Bible Commentary (1871–1879 Edition)
Paid Requests Timothy to come, 2 IIMOTHY IV. as he is almost Deserted.
Perhaps the same as the .Alexander, 1 Timothy 1. 20( note there)at Ephesus. Excommunicated then lie subsequently was restored, and now vented his personal malice because of his excommunication in accusing Paul before the Roman Judges, whether of Incendiarism or of introducing a new religion. See my Introduction. He may have been the Alexander put forward by tiie Jews in the tumult at Ephesus (Acts 19. 33, 34). rewaitl—Tlie oldest MSS. read, "shall reward," or "requite him." Personal revenge certainly did not Influence the apostle (i'. !(>, end). 15. our tvorda—the arguments of us Christians lor our common favourable sentence passed on the "brethren" of the Judge, who sit with Him on His tlirone, is in Matthew25. 3. taken for granted as already awarded, when thataffect Ing tliose who benefited thiem is being passed. [Benged.] The former, the elect Church who reign witli Christ in tlie millennium, are fewer tlian the latter. The rif/Wfoiis heavenly Judge stands In contrast to the unrighteous earthly Judges who condemned Paul, me—individual appropriation. GrecA:, " Not only to me." them that love— GreeA, "have loved, and do \ove;" habitual love and desire for Christ's appearing, which presupposes faith (cf. Hebrews faith. Believers have a common cause. 10. At my flrst answer i.e., "defence" in court, at my first public examination. Timothj' knew nothing of lliis, it is plain, till Paul now informs him. But during h'ls/ormer imprisonment at Rome, Timothy was with him (Pliilippians 1. 1, 7). This must have been, therefore, a second imprisonment. He must have been set free before the persecution in A. D,
9. 28). Cf. the sad contrast, v. 10, " having loved this present woi'.a." 9, {v. 21; ch. 1. 4, 8.) Timothy is asked to come to be a comfort to Paul, and also to be strengthened by Paul, for carrying on the Gospel work after Paul's decease. 10. Demas—once a "fellow-labourer" of Paul, along with MarkandLuke(Colossians4. 14; Philemon 24). His motive for forsaking Paul seems to have been love of worldly ease, safety, and comforts at home, and disinclination to brave danger with Paul (Matthew 13. 20, 21, 22). Chrysostom implies that Thessalonica was his home. Ciatatla—One oldest MS. supports the reading "Gaul." But most oldest M8S., &c., " Galatia." Titus—He must have therefore left Crete after " settiug in order " the affairs of the churches there (Titus 1. 5). Dalmatla-part of the Roman province of lUyricum on tlie coastof the Adri-
64, when the Christians were accused of causing the conflagration in Rome; for, had he been a prisoner then, he certainly would not have been spared. The tradiliou [EusEBius, 2. 25] that he was finally beheaded, accords wi tU his not having been put to death in the persecution, A. D.
