Titus 3

Titus 3:1-15 . WHAT TITUS IS TO TEACH CONCERNING CHRISTIANS' BEHAVIOR TOWARDS THE WORLD: HOW HE IS TO TREAT HERETICS: WHEN AND WHERE HE IS TO MEET PAUL. SALUTATION. CONCLUSION.

1. Put them in mind--as they are in danger of forgetting their duty, though knowing it. The opposition of Christianity to heathenism, and the natural disposition to rebellion of the Jews under the Roman empire (of whom many lived in Crete), might lead many to forget practically what was a recognized Christian principle in theory, submission to the powers that be. DIODORUS SICULUS mentions the tendency of the Cretans to riotous insubordination.
to be subject--"willingly" (so the Greek).
principalities . . . powers--Greek, "magistracies . . . authorities."
to obey--the commands of "magistrates"; not necessarily implying spontaneous obedience. Willing obedience is implied in "ready to every good work." Compare Romans 13:3 , as showing that obedience to the magistracy would tend to good works, since the magistrate's aim generally is to favor the good and punish the bad. Contrast "disobedient" ( Titus 3:3 ).

2. To speak evil of no man--especially, not of "dignities" and magistrates.
no brawlers--"not quarrelsome," not attacking others.
gentle--towards those who attack us. Yielding, considerate, not urging one's rights to the uttermost, but forbearing and kindly different from the innate greediness and spirit of aggression towards others which characterized the Cretans.
showing--in acts.
all--all possible. severity.
unto all men--The duty of Christian conduct towards all men is the proper consequence of the universality of God's grace to all men, so often set forth in the pastoral Epistles.

3. For--Our own past sins should lead us to be lenient towards those of others. "Despise none, for such wast thou also." As the penitent thief .said to his fellow thief, "Dost thou not fear God . . . seeing that thou art in the same condemnation."
we--Christians.
were--Contrast Titus 3:4 , "But when," that is, now: a favorite contrast in Paul's writing, that between our past state by nature, and our present state of deliverance from it by grace. As God treated us, we ought to treat our neighbor.
sometimes--once.
foolish--wanting right reason in our course of living. Irrational. The exact picture of human life without grace. Grace is the sole remedy for foolishness.
disobedient--to God.
deceived--led astray. The same Greek, "out of the way" ( Hebrews 5:2 ).
serving--Greek, "in bondage to," serving as slaves."
divers--The cloyed appetite craves constant variety.
pleasures--of the flesh.
malice--malignity.
hateful . . . hating--correlatives. Provoking the hatred of others by their detestable character and conduct, and in turn hating them.

4. To show how little reason the Cretan Christians had to be proud of themselves, and despise others not Christians It is to the "kindness and love of God," not to their own merits, that they owe salvation.
kindness--Greek, "goodness," "benignity," which manifests His grace.
love . . . toward man--teaching us to have such "love (benevolence) toward man" (Greek, "philanthropy"), "showing all meekness unto all men" ( Titus 3:2 ), even as God had "toward man" ( Titus 2:11 ); opposed to the "hateful and hating" characteristics of unrenewed men, whose wretchedness moved God's benevolent kindness.
of God our Saviour--Greek, "of our Saviour God," namely, the Father ( Titus 1:3 ), who "saved us" ( Titus 3:5 ) "through Jesus Christ our Saviour" ( Titus 3:6 ).
appeared--Greek, "was made to appear"; was manifested.