Titus 1

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Titus 1

In this chapter we have, I. The preface or introduction to the epistle, showing from and to whom it was written, with the apostle?s salutation and prayer for Titus, wishing all blessings to him, Titus 1:1-4. II. Entrance into the matter, by signifying the end of Titus?s being left at Crete, Titus 1:5. III. And how the same should be pursued in reference both to good and bad ministers, Titus 1:6-16. read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Titus 1

THIS Epistle of Paul to Titus is much of the same nature with those to Timothy; both were converts of Paul, and his companions in labours and sufferings; both were in the office of evangelists, whose work was to water the churches planted by the apostles, and to set in order the things that were wanting in them: they were vice-apostles, as it were, working the work of the Lord, as they did, and mostly under their direction, though not despotic and arbitrary, but with the concurring... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Titus 1:1-4

Here is the preface to the epistle, showing, I. The writer. Paul, a Gentile name taken by the apostle of the Gentiles, Acts 13:9, 46, 47. Ministers will accommodate even smaller matters, so that they may be any furthering of acceptance in their work. When the Jews rejected the gospel, and the Gentiles received it, we read no more of this apostle by his Jewish name Saul, but by his Roman one, Paul. A servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ. Here he is described by his relation and... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Titus 1:5

Here is the end expressed, I. More generally: For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldst set in order the things that are wanting. This was the business of evangelists (in which office Titus was), to water where the apostles had planted (1 Cor. 3:6), furthering and finishing what they had begun; so much epidiorthoun imports, to order after another. Titus was to go on in settling what the apostle himself had not time for, in his short stay there. Observe, 1. The apostle's great... read more

Matthew Henry

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 1:1-4

1:1-4 This is a letter from Paul, the slave of God and the envoy of Jesus Christ, whose task it is to awaken faith in God's chosen ones, and to equip them with a fuller knowledge of that truth, which enables a man to live a really religious life, and whose whole work is founded on the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began. In his own good time God set forth his message plain for all to see in the proclamation with which I have been entrusted by the royal... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Titus 1:1-4

Further, in this passage we can see the essence of an apostle's gospel and the central things in his task. (i) The whole message of the apostle is founded on the hope of eternal life. Again and again the phrase eternal life recurs in the pages of the New Testament. The word for eternal is aionios ( Greek #166 ); and properly the only one person in the whole universe to whom that word may correctly be applied is God. The Christian offer is nothing less than the offer of a share in the... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Titus 1:1-4

This passage tells us of God's purpose and of his way of working that purpose out. (i) God's purpose for man was always one of salvation. His promise of eternal life was there before the world began. It is important to note that here Paul applies the word Saviour both to God and to Jesus. We sometimes hear the gospel presented in a way that seems to draw a distinction between a gentle, loving, and gracious Jesus, and a hard, stern, and severe God. Sometimes it sounds as if Jesus had done... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Titus 1:1-4

We do not know a great deal about Titus, to whom this letter was written, but from the scattered references to him, there emerges a picture of a man who was one of Paul's most trusted and most valuable helpers. Paul calls him "my true son," so it is most likely that he himself converted him, perhaps at Iconium. Titus was the companion for an awkward and a difficult time. When Paul paid his visit to Jerusalem, to a Church which suspected him and was prepared to mistrust and dislike him, it... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Titus 1:5-7

1:5-7a The reason why I left you in Crete was that any deficiencies in the organization of the Church should be rectified, and that you might appoint elders in each city as I instructed you. An elder is a man whose conduct must be beyond reproach, the husband of one wife, with children who are also believers, who cannot be accused of profligacy, and who are not undisciplined. For he who oversees the Church of God must be beyond reproach, as befits a steward of God. We have already studied... read more

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