The Epistle of Paul to Titus
1 6 He showeth what kind of men ought to be chosen Ministers: 10 how vain babblers’ mouths should be stopped: 12 and through this occasion he toucheth the nature of the Cretans, 14 and the Jews, who put boldness in outward things.
1 Paul [a]a [b]servant of God, and an Apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s [c]elect, [d]and the acknowledging of the truth, which is according unto godliness.
2 Unto the [e]hope of eternal life, which God that cannot lie, hath [f]promised before the (A)[g]world began:
3 [h]But hath made his word manifest in due time through the preaching, which is (B)committed unto me according to the commandment of God our [i]Savior:
4 [j]To Titus my natural son according to the common faith, [k]Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior.
5 [l]For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest continue to redress the things that remain, and shouldest ordain Elders in every city as I ap-pointed thee.
6 (C)If any be unreproveable, the husband of one wife, having faithful children, which are not slandered of riot, neither are [m]disobedient.
7 [n]For a Bishop must be unreproveable, as God’s [o]steward, not [p]froward, not angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre,
8 But harberous, one that loveth goodness, [q]wise, righteous, holy, temperate,
9 [r]Holding fast that faithful word according to doctrine, [s]that he also may be able to exhort with wholesome doctrine, and convince them that say against it.
10 [t]For there are many disobedient and vain talkers and deceivers of minds, chiefly they of the [u]Circumcision,
11 Whose mouths must be stopped, which subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.
12 [v]One of themselves, even one of their own Prophets said, The Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.
13 This witness is true: wherefore convince them [w]sharply, that they may be sound in the faith.
14 And not taking heed to (D)Jewish fables and commandments of men, that turn away from the truth.
15 [x]Unto the pure (E)are all things pure, but unto them that are defiled, and unbelieving, is nothing pure, but even their [y]minds and consciences are defiled.
16 They profess that they know God, but by works they deny him, and are abominable and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
Footnotes
- Titus 1:1 He voucheth his Apostleship, (not for Titus, but for the Cretans’ sake) both by the testimony of his outward calling, and by his consent wherein he agreeth with all the elect from the beginning of the world.
- Titus 1:1 Minister, as Christ himself, in that that he was a minister and head of the Prophets, is called a servant, Isa. 43:10.
- Titus 1:1 Of those whom God hath chosen.
- Titus 1:1 The faith wherein all the elect consent, is the true and sincere knowledge of God, tending to this end, that worshipping God aright that they at length obtain life everlasting according to the promise of God, who is true, which promise was exhibited to Christ in due time according to his eternal purpose.
- Titus 1:2 Hope is the end of faith.
- Titus 1:2 Freely, and of his mere liberality.
- Titus 1:2 See 2 Tim. 1:9.
- Titus 1:3 This truth is no other where to be sought, but in the preaching of the Apostle.
- Titus 1:3 This word (Savior) doth not only signify a preserver of life, but also a giver of life.
- Titus 1:4 The Apostle moveth the Cretans to hear Titus, by setting forth his consent and agreement with him in the faith, and therewithal showeth by what special note we may distinguish true ministers from false.
- Titus 1:4 There is but one way of salvation, common both to the Pastor and the flock.
- Titus 1:5 The first admonition, to ordain Elders in every city.
- Titus 1:6 This word is proper to horses and oxen, which will not abide the yoke.
- Titus 1:7 The second admonition, what faults pastors (whom he comprehended afore under the word Elders) ought to be void of, and what virtues they ought to have.
- Titus 1:7 Whom the Lord hath appointed steward of his gifts.
- Titus 1:7 Not hard conditioned, and evil to please.
- Titus 1:8 Circumspect, of a sound judgment, and of a singular example of moderation.
- Titus 1:9 The third admonition: The Pastor must hold fast that doctrine, which the Apostles delivered, and pertaineth to salvation, leaving all curious and vain matters.
- Titus 1:9 The fourth admonition: To apply the knowledge of true doctrine unto use, which consisteth in two things, to wit, in governing them which show themselves apt to learn, and confuting the obstinate.
- Titus 1:10 An applying of the general proposition to a particular: The Cretans above all others need sharp reprehensions: both because their minds are naturally given to lies and slothfulness, and also because of certain covetous Jews, which under a color of godliness joined partly certain vain traditions, and partly old ceremonies with the Gospel.
- Titus 1:10 Of the Jews, or rather of those Jews, which went about to join Christ and the Law together.
- Titus 1:12 Epimenides, who was counted a Prophet amongst them. Look upon Laertius and Cicero in his first book of Divination.
- Titus 1:13 Roughly and plainly, and go not about the bush with them.
- Titus 1:15 He showeth in few words, that purity consisteth not in any external worship, and that that is according to the old Law, (as in difference of meats, and washing, and other such things which are abolished) but in the mind and conscience: and whosoever teach otherwise, know not what is true religion indeed, and also are nothing less than that they would seem to be.
- Titus 1:15 If our minds and conscience be unclean, what cleanness is there in us before regeneration?