Titus 1:7-9

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Titus 1:7

Verse 7 7.For a bishop ought to be blameless, as a governor of the house of God He again repeats, that they who aspire to the office of a bishop ought to retain an unspotted reputation; and he confirms it by this argument, that, because the Church is the house of God, every person who is appointed to govern it — is constituted, as it were, governor of the house of God. Now, he would be ill spoken of among men, who should take a scandalous and infamous person, and make him his steward; and... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Titus 1:8

Verse 8 8.But hospitable, devoted to kindness Hence it is evident how destructive is that plague which tears the Church by quarrels. With this vice he contrasts, first, docility, and next, gentleness and modesty towards all; for a bishop will never teach well, who is not also ready to learn. Augustine praises highly a saying of Cyprian: “Let him be as patient to learn as skillful to teach.” Besides, bishops often need advice and warnings. If they refuse to be admonished, if they reject good... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Titus 1:9

Verse 9 9.Holding fast the faithful word This is the chief gift in a bishop, who is elected principally for the sake of teaching; for the Church cannot be governed in any other way than by the word. “The faithful word” is the appellation which he gives to that doctrine which is pure, and which has proceeded from the mouth of God. He wishes that a bishop should hold it fast, so as not only to be well instructed in it, but to be constant in maintaining it. There are some fickle persons who easily... 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 1:5-9

Church order. "For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting," etc. Titus was now at Crete. "Crete, over whose Christian population Titus had been placed by Paul, was a well-known, large, and populous island in the Mediterranean. It lies geographically further south than any of the European islands, and, roughly speaking, almost at an equal distance from each of the three Old World continents, Europe, Asia, Africa. We identify it... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Titus 1:6-7

The character of bishops—their negative qualifications. The apostle first mentions their qualifications in a moral point of view before he speaks of their duties as teachers. I. BLAMELESSNESS . The minister must be one against whom no charge can be brought. His name must be spotless ( 1 Corinthians 1:8 ; Colossians 1:22 ). The Church must be able to respect him. 1. Because he must be an example to the believers. 2. Because he could not otherwise consistently check or... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Titus 1:7

The for a, A.V.: God ' s steward for the steward of God, A.V.; no brawler for not given to wine, A.V.; greedy of for given to, A.V. Blameless (see Titus 1:6 ). God's steward ( οἰκονόμον ); comp. 1 Corinthians 4:1 , 1 Corinthians 4:2 ; 1 Peter 4:10 . (For the office of the steward, see Luke 12:42 , Luke 12:43 .) Self-willed ( αὐθάδη ); elsewhere in the New Testament only in 2 Peter 2:10 ; in the LXX . Genesis 49:3 , Genesis 49:9 and ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Titus 1:7-9

The overseers. "For a bishop," etc. Here we have the moral qualification necessary for an overseer or bishop of the Churches. These bishops were to be an order by themselves, not, as Baxter would have them," Primus inter pares," or "first among equals." Each overseer who was naturally placed in a leading city ought, from his prominence as overseer of the district, to be a ministerial example to his brethren. The practical counsels here given apply equally to all aspects of the "overseer,"... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Titus 1:8

Given to for a lover of, A.V.; good for good men, A.V.; sober-minded for sober, A.V. Given to hospitality ( φιλόξενον ); 1 Timothy 3:2 , note. A lover of good ( φιλάγαθον ) see 2 Timothy 3:3 , note on ἀφιλάγαθον . Only here in the New Testament, and only once in the LXX ., Wis. 7:22, where it seems to mean "a lover of that which is good," and where the long string of adjectives is very similar to that here; found occasionally in classical Greek. Sober-minded ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Titus 1:8

The bishop's positive qualifications. I. BUT A LOVER OF HOSPITALITY . 1. This trait was specially suitable to a time when Christians, travelling from one place to another, were in the habit of receiving kindly entertainment from brethren. 2. This habit may bring blessing to our houses. Some have thereby "entertained angels unawares" ( Hebrews 13:2 ). 3. It recommends the gospel to find its ministers ready at all times to feed the hungry, opening heart and... read more

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