Spurgeon's Notes on TITUS
Chapter 1 Verses 1-16
While reading this chapter, we must understand that Titus was sent to Crete, to superintend the preaching of the gospel throughout that island. Crete was at that time inhabited by a people who were only partially civilized, and sunk in the very worst of vices. Paul, therefore, tells Titus to speak to them about things which would hardly be mentioned to Christians nowadays.
Titus 1:1-4. Paul, 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; in hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; but has in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Savior; to Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior.
You have probably noticed that Paul’s blessing, when he is writing to a minister, is always. "Grace, mercy, and peace." Writing to churches, his usual formula is, "Grace be to you, and peace;" but God’s servants, called to the work of the ministry, need very special "mercy"-as if the higher the office, the greater the liability to sin, and therefore, in his Pastoral Epistles, whether he is addressing Titus or Timothy, Paul wishes for his sons in the faith, "Grace, mercy, and peace." Oh, what a mercy it will be for any of us ministers if, at the last, we are clear of the blood of all men! If, having been called to preach the gospel, we shall do it so faithfully as to be acquitted and even rewarded by our Lord and Master, it will he mercy upon mercy. This "charge" of the beloved Pastor has even more force and pathos now that he has gone "away" to Heaven.
Titus 1:5-6. For this cause left I you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed you: if any be blameless, the husband of one wife,
For there were many converts there who had two or three wives. Whatever position they might be permitted to occupy in the church, they could not become officers, they must keep in the rear rank.
Titus 1:6-12. Having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not self-willed, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; but a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake. One of themselves, even a prophet of their own,
According to Jerome, this was Epimenides, a prophet-poet, who lived in Crete in the sixth century before Christ.
Titus 1:12. Said, The Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.
They were a degraded people; and hence, those who would teach them had a most difficult task, and needed great grace. Paul exhorts Titus that only specially fit men, men whose example would have influence, and whose characters would have weight, should be allowed to be elders in such churches.
Titus 1:13-16. This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth. Unto 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. They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
This was bad soil; but it had to be ploughed, and to be sown, and with an Almighty God at the back of the gospel plougher and sower, a fruitful harvest came even in Crete. We need not be afraid of the adaptation of the gospel to the lowest of the low. If there be any quarter of the town where the people are more sunken in vice than anywhere else, there the gospel is to be carried with more prayer and more faith than anywhere else. Depend upon it, God can bless his Word anywhere, among Cretans, or among any other sort of degraded people.
This exposition consisted of readings from Titus 1. and Titus 2.
Chapter 2 Verses 1-15
Titus 2:1. But speak you the things which become sound doctrine:
There are certain things which are suitable to go with sound doctrine; they are meet and fit and appropriate thereto.
Titus 2:2. That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.
Among the heathen, old men often gave themselves up to drunkenness and gluttony; so now, this is the teaching that is to be given to aged Christian men. They need faith, love, and patience, as well as the virtues of sobriety, gravity, and temperance. The infirmities of old age often create petulance, so the grace of God is to make the venerable Christian to be full of faith, love, and patience.
Titus 2:3. The aged women likewise, that they be in behavior as becomes holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;
Old women also among the heathen were often addicted to the taking of much wine, so here they are cautioned against it by the Spirit of God. They are also tempted to spread slanderous reports against people: having little to do in their old age, they are apt to do that little by way of mischief; so they are warned that they are not to be "false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things." And how beautifully can an aged Christian woman, by her kindly example, be a teacher of good things! There is no more charming sight under Heaven, I think, than that of an elderly Christian lady, whose words and whose whole life are such as becomes the gospel of Christ.
Titus 2:4-5. That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.
There were some women who supposed that, the moment they became Christians, they were to run about everywhere. "No," says the apostle, "let them keep at home." There is no gain to the Christian Church when the love, and the industry, and the zeal, which ought to make a happy home, are squandered upon something else. The young women of Crete appear to have been such that they needed to be taught "to love their husbands." That expression does not occur elsewhere in Scripture. Christian women do not need to be told to love their husbands; but these Cretans, just brought out of the slough of sin, had to be taught even this lesson. Oh, what a blessing is love in the marriage relationship, and what a gracious influence love has upon children! How are they to be brought up aright except the whole house be perfumed with love?
Titus 2:6. Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded.
That exhortation is as necessary in London as it was in Crete. Young men often know a great deal, or think they do; and they are very apt to be intoxicated with the idea of knowing so much, and being able to do so much, so that the exhortation to them is to "be sober minded."
Titus 2:7-9. In all things showing yourself a pattern of good works: in doctrine showing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he who is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you. Exhort servants--
Or, as it might and should be rendered, "bond-slaves"
Titus 2:9-10. To be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again; not purloining,
Not picking and stealing, which very naturally was the common habit of slaves; and who wonders at it in their wretched condition?
Titus 2:10. But showing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.
Is not that a wonderful passage? Here is a slave able to be an ornament to the gospel of Christ! This blessed gospel is not sent to kings and princes only; when Paul preached it, the great mass of the population were in cruel bondage, treated like dogs, or even worse; yet the gospel had a message even for them, it told them that they might, by a godly character, adorn the doctrine of God their Savior.
Titus 2:11-15. For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise you.
This exposition consisted of readings from Titus 1. and Titus 2.
