Grace be with you all. Amen.— This salutation shews, that though the epistle was directed and sent to Titus, it was intended for the benefit of all the true Christians in Crete.
Inferences.—The remembrance of the irregularities with which we ourselves were once chargeable, and of that sinful and miserable state in which we once were, should make us candid to others, and silence our severe censures against them, ch. Titus 3:2. Let the kindness, the infinite philanthropy of God, be daily celebrated and adored by us; of GOD, who saves the faithful by his own rich and overflowing mercy; who hath justified us by his free grace in Christ, and thereby made us heirs, according to the hope of eternal life. Nor let us ever forget how much we are indebted to the regenerating and renewing influences of the Holy Ghost, shed abroad upon us richly by Jesus Christ our Saviour. May it wash and purify our souls more and more from every stain of sin, and inspire us with a pious ardour to honour our profession by a holy life! having professed out belief in God, may we carefully practice all the graces and virtues of the Christian character; for those things are indeed good and profitable to men;—guarding at the same time against all those airy curiosities, and abstruse speculations, which on the contrary are unprofitable and vain.
How greatly is it to be wished, that all the churches of Christ were delivered from such factious members and teachers, as would depart from the infallible rule of truth laid down in the word of God, and subvert the faith once delivered to the saints;—introducing, instead of it, the doctrines of men, and teaching things which tend to alienate the minds of Christians from the gospel, and from each other, in order to set up their own authority, and promote a private secular interest! we ought undoubtedly to be cautious how we pass such a censure on particular persons, without clear and evident proof; but when such proof arises, and the persons in question appear to be the turbulent and pernicious heretics that St. Paul describes, Titus 3:10 it were to be wished that they might always meet with the treatment which he recommends. They ought first to be plainly and seriously admonished; and if repeated admonitions are rejected, it is the duty of the wiser and sounder parts of Christian churches to expel them; that so they may be less capable of doing mischief, and that the gangrene of such pernicious principles may not spread, to the disgrace and ruin of the churches to which they belong.
But, let us ever remember, this is all the remedy which the sacred scriptures suggest or furnish out to us: and they who, to the solemn censure of disturbed and injured churches, add any corporal severities, or civil penalties whatsoever,—or take up weapons which Christ has never put into their hands, may very probably do more mischief in the church and in the world, than the most erroneous of those against whom they would arm their terrors.
[See Calmet, Benson, Michaelis, Lardner, Grotius, Hammond, Doddridge, Bentley, Lightfoot, Raphelius, Wetstein, Parkhurst, Spanheim, Erasmus, Beza, Bishop Pocock, Elsner, Plutarch, Morris, Wolfius, Suicer, Locke, Bishop Sherlock, Barrow, Taylor, L'Enfant, Craddock, and Heylin.]
REFLECTIONS.—1st, The apostle proceeds,
1. To direct Titus respecting the obedience which he must inculcate as due to the civil magistrate. Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, under whatever government they live; to obey magistrates with loyalty and willing submission; to be ready to every good work, rendering to all degrees of men the duty owing to them: to speak evil of or calumniate no man, not reviling the magistrates, nor raising any slanderous report of any human being; to be no brawlers, disturbing the peace of society, turbulent and quarrelsome; but gentle in temper and manners, shewing all meekness unto all men, however perverse or provoking their conduct may be toward us.
2. He suggests the most cogent reasons to enforce his exhortation.
[1.] The consideration of their former sinful state: and the more deeply we are sensible of our own vileness, the more we shall feel ourselves obliged to bear with others. For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, as our opposers now are, ignorant of divine truth, and under the darkness of our fallen minds; disobedient in spirit and practice, refusing to hear and obey the dictates of God's word; deceived, and wandering out of the way, under the influence of a corrupted heart, and the wiles of Satan; serving divers lusts and pleasures: perfect slaves to our sensual appetites, the basest of all servitude; living in malice and envy; possessed and governed by these diabolical passions; regarding others, who were most prosperous in the world, with a malignant eye; and pleased with any miseries which befel them; hateful to God because of these abominations; and hating one another, with implacable resentment. What a fearful description! yet in this glass may every enlightened sinner discover his own features by nature, and own the humbling resemblance; for as face answereth face, so does the heart of one natural man to another.
