Titus 1:11

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Titus 1:6-16

The apostle here gives Titus directions about ordination, showing whom he should ordain, and whom not. I. Of those whom he should ordain. He points out their qualifications and virtues; such as respect their life and manners, and such as relate to their doctrine: the former in the Titus 1:6, 7, 8, and the latter in the Titus 1:9. 1. Their qualifications respecting their life and manners are, (1.) More general: If any be blameless; not absolutely without fault, so none are, for there is none... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Titus 1:10-11

1:10-11 For there are many who are undisciplined, empty talkers, deceivers. Those of the circumcision are especially so. They must be muzzled. They are the kind of people who upset whole households, by teaching things which should not be taught in order to acquire a shameful gain. Here we have a picture of the false teachers who were troubling Crete. The worst were apparently Jews. They tried to persuade the Cretan converts of two things. They tried to persuade them that the simple story... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Titus 1:11

Whose mouths must be stopped ,.... Or they be silenced, by reasons and arguments fetched out of the word of God; as were the Sadducees and Pharisees by Christ, so that they durst ask him no more questions; and as the Jews at Damascus were by Saul, who confounded them, proving in the clearest and strongest manner, that Jesus was the very Christ: who subvert whole houses ; into which they creep; that is, whole families, whose principles they corrupt, whose faith they overthrow, and carry... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Titus 1:11

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 endeavoring 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. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Titus 1:11

Verse 11 11Whose mouth must be stopped A good pastor ought therefore to be on the watch, so as not to give silent permission to wicked and dangerous doctrines to make gradual progress, or to allow wicked men an opportunity of spreading them. But it may be asked, “How is it possible for a bishop to constrain obstinate and self-willed men to be silent? For such persons, even though they are vanquished in argument, still do not hold their peace; and it frequently happens that, the more manifestly... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Titus 1:1-16

The ministry of character. The pastoral Epistles, and this chapter in particular, bring prominently before us the Christian ministry as of commanding importance in the scheme of Christianity. Christianity, the sum and substance of Christian doctrine, was to be diffused among all nations; and the great instrument for maintaining it in efficiency and power was to be the ministry. But in describing the ministerial qualifications the apostle lays so much stress upon the personal character of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Titus 1:10-13

The character of the adversaries at Crete. They were within the communion of the Christian Church. It was, therefore, all the more necessary that the ministers should be holy, laborious, and uncorrupt. I. THE MORAL AND INTELLECTUAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THESE ADVERSARIES . "For there are many unruly men, vain talkers and deceivers, especially they of the circumcision." 1. They were refractory. Though standing in Church relationships, they refused all obedience, and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Titus 1:10-14

The sins of the sect and the sins of the tribe. "For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision," etc. In the preceding verses Paul stated one purpose for which he left Titus in Crete, viz. to set in order "the things that are wanting," and to ordain elders in every city. He recognized at once, not only the importance of order in the new community, but also the importance of appointing men who, intellectually and morally, were qualified... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Titus 1:11

Men who overthrow for who subvert, A.V. Whose mouths must be stopped ( οὒς δεῖ ἐπιστομίζειν ); here only in the New Testament, not found in the LXX ., but common in classical Greek. "To curb" (comp. Psalms 32:9 ; James 3:2 , James 3:3 ). The meaning is nearly the same as that of χαλιναγωγέω in James 1:26 ; some, however, assign to it the sense of "to muzzle" (Olshausen, etc.) or "stop the mouth," which Bishop Ellicott thinks is "perhaps the most common" and "the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Titus 1:11

Whose mouths must be stopped - The word here rendered stopped - ἐπιστομιζειν epistomizein - occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. It means, properly, to check, or curb, as with a bridle; to restrain, or bridle in; and then, to put to silence. It is, of course, implied here that this was to be done in a proper way, and in accordance with the spirit of the gospel. The apostle gives Timothy no civil power to do it, nor does he direct him to call in the aid of the civil arm. All the agency... read more

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