Titus 3:12 - Exposition

Give diligence for be diligent, A.V.; there I have determined for I have determined there, A.V. When I shall send Artemas , etc. The action of St. Paul in sending Artemas or Tychicus to take the place of Titus in Crete is exactly the same as he pursued with regard to Ephesus, whither he sent Tychicus to take Timothy's place ( 2 Timothy 4:11 , 2 Timothy 4:12 ). He would not leave the presbyters in either place without the direction and superintendence of one having his delegated apostolic authority. This led to the final placing of a resident bishop in the Churches, such as we find in the second century. We may conclude that Artemas (otherwise unknown) was the person eventually sent to Crete, as Tychicus ( Colossians 4:7 ) we know went to Ephesus ( 2 Timothy 4:12 ). We have also an important note of time in this expression, showing clearly that this Epistle was written before the Second Epistle to Timothy (as it probably also was before 1 Timothy)—an inference abundantly corroborated by 2 Timothy 4:10 , by which it appears that Titus had then actually joined St. Paul, either at Nicopolis or elsewhere, and had started off again to Dalmatia. Give diligence ( σπούδασον ); 2 Timothy 2:15 , note; 2 Timothy 4:9 , 2 Timothy 4:21 . Nicopolis , in Epirus. The most obvious reason for St. Paul's wintering at Nicopolis is that it was near Apollonia, the harbor opposite Brindisium, which would be his way to Rome, and also well situated for the missionary work in Dalmatia, which we learn from 2 Timothy 4:10 was in hand. Nicopolis (the city of victory) was built by Augustus Caesar to commemorate the great naval victory at Actium over Antony. It is now a complete ruin, uninhabited except by a few shepherds, but with vast remains of broken columns, baths, theatres, etc.. To winter ( παραχειμάσαι ); Acts 27:12 ; Acts 28:11 ; 1 Corinthians 16:6 . (On the question whether the winter here referred to is the same winter as that mentioned in 2 Timothy 4:21 , see Introduction.)