Titus 3:2

‘To speak evil of no man, not to be contentious, to be gentle, showing all meekness toward all men.’

Furthermore just as the bondslave must not speak against, or contrary to, his master, so must the Cretan Christians not speak evil of anyone. The general principle applies to all (compare James 3:1-12). Nor must they be unnecessarily contentious. There would, of course, have been times when they would have had to stand up for a matter of principle or conscience, but it should only be in the interests of all, not just of their own interests. They should rather be gentle and kind. This word carried the meaning of someone who always observed the true spirit of the law. They were to be concerned for what was innately just. And they were to ‘show meekness’ towards all. That is theymust be self-controlled and not always looking to their own interests. Compare the use of the same words in 1 Timothy 3:3 of elders. They were therefore to show consideration, thoughtfulness and humility towards all men.

u> For Redeemed Man Is A Changed Man Because Of What God Has Wrought In Him And Is Therefore To Live A Changed Life As Paul And Titus Have Themselves Experienced (Titus 3:3-10).

As this short letter comes to its conclusion Paul now draws attention to what God’s salvation means for all who are now Christians. All, without exception, had been utterly sinful in various different ways, but God our Saviour had stepped in His great kindness and love (compare Ephesians 2:6) and in accordance with His mercy has saved us, giving us new life and the renewal of the Holy Spirit promised in the Prophets, which has been poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Saviour. And the result is that we have been accounted righteous through His unmerited favour, and made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. And then he stresses that for all who are involved this must mean being careful to maintain good works, while avoiding all that is foolish and contentious, for these last belong to the old life, so that we should rid ourselves of them.

Analysis.

a For we also once were foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving many kinds of desires and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another (Titus 3:3).

b But when the kindness of God our Saviour, and His love toward man, appeared (Titus 3:4).

c Not by works done in righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5).

d Which He poured out on us richly, through Jesus Christ our Saviour (Titus 3:6).

c That, being justified by His grace, we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life (Titus 3:7).

b Faithful is the saying, and concerning these things I desire that you affirm confidently, to the end that they who have believed God may be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men (Titus 3:8).

a But shun foolish questionings, and genealogies, and strifes, and fightings about law, for they are unprofitable and vain. A factious man (promoter of dissension) after a first and second admonition refuse, knowing that such a one is perverted, and sins, being self-condemned (Titus 3:9-11).

Note that in ‘a’ we were once foolish and deceived, hateful and hating one another, and in the parallel he is to shun what is foolish and deceitful, and especially promoters of dissension and hatred. In ‘b’ God’s kindness and love towards us has appeared, and in the parallel our kindness and love must be shown towards others. In ‘c’ we have not been saved by works of righteousness, but because of His mercy, which has resulted in new life and the renewal of the Holy Spirit, while in the parallel we have been justified by His unmerited favour so that we might be made heirs of eternal life. Centrally in ‘d’ this has all been poured on us through Jesus Christ our Saviour (Matthew 3:11).