[2.] The kindness and love of God to them in their miserable estate, should engage them to shew the like pity and compassion toward others. But after that, vile as we were, the kindness and love of God our Saviour, notwithstanding, toward man appeared, most illustriously displayed in his glorious gospel; not by works of righteousness which we had done, for all our works were the very reverse, and merited only wrath to the uttermost; but according to his mercy, in the most astonishing manner extended to the miserable and the desperate, he hath saved us freely, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost, who is the glorious agent of the divine change wrought in regeneration; cleansing our souls from the power of corruption, quickening us to a life of grace and holiness, maintaining and carrying it on in the faithful unto the perfect day; which Holy Ghost he shed on us abundantly, both in his gifts and graces, through Jesus Christ our Saviour, the purchaser of every blessing for his faithful people, and the dispenser of this Spirit unto them; that being justified by his grace, and through faith of the operation of God brought into a state of pardon and reconciliation, we should be made heirs of glory according to the hope of eternal life, which he hath given us in that adored Redeemer, who hath obtained a complete salvation for every faithful saint, not only from all the miseries of sin, but unto all the blessedness of eternity. Note; (1.) The salvation of the sinner is entirely of grace; pardon, holiness, and hope of life eternal, are all the gift of God through Jesus Christ our Saviour, and will be all realized to every persevering believer. (2.) Though we are justified freely, not for any righteousness of our own, but of God's mere favour; yet do we from that moment become different men, and new creatures, by the Spirit of our God renewed in our minds, and pressing after the glory which is prepared for the righteous.
2nd, The apostle,
1. Inculcates the doctrine which Titus must preach. This is a faithful saying, all that I have above declared of the duties incumbent on believers, the misery from which they have been redeemed, and the amazing grace of which they have been made partakers, is to be steadfastly believed and embraced: and these things I will that thou affirm constantly; often insisting upon them in the course of thy ministry, to the end, that they which have believed in God, to the present salvation of their souls, might be careful to maintain good works; to excel and lead the way to others (προιστασθαι), with all diligence and zeal improving every opportunity which offers to be useful. These things are good and profitable unto men; the doctrines here enforced, have the most immediate tendency to advance the benefit of mankind, and promote their present and eternal good. Note; The doctrine of justification by grace through faith, is so far from destroying the obligation of good works, that it is the only real and effectual principle which can make us careful to maintain them.
2. He cautions him what to shun. But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law, which the Judaizing teachers affect, to the great prejudice of Christianity; for they are unprofitable and vain; tending to no one useful purpose, but sowing discord in the church, and corrupting the simplicity of the gospel.
3. A man that is an heretic, who openly professes and maintains doctrines subversive of the fundamental articles of faith, after the first and second admonition reject; if he continue obstinate in his errors, remove him from your communion, and acknowledge him no longer as a brother: knowing that he that is such, is subverted, apostate from Christ, the only foundation; and sinneth wilfully, being condemned of himself; openly broaching his sentiments, departing from the confession of the true faith, which he formerly made, and avowedly separating himself from the church of God. Note; They who refuse to be reclaimed from important errors by repeated admonition, must be cut off from the body of the visible church by excommunication.
3rdly, We have,
1. Some particular directions given to Titus.
2. We have a sacred command. And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful, but adorn the profession which they make, diligent in their several employments, and liberal according to their ability, in the maintenance of their ministers, or in assisting any of their brethren who may need their support.
3. He concludes with salutations and his apostolic benediction. All that are with me, salute thee affectionately. Greet them that love us in the faith, and are one in sentiment and heart with us. Grace be with you all, in its most abundant fruits and richest manifestations, Amen! So prays your faithful friend.