Titus 1 - Wesley's Explanatory Notes

Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ — Titles suitable to the person of Paul, and the office he was assigning to Titus. According to the faith — The propagating of which is the proper business of an apostle. A servant of God — According to the faith of the elect. An apostle of Jesus Christ — According to the knowledge of the truth. We serve God according to the measure of our faith: we fulfil our public office according to the measure of our knowledge. The truth that is after godliness — Which in every point runs parallel with and supports the vital, spiritual worship of God; and, indeed, has no other end or scope. These two verses contain the sum of Christianity, which Titus was always to have in his eye. Of the elect of God — Of all real Christians

In hope of eternal life — The grand motive and encouragement of every apostle and every servant of God. Which God promised before the world began — To Christ, our Head.

And he hath in his own times — At sundry times; and his own times are fittest for his own work. What creature dares ask, "Why no sooner?" Manifested his word — Containing that promise, and the whole "truth which is after godliness." Through the preaching wherewith I am intrusted according to the commandment of God our Saviour — And who dares exercise this office on any less authority?

My own son — Begot in the same image of God, and repaying a paternal with a filial affection. The common faith — Common to me and all my spiritual children.

The things which are wanting — Which I had not time to settle myself. Ordain elders — Appoint the most faithful, zealous men to watch over the rest. Their character follows, Titus 1:6-9. These were the elders, or bishops, that Paul approved of; — men that had living faith, a pure conscience, a blameless life.

The husband of one wife — Surely the Holy Ghost, by repeating this so often, designed to leave the Romanists without excuse.

As the steward of God — To whom he intrusts immortal souls. Not selfwilled — Literally, pleasing himself; but all men "for their good to edification." Not passionate — But mild, yielding, tender.

As he hath been taught — Perhaps it might be more literally rendered, according to the teaching, or doctrine, of the apostles; alluding to Acts 2:42.

They of the circumcision — The Jewish converts.

Stopped — The word properly means, to put a bit into the mouth of an unruly horse.

A prophet — So all poets were anciently called; but, besides, Diogenes Laertius says that Epimenides, the Cretan poet, foretold many things. Evil wild beasts — Fierce and savage.

Commandments of men — The Jewish or other teachers, whoever they were that turned from the truth.

To the pure — Those whose hearts are purified by faith this we allow. All things are pure — All kinds of meat; the Mosaic distinction between clean and unclean meats being now taken away. But to the defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure — The apostle joins defiled and unbelieving, to intimate that nothing can be clean without a true faith: for both the understanding and conscience, those leading powers of the soul, are polluted; consequently, so is the man and all he does.