opinions he condemns himself.
We have, at the end of the epistle, a little glimpse of
the Christian activity which the love of God produces, the pains taken that the
flock should enjoy all the help with which God supplies the assembly. Paul
wished that Titus should come to him: but the Cretans needed his services; and
the apostle makes the arrival of Artemas or Tychicus (the latter well known by
the services he had rendered to Paul) the condition of the departure of Titus
from the field in which he was laboring. We find too that Zena, a lawyer, and
Apollos, who had also displayed his active zeal at Ephesus and Corinth, were disposed
to occupy themselves in Crete with the work of the Lord.
Observe also that we have the two kinds of labourers:
those who were in personal connection with the apostle as fellow-laborers, who
accompanied him, and whom he sent elsewhere to continue the work he had begun,
when he could no longer carry it on himself; and those who labored freely and
independently of him. But there was no jealousy of this double activity. He did
not neglect the flock that were dear to him. He was glad that any who were sound
in the faith should water the plants which he had planted. He encourages Titus
to show them all affection, and to provide whatever they needed in their
journey. thought suggest to him the counsel that follows; namely, that it would
be well for Christians to learn how to do useful work in order to supply the
wants of others as well as their own.
The apostle ends his epistle with the salutations that
christian love always produces; but, as we saw at the beginning, there is not
here the same expansion of heart that we find in Paul's communications to
Timothy. Grace is the same everywhere; but there are special affections and
relationships in the assembly of God.
[1] In
Greek it is the word 'philanthropy', which in scripture is only used in
speaking of God; and which moreover has much greater force than the English
word, because 'phil' is an especial affection for anything, a friendship.
[2]
"palinggenisia" the word here used, is not being born again
("anagennao"). It is used, besides this passage, only in the end of
Matthew 19 for the millennium. The renewing of the Holy Ghost is a distinct
thing from the regeneration. This last is a change of one state of things to
another.
[3] It
is because "Christ" is in the parenthesis, and not in the principal
sentence, that we read "ekeinos".
[4]
Here, as everywhere, the responsibility of man and God's saving grace, by which
purpose also is accomplished, are clearly distinguished.
── John Darby《Synopsis of Titus》
Titus 3
Chapter Contents
Obedience to magistrates, and becoming behaviour towards
all, are enforced from what believers were before conversion, and what they are
made, through Christ. (1-7) Good works to be done, and useless disputes
avoided. (8-11) Directions and exhortations. (12-15)
Commentary on Titus 3:1-7
(Read Titus 3:1-7)
Spiritual privileges do not make void or weaken, but
confirm civil duties. Mere good words and good meanings are not enough without
good works. They were not to be quarrelsome, but to show meekness on all
occasions, not toward friends only, but to all men, though with wisdom, James 3:13. And let this text teach us how wrong
it is for a Christian to be churlish to the worst, weakest, and most abject.
The servants of sin have many masters, their lusts hurry them different ways;
pride commands one thing, covetousness another. Thus they are hateful,
deserving to be hated. It is the misery of sinners, that they hate one another;
and it is the duty and happiness of saints to love one another. And we are
delivered out of our miserable condition, only by the mercy and free grace of
God, the merit and sufferings of Christ, and the working of his Spirit. God the
Father is God our Saviour. He is the fountain from which the Holy Spirit flows,
to teach, regenerate, and save his fallen creatures; and this blessing comes to
mankind through Christ. The spring and rise of it, is the kindness and love of
God to man. Love and grace have, through the Spirit, great power to change and
turn the heart to God. Works must be in the saved, but are not among the causes
of their salvation. A new principle of grace and holiness is wrought, which
sways, and governs, and makes the man a new creature. Most pretend they would
have heaven at last, yet they care not for holiness now; they would have the
end without the beginning. Here is the outward sign and seal thereof in
baptism, called therefore the washing of regeneration. The work is inward and
spiritual; this is outwardly signified and sealed in this ordinance. Slight not
this outward sign and seal; yet rest not in the outward washing, but look to
the answer of a good conscience, without which the outward washing will avail
nothing. The worker therein is the Spirit of God; it is the renewing of the
Holy Ghost. Through him we mortify sin, perform duty, walk in God's ways; all
the working of the Divine life in us, and the fruits of righteousness without,
are through this blessed and holy Spirit. The Spirit and his saving gifts and
graces, come through Christ, as a Saviour, whose undertaking and work are to
bring to grace and glory. Justification, in the gospel sense, is the free
forgiveness of a sinner; accepting him as righteous through the righteousness
of Christ received by faith. God, in justifying a sinner in the way of the
gospel, is gracious to him, yet just to himself and his law. As forgiveness is
through a perfect righteousness, and satisfaction is made to justice by Christ,
it cannot be merited by the sinner himself. Eternal life is set before us in
the promise; the Spirit works faith in us, and hope of that life; faith and
hope bring it near, and fill with joy in expectation of it.
