|
Titus iii.
Notes & Commentary:
Ver. 1. Princes
and powers. At the time St. Paul wrote this epistle to Titus, there were many Jews, particularly the disciples of Judas
of Gaulan, who maintained that the Hebrews were under no obligation of obeying any other than God, or at most the rulers of
their own nation. St. Paul here admonishes them, that in conformity with the example and instruction of our divine Saviour,
they ought likewise to obey every other temporal prince set over them by the Almighty, provided they commanded nothing contrary
to the law of God. (St. Jerome; Estius; Menochius) --- Piety teaches, and pastors should enforce three duties towards princes:
submission to their authority, obedience to their laws, and a disposition of heart to meet all their just desires.
Ver. 3. We may
see in this portrait of a child of Adam, drawn by the hand of a master, what we should have been without Jesus Christ, and
what we perhaps have been, as often as he has abandoned us to ourselves. Whoever cannot read in this his own depravity, has
never studied as he ought his own heart.
Ver. 4. The
goodness and kindness. Literally, humanity of our Saviour. By humanity[1] some expound Christ's appearing
in his human nature, but by the Greek is meant the love of God towards mankind. (Witham)
Ver. 5. Not
by the works, &c. St. Paul in this verse alludes to the sacrament of baptism. This text is brought by divines to prove
that baptism, like every other sacrament, produces its effect by its own power, (or, as it is termed in the schools, ex opere
operato) independently of any disposition on the part of the receiver. We are saved, says the apostle, not by the works of
justice, or any good works we have performed, but our salvation must be attributed solely to the mercy of our Saviour, God,
manifested to us by the washing itself of regeneration and renovation of the Holy Ghost. --- By the laver of regeneration,
&c.[2] That is, baptism, by which we are born anew the adoptive children of God, by the grace of the Holy Ghost, whom
he hath poured, &c. (Witham)
Ver. 6. All
presumption of human merits, which have not the grace of Jesus Christ for their principle, is here completely confounded;
and the whole glory of our salvation is justly attributed to the mercy of God, through Jesus Christ. A new birth, new creature,
new spirit. The effusion of the water upon the body in baptism, is a figure of the salutary effusion of the holy Spirit in
the soul to renew it, and to make it a child of God.
Ver. 7. This
admirable, and I may say divine adoption, is the sole foundation of a Christian's hope, as the eternal life of the blessed
is the sole end of this adoption.
Ver. 8. It
is a faithful saying. He means what he has already said, of our being justified by the grace and mercies of God. --- And
of these things I will have thee to affirm[3] earnestly. The sense is not, I would herein confirm thee,
(as Mr. N. translates, without attention to the Greek, which in so many places shews us the literal sense of the Latin text)
but that he would have his disciple, Titus, to confirm and settle others in the belief of these truths, that, as it
follows, they may be careful to excel in good works. (Witham)
Ver. 10. A
man that is, &c. Many ancient copies have this passage thus, Avoid a heretic after one reprehension. St. Irenĉus,
Tertullian, St. Cyprian, St. Ambrose, &c. and many ancient Greek copies, omit a second reprehension. They thought
once warning a heretic sufficient; a second correction only served to render him more insolent, and more obstinate in his
false opinions. Certainly the faith of Christ has been so firmly established, that a man instructed in Scripture and tradition
cannot conscientiously remain a heretic; he must be well aware of the crime of disunion; his own judgment, as St. Paul says,
must condemn him.
Ver. 11. Knowing
that he that is such a one is subverted:[4] a metaphor, from a house that is thrown down, even to the foundation, by the
Greek. He speaks of heretics whose obstinacy seems evident, for no one is properly a heretic but who is obstinate in his errors.
--- And sinneth, being[5] condemned; or, condemned by his own judgment, when his ignorance cannot be
a sufficient plea for him. (Witham) --- Other offenders are judged and cast out of the Church by the sentence of the pastors
of the same Church. Heretics, more unhappy, run out of the Church of their own accord; and by so doing, give judgment and
sentence against their own souls. (Challoner)
Ver. 14. Let
our men (that is, all Christians) also learn to excel in good and charitable works, by furnishing to others,
for necessary uses, according to their wants. (Witham)
Ver. 15. There
is no tie so tender or so strong as that of faith and charity. Nothing unites us truly together, but that which unites us
all to God and to Jesus Christ, by an union of the same sentiments of faith, the same emotions of love, and the same inclinations
of grace.
____________________
[1] Ver. 4. Benignitas et humanitas, chrestotes kai philanthropia.
See Estius.
[2] Ver. 5. Lavacrum, loutron. See Ephesians v. 26.
[3] Ver. 8. De his volo te confirmare, peri touton boulomai
se diabebaiousthai: on which St. Chrysostom says, (log. st. p. 406.) toutesti, tauta dialegesthai;
I would have to declare these things, &c.
[4] Ver. 11. Subversus est, exestraptai, eversus est.
[5] Ver. 11. Proprio judicio condemnatus, autokatakritos.
 |
|
|
Bible Text & Cross-references:
Other instructions and directions for life and doctrine.
1 Admonish them to be subject to princes, and powers, to obey at a word,
to be ready to every good work:
2 To speak evil of no man, not to be litigious, but modest, shewing all
meekness towards all men.
3 For we ourselves also were some time unwise, incredulous, erring, slaves
to divers desires and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
4 But when the goodness and kindness of our Savior, God, appeared:
5 *Not by the works of justice, which we have done, but according to
his mercy he saved us, by the laver of regeneration, and renovation of the Holy Ghost,
6 Whom he hath poured forth upon us abundantly, through Jesus Christ,
our Savior:
7 That, being justified by his grace, we may be heirs according to the
hope of life everlasting.
8 It is a faithful saying: and concerning these things I will have thee
to affirm earnestly: that they who believe in God, may be careful to excel in good works. These things are good and profitable
to men.
9 *But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and
strivings about the law: for they are unprofitable and vain.
10 A man that is a heretic, after the first and second admonition, avoid:
11 Knowing that he that is such a one, is subverted, and sinneth, being
condemned by his own judgment.
12 When I shall send to thee Artemas or Tychicus, make haste to come
unto me to Nicopolis: for there I have determined to winter.
13 Send forward Zenas, the lawyer, and Apollo, carefully, that nothing
be wanting to them.
14 And let our men also learn to excel in good works for necessary uses:
that they be not unfruitful.
15 All that are with me, salute thee: salute them that love us in the
faith. The grace of God be with you all. Amen.
____________________
*
5: 2 Timothy i. 9.
9: 1 Timothy i. 4. and iv. 7.; 2 Timothy ii. 23.
|
|
|