Titus 3:1

Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, PUT THEM IN MIND - as they are in danger of forgetting their duty, though knowing it. The opposition of Christianity to paganism, and the Jews' tendency to rebellion against the Roman empire, might lead many in Crete to forget practically the Christian principle recognized in theory, submission to the powers that be. Diodorus Siculus mentions the Cretians' insubordination. They had been now 125 years under Roman rule. Metellus conquered Crete, B.C. 67. Previously they had a democracy. PRINCIPALITIES ... POWERS, [ archais (G746), exousiais (G1849)] - 'magistracies ... authorities.' TO BE SUBJECT - willingless ...

1_Remind them to be subject to principalities and powers _From many passages it is evident that the Apostles had great difficulty in keeping the common people subject to the authority of magistrates and princes. We are all by nature desirous of power; and the consequence is, that no one willingly is subject to another. Besides, perceiving that nearly all the principalities and powers of the world (256) were at that time opposed to Christ they thought them unworthy of receiving any honor. The Jews especially, being an untamable race, did not cease to mutiny and rage. Thus, after having spoken of particular duties, Paul now wishes to give a general admonition to all, to observe peaceably the order of civil government, to submit to the laws, to obey magistrates. That subjection to princes, and that obedience to magistrates, which he demands, is extended to edicts, and laws, and other parts...

1-7 Spiritual privileges do not make void or weaken, but confirm civil duties. Mere good words and good meanings are not enough without good works. They were not to be quarrelsome, but to show meekness on all occasions, not toward friends only, but to all men, though with wisdom, James 3:13. And let this text teach us how wrong it is for a Christian to be churlish to the worst, weakest, and most abject. The servants of sin have many masters, their lusts hurry them different ways; pride commands one thing, covetousness another. Thus they are hateful, deserving to be hated. It is the misery of sinners, that they hate one another; and it is the duty and happiness of saints to love one another. And we are delivered out of our miserable condition, only by the mercy and free grace of God, the merit and sufferings of Christ, and the working of his Spirit. God the Father is God our Saviour. He...

CHAPTER III. _The necessity of obedience to the civil powers, and of meek and_ _gentle deportment towards all men, is to be diligently_ _enforced_, 1, 2. _The wretched state of man, previously to the advent of Christ_, 3. _The wonderful change which the grace of God makes, and the means_ _which it uses to bring men to glory_, 4-7. _The necessity of a holy life, and of avoiding things which_ _produce strifes and contentions, and are unprofitable and vain_, 8, 9. How to deal with those who are h

PUT THEM IN MIND TO BE SUBJECT ... - See the duty here enjoined, explained in the notes at Romans 13:1, following. PRINCIPALITIES AND POWERS - See these words explained in the notes at Romans 8:38. The word here rendered “powers” (ἐξουσίαις exousiais), is not, indeed, the same as that which is found there (δυνάμεις dunameis), but the same idea is conveyed; compare the notes at Ephesians 1:21. TO OBEY MAGISTRATES - That is, to obey them in all that was not contrary to the word of God;...

EXPOSITION TITUS 3:1 In _subjection _for _subject, _A.V.; _rulers _for _principalities. _A.V.; _to authorities _for _and powers, _A.V. and T.R.; _to be obedient _for _to obey magistrates, _A.V.; _unto _for _to, _A.V. PUT THEM IN MIND (ὑπομίμνησκε); as 2 Timothy 2:14. TO RULERS, TO AUTHORITIES. Many uncials, which the R.T. follows, omit the καὶ, but it seems necessary to the sense. The change from "principalities and powers" to" rulers" and "authorities" does not seem desirable. Ἀρχάι_ _and ἐξουσίαι_ _is a favorite juxtaposition el' St. Paul's (1 Corinthians 15:24; Ephesians 1:21; Ephesians 3:10; Ephesians 6:12;...

PUT THEM IN MIND TO BE SUBJECT TO PRINCIPALITIES AND POWERS,.... Not angels, good or bad, which are sometimes so called, but men in high places; the higher powers ordained of God, as the apostle elsewhere calls them; and which the Apostle Peter distinguishes into the king as supreme, and into governors under him: the Roman emperor and senate, the consuls, and proconsuls, deputies and governors of provinces and islands, are here meant; particularly such who were appointed over the island of Crete. Now the reasons why the apostle exhorts Titus to put in remembrance those that were under his care, to yield a cheerful subjection to their superiors, were, because the Jews, from whom the Christians were not distinguished by the Romans, were reckoned a turbulent and seditious people; which character they obtained, partly through the principles of the Scribes and Pharisees, which they at least p...

Titus 3:1. _Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, to speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men._ Gentleness was not reckoned a virtue among the Greeks; I do not suppose that the people in Crete had ever heard of it before Paul wrote this Epistle to Titus. Among the Romans and the Greeks, it seemed to be a virtue to stand up for your own, to be like a gamecock, who is always ready to fight, and will never miss a chance of fighting; but this Christian virtue of gentleness is a most amiable one, and greatly adorns the doctrine of Christ. The world has run away with this word gentle, and now calls many a person a gentleman who has no right to the name. I wish that every gentleman were indeed a gentleman. It is very significant that Moses, the type of the Lord Jesus under

TITUS 3:1 avrcai/j {B} After avrcai/j the Textus Receptus adds kai,, following the later uncials (Dc K P) as well as most of the minuscules, versions, and Fathers. The more difficult asyndetic construction is supported by the best witnesses of both the Alexandrian and the Western types of text (a A C Dgr * G Y 33 1739 itg). It is possible that the conjunction may have fallen out accidentally in transcription (ar,aickaiexouciaic). On the other hand, since kai, is lacking also between the following two infinitives (according to the decisive weight of witnesses; only Fgr G itg syrp Basil insert...

III. IN RELATION TO THE WORLD AND FALSE TEACHERS CHAPTER 3 _ 1. Instructions (Titus 3:1)_ 2. Warnings (Titus 3:9) 3. Directions (Titus 3:12) Titus 3:1 He asks Titus to remind all believers to be subject to rulers, principalities and powers (Greek: Magistracies and authorities, Romans 13:1), to yield obedience and to be ready for every good work. An ancient historian, Diodones Siculus, speaks of the riotous insubordination of the Cretans. They were to speak evil of no man, nor were they to be contentious, but show all gentleness and all