Commentary on Titus 3:8-11
(Read Titus 3:8-11)
When the grace of God towards mankind has been declared,
the necessity of good works is pressed. Those who believe in God, must make it
their care to maintain good works, to seek opportunities for doing them, being
influenced by love and gratitude. Trifling, foolish questions must be avoided,
and subtle distinctions and vain inquiries; nor should people be eager after
novelties, but love sound doctrine which tends most to edifying. Though we may
now think some sins light and little, if the Lord awaken the conscience, we
shall feel even the smallest sin heavy upon our souls.
Commentary on Titus 3:12-15
(Read Titus 3:12-15)
Christianity is not a fruitless profession; and its
professors must be filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus
Christ, to the glory and praise of God. They must be doing good, as well as
keeping away from evil. Let "ours" follow some honest labour and
employment, to provide for themselves and their families. Christianity obliges
all to seek some honest work and calling, and therein to abide with God. The
apostle concludes with expressions of kind regard and fervent prayer. Grace be
with you all; the love and favour of God, with the fruits and effects thereof,
according to need; and the increase and feeling of them more and more in your
souls. This is the apostle's wish and prayer, showing his affection to them,
and desire for their good, and would be a means of obtaining for them, and
bringing down on them, the thing requested. Grace is the chief thing to be
wished and prayed for, with respect to ourselves or others; it is "all
good."
── Matthew Henry《Concise Commentary on Titus》
Titus 3
Verse 1
[1] Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and
powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,
Remind them — All the Cretan Christians.
To be subject — Passively, not resisting.
To principalities — Supreme.
And powers — Subordinate governors. And to
obey - Them actively, so far as conscience permits.
Verse 2
[2] To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle,
shewing all meekness unto all men.
To speak evil — Neither of them nor any man.
Not to be quarrelsome — To assault none.
To be gentle — When assaulted.
Toward all men — Even those who are such as we
were.
Verse 3
[3] For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish,
disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and
envy, hateful, and hating one another.
For we — And as God hath dealt with us, so ought we to deal
with our neighbour.
Were without understanding — Wholly ignorant of
God.
And disobedient — When he was declared to us.
Verse 4
[4] But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour
toward man appeared,
When the love of God appeared — By the light of his
Spirit to our inmost soul.
Verse 5
[5] Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but
according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and
renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Not by works — In this important passage the
apostle presents us with a delightful view of our redemption. Herein we have,
1. The cause of it; not our works or righteousness, but "the kindness and
love of God our Saviour." 2. The effects; which are, (1.) Justification;
"being justified," pardoned and accepted through the alone merits of
Christ, not from any desert in us, but according to his own mercy, "by his
grace," his free, unmerited goodness. (2.) Sanctification, expressed by
the laver of regeneration, (that is, baptism, the thing signified, as well as
the outward sign,) and the renewal of the Holy Ghost; which purifies the soul,
as water cleanses the body, and renews it in the whole image of God. 3. The
consummation of all; - that we might become heirs of eternal life, and live now
in the joyful hope of it.
Verse 8
[8] 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 good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.
Be careful to excel in good works — Though the apostle
does not lay these for the foundation, yet he brings them in at their proper
place, and then mentions them, not slightly, but as affairs of great
importance. He desires that all believers should be careful - Have their
thoughts upon them: use their best contrivance, their utmost endeavours, not
barely to practise, but to excel, to be eminent and distinguished in them:
because, though they are not the ground of our reconciliation with God, yet
they are amiable and honourable to the Christian profession.
