Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary

PASTORAL WORK OF A GOOD MINISTER

1) "But speak thou the things.” (Su de lalei ha) "But speak thou the things." Direct address of Paul to Titus, admonishing him to speak up or speak out.

2) "That become sound doctrine." (ha prepei te hugiainouse didaskalia) "The body of things that become healthy teaching." Titus was then instructed to use five age and maturity level positions among the congregation members to carry out the teaching of sound doctrine - They were: 1) aged men, 2) aged women, 3) young men, 4) young women, and 5) servants, as follows:

1) "That the aged men be:" (presbutas) "That aged or mature men"

a) "Sober" - (nepalious), 1 Thessalonians 5:6; 1 Thessalonians 5:8; 1 Peter 1:13; 1 Peter 4:7; 1 Peter 5:8.

b) "Grave" - Oinai semnous) "To be grave, -serious minded."

c) "Temperate--(sophronas) "Sensible in judgement."

d) "Sound in faith, in charity, in patience." (hugiainontos te pistei, te agape, te hupomone) "Being healthy in the faith, in genuine love, in endurance or perseverance." Titus was to teach the aged men to act like mature men in the system of the teachings of Christ, 1 Corinthians 15:58; Galatians 6:9.

1) "The aged women Iikewise." (presbutidas) Aged or mature women" were to be spoken to concerning sound teaching of the faith. (Gk. hosautos) Similarly or in like manner that aged men were instructed.

2) "That they be in behavior as becometh holiness." (en katestemati hieroprepeis) "In demeanor or personal conduct as appropriate to reverence." Control of tongue and temperament becomes holy aged women.

3) "Not false accusers." (me diabolous) "Not devils, " or slanderers - aged women should immune themselves from backbiting, gossip, slander, and evil speaking.

4) "Not given to much wine." (mede oino polio dedoulomenas) "Not at all having been enslaved of much wine."

5) "Teachers of good things." (kalodidaskalous) "Teachers ’ of what is good," or an example of good, becoming behavior. One must have goodness of character and conduct to be a good Christian teacher of others, 2 Timothy 1:5; 2 Timothy 3:14-15.

1) "That they may teach the young women.” (hina) "In order that" (sophronizosin tas neas) "They may train the young women." Eight things were to be goals of training as the aged women guided the younger women.

a) "to be sober" - serious minded

b) "to love their husbands" - (philandrous linai) "To be friendly, affectionate, and physical lovers of their own husbands," 1 Peter 3:1-6.

c) "to love their children" - (philoteknous) "To be friendly, affectionate to their children.

"GOD HELP ME"

"If any little word of mine,

will make a heart the lighter,

If any little song of mine,

will make a life the brighter.

God, help me speak that little word,

Or do my bit of singing,

And drop it in some lonely vale,

To start the echoes ringing."

1) "To be discreet." - (sophronos) "Sensible."

2) "Chaste" (agnas) "Chaste or morally clean."

3) "Keepers at home." (oikourgous) "House-workers," or “Home-makers," Proverbs 31:10-31.

4) "Good" - (agathas) Persons of good character, "inner good."

5) "Obedient to their own husbands." (hupotasomenos tois idiois andrasin) "Subject, obedient, or under the rule of their own husbands," as Sarah was to Abraham, 1 Peter 3:5-6; Ephesians 5:22; Ephesians 5:24.

6) "That the word of God be not blasphemed." (hina me ho logos tou theou blasphemetai) "In order that the Word of God be not blasphemed or spoken against." Aged women of moral, ethical, and doctrinal stability are to train younger women in Christian virtues of the eight kinds mentioned above, 2 Timothy 3:16-17.

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1) "Young men likewise exhort " (tous neoterous hosautos parakalei) "Young men alike exhort thou, implore, or call alongside you." 1 Timothy 5:1; 1 Peter 5:5. Younger men are to be respectful toward elders in the work of the Lord, as they follow Christ, 1 Corinthians 11:1.

2) "To be sober-minded." (sophonein) "Appeal to or exhort thou them to be sensible." 1 Timothy 4:12; 1 Corinthians 14:20.

1) "In all things showing thyself," (peri panta seauton parachomenos) "In all kind of things or conditions showing or demonstrating thyself," Matthew 5:16.

