The Strand Study Bible

Written From Macedonia During Paul’s Release From House Arrest In Rome

2047

TITUS 1:9 - 2:12

A good pastor will be loyal to the truth, not institutions

2 That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. 3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; 4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 To be discreet, chaste, 11 keepers at home, good, 12 obedient to their own husbands, 13 that the word of God be not blasphemed. 6 Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded. A good pastor will “work hard” at becoming an example of personal godliness 7 In all things 14 shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, 15 gravity, sincerity, 8 Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you. 9 16 Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well 17 in all things; not answering again; 10 Not 18 purloining, but shewing all good 19 fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. 11 For the grace of God 20 that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodli- ness and worldly lusts, we should live

1. or, “those who contradict the Bible”

9 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 1 gainsayers. 10 For 2 there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the 3 circumcision: 11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for 4 filthy lucre’s sake. 12 One of themselves, even a 5 prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, 6 slow bellies. 13 This witness is true. 7 Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; 14 Not giving heed to 8 Jewish fables, and 9 commandments of men, that turn from the truth. 15 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. 16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate. Titus 2 A good pastor will exhort believers to live right 1 But speak thou the things which become 10 sound doctrine:

2. I Tim 1:6 3. or, “Jews” 4. I Tim 6:5

5. or, “Epimenides” 6. or, “lazy gluttons”

7. Gal 2:11-14 8. or, “myths” - I Tim 4:7

9. or, “traditions of institutions” - Mt 15:1-9 & Isa 29:13 10. I Tim 1:10 11. Psa 113:9 & I Tim 5:14 12. I Cor 14:34

13. I Tim 6:1 14. I Tim 4:12 15. or,

“responsibility” 16. Colo 3:22 & Eph 6:5 & I Tim 6:1 17. Eph 5:24

18. or, “stealing” 19. or, “honesty” 20. I Jn 2:2

1:12 The “ prophet ” that Paul was referring to here was Epimenides. He was a Cretan poet who stated that the Cretan people were known for their lying. He lived nearly six centuries before Paul and was responsible for the erection of the altar TO THE UNKNOWN GOD in Athens ( Acts 17:23 ). 1:16 Today, more than ever in this country of ours, we have people (especially in Washington D.C.) that “ profess that they know God; but in works they deny him. ” M.R. De Haan II in his booklet called ‘ What Can We Know About The Antichrist? ’ notes:

Many religionists lend their support to civil rights activists in the name of freedom, but they will fight against right- to-life laws, anti-porn legislation, or mandatory testing to prevent drug abuse or the spread of AIDS. Interestingly, while they cry for the rights of those who promote lawlessness, they seek to outlaw Christian schools and do all they can to limit the freedom of evangelicals to preach the gospel. They talk about belief in God but promote principles that give liberty to sin. They are deceptive antichrists. 1

2:4 This word ( love ) is the Greek word MLODQGUοX9 ( philandrous ) and means “ to love someone conditionally ; to treat someone based on how you feel ). This word is to be distinguished from the Greek word DJDSK ( agape ), which means “ to love unconditionally ; to treat someone right no matter how you feel .” ( II Jn 1:6 ). Whereas husbands are commanded to love their wives “unconditionally” (to treat them right no matter how they “feel” - Eph 5:25 ), wives are commanded to love their husbands “conditionally” (to react toward their husbands according to how they are being treated by them). 2:5 THE ADAGE IS TRUE: How we live affects how God looks (II Sam 12:14, Rom 2:21-24, Isa 52:5 and Ezk 36:20,23) 2:12 If Satan can’t get us to deny grace (vs. 11), he’ll get us to distort it (via our worldliness - Rom 12:1-2). This is why we should deny ungodliness and worldly lusts .

1 De Hann II, M.R. What Can We Know About The Antichrist? , Grand Rapids, MI, Discovery House Pub, Print