Titus 1

See the introductory notes at 1 Timothy.

     1:1-4.  Paul’s greeting to Titus.  Titus was a Greek (Gal.2:3), and v.4 implies he was one of Paul’s converts.  Paul describes his commission for the faith of God’s elect, a faith based on a knowledge of the truth, a truth according to godliness (i.e., according to an active love and fear of God).  Our hope of eternal life (2) is based on God’s promise, which the God who cannot lie gave to himself “lit., before times eternal” (margin).  This is the eternal covenant between the Father and the Son to save a particular people (see 2 Tim.1:9; Eph.1:3-6, and notes there).  When the proper time came, God’s promised salvation came to pass (was manifested); God thus has kept his word, and God entrusted the gospel to Paul and commanded him to proclaim it (3).

     1:5.  Part of Titus’s duties in Crete was to appoint local elders (see note at Acts 14:23).  Note that this is the same office as overseer (bishop) in v.5.

     1:6-9.  An elder is to be carefully chosen so as not to bring any disrepute upon the church either within the church or before the watching world.  Not accused of dissipation or rebellion (6) refers to the children.  The elder’s main purpose is, by life example and word, to set forth and defend the sound doctrine of the faith (9).  See 1 Tim.3:1-7 and notes.

     1:10-16.  Most of the rebellion against the truth was coming from Jews (the circumcision, 10; cf. 14).  They must be refuted and put to silence, for their deception is upsetting whole families, which they are doing for sordid gain (11).  This is easy for them to do because of the sorry nature of Cretan culture and character (12; the quote is from Epimenides, c.600 BC.  See the notes at Acts 17:16-34).

     1:15.  This verse states a great truth.  The pure of heart can use all the good things that God has created properly and with a thankful heart.  But where the mind and conscience are defiled, men manage to find evil even in those things which are clearly good, as when the Pharisees said that Jesus cast out demons by the ruler of demons (Mt.9:34; see also Mark 7:1-23, esp.v.15).

     1:16.  By their fruits you shall know them.