Charles Spurgeon Commentary Titus 1
Charles Spurgeon Commentary
Titus 1
Charles Spurgeon Commentary
Titus 1
"Paul, 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, in hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before times eternal; but in his own seasons manifested his word in the message, wherewith I was intrusted according to the commandment of God our Saviour; to Titus, my true child after a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Saviour." — Titus 1:1-4 (ASV)
You have probably noticed that Paul's benediction, 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. Therefore, in his Pastoral Epistles, whether 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 be mercy upon mercy. This charge of the beloved Pastor has even more force and pathos now that he has gone away to heaven.
"For 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; if any man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having children that believe, who are not accused of riot or unruly." — Titus 1:5-6 (ASV)
For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed you: if any are 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.
"if any man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having children that believe, who are not accused of riot or unruly. For the bishop must be blameless, as God`s steward; not self-willed, not soon angry, no brawler, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but given to hospitality, as lover of good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled; holding to the faithful word which is according to the teaching, that he may be able to exhort in the sound doctrine, and to convict the gainsayers. For there are many unruly men, vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision, whose mouths must be stopped; men who overthrow whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre`s sake. One of themselves, a prophet of their own, said, Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, idle gluttons." — Titus 1:6-12 (ASV)
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 hath 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, (Titus 1:6–12)
According to Jerome, this was Epimenides, a prophet-poet, who lived in Crete in the sixth century before Christ.
"One of themselves, a prophet of their own, said, Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, idle gluttons." — Titus 1:12 (ASV)
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.
"This testimony is true. For which cause reprove them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men who turn away from the truth. To 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. They profess that they know God; but by their works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate." — Titus 1:13-16 (ASV)
This was bad soil; but it had to be plowed, and to be sown, and with an Almighty God at the back of the gospel plower 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 is 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 on it, God can bless His Word anywhere, among Cretans, or among any other sort of degraded people.
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