PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Pulpit Commentary — Titus
Arthur Charles Hervey [1808-1894] · 53,062 words · 56 reading sections
The Pulpit Commentary — Titus — Section 1
THE PULPIT COMMENT ARY EDITED BY THE VERY REV. H. D. M. SPENCE, D.D. DEAN OF GLOUCESTER AND BY THE REV. JOSEPH S. EXELL, M.A. TITUS <!Etposition anti ~omilttirs BY THE RIGHT HON. AND RIGHT REV. LORD A. C. HERVEY, D.D. LORD DISHOP OF BATH .cl.~D WELLS ~omilits bl! W11tious xiutbors REV. PROF. T. CROSKERY, D.…
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throngh t.hr ages, and wRs only dimly pletely. Thero were still things " want• expr,•s•e<l in the promi•r• gi,·en from timfl ing" ('Td ,\,/..-ovTa), e.e it follows. Thie to time (I Prt. i 10-12), was now "made mention of Crete ii e.n important chrono- manifest," and proclaimed openly in that logi<'&I mark. The order…
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Having ohlldren that believe (aoe 1 Tim. iii. e:xaotly the ea.me meaning In Arilltotle, viz. i). Mark the importance given to the " ma.ater of one's Belf," having the a.ppetitee "elder'H" family as well 1111 to hie pereonal under control. oharo.ater. Not aooused (µ+J iv 1<a'TTJ'Yop(r, Ver. 9.-Hol.ding to for lwlding…
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a.lao Buther. It often mean■ irimply "to only in 2 Oor. xiii. 10 (see also Rom. xi. Bilenoe" (see Stephan, • Th-ur.'), and i■ 22). That they may be sound (see oh. ii. 2). applied to wind inetrumente. Overthrow The faithful pastor must use severity when (ua..-pttoutr,); ae 2 Tim. ii. 18, whioh shows it is neooesary to t…
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HOMILETICS. Vere. 1-16.-The mini~try of character. The pastoral Epistles, an<l this chapter in particular, bring prominently before us the Christian ministry as uf commanding importance in the scheme, of Christianity. Christianity, the sum and substance ot Christian doctrine, was to be diffused among all nations; and …
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the type of Old Testament &ervice, Moses and the prophets being pre-eminently cmlled the "servants of God;" (3) his ministry in the service of a royal Master (Matt. xviii. 23-.'32), who makes him a member of his household, a pillt,r of his temple, a sharer of his throne (Rev. iii. :zl). 2. He i,s an apostle of Jesus…
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(1) It is not to be supposed that it waa made only by the Apostle Paul, for it was made by the other apostles; and ages before their day it we.~ manifested, with more or less clearness, under the Old Testament dispeusation. (2) Bnt the Apostle Paul was one of those specially entrusted with the Word, and specially with …
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heathenism had been broken in one of its quasi-strongholds, the Christiane had not utterly escaped contamination. The state of matt.en in this interesting island proves (1) that there may be a true Church where there is no regular ministry. Thus there is no foundation for the theory that the clergy are the Church, or e…
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BecautJe as "a steward of God" he has fll ave responaihuitiu, both t,o Go<l and to the flock. He must be both wise and faithful in relation to the "house of God, . . . the Church of the living God" (1 Tim. iii. 15), which is entrusted to his keeping. II. THE HUSBAND OJ' IJNE WIFE. llis family relationships are of mu…
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Ver. 9.-The bishop's qualification as to doctrine. The apostle reserves to the last place the most impt1r1ant of all the qualifications need1·d by elders. L THE DUTY OF ADHERINO TO THE TRUTH. "H11ldi11g fast the faithful Word which is according to the teaching." 1. The doctrine of the gospel is•• thefaithfm word:" (…
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(1) 'kindly (Ps. cxli. 5); (2) with love t.o those who administer It (Prov. ix. 8; uiv. 25); (3) they att.end to rebnke (Prov. xv. 6). II. THE DESIGN OF THE REBUKE, "That they may be sound in the faith." It was: l. That they might be r«,0-uered from their errors, and receive sound doctrine, and uae sou11d spe,-ch th…
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practical atheists. 2. Hypocritu ofU/11, prof1JBs grml knowkdge of God. 3. Even in apostolic timl!B the communion of tlUJ <Jhwrch was considerably miud. There is no trace of a pure Church anywhere on earth. The Church in Crete had unbelievers in its visible membership. ll. THEIR DENIAL OF GOD TOOK A MOST PRACTICAL SHA…
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Ver. 2.-The Divine vera,ci,ty. "God, who cannot lie." Man can lie. Man does be. Tiis word is not always his bond. He indulges in exaggeration. He tells half- truths, which are ever tbe worst of lies. I. SoME THINGS GoD CANNOT DO. He who gave the moral Law embodies in himself that Law. He cannot do that which is untrue…
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forgivene1111, and the peace that oomes ihrough the Cl'OIIII. The power of the atonement to crucify selfishness, and to lead men to live as not their own. The consciousness of human impotence, and of the might of the Holy Spirit in the inner man. All thestt are inward experiences of life, resulting from a common fai…
