Skip to Content

Titus

Changes this passage only. Set your default for every passage.

Titus 1

1Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness,

1Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;

Commentary · verse 1

A Doctrine-filled introduction...

2in hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before times eternal;

2In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

Commentary · verse 2

Doctrine: God cannot lie. This did not say that God could lie but chooses not to or God does not lie. God is not able to lie, because God's Nature is always completely Right and always completely Just. For God to be able to lie, He would have to have the causes of being able to lie within Himself, which would be "darkness." God is light, in Him there is "no darkness at all" (1 John 1:5). God's Nature possesses none of the causes that would be able to result in being able to lie. Hebrews 6:18 stated the same Doctrine.

Doctrine: God promised eternal life before the creation of the world.

3but in his own seasons manifested his word in the message, wherewith I was intrusted according to the commandment of God our Saviour;

3But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;

Commentary · verse 3

God made these promises apparent in His Word, the same Word that was intrusted to Paul.

4to Titus, my true child after a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Saviour.

4To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.

Commentary · verse 4

Paul was writing to Titus.

5For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that were wanting, and appoint elders in every city, as I gave thee charge;

5For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:

Commentary · verse 5

Paul left Titus in Crete to set things in order and to appoint (ordain) elders in the cities which Paul told him. Paul was an apostle. The elders were the same as what we refer to today as pastors. Apostles and prophets began churches. Both were appointed by God. The apostles and prophets appointed elders/pastors for the church. Paul wrote this epistle to help Titus bring order to the church, just like Paul wrote to Timothy.

Commentary · verses 6-9

Verses 6-9: the qualifications of a bishop/overseer.

6if any man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having children that believe, who are not accused of riot or unruly.

6If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.

Commentary · verse 6

The husband of one wife meant "one wife at a time." To interpret this verse to also have meant "never having been remarried" or "never having been divorced" or "never having been widowed" contradicted the Bible's view of Marriage. If a man was a bishop and had more than one wife, he would not have time to put forth what was needed to be a bishop. His time would be put into leading his wives.

7For the bishop must be blameless, as God’s steward; not self-willed, not soon angry, no brawler, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre;

7For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;

Commentary · verse 7

This verse showed that Paul was describing bishops. Bishops and elders were not the same. A bishop was an overseer. An elder was a pastor.

8but given to hospitality, a lover of good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled;

8But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;

Commentary · verse 8

Just like we saw in 1 Timothy, Paul stated a bishop was given to hospitality: "generous to guests." This meant a bishop reached out to unbelievers. Notice, the best examples of the faith ought to be reaching out to unbelievers.

9holding to the faithful word which is according to the teaching, that he may be able both to exhort in the sound doctrine, and to convict the gainsayers.

9Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.

Commentary · verse 9

A bishop ought to have sound Doctrine and convict the gainsayers, able to debate with those who appeared to have a right WHAT, but actually had a wrong HOW/WHY. This would only be able to be done with God's Doctrine.

10For there are many unruly men, vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision, 11whose mouths must be stopped; men who overthrow whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.

10For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:

11Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.

Commentary · verses 10-11

One reason the bishops should exhort and convince vain talkers and deceivers was to silence them.

12One of themselves, a prophet of their own, said, Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, idle gluttons.

13This testimony is true. For which cause reprove them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, 14not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men who turn away from the truth.

15To the pure all things are pure: but to them that are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but both their mind and their conscience are defiled.

12One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.

13This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;

14Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.

15Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.

Commentary · verses 12-15

Those who were defiled and unbelieving were impure, even their minds and conscience.

16They profess that they know God; but by their works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

16They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

Commentary · verse 16

Great summary for this chapter! The deceivers SAY (right WHAT) they knew God but their actions (DO) denied God, their HOW/WHY was wrong. Again, Paul used the word adokimos (reprobate) to solidify this point. We saw Paul used this word in Romans 1:28, 1 Corinthians 9:27, 2 Corinthians 13:5-7, and 2 Timothy 3:8. This word referred to a coin that represented a value (right WHAT), but actually was worth something less (wrong HOW/WHY) than what was represented. This entire chapter stressed truly having the right HOW/WHY for the right WHAT that was represented. Having a right HOW/WHY for your right what makes you able to identify and correct deceivers.

Up and down arrows move between verses, Enter selects one, Shift with an arrow takes in a run. Tab then reaches Save, Add Note and Copy.