2) "A pattern of good works." (tupon kalon ergon) "A type, pattern, or example of good works." Ephesians 2:10; James 1:22; James 2:18; 1 Corinthians 11:12; Luke 9:23.

3) "In doctrine showing " (en te dediskalia) "In the teaching" (shewing)

a) "uncorruptness" (aphthorian) "No moral looseness."

b) "gravity" (semnoteta) "Seriousness of mind."

c) "sincerity" "An attitude of reality." Romans 12:1-2; 1 Timothy 4:12.

1) "Sound speech, that cannot be condemned." (Logon hugie akatagnoston) "Healthy speech, irreprehensible, that can not be scorned or condemned." 1 Timothy 6:3. Words fitly spoken are desirable, Proverbs 25:11.

2) "That he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed." (hina ho eks enantias entrape) "In order that the one (men) to the contrary (not using healthy speech) may be put to shame."

3) "Having no evil thing to say of you." (medan echon legein peri hemon phaulon) "Not one thing foul having or holding to charge against you." Profanity, vulgarity, obscenity, and blasphemy are sins of the heart, mind, and tongue of the old nature and should be pruned from the lives of all Christians. Such language bespeaks an unhealthy soul. Good, clean speech reflects an healthy soul, Colossians 4:6. To have one’s speech always seasoned with salt means to speak respectful words.

WORDS

Kind words do not cost much. They never blister the tongue or lips. Though they do not cost much, they accomplish much. They make other people good-natured. They also produce their own image in other men’s souls, and a beautiful image it is.

Pascal

WORDS

Words that are softly spoken, Can build a world of charm. Words of tender passion, Can rescue a soul from harm.

Words of wondrous beauty, Like silver imbedded in gold, Can Iift the brokenhearted To heavenly joys untold.

Words of love and comfort, Can calm a stormy sea. Words of courage and wisdom, Bring wonderful peace to me.

Words of hope like sunshine Fill the heart and soul. Wonderful words - how precious, Are worth a future of gold.

- Claude Cox

1) "Exhort servants to be obedient to their own masters." (doulos idios despotais hupotassesthai) "Slaves (exhort) to be subject or under the rule of their own masters." Neither our Lord nor his apostles ever taught rebellion against an established form of society or government any Christian was in.

2) "And to please them well in all things;” (en pasin evarestous einai) "In all things to be well pleasing." Christian slaves were to try to please their masters, whether they were saved or unsaved, 1 Peter 2:18; Ephesians 6:5.

3) "Not answering again " (me antilegontes) "Not talking back, sassing, or contradicting." 1 Peter 2:19-20.

1) "Not purloining." (me nosphizomenos) "Not pretending, feigning." Paul instructed Titus to plead with Christian slaves, to appeal to them to show honesty and sincerity of their profession through obedience to their masters, not just to please men, but to please God and influence unsaved masters.

2) "But showing all good fidelity." (all pason pistin endeiknumenos agathen) "but continually showing all good faithfulness" (to him). They were not merely to please their masters while they watched them work, but also when their backs were turned. Ephesians 6:6-7.

3) "That they may adorn." (hina ten didaskalian kosmosin) "In order that they may show to the world the teachings." Ephesians 6:8-9; Colossians 3:22-23. Even the obedience of a slave to an unsaved master in daily labors might win him to the Lord, Paul indicated, as the wife may win the husband, 1 Peter 3:1-2.

4) "The doctrine of God our Savior in all things." (ten didaskalian ten tou soteros hemon theou en pasin). "The teachings of God the Saviour of us in all things;" Colossians 3:24-25.

1) "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation." (gar he charis tou theou soterios) "For the saving grace of God." Of this saving grace Paul wrote, Ephesians 2:8, "by grace are ye saved." Grace is unmerited favor from God that grants salvation to the penitent believer in Jesus Christ, Titus 3:4-5.

2) "Hath appeared to all men," (epephane pasin anthropois) "Has appeared or been made manifest to all." The saving grace that came by Jesus Christ was offered, and is made available to all responsible men. John 1:7; John 1:17; John 3:15-16; John 3:18; He gave himself a ransom (redemption payment) "for all." Though salvation is universally provided and universally offered to all men, it must be individually and personally accepted as a grace-gift to become effective to each responsible person, John 8:24; Romans 14:11-12.