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Ver. 15.- Pure-heartedness. "Unto the pure all things are pure." The gospel centres morality as well as religion in the heart. Men of corrupt tastes cannot have eorrect morals, because a man may sin against himself as well as against society An impure heart makes an impure world of its own within; and that, if it hurts…
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tbey have the goepel eent to them, and not others? Ask why some ehould inherit health, otheI'I! disease; eorne wealth, oth~rs poverty; some intellectual powers of a high order, others minds but little removed from brute intelligence. "AJI these worlieth the eeltsnme Spirit, devising to every man severally as he will…
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There are three thoughts here ~uggested concerning the revelation of this promi10 of eternal life. 1. It was manife,ted at a proper time. "In doe times [in his own seasonsl mauifested his Word." God has a season for everything, everything in the material and the moral. Nothing but sin appears in his universe that does …
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were want of Ohurch officie.ls, le.ck of Church government, want of cohesion between the Churches of the island; in a word, there was plenty of Christie.n life, but no Christian organize.t.ion BB yet in Crete. It was rather a number of Christian brotherhoods than one." "Set in order." God is the God of order, as wit…
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spirit and principles of the new religion, They would not yield to the masterhood of Christ, the Author and Substance of the gospel; they were self-willed. They would have o. sect of their own. 2. 0stentatioo. "Vo.in talkers." Vo.in, not merely in the sense of proud, but in the sense of emptiness. In truth, a.ea rule, …
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Vers. 15, 16.-The supreme importance of moral character. "Untv the pure all things a:e pure: but unto them that are deiled and unbelieving is nothing pure," etc. We notice, at the outset, two facts suggested by the pa.ssage. 1. That there is an essential diiferenre in the moral characters of men. There are some "pur…
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well as the thinking part of man, ae it hae been well defined the human spirit (pnewna) in one of its aspects, not simply qU4lenua cogitat, et intelligit, but a!BO quater,us vu.lt. Defilement of this mind (now) means that the thoughts, wishes, purposes, activities, are all stained and debaeed. The eecond of these, the …
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EXPOSITION. CHAPTER Il. Tpnr'li• v,avCcr.,; and iu xi. 20, where it is coupled with ,.1,:,., 1 "age," or" generation"); Ver. 1.-Bejit for beoome, A.V.; the sound it is not unoommon in cle.ssice.l Greek. The for eound, A.V. But spea.k thou, etc. The word means "becoming e. holy person, place, apostle now brings out…
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ohlldren ( t/>11'1.,n-/,r,,011s); here only In the -r(n,o, fa followed by a genitive of the thing. New Testament, not found in the LXX. In 1 Tim. iv. 12 the genitive ie of the except in 4 Ma.cc. xv. 4, bot not nncommon peraon to whom the example ie given, in in cle.eeioo.l Greek. word, in conversation, etc., and in 1 P…
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IMffl -U, A.V.; gaimnying for n'IUtllerirtg whioh necessitatee oonatrulng no-1• A"6p"• a,gnin, A V. Servants; i.e. suit1es (806;\oui), ,ro,s with o-a,.,.,fp,or, "aaving to all men" ~be rorrel11,tive to which ie 8«nr&.,.aar, maeters, "bringing aalve.tion t.o all men." With the who hnd 11,bsolute powe~ ovrr their slav…
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for the gloriom appearmg of the great God, sentences, where K6pw• is used as our Lord'■ 11fldour8at1iour, A.V. Looking for(,rpauB,x6- title, an exactly similar construction to that l'•va1); the word commonly applied to wo.it- in the text is employed, as 2 These. i. 12; ing for the kingdom of God (Mark xv. 43; 2 Pet. i.…
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Ver. H.-.A peopk for his OlMI ~ - own poBBeeeion (>,.abv ..-,p,otlt1'1ov); only here tnr a peculiar peopk, A.V. Who gave him- in the New Testament, but frequent in the seU for us. The reeemhlimoo in thought LXX., coupled, as here, with >,.aos (Exod. Hild diction to l Tim. ii. 3 ~ hM been xix. 5; Deut. vii. 6..; xiv.…
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third heaven, hearing unspeakable words, saturated with gifts of the Holy Ghost, he was able to lead men's souls ink> depths and heights of unseen things as no other tl.'acher was. Hi~ eloquent tongue, pouring forth the riches of knowledge of an enlightened heart, could speak of God's love to man, of hie eternal purp…
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Ver. 2.-The duties of aged men. The apostle begins with the most Important class in the Church-those who are the lea<lers of the young. Their characteristic deport- ment is to be fourfol<l. 1. SOBRIETY. 1. This habit of mind ia contrasted with the tho'll,lfhtlessness and ltivity of youth. 2. It is combined with (1) …
