titus-3:8-9

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Titus 3:1-8

Here is the fourth thing in the matter of the epistle. The apostle had directed Titus in reference to the particular and special duties of several sorts of persons; now he bids him exhort to what concerned them more in common, namely, to quietness and submission to rulers, and readiness to do good, and to equitable and gentle behaviour towards all men?things comely and ornamental of religion; he must therefore put them in mind of such things. Ministers are people's remembrancers of their duty.... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Titus 3:9-15

Here is the fifth and last thing in the matter of the epistle: what Titus should avoid in teaching; how he should deal with a heretic; with some other directions. Observe, I. That the apostle's meaning might be more clear and full, and especially fitted to the time and state of things in Crete, and the many judaizers among them, he tells Titus what, in teaching, he should shun, Titus 3:9. There are needful questions to be discussed and cleared, such as make for improvement in useful knowledge;... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Titus 3:8-11

3:8-11 This is a saying which we are bound to believe--and I want you to keep on affirming these things--that those who have put their faith in God must think and plan bow to practise fine deeds. These are fine things and useful to men. But have nothing to do with foolish speculations and genealogies and contentious and legalistic battles, for they are no good to anyone and serve no useful purpose. Avoid a contentious and opinionative man, after giving him a first and a second warning, for... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Titus 3:8

This is a faithful saying ,.... Meaning the whole of what is before expressed, concerning the state and condition of God's elect by nature; the appearance of the love and kindness of God to them in the effectual calling; the salvation of them, according to the mercy of God, and not by works of righteousness; regeneration, and renovation by the Spirit of God, in which such an abundance of grace is communicated; and justification by the free grace of God, as God's way of salvation; and by... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Titus 3:9

But avoid foolish questions ,.... Such as were started in the schools of the Jews; see 2 Timothy 2:23 and genealogies ; of their elders, Rabbins, and doctors, by whom their traditions are handed down from one to another, in fixing which they greatly laboured; see 1 Timothy 1:4 and contentions and strivings about the law; the rites and ceremonies of it, and about the sense of it, and its various precepts, as litigated in the schools of Hillell and Shammai, the one giving it one way,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Titus 3:8

This is a faithful saying - Πιστος ὁ λογος· This is the true doctrine; the doctrine that cannot fail. And these things I will - Και περι τουτων βουλομαι σε διαβεβαιουσθαι· And I will, or desire, thee to maintain earnestly what concerns these points. The things to which the apostle refers are those of which he had just been writing, and may be thus summed up: - The ruined state of man, both in soul and body. The infinite goodness of God which devised his salvation. The... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Titus 3:9

Avoid foolish questions, and genealogies - In these the Jews particularly delighted; they abounded in the most frivolous questions; and, as they had little piety themselves, they were solicitous to show that they had descended from godly ancestors. Of their frivolous questions, and the answers given to them by the wisest and most reputable of their rabbins, the following is a specimen: - Rabbi Hillel was asked: Why have the Babylonians round heads? To which he answered: This is a... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Titus 3:8

Verse 8 8A faithful saying He employs this mode of expression, when he wishes to make a solemn assertion as we have seen in both of the Epistles to Timothy. (1 Timothy 1:15; 2 Timothy 2:11.) And therefore he immediately adds: — I wish thee to affirm these things (263) Διαβεβαιοῦσθαι under a passive termination, has an active signification, and means “to affirm anything strongly.” Titus is therefore enjoined to disregard other matters, and to teach those which are certain and undoubted — to... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Titus 3:9

Verse 9 9But avoid foolish questions There is no necessity for debating long about the exposition of this passage. He contrasts “questions” with sound and certain doctrine. Although it is necessary to seek, in order to find, yet there is a limit to seeking, that you may understand what is useful to be known, and, next, that you may adhere firmly to the truth, when it has been known. Those who inquire curiously into everything, and are never at rest, may be truly called Questionarians. In short,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Titus 3:7-8

Justification; faith; works. "That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs," etc. There are three subjects in these verses of vital interest to man which require to be brought out into prominence and impressed with indelible force. I. THE MORAL RECTIFICATION OF THE SOUL . "Being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life." This means, I presume, not that being pronounced right, but that being made right. Forensic... read more