Titus 3:14

And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful. AND [ De (G1161 ): BUT] LET OURS ALSO - Not only thou, but let others also of 'our' fellow-believers (whom we have won, Bengel), at Crete with thee. FOR NECESSARY USES - to supply the necessary wants of Christian brethren according as they need in their journeys for the Lord (cf. Titus 1:8)....

14_And let ours also learn to excel in good works. _(268) That the Cretans, on whom he lays this burden, may not complain of being loaded with the expense, he reminds them that they _must not be unfruitful, _and that therefore they must be warmly exhorted to be zealous in good works. But of this mode of expression we have already spoken. Whether, therefore, he enjoins them to excel in good works, or to assign the highest rank to good works, he means that it is useful for them to have an opportunity afforded for exercising liberality, that they may not “be unfruitful” on this ground, that there is no opportunity, or that it is not demanded by necessity. What follows has been already explained in the other Epistles. END OF CALVIN’S COMMENTARY ON TITUS...

12-15 Christianity is not a fruitless profession; and its professors must be filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. They must be doing good, as well as keeping away from evil. Let "ours" follow some honest labour and employment, to provide for themselves and their families. Christianity obliges all to seek some honest work and calling, and therein to abide with God. The apostle concludes with expressions of kind regard and fervent prayer. Grace be with you all; the love and favour of God, with the fruits and effects thereof, according to need; and the increase and feeling of them more and more in your souls. This is the apostle's wish and prayer, showing his affection to them, and desire for their good, and would be a means of obtaining for them, and bringing down on them, the thing requested. Grace is the chief thing to be wis...

Verse 14. _AND LET OTHERS ALSO LEARN TO MAINTAIN GOOD WORKS_] There is something very remarkable in this expression. The words καλων εργων προιστασθαι, which we translate _to maintain good_ _works_, occur also in Titus 3:8; and some think they mean, _to provide for our own, and the_ _necessities of others, by working at some honest occupation_; and that this was necessary to be taught to the Cretans, _let_ OURS _also_ _learn_, c., who were naturally and practically _idle gluttons_. Kypke observed that the words mean, 1. To be employed in good works. 2. To defend good works, and to recommend the performance of them. 3. To promote and forward good works to be always first in them. _FOR NECESSARY USES_] That they may be able at all times to help the Church of God, and those that are in want....

AND LET OURS - Our friends; that is, those who were Christians Paul had just directed Titus to aid Zenas and Apollos himself, and he here adds that he wished that others who were Christians would be char acterized by good works of all kinds. TO MAINTAIN GOOD WORKS - Margin, profess honest trades. The Greek will admit of the interpretation in the margin, or will include that, but there is no reason why the direction should be supposed to have any special reference to an honest mode of livelihood, or why it should be confined to that. It rather means, that they should be distinguished for good works, including benevolent deeds, acts of charity, honest toil, and whatever would enter into the conception of an upright life; see the notes at Titus 3:8. FOR NECESSARY USES - Such as are requ

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;...

AND LET OURS ALSO LEARN TO MAINTAIN GOOD WORKS,.... By which are not only meant honest trades, as some choose to render the words: it is true, that a trade is a work; and an honest lawful employment of life is a good work; and which ought to be maintained, attended to, and followed, and to be learnt, in order to be followed. The Jews say, that he that does not teach his son a trade, it is all one as if he taught him to rob or steal; hence their doctors were brought up to trades; Mark 6:3; as was the Apostle Paul, though he had an education under Gamaliel: and such an one is to be learned and maintained for necessary uses, for the good of a man's self, and for the supply of his family; for the assistance of others that are in need; for the support of the Gospel, and the interest of Christ; and for the relief of poor saints; that such may not be unfruitful and useless, in commonwealths, ne...

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

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

CLOSING MESSAGES. Paul will send Artemas or Tychicus to fill Titus-' post when he leaves for Nicopolis (doubtless the Nicopolis in Epirus). For Tychicus see 2 Timothy 4:12 *, which implies that he was not actually chosen for Crete. Of Artemas we know nothing. Zenas and Apollos may well have carried this letter to Titus. Zenas, like Arternas, is unknown: he would probably be a lawyer in the _Jewish_ sense. Apollos appears in Acts 18:24; Acts 19:1; 1 Corinthians 1:12. For the significance of the historical allusions see Introduction, at end of § 1....