Titus 1:9 NIV

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 1:8-9

1:8-9 Rather he must be hospitable, a lover of all good things and all good people, prudent, just, pious, self-controlled, with a strong grip on the truly reliable message which Christian teaching gave to him, that he may be well able to encourage the members of the Church with health-giving teaching, and to convict the opponents of the faith. The previous passage set out the things which the elder of the Church must not be; this one sets out what he must be. These necessary qualities... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Titus 1:9

Holding fast the faithful word ,.... The doctrine of the Gospel, so called because it is true, and to be believed; it is the word of truth, and truth itself, and contains nothing but truth; and because it never deceived any, that gave credit to its doctrines, and its promises; and because it is pure, unmixed, and unadulterated, and is the sincere milk of the word; and because in it is a glorious display of the faithfulness of God to his perfections, to his holiness and justice, to his law,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Titus 1:9

Holding fast the faithful word - Conscientiously retaining, and zealously maintaining, the true Christian doctrine, κατα την διδαχην , according to the instructions, or according to the institutions, form of sound doctrine, or confession of faith, which I have delivered to thee. That he may be able by sound doctrine - If the doctrine be not sound, vain is the profession of it, and vain its influence. It is good to be zealously affected in a good thing; but zeal for what is not of God... 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 1:7-9

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 1:9

Holding to for holding fast, A.V.; which is according to the teaching for as he hath been taught, A.V.; both to exhort in the sound doctrine for by sound doctrine, both to exhort, A.V.; convict for convince, A.V. Holding to ( ἀντεχόμενος ). Holding fast is a better and more forcible rendering than holding to. It answers to the Latin adherere, to cling to. The faithful word which is according to the teaching is awkwardly expressed. ἠ διδασή is "the Christian truth" as taught by... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Titus 1:9

The bishop's qualification as to doctrine. The apostle reserves to the last place the most important of all the qualifications needed by elders. I. THE DUTY OF ADHERING TO THE TRUTH . "Holding fast the faithful Word which is according to the teaching." 1. The doctrine of the gospel is " the faithful word :" 2. It is no mere subjective opinion of the preacher, but is based upon or in agreement with the teaching of the apostles. "Which is according to the... read more

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

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Titus 1:8-9

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Titus 1:9

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Titus 1:9

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

The Pulpit Commentary - Titus 1:1-16

The Pulpit Commentary - Titus 1:5-9

The Pulpit Commentary - Titus 1:7-9

The Pulpit Commentary - Titus 1:9

The Pulpit Commentary - Titus 1:9

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