Titus1
New Living Translation
1This letter is from Paul, a slave of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ. I have been sent to proclaim faith to those God has chosen and to teach them to know the truth that shows them how to live godly lives.
2This truth gives them confidence that they have eternal life, which God—who does not lie—promised them before the world began.
3And now at just the right time he has revealed this message, which we announce to everyone. It is by the command of God our Savior that I have been entrusted with this work for him.
4I am writing to Titus, my true son in the faith that we share. May God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior give you grace and peace.
5I left you on the island of Crete so you could complete our work there and appoint elders in each town as I instructed you.
6An elder must live a blameless life. He must be faithful to his wife, and his children must be believers who don’t have a reputation for being wild or rebellious.
7A church leader is a manager of God’s household, so he must live a blameless life. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered; he must not be a heavy drinker, violent, or dishonest with money.
8Rather, he must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must love what is good. He must live wisely and be just. He must live a devout and disciplined life.
9He must have a strong belief in the trustworthy message he was taught; then he will be able to encourage others with wholesome teaching and show those who oppose it where they are wrong.
10For there are many rebellious people who engage in useless talk and deceive others. This is especially true of those who insist on circumcision for salvation.
11They must be silenced, because they are turning whole families away from the truth by their false teaching. And they do it only for money.
12Even one of their own men, a prophet from Crete, has said about them, “The people of Crete are all liars, cruel animals, and lazy gluttons.”
13This is true. So reprimand them sternly to make them strong in the faith.
14They must stop listening to Jewish myths and the commands of people who have turned away from the truth.
15Everything is pure to those whose hearts are pure. But nothing is pure to those who are corrupt and unbelieving, because their minds and consciences are corrupted.
16Such people claim they know God, but they deny him by the way they live. They are detestable and disobedient, worthless for doing anything good.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Titus 1.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The apostle salutes Titus. (1–4). The qualifications of a faithful pastor. (5–9). The evil temper and practices of false teachers. (10–16).
vv1-4
All are the servants of God who are not slaves of sin and Satan. All gospel truth is according to godliness, teaching the fear of God. The intent of the gospel is to raise up hope as well as faith; to take off the mind and heart from the world, and to raise them to heaven and the things above. How excellent then is the gospel, which was the matter of Divine promise so early, and what thanks are due for our privileges! Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God; and whoso is appointed and called, must preach the word. Grace is the free favour of God, and acceptance with him. Mercy, the fruits of the favour, in the pardon of sin, and freedom from all miseries both here and hereafter. And peace is the effect and fruit of mercy. Peace with God through Christ who is our Peace, and with the creatures and ourselves. Grace is the fountain of all blessings. Mercy, and peace, and all good, spring out of this.
vv5-9
The character and qualification of pastors, here called elders and bishops, agree with what the apostle wrote to Timothy. Being such bishops and overseers of the flock, to be examples to them, and God's stewards to take care of the affairs of his household, there is great reason that they should be blameless. What they are not to be, is plainly shown, as well as what they are to be, as servants of Christ, and able ministers of the letter and practice of the gospel. And here are described the spirit and practice becoming such as should be examples of good works.
vv10-16
False teachers are described. Faithful ministers must oppose such in good time, that their folly being made manifest, they may go no further They had a base end in what they did; serving a worldly interest under pretence of religion: for the love of money is the root of all evil. Such should be resisted, and put to shame, by sound doctrine from the Scriptures. Shameful actions, the reproach of heathens, should be far from Christians; falsehood and lying, envious craft and cruelty, brutal and sensual practices, and idleness and sloth, are sins condemned even by the light of nature. But Christian meekness is as far from cowardly passing over sin and error, as from anger and impatience. And though there may be national differences of character, yet the heart of man in every age and place is deceitful and desperately wicked. But the sharpest reproofs must aim at the good of the reproved; and soundness in the faith is most desirable and necessary. To those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; they abuse, and turn things lawful and good into sin. Many profess to know God, yet in their lives deny and reject him. See the miserable state of hypocrites, such as have a form of godliness, but are without the power; yet let us not be so ready to fix this charge on others, as careful that it does not apply to ourselves.
Key Words
Παῦλος (Paûlos): (little; but remotely from a derivative of G3973 (παύω), meaning the same); Paulus, the name of a Roman and of an apostle
δοῦλος (doûlos): a slave (literal or figurative, involuntary or voluntary; frequently, therefore in a qualified sense of subjection or subserviency)
θεός (theós): figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very
δέ (dé): but, and, etc.
ἀπόστολος (apóstolos): a delegate; specially, an ambassador of the Gospel; officially a commissioner of Christ ("apostle") (with miraculous powers)
Ἰησοῦς (Iēsoûs): Jesus (i.e. Jehoshua), the name of our Lord and two (three) other Israelites
Χριστός (Christós): anointed, i.e. the Messiah, an epithet of Jesus
κατά (katá): (prepositionally) down (in place or time), in varied relations (according to the case (genitive, dative or accusative) with which it is joined)
πίστις (pístis): persuasion, i.e. credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of God or a religious teacher), especially reliance upon Christ for salvation; abstractly, constancy in such profession; by extension, the system of religious (Gospel) truth itself
ἐκλεκτός (eklektós): select; by implication, favorite
Cross References
Titus 1Direct parallel requirements for the office of overseer/elder, including family management and blameless character.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Connects God's purpose and eternal grace promised before the world/ages began.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallel mystery kept secret since the world began, now manifested.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Verbal link with the character of God "who cannot lie" (impossible for God to lie).
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Identical salutation pattern to a direct spiritual child (Timothy) with "grace, mercy, and peace."
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallels "unto the pure all things are pure" with "nothing is unclean of itself."
Supported by Matthew Poole
Connects faith specifically with "God's elect" or those ordained to eternal life.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallels the key phrase "doctrine which is according to godliness."
Supported by JFB
Historical presence of Cretans at Pentecost, explaining how the gospel first reached the island.
Supported by JFB
Historical account of Paul's voyage touching Crete, establishing the geographic context.
Supported by JFB
Warns elders against serving for "filthy lucre" (base gain), matching Titus 1:7.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Paul's style of quoting pagan poets/prophets to address his audience.
Condemns teaching "commandments of men," paralleling Titus 1:14.
Exposes false asceticism forbidding foods which God created to be received by believers.
Describes hypocrites who have a form of godliness but deny its power in works.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Parallels the apostolic mandate to use sharpness/severity for restoration, not destruction.