1) "Teaching us." (paideususa hemas) "Instructing us." The Grace (mercy and unmerited favor from God) not only saves the penitent believer in Jesus Christ, but also teaches him how to live, 2 Peter 3:18.

2) "That, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts." (hina arnesomenoi ten asebeian kai tas kosmikas epithumias) "In order that denying impiety and worldly lusts." Each child of God is taught, by grace, to deny himself from yielding to ungodly worldly lusts, that his influence be not marred, Colossians 3:5-9.

3) "We should live soberly, righteously, and godly." (zeomen soprones kai dikaios kai eusebos) "We should live sensibly, righteously, and piously." Colossians 3:1-3; Galatians 5:22-25.

4) "In this present world." (en to nun sioni) "In the now present and continual hereafter age." 1 John 2:15; Ephesians 4:32, Luke 9:23.

1) "Looking for that blessed hope." (prosdecho. menoi ten makarian elpida) "Expecting or anticipating the blessed (spiritually prosperous) hope." This "blessed hope" is the bodily coming (return) of Jesus Christ in the first resurrection, for which redeemed saints wait and long, Deuteronomy 30:3; Acts 1:9-11; Romans 8:23; James 5:7-8; Hebrews 10:36-37.

2) "And the glorious appearing." (kai epiphaneian tes dokses) "And bodily shining presence" - The term "appearance" signifies a bodily appearance of radiant glory. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17. This is that instantaneous appearance of Christ in the air, as he begins effecting preparation for his later coming to the earth in power and great glory, which is to occur some 42 months after his coming in the air. Matthew 24:30; Luke 21:27; Zechariah 14:4.

3) "Of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ." 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10. There will be rest and deliverance for those who look for our Lord at his return ., and the beginning of unending judgement for those unprepared; Hebrews 9:28; Revelation 1:7; Revelation 6:14-17.

1) "Who gave himself for us." (hos edoken keauton huper hemon) "Who gave himself (Gk. edoken) of his own accord, in our behalf." Our Lord’s death was voluntary, of his own accord, John 10:17-18; Our Lord died voluntarily, Luke 23:46; Ephesians 5:25. He gave himself to redeem the lost and to sanctify the church.

2) "That he might redeem us from all iniquity." (hina sutrosetai hemas apo pases anomias) "In order that he might ransom (buy us from the claim of) all lawlessness or iniquity." From all, and "all kinds" of evil deeds and thoughts, Jesus died to ransom us, 1 Peter 1:18-19.

3) "And purify unto himself a peculiar people." (kai kathrise heauto laon periousion) "And (might) cleanse for himself a people for his own possession," Our Lord not only died to save men from hell, but he also died to sanctify or purify to himself "a people for his own possession" - the church, Acts 20:28; Ephesians 5:25-27.

4) "Zealous of good works." (zeloten kalon ergon) "Zealous (or on fire) of good deeds and conduct." Our Lord desires that this "people of his own possession," the church, be zealous to go into all the world, witnessing for him – Acts 1:8; John 20:21; James 1:22. The "kings business requireth haste," 1 Samuel 21:8.

1) "These things speak, and exhort." (tauta lalei kai parakalei) "These kind of things speak thou and exhort or entreat." These matters were to be taught to the a) aged men, b) aged women, c) young men, d) young women, and e) servants, with pleading and exhortation, 1 Corinthians 9:21-26, Romans 9:1-2; Romans 10:1-4; Romans 12:1-2.

2) "And rebuke with all authority." (kai elegche meta pases epitages) "and reprove - or chide for wrong with all force of command or authority." As a teacher, exhorter, and pastor, Titus was charged to initiate and follow through with guidance in these matters toward the Cretian brethren, 2 Timothy 4:2; Titus 1:13.

3) "Let no man despise thee." (medeis sou periphroneito) "Let not even one despise or take you lightly." 1 Timothy 4:12. Persistent Christian living, letting one’s light shine, even as a young Christian, and manifesting love for fellowship with God’s church, are means by which one can prevent the world from taking his profession lightly, Matthew 5:13-16; John 13:34-35.