Verses 6-15Titus 2:6. Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded.
They are full of spirits, they are very sanguine, they are apt to be carried away with novelties; exhort them to have that which is thought to be a virtue of age, namely, sobriety. Let them be old when they are young that they may be young when they are old.
Titus 2:7. In all things skewing yourself a pattern of good works:
Titus was himself a young man; he must, therefore, be a pattern to young men; and as a pastor or evangelist he must be a pattern to all sorts of men.
Titus 2:7-8. in doctrine showing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he who is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.
It is a pity when truth suffers at the hand of its own advocate; and perhaps the very worst wounds that truth has received have been in the house of its friends. You must be careful, therefore, "that he who is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you."
Titus 2:9. Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters,
They were mostly slaves in those days. A sad condition of society was that in which service meant slavery; yet even slaves were "to be obedient unto their own masters."
Titus 2:9-10. And to please them welt in all things; not answering again; not purloining,
Not practicing petty thefts, as, alas! some servants do even now,--
Titus 2:10. But showing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.
The life of the Christian, even if he be a servant, is to be an ornament of Christianity. Christ does not look for the ornament of his religion to the riches or the talents of his followers, but to their holy lives "that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things."
Titus 2:11-12. For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
Christians are not to run out of the world, as monks and hermits sought to do, but to live "in this present world." Yet, while in the world, we are to be godly, that is, full of God. That kind of life which is without God is not for Christians. Those worldly desires, the pride and ambition, which are common to worldly men, are not to have power over us; we are to deny them, and to live soberly. This word relates not only to eating and drinking, but to the general sobriety of a man’s mind: "Denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world."
Titus 2:13-14. Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
See what Christ died for, see what Christ lives for, see what we are to live for, that we should not only be a people purified, but purified unto Himself. We are not only to have good works, but we are to be zealous of them; we are to burn with zeal for them, for zeal is a kind of fire, it is to burn and blaze in us until we warm and enlighten others also.
Titus 2:15. These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise you.
As I have already reminded you, Titus was a young man; and people are apt to despise the pastoral office when it is held by a young man. Yet they ought always to respect it, whether it be held by a young man or an old man. God knows best who is most fitted for the work of the ministry: and those of us who are getting old must never look with any kind of scorn or contempt upon those who are commencing their service, for we, too, were young once. You cannot measure a man’s grace by the length of his beard, nor by the number of his years.
This exposition consisted of readings from Titus 2:6-15, and Titus 3.
Chapter 3 Verses 1-15
Titus 3:1. Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,
You see, they were a rough, wild, rebellious people in Crete, and Christianity comes to civilize, to sober, to sanctify, to save.
Titus 3:2. To speak evil of no man,
Oh, how necessary is this exhortation even to this day!
Titus 3:2. To be no brawler, but gentle, showing all meekness, unto all men.
Meekness and gentleness are two of the ornaments of our faith. I would that some professed Christians would understand that unholy contentiousness is not after the mind of Christ, it is not according to that gracious command, "Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart and you shall find rest unto your souls." No, the Christian must be willing to suffer wrongfully, and to bear it in patience; he is never to be one who renders evil for evil, or railing for railing.
Titus 3:3. For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish,
Well, then, if other people are foolish, we ought to bear with them.
Titus 3:4. Disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
That is what we were once; and if the grace of God has made a change in us, we must not boast, we must not censure others, we must not set up as self-righteous judges of others. Oh, no! our action must be the very reverse of all this.
Titus 3:4-7. But after that the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Spirit; which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior; that being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
This is a very practical Epistle. See how closely Paul keeps to the doctrines of grace. He is never like Mr. Legality, he never teaches that we are to be saved by works; but, being saved by the grace of God alone, and being made heirs according to the hope of eternal life, we are then, out of gratitude to God, to abound in everything that is good, and holy, and kind, and after the mind of Christ.
Titus 3:8-9. This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that you affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men. But avoid foolish questions,
There are always plenty of thorn about, and there are certain professors who spend half their lives in fighting about nothing at all. There is no more in their contention than the difference between Tweedledum and Tweedledee; but they will divide a church over it, they will go through the world as if they had found out a great secret, it really is not of any consequence whatever, but having made the discovery, they judge everybody by their new-found fad, and so spread a spirit that is contrary to the Spirit of Christ.
Titus 3:9-10. And genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. A man that is an heretic-
One who really turns aside from the truth, and sets up something contrary to the Word of God; what is to be done with him? "Burn him," says the Church of Rome. "Fine him, put him in prison," say other churches; but the inspired apostle says only this,-
Titus 3:10. After the first and second admonition reject;
Just exclude him from the church, that is all. Leave him his utmost liberty to go where he likes, believe what he likes, and do what he likes; but, at the same time, you as Christian people must disown him, that is all you ought to do, except to pray and labor for his restoration.
Titus 3:11-14. Knowing that he who is such is subverted, and sins, being condemned of himself. When I shall send Artemas unto you, or Tychicus, be diligent to come unto me to Nicopolis: for I have determined there to winter. Bring Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey diligently, that nothing he wanting unto them. And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.
How the apostle comes back to that point! Let all our people, our friends, our brethren, our kinsfolk, "let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful."
Titus 3:15. All that are with me salute you. Greet them that love us in the faith. Grace be with you all.
Amen.