tlie sliore of time ; liavinp; kept the faith he will soon reci'ive the crown of life, a reward whicli 'I'iniothy ami all others will also get if they are faithful and eagerly look forward to greet their Lord.
(c) The Apostle's lonely state and his recent de- liverance (4""--).
4""'^. Only Luke is with Paul. Some have failed him ; others have gone on missionary duty. He urges Timothy to hasten and bring IVIark to minister to him, also to bring his cloak and parch- ments from Troas.
yy 14-19 Timothy is to be on his guard against Alexander the coppersmith. In spite of his abandonment by men the Lord gave the Apostle a wonderful deliverance from deadly peril which has enabled him to complete his ministry, and now he has received confidence in his final salvation.
yy 19-22 Greetings to and from other friends.
(iii.) Titus. — l'"*. Greeting. — Paul addresses Titus, his son in the Christian faith. This gospel, in the service of which he is an apostle, is the irreversible truth of God revealed according to His promise in Christ Jesus, and brings hope of eternal life to those who hold fast to its truth in a life of godliness.
vv.^"'. The character of the men to be chosen by Titus for the eldership. — Titus was left behind in Crete, ' the island of an hundred cities,' to com- plete Paul's work by appointing elders. These men (also called ' bishojjs,' though possibly one bishop might preside over a presbytery) must be of blameless reputation, and as stewards of God's House prove their fitness by ruling well in their own families. Self-controlled, hospitable also and pious, they must hold so firmly to healthy doctrine that they will be able to refute perverse teachers.
yy iu-16 Kalse teachers. — In these churches, false and insubordinate teachers, of Jewish origin, full of empty talk, have arisen, who for money have perverted many of the Cretan families, in- clined as they are by nature to sensuality. (He quotes a hexameter of Epimenides, one of the seven wise men of Greece, giving the Cretans a lioor character. ) These teachers and perverts must be sharply refuted so as to check the apostasy and to discountenance idle Jewish tales and Jewish precepts as to clean and unclean. Their professed distinctions between clean and unclean are mean- ingless when the heart is pure, for then outer dis- tinctions vanish ; and on the impure heart they have no effect. Tliough these errorists may profess to believe in God, like good Jews, their defiled lives prove that they are infidels.
2i-io_ Xitus is to regulate the conduct of various classes within the Church. Old men must be self- restrained and dignified, and set forth healthy Christian virtues ; especially must the older women be models of goodness, self-control, and family virtue to the younger women. Titus also must be a pattern of self-restraint, gravity, and sound doctrine for the young men. Slaves are to adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour by faithful service.
yy 11-15 'pijg gospel motive. — 'The saving grace of God in Christ is for all men, and challenges us to a life in this present of self-restraint, justice to our fellows, and reverent holiness towards God ; at tlie same time it creates the hope of the appear- ing of our Saviour, who died for us that He might redeem us as His true Israel, zealous of good works. These demands of the gospel must be authori- tatively set before the people.
3'''. A life of goodness the fruit of Divine mercy. — These Cretans must defer to authorities and lead lives of gentleness and goodness, as all Christians do who have been converted from disobedient, sen- sual, and hateful lives. Everything is due to the goodness of God appearing in Christ, who, not for
any righteousness of ours but of His grace, saved ua from sin, when in baptism the Holy Spirit of re- newal was poured out upon us tliroiigh Jesus our Saviour, so that being justified by His grace we may liecome heirs of eternal life. It is all-import- ant that believers should be careful to maintain good works.
vv.'"". Final advice as to false teachers. — Titus is to avoid disputations with the false teachers, and if, after warning, the factious man proves obdurate, he must be left alone.
yy i2-i5_ Personal references. — Titus is to come to Paul at Nicopolis as soon as the Apostle can send Artemas or Tychicus to relieve him of his post. Hospitality in general is enjoined, and in particular towards certain visiting bretliren.
i. The condition of the churches. — The churches of which Timothy has oversight are within the circle of Ephesus, and those under Titus are in the island of Crete. Their members are drawn from different social strata. Some are rich, and others aspire to become rich, though probably the average is similar to that of other Christian communities. There are masters, and there are slaves. Some were formerly Jews, and Jewish influence is strong (1 Ti 1', Tit l'»-"), but the majority are, it would appear, of pagan origin. The Cretans, a people of crude morality and insubordinate temper, have fallen an easy prey to the same kind of error as was working havoc in Ephesus. Envy, strife, blas- phemies, and suspicions abound (1 Ti l-"-". 20 gi.e. 21^ 2 Ti 2"- ^ 3'^-^, Tit !"• "). The Church has become a commingled body or household with good and bad elements (1 Ti 4', 2Ti 2-"), the gospel having been cast upon poor soil or choked by evil doctrine. Paul's inrtuence in Asia has been seriously impaired (2 Ti 1'^) ; already there has been apostasy, and worse is yet to come ; grievous times are impending (1 Ti 4', 2 Ti 3'). For such a serious state of attairs the only remedy is a powerful ethical revival, induced by the preaching of the gospel in its purity, and maintained in a healthy church organization, directed by officials of the highest character.