And profitable to men — Means of increasing
the everlasting happiness both of ourselves and others.
Verse 10
[10] A man that is an heretick after the first and second
admonition reject;
An heretic (after a first and second admonition) reject — Avoid, leave to
himself. This is the only place, in the whole scripture, where this word
heretic occurs; and here it evidently means, a man that obstinately persists in
contending about "foolish questions," and thereby occasions strife
and animosities, schisms and parties in the church. This, and this alone, is an
heretic in the scripture sense; and his punishment likewise is here fixed.
Shun, avoid him, leave him to himself. As for the Popish sense, "A man
that errs in fundamentals," although it crept, with many other things,
early into the church, yet it has no shadow of foundation either in the Old or
New Testament.
Verse 11
[11] Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth,
being condemned of himself.
Such an one is perverted — In his heart, at
least.
And sinneth, being self-condemned — Being convinced in
his own conscience that he acts wrong.
Verse 12
[12] When I shall send Artemas unto thee, or Tychicus, be
diligent to come unto me to Nicopolis: for I have determined there to winter.
When I shall send Artemas or Tychicus — To succeed thee in
thy office. Titus was properly an evangelist, who, according to the nature of
that office, had no fixed residence; but presided over other elders, wherever
he travelled from place to place, assisting each of the apostles according to
the measure of his abilities.
Come to me to Nicopolis — Very probably not the
Nicopolis in Macedonia, as the vulgar subscription asserts: (indeed, none of
those subscriptions at the end of St. Paul's epistles are of any authority:)
rather it was a town of the same name which lay upon the sea-coast of Epirus.
For I have determined to winter there — Hence it appears, he
was not there yet; if so, he would have said, to winter here. Consequently,
this letter was not written from thence.
Verse 13
[13] Bring Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey
diligently, that nothing be wanting unto them.
Send forward Zenas the lawyer — Either a Roman lawyer
or an expounder of the Jewish law.
Verse 14
[14] And let ours also learn to maintain good works for
necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.
And let ours — All our brethren at Crete.
Learn — Both by thy admonition and example. Perhaps they had
not before assisted Zenas and Apollos as they ought to have done.
── John Wesley《Explanatory Notes on Titus》
Chapter 3. The Authority of Elders
Knowing What Is
Wrong
Commit Intentionally
I. The Way to
Conduct Oneself and to Treat People
II. The
Practice of Spiritual Life
III. Command on
Individuals
── Chih-Hsin
Chang《An Outline of
The New Testament》
Chapter Three General Review
OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER
1) To review responsibilities Christians have toward those in authority
and others in general
2) To consider how one is saved by God's mercy, through the washing of
regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit
3) To notice the emphasis on being careful to maintain good works,
while avoiding things that are unprofitable and useless (including
some individuals)
SUMMARY
In this final chapter Paul instructs Titus to remind the brethren
concerning their duties toward those in authority and men in general
(1-2). Exhortations to gentleness and humility toward all men is made
with a reminder that we too were once like those in the world (3). We
have been saved, not by our own works of righteousness, but by the
mercy of God who saved us through the washing of regeneration and
renewing of the Holy Spirit (4-5). The Spirit has been poured out
abundantly on us, so that we who are justified might become heirs
according to the hope of eternal life (6-7). Paul also wants Titus to
affirm constantly that those who have believed in God should be
diligent in their good works (8). At the same time, foolish disputes
and divisive men are to be avoided, for such are unprofitable and
useless (9-11).
The epistle closes with personal remarks and greetings. Titus is
encouraged to come to Nicopolis as soon as Artemas or Tychicus have
arrived, for Paul has chosen to winter there (12). In the meantime,
Titus is to send Zenas and Apollos on their journey with haste (13).
Yet another exhortation is given to have the brethren learn to maintain
good works, meeting urgent needs, so they may not be unfruitful. Paul
then passes along greetings to Titus from those with him, and sends
similar greetings to those who love the brethren (13-14). A final
benediction regarding grace ends the letter (15).