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liberty to BUch a habit. (3) We see bow the gospel purifies the habits and usages of social life. 4. Teacher, of good things. (1) The apostle thus prescribes the right use of the tongue to those who were to be "no slanderers." (2) Their teaching wail not to be in public addresses, which were forbidden (1 Tim. ii. 12…
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Vere. 7, 8.-Tit~ himself a patU1'ft of good works. As a faithful minister of God he wu to mirror forth in his life and teaching the doctrines of the gospel. ' I. T&E lllINTSTER OUGHT TO BE A PATTERN OF GOOD WORKS. 1. Hia teaching is usele• 11nless it ~ enj<Yr~ by the_~ of a holy example. There must be a harmony be~…
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Vere. 11-13.-The grace of God the true ground of all samtification. Th1, apostle now sete forth the real foundation on which thie exhortation to practical dnty on the part of eervante, and, inueed, of people of every age and sex, is baeed. I. THE GRACE OJ" Goo. "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation t.o all men…
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conduct redounding to the injury of the gospel. (3) It secures godliness. "Godly•" t.hat is, with God, in God, for God. This godly life is a life dedicated t.o God and spe~t in his fear. III. THE SPHERE IN WHICH THIS GRACE or Goo PROIIU0E8 IT8 F.XTENBIVE AND INTENSIVE EFFECTS. "In this present world." 1. True piety…
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Ver. 2.-.Aged Ohristian men. "That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in cl,arity, in patience." There are appropriate fruits for every time or life, and the Christian man bringeth forth fruit io his season. A frivolous, fantastical age is a distasteful spectacle. Old age should be ch~erful; but f…
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Vere. 9, 10.-Oounsels to ,lave,. Thie Epistle w&B circulated in Asia Minor, where there were some eighty thousand slaves. "Exhort slaves, or bond-servantH," etc. The gospel cured slavery, as it cured polygamy, by a slow and steady development of the doctrine and spirit of the crosH-that we are all one in Christ Jesus, …
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Ver. 14.-The givi'Tlg of the se/,f This is the most beautiful of the sentences in thia Epistle. Christ came not merely to teach, or to reveal the fatherhood of God, but to give himself. I. HE DID THIS IN HIS LIFE. All his exquisite sensibilities were bruised in a world of selfishness and sin. The sorrows and griefs of…
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Vere. 1-10.-Genuine morality. "But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine," etc. Paul, having given Titus directions as to the organization of a Christian Church in Crete, and charged him to conten,l against those who, in the name of Christianity, propagated doctrines at variance both with the truths and the…
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a love wtened on the supremely lovable; a healthy patience, a patience that ■ball bear up with fortitude and magnanimity under all the trials of life. 11 As becometh holiness "-reverent in demeanour. Let the whole life he full of that "holiness without which no man can Ill! the Lord." "Not false accusers "-not sland…
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tione.l rules of society, nor 111 be enn e. moral man who merely fulfils the letter of the Divine commands. "All these commandments he.ve I kept from my youth up.... Yet one thing thou le.ckest," etc. He only is the true me.n whose governin(7 sympathies flow in the channels of eterne.l right, and whose activities ar…
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ship of God. This is the aim and the work of the "grace of God." Without this \!rRCe there woulrl be no salvation. 3. It is tM love of God revealed to all. "Hnth appeared to all men." The gospel is not for a tribe or a clas8, but for man as man, Like the co11c1\\'e f,..1\l'ens, it embraces the wide world; it is for …
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EXP08ITION. llileelmeu (-rpllM.,,.,.11); analher Pauline word OHAPTER nL (1 Cor. iv. 21; 2 Cor. I. l; Ge.L v. 23, etc.; Ver. 1.-In ,ubjectioo for mbject, A.V.; 1 Tim. vi. 11 ; 2 Tim. ii. 25). The precept ru!en for prineipalities, A. V.; to autluwitie, is given its widest extension by the double for and power,, A. V.…
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(xp77<M"&n,s): used by St. Paul only in the the le.ver of baptism le called "the )aver of New Testament, and by him frequently in regeneration," bemuse it is the ordained the senee of" kindness," whether of God (ae means by or through whioh regeneration ia Rom. ii. 4 ; lri. 22; Eph. ii. 7) or of man obtained. And re…
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Holy Spirit from the Father, and to have believing God's promise that is me0.nt). Anrl poured it forth upon the Ohurch. 110 here, the belie'fling refers to the promis,,s Ver. 7,-Might for ehould, A.V. Being implied in the preceding reference tn the Justified by his gre.oe; showing very clearly hope e.nd the inherita'…
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20; 2 Pel ii. I), or tli9 doctrines taught by whither he sent Tychicna to tRlce Timothy'■ a soot. The here& is one who fo1'8Bkes the ple.<'e (2 Tim. iv. 11, 12). He woulcl not truth held by the Church, e.nd ch008es some le11ve the presbyters in either pince without doctrine of hi• own devising (afp«m). The the dir,_…