61, wlien burning to death was tlie mode by whicli tlie Christians were' executed, but subsequently to It. His "first" trial in his second imprisonment seems to have been on the charge of complicity in the conflagration ; his absence from Rome may have been the ground of his acquittal on that charge ; his final condemnation was probably on the charge of int Voducing a new and unlawlul religion into Rome, stood wltU me— "came forward with me " [Alford] as a friend and advocate, may [it] not be laid to their charge—The position of "their," in the Greek, is emphatic. "May it not be laid to their charge," for they were Intimidated; their drawing back from me was not from bad disposition so mucli as from I'ear; atic. Paul had written to him (Titus 3. 12) to come to him in the winter to Nicopolis (in Epirus), intending in the spring to preach the Gospel in the adjoining province of Dalmatia. Titus seems to have gone thitherto carry out the apostle's intention, the execution of which was interrupted by his arrest. Whether he went of his own accord, as is likely, or being sent by Paul, which the expression "is departed" hardly accords with, cannot be positively decided, Paul here speaks only of his personal attendants having forsaken him; he had still friendsamong the Roman Christians who visited him (ch. 4. 21), though they had been afraid to stand by him at his trial (i'. IG). H. Take— Greefc, " take up " on thy journey (Acts 20. 13, 14). John Mark was probably in, or near, Colosse, as In the Epistle to the Colossians (Colossians 4. 10), written two years before this, he is mentioned as about to visit them. Timothy was now absent from Ephe.sus, aud somewhere in tlie interior of Asia Minor; hence he would be sure to (all in with Mark on his j.ourney. he ia profltable to me for the ministry —Mark liad been under a cloud for having forsaken Paul at a critical moment in his missionary tour with Barnabas (Acts 15. ;f7-10; 13. 5, 13). Timothy had subseiently occupied the same post In relation to Paul as Mark once held. Hence Paul, appropriately here, wipes out the past censure by high praise of Mark, and guards against Timothy's making self-complacent comparisons between himself ftnd Mark, as though he were superior to the latter (cf. Philemon 24). Demas apostatizes. Mark returns to the right way, and is no longer unprofitaiile, but is profitable for the Gospel ministry (Philemon 11). 13. And— Greek, " But." Thou art to come to me, but Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus to supply thy place (If thou so wiliest it) in presiding over the Church there in thy absence (cf. Titus
It is sure to be laid to the charge of those wlio intimidated them. Still Paul, likeSt^'phen, would doubtless liaveolfered the same prayer for his persecutors themselves (Acts 7.
60). 17. the Lord— t lie more because men deserted me. stood with me—stronger than "came forward with me" {Greek,
V. 16). strengthened— G/ecA:, "put slrcnr/th in me." by me—"through me;" through my means. One single occasion is often of tlie greatest moment, the preaching "(lie Gospel proclamation." migitt be fully known might be fully made (note, v. 6). that all the Gentiles present at my trial, " iniglit hear" tlie Gospel proclaimed then. Rome was the capital of the Gentile world, so that a proclamation of the truth to the Romans was likely to go forth to the rest of the Gentile world. I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion viz., Satan, the roaring, devouring lion 'Luke 22. 31 ; 1 Peter 5. 8). I was prevented falling into his snare (ch. 2. '26; Psalm 22. 21 ; 2 Peter 2. 9); V. 18 agrees with this interpretntion, "The Lord shall deliver me/rom every evil work," viz., botli from evil and the Evil One, as the Greek of the Lord's Prayer expresses It. It was not deliverance from Nero (who was called the lion) which he rejoiced in, for he did not fear ilenth (v.' 6-8), but deliverance from the temptation, throut;h fear, to deny His Lord: so Alford. 18. And the Lord shall—Hope draws its conclusions from the past to tlie future. [BenGEL.] will preserve me lit., " will save" (Psalm 2'2, 21) "will bring me sale to." Jesus is the Lord and the Deliverer (Philippians 3. 20; 1 Thessaloniaiis 1. 10: He saves from evil; He gives good things, heavenly kingdom Greek, "His kingdom which is a heavenly one." to whom, &c. Greek, "to whom be the glory unto the ages of ages." The very hope produces a doxology : how much greater will be the doxology which the actual enjoyment shall produce! [Bengel,.] 1». Prisca and A«iulla—(Acts
8. 12). It Is possible Tychicus was the bearerof this Ep'stle, though the onnrtssion of " to thee " is rather against Miis view. 13. cloak ... I left—Probably obliged to leave it in a hurried departure from Troas. Carpiis—a faithful friend to have been entrusted with so precious deposits. The mention of his "cloak," so far from being unworthy of Inspiration, Is one of those graphic touches which sheds a flood of light on the last scene of Paul's life, on the confines of two worlds ; In this wanting a cloak to cover him from the winter cold, in that covered with the righteousnes,s of saints, "clothed upon with his house from heaven." [Gadsskn.] So the Inner vesture and outer garment of Jesus, Paul's master, are suggestive of most Instructive thought (John I'Ji. books—he was anxious respecting these that he might transmit them to the faithful, so that they might have the teaching of his writings wlien he should begone. eKpeclally the parchments—containing perhaps some o' bis inspired Epistles them.selves. 14. Alezaniier the coppersmith—or "smith " in general.