OUTLINE
I. INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE BRETHREN IN GENERAL (1-11)
A. CONCERNING PROPER CONDUCT (1-2)
1. Toward those in authority (1)
a. Be subject to and obey rulers and authorities
b. Be ready for every good work
2. Toward all men (2)
a. Speak evil of no one
b. Be peaceable, gentle, showing humility to all
B. REASONS TO HEED SUCH EXHORTATIONS (3-11)
1. In view of our past conduct (3)
a. We were once foolish, disobedient and deceived
b. We served various lust and pleasures
c. We lived in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another
2. In view of our salvation (4-7)
a. We were saved according to God's kindness, love and mercy,
not by works of righteousness which we have done (4-5)
b. We were saved through the washing of regeneration and
renewing of the Holy Spirit (5-7)
1) Whom God poured out abundantly through Jesus our Savior
2) That being justified by grace we should become heirs
according to the hope of eternal life
3. In view of what is good and profitable (8)
a. Those who have believed in God should be careful to
maintain good works
b. This is a faithful saying, and should be affirmed
constantly
4. In view of what is unprofitable and useless (9-11)
a. Foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings
about the law are to be avoided (9)
b. A divisive man is to be rejected after two admonitions
(10-11)
1) For such is warped and sinning
2) And is self-condemned
II. CONCLUDING REMARKS (12-15)
A. FINAL INSTRUCTIONS (12-14)
1. To meet him at Nicopolis, after the arrival of Artemas or
Tychicus (12)
2. To send Zenas and Apollos on their journey with haste, lacking
nothing (13)
3. To aid others in learning to maintain good works, meeting
urgent needs, so as not to be unfruitful (14)
B. FINAL GREETINGS, AND A PRAYER (15)
1. Greetings from those with Paul
2. Greetings to those who love the brethren in the faith
3. Grace be with you all. Amen.
REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE CHAPTER
1) What are the main points of this chapter?
- Instructions for the brethren in general (1-11)
- Concluding remarks (12-15)
2) What are the responsibilities of Christians toward rulers and
authorities? (1)
- To be subject to them, to obey, to be ready for every good work
3) How should Christians conduct themselves toward men in general? (2)
- To speak evil of none, to be peaceable, gentle, and humble toward
all
4) What should help us to be gentle and humble toward others? (3)
- We ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, deceived
- We had served various lusts and pleasures
- We had been hateful and hating one another
5) What else should remind us to be humble? (4-5)
- We were saved, not by works of righteousness which we have done,
but according to the kindness, love and mercy of God
6) How has God in mercy saved us? (5)
- Through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy
Spirit
7) Why has God poured out the Holy Spirit abundantly on us? (6-7)
- That having been justified by His grace, we should become heirs
according to the hope of eternal life (cf. Ga 4:6-7; Ro 8:15-17)
8) What faithful saying did Paul want Titus to affirm constantly? (8)
- Those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good
works
9) What was Titus to avoid? Why? (9)
- Foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about
the law
- They are unprofitable and useless
10) Who was Titus to reject after two admonitions? Why? (10-11)
- A divisive man
- Such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned
11) Where did Paul want Titus to join him? (12)
- Nicopolis
12) Who was Titus to send along on their journey with haste, lacking
nothing? (13)
- Zenas the lawyer and Apollos
13) What did Paul want Christians to learn? (14)
- To maintain good works, to meet urgent needs
14) Who sent greetings to Titus? Who did Paul send greetings to? (15)
- All who with him
- Those who love the brethren in the faith
15) What prayer did Paul offer as he closed this letter? (15)
- Grace be with you all. Amen.
--《Executable
Outlines》
The
authority of elders
Knowing what is wrong
Commit intentionally
I.
The way to conduct oneself and to treat people
1.
Toward government
2.
Toward people
3.
Self=examination
II.The practice of spiritual life
1.
The kindness and love of God
2.
The salvation of Jesus
3.
The rebirth of the Holy Spirit
III.
Command on individuals
1.
Transfer workers
2.
Devote to what is good
3.
Live productive life
-- Chih-Hsin
Chang《An Outline of The New Testament》