Titus chapter 1
1:1-4 The author, Paul, describes himself as a servant (Greek doulos, "slaves" or "bondservant") who has no
rights of his own. An apostle (Greek apostolos) is one sent with a commission. According to the faith of God's
elect means "with a view to." Hence Paul was made an apostle in order to call the elect to faith in Christ by
preaching the gospel to all men.
1:5-9 Titus is to set in order the church. The church had been established but needed to be organized to function
effectively. Ordain elders in every city: Elders (Greek presbuteroi) were to be appointed in every city to rule and
teach in the churches. The qualification listed here are similar to those in 1 Timothy 3. Blameless means without
blame or rebuke. It does not mean sinless. Husband of one wife (lit., "a one-woman man"): This may preclude
those who are divorced and certainly any who are polygamous. Bishop (Greek episkopos, lit., "overseer") shows
that the elders mentioned in verse 5 are also bishops. The two words describe the office and the maturity of the
same person. He is also called the steward of God, meaning God's household servant. No striker means not a
brawler or fighter. Not given to filthy lucre means not greedy of financial gain.
1:10-12 The circumcision: Paul describes the Jews who are trying to impose the teachings of Moses, especially
circumcision as necessary for salvation, on the Christians of Crete as being unruly, not subject to rule or order.
He also calls them deceivers. A prophet of their own refers to the Cretan poet Epimenides (born 600 B.C.), whom
Paul quotes merely to prove a point.
1:13, 14 Paul instructs Titus to perform a task of reproof. He is to rebuke them sharply. Jewish fables refer to
Jewish myths, that is, legalistic error (1 Timothy 4:1-5).
Titus chapters 2
2:1-5 The aged men are elderly men, not necessarily those who hold the office of elder. They are to be sober
[sensible], grave [dignified], temperate [prudent and thoughtful], sound [healthy] in faith [lit., "the faith"], in charity
[that is, love], in patience (or perseverance). Thus, the aged men are to be examples of godliness to the younger
men. The aged women, older women are to be in behavior [demeanor] as becometh holiness. They must thus be
teachers of good things by teaching the young woman to be sober, to love their husbands, and to love their
children. The older women are to teach the younger by their example. Discreet means modest and decent.
Chaste is sexually pure. Keepers at home means workers at home, not idle. Obedient to their own husbands
means being submissive to their own husbands.
2:9, 10 Servants (Greek douloi, "slaves") are to be obedient unto their own masters. The servant who does this
will adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things. This passage is not meant to condone slavery but to show
how godliness can overcome tyranny. The slave who did his job well was a testimony to the grace of God and the
power of the gospel.
2:11-15 The salvation that appeared to all men is based on God's grace that has provided salvation universally
for all mankind through the unlimited atonement of Christ. That blessed hope and glorious appearing of the great
God and our Savior Jesus Christ refers to His second coming. The use of the definite article "the" with the first
noun "God" and the connecting "and" indicates that the first and second "Savior" (nouns) are one and the same
person. Our "great God and our Savior Jesus Christ" is thus one and the same person, clearly proving the diety
of Christ.
Titus chapter 3
3:1-8 Speak evil of no man literally means blaspheme no one. Be no brawlers (lit., "abstain from fighting"). Unto all
men indicates the universal extent of the Christian mission. Salvation is not accomplished by works of
righteousness, but by the washing of regeneration, that is, the cleansing that results from being born again (John
3:3). This is not a reference to baptism but to the spiritual renewing produced by the Holy Ghost. Consequently,
we are justified by his grace and will be made heirs because we have the hope (strong confidence) of eternal life.
3:10, 11 A heretic was originally one who caused divisions or factions, but later the word emphasized such a
person's peculiar or unorthodox beliefs. Therefore, heretics and schismatics are to be rejected. As in all his
epistles, Paul urges fidelity to the apostles doctrine.