18. 2, 3; Romans 16. 3, 4 ; I Corinthians 16. 1!), written from Ephesus, where therefore Acjuila and PrisciUa must then have been.) household of Oneslplkorus— If he weredeud at the time the "household" would not have been called "the household of Onusiphoras."' He was proliably abseiU
(note, ch. 1. 16). 30. lu order to depict his desertion, he informs Timothy that Erastus, one of his usual companions (Acts 19. 22, possibly the same Era.slus as lu Roman*
Tntroduction. TITUS. Introdwtion.
16. 23, though how he could leave his official duties for missionary journeys is not clear), stayed beliind at Corinth, his native place, or usual residence, of whicli city he was "chamberlain," or city steward and treasurer (Romans 16. 23); and Trophimus he left behind at Miletus
Chichester, mentioning Cogidunus with the surname Claudius, added from his patron, the emperor's name; and Pudens in connection with Cogidunus, doubtless his father-in-law. His daughter would be Claudia, who seems to have been sent to Rome for education, as a pledge of the father's fidelity. Here she was under the protection of Pomponia, wife of Aulus Plautius, conqueror of Britain. Pomponia was accused of foreign susick. (See on his former history, Acts 20. 4; 21. 29.) This verse is irreconcilable with the imprisonment from which he writes being the first: for he did not pass bj Corinth or Miletus on his way to Rome when about to be Imprisoned for the first time. As Miletus was near Ephesus, there is a presumption that Timothy was not at Ephesus when Paul wrote, or he would not need to inform Timothy of Trophimus lying sick In his immediate neighbourhood. However, Trophimus may not have been still at Miletus at the time when Paul wrote, though he had left him there on his way to Rome. Prisca and Aquila were most likely to be at Ephesus{v. 19), and he desires Timothy to salute them: so also Onesiphorus' household (ch. 1. 18). Paul had not the power of healing at will (Acts 19. 12), but as the Lord allowed him. 21. before winter—when a voyage, according to ancient usages of navigation, would be out of the question : also, Paul would need his "cloak" against the winter (v. 13). Pudens . . . Claudia—afterwards husband and wife (according to Maetial IV., 13; XI., 54), he a Roman knight, she a Briton, surnamed Jtuperstitions, A. D. 57 [Tacitus, A nnals, 3. 32], probably Christianity. She probably was the instrument of converting Claudia, who took the name Rufina from her, that being a cognomen of the Pomponian gens (cf. Romans 16. 13, Ruftis, a Christian). Pudens In Martial and in the Chichester inscription, appears as a pagan; but per Saps he or his friends concealed his Christianity through fear. Tradition represents Timothy, a son of Pudens, as taking part In converting the Britons. Linus— put third; therefore not at this time yet, as he was afterwards, bishop. His name being here inserted between Pudens and Claudia, implies the two were not yet married. " Eubulus" is identified by some with Aristoliulus, who, with his converts, is said to have been among the first Evangelists of Britain. Paul himself, says Clement, "visited the farthest west [perhaps Britain, certainly Spain], and was martyred under the rulers at Rome," who were Nero's vicegerents in his absence from the city. 23. Grace b« ivitli you—Plural in oldest MSS., " with you," i. e., thee and the members of the Ephesian and neighbouring churches.
fina. Tacitus, Agricola, 14, mentions that territories in south-east Britain were given to a British king, Cogidunus, in reward for his fidelity to Rome, a. d. 52, whilst Claudius was emperor. In 1772 a marble was dug up at
THE EPISTLE OF PAUL TO
TITUS. INTRODUCTION.