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HOMILETICS. Vera. 1-7.-Mercy liegetting mercy. The practical lessons or tbe gospel were not exha11sted in the preceding chapter, nor the motives which urge believers to godliness. Th<' call to holiness in the last chapter was based upon the holy character of God's saving grace and the purpose of Christ's redeeming lov…
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HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Ver. 1.-Political duties. The apostle now turns to the duties which Christians owe to the pagan world around them. L THE !o'ECESSITY OF THE INJUNCTION TO POLITICAL SUBMISSION. "Put them in mind." The words imply that the duty was already known, but needed to be recalled to Cretan memory. …
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Ver. 3.-.An humiliating retrospect. The apostle adds, as a reason for the duties first specified, that "we also," including himself with the Gentile Christians, were once in a similar condition to the heathen, and had received mercy. It is a dark picture of men in their natural state, proceeding from a description of t…
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manifest,atwn. The expression implies a definite point of time. It was" the fulness of the time" (Gal. iv. 4). (1) It Willi tho period fixed in the Divine purpose from eternity. (2) lt was the time of the probation of the Jews, ending in the most awful series of judgments that ever befell a people. (3) It was a time…
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representing the reality and sincerity of our profession, was separable from the putting away of the filth of the flesh. (./) The expression, "baptism for the remission of sins," does not imply that baptism is the cause of their remi.•sion, for in all the cases referred to the remission bad already taken place before b…
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Ver. 9.-.A warning against frivolo1llJ and di.~putative teaching. This is in contrast to the sound teaching just referred to. "But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contention~, and strivings about the Law; for they are unprofitable and vain." l. THE THINGS WHICH ARE TO BE PLACED OUTSIDE THE SPHERE OF MIN…
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Ver. 16.-Salutation and conclusion. "All that are with me ~a.lute thee. Greet them that love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen." I, MABK HOW THE EPISTLE, WHICH BEGAN Yi'ITH THE FAITH OF GoD'S ELECT, ENDS WITH GRACE AND LOVE. II. MARK THE CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS ESTABLISHED BY GRACE BETWEEN THE WIDELY ijQATTERE…
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goes to the root of the matter e.t once when he ee.ys, 'Put them in mind,' etc." We he.ve here duty in e. threefold relation-in relation to civil government, in relation t.o genera.I society, e.nd in relation to more.I self. Here is duty- I. IN RELATION TO OIV[L GOVERNMENT. .. Put them in mind to be subject [in subjec…
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before others, to parade them before the eyes of othel"B, argues a base and malignant nature. Should occasion require us to speak of them, it should be in the saddest tones of tenderness, iLnd even with compassionate indignation. 3. Courteousneas. "To be no brawlel"B [not. to be contentious), but gentle, showing all…
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II, THAT REDEMPTIVE MEBOY BAB BEEN VOUOHBAFED TO US, AND TBBBEJ'OBE WP: MAY DE SAVED. "According to his mercy he saved us." Observe: 1. The special work of this redemptive mercy. What is the work? (1) Cleansing. "The washing of regeneration," or the" )aver of regeneration," as some render it. Bin is represented as a mo…
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In him, _n~f in men•~ rep'.·esen_tati_ons ?f him. "He_ tha~ cometh to God musl helieve that he 1s. To ~lit'vo m _him 1mph_es :_ 1. T~ believe in w~t he is in himself. Tho ?nly absolut.e existence, withou~ begmnmg, without HUccess10u, without end, who ia m all and_ through all, the all-mighty, the all-wiae, the all-g…
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Vera. 9-16.-The worthless, the pernici(l1J,IJ, O,'Tld the desirable in aocial life. "But a.void foolish questions," etc. The te.ct brings under our attention three thingR. I. Tu& AVOIDANCE OF THE WORTHLESS IN SOCIAL LIFE. .. Avoid foolish question ■ o.nd geneo.logies." The "question~" and "genealogies" are referred to…
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PAUL TO TITu·s. CHAPTER L CHAPTER 11. rRBIIS PA.GIi: TBRHB P£~S The Min..stry of CharBOter .. . 5 PrBOtical Godliness tl ,e En,I of Spiritual Apostolic Address and Salutation 5 Doctrine 28 Titus's Commission in Crete 7 Special lnstruc.tions as to Titus·a own 'l'he CharBOter of Bishops - their Preaching 29 Negative Qu…
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Public domain historical Pulpit Commentary. Source page identifies the volume as Public Domain; text extracted from its historical PDF.
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Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.