TO PRINCIPALITIES AND POWERS] better (as RV), 'to rulers, to authorities.' We should be apt to say, 'to the government.' TO OBEY MAGISTRATES] The original meaning of the Gk. word is 'to obey one's superiors': 'to obey' or 'to be obedient' (RV) is, therefore, a better translation.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SUBSTANCE AND MANNER OF THE TEACHING TO BE GIVEN. FAREWELL 1-15. 'Remind the Cretans to be loyal citizens, good neighbours. As, through no merit of ours, God won us to Himself, so we must live good lives. Never argue with stubborn hearted people. Warn a heretic twice; then drop him. Come to me... [ Continue Reading ]
WE OURSELVES] i.e. we Christians. WERE SOMETIMES] 'Were' (standing first in the Gk. sentence is emphatic) 'at one time' (RV 'aforetime'). 4. Alford translates this v., 'But when the goodness and love-toward-men' (one Gk. word) 'of our Saviour, God, was manifested.' GOD OUR SAVIOUR] the Father. APP... [ Continue Reading ]
BY THE WASHING OF REGENERATION] For 'washing,' 'laver' (i.e. place where the washing took place) is better. Baptism is referred to here. RENEWING OF THE HOLY GHOST] The baptism to be efficient must be both by water and by the Spirit. It is not a mere outward act.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH HE SHED ON US] When? At Pentecost, or, generally, to each individual? Probably both meanings should be included.... [ Continue Reading ]
HEIRS ACCORDING TO THE HOPE OF ETERNAL LIFE] better (as RM), 'heirs, according to hope, of eternal life.'... [ Continue Reading ]
FAITHFUL SAYING] i.e. a condensed reflection, an axiom in rhythmical form, a Christian proverb. Scholars disagree whether the 'faithful saying' here includes Titus 3:4 or only Titus 3:7. The presence of 'faithful sayings' shows that a religious movement is no longer in its infancy: men have reflecte... [ Continue Reading ]
HERETICK] A heretic, to St. Paul, was never one who held erroneous opinions only, but one whose error sprang from moral crookedness, issuing at last in evil life. There seems always a sensual element in what St. Paul calls heresy; for he classes it with the sins of the flesh (Galatians 5:20). The he... [ Continue Reading ]
ARTEMAS] Nothing is known of him beyond this mention. Tradition says that he was later bishop of Lystra. TYCHICUS] cp. Acts 20:4; Ephesians 6:21; Colossians 4:7; 2 Timothy 4:12. NICOPOLIS] Several towns had this name. This may be the one in Epirus.... [ Continue Reading ]
ZENAS.. AND APOLLOS] Perhaps the bearers of the Epistle. Zenas was probably a Jewish scribe. For Apollos see Acts 18:24; 1 Corinthians 1:12; 1 Corinthians 16:12. The mingling of old names with new is a strong critical argument for the Pauline authorship; a pupil wishing to imitate would hardly be ap... [ Continue Reading ]
OUR'S] 'our people' (RV); i.e. the Christian community in Crete. FOR NECESSARY USES] i.e. for helping such persons as Zenas and Apollos to give their time to Church extension. We should say, 'See that the people of the different congregations give good missionary offerings.'... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE FAITH] lit. 'in faith.' The subscription appended to the Epistle in the AV is certainly spurious.... [ Continue Reading ]