Genuineness.—Clement of Rome quotes it {Epistola ad Corinthios, c. 2); Ikemus (3. 3, sec. 4) refers to It as Panl's TuEOPHiLUS, ad Aulolycus, 3., sec. 14, quotes it as Scripture. Cf. Clement of Alexandria, Stromata, 1. 299; Tertullian, PrcescrijHione Hcereticorum, 6.
Time AND Place OF Writing.—This Epistle seems to have been written from Corinth [Birks], subsequently to his first Imprisonment, when Paul was on his way to Nicopolis (ch. 3. 12) in Epirus, where he purposed passing the winter, shortly before his martyrdom, a. d. 67. Birks thinks, from the similarity of the Epistle to Titus and First Timothy, that both were written from the same place, Corinth, and at dtes not widely apart; First Timothy shortly after coming to Corinth, before he had planned a journey to Epirus, the Epistle to Titus afterwards. The journey to Crete and Ephesus for the bearers of his letters would be easy from Corinth, and he could himself thence easily pass Into Epirus. He had shortly before visited Crete, wherein a Church existed (though without due organization), the fi-st foundation of wliich he may have partly laid at his former visit (Acts 27. 7, &c.), wlien on his way to his first imprisonment at Rome. That he returned to the East after his first imprisonment appears most probable from Phllippians 2. 24; Philemon -22. However, there may have been seeds of Christianity sown In Crete, even before his first visit, by the Cretans who heard Peter's preaching on Pentecost (Acts 2. 11).
Occasion of Writing.—Corrupt elements soon showed themselves In the Cretan Church, similar to those noticed
In the Epistles to Timothy as existing In the Ephesian Church, Judaism, false pretensions to science, and practical ungodliness. Paul, on his late visit, had left Titus in Crete to establish Cliurcli government, and ordain presbyters (deacms are not mentioned). Titus had been several times employed by Paul on a mission to the Corinthian Churches, and had probal)Iy thence visited Crete, wliich was witliin easy reach of Corinth. Hence the suitableness pf his selection by the apostle for the superintendence of tlie Cretan Cliurcii. Paul now follows up with instructions by letter tliose he had already given to Titus in person on tlie qualifications of elders, and the graces becoming the old, the young, and females, and warns him against the unprofitable speculations so rife in Crete. The national cliaracter of the Cretans was low In the extreme, as Epimenides, quoted in ch. 1. 12, paints it. Livy, 44. 4.'), stigmatizes their avarice; PolybLUS, 6. 40. 9, their ferocity and fraud; and 6. 47. 6, their mendacity, so much so, that " to Cretanize" is another name for loiie: they were included In the proverbial three Infamous initials K or 0, "Cappadocia, Crete, Clllcla."
Notices of Titus.—It is strange that he is never mentioned by this name in Acts, and there seems none of those mentioned in that book who exactly answers to him. He was a Greek, and therefore a Gentile (Qalatlans 2. 1, 8), and converted by Paul (ch. 1.4). He accompanied the apostle on the deputation sent from the Church of Antloch to Jerusalem, to consult the apostles respecting the circumcision of Gentile converts (Acts 15. 2) ; and, agreeably to the decree of the council there, was not circumcised. He was in (lotnpany with Paul at Ephesus, whence he was scmt to Corinth to commence tile collection for tlie Jerusalem saints, anoi to ascertain the effect of the First Epistle on the Corlntlilans (2 Corinthians 7. 6-9; 8.8; 12. 18), and tliere showed an unmercenary spirit. He next proceeded to Macedon, where he Joined Paul, who had l)een already eagerly expecting him at Troas (2 Corinthians 2. 12, 13, "Titus my brother ;" 7. 6). He was then employed by the apostle in preparing the collection for the poor saints in Judea, and became the bearer of the Second Epistle to tlie Corinllilans (2 Corinthians 8. 16, 17,23). Paul In It calls him "mjr 430
TUu FuTiction in Crete, TITUS I. Qualifications for Elderi, partner and fellow-helper concerning you." His being located in Crete (Titus 1. 5) was subsequent to Paul's first lm» prisonment, and shortly before the second, about 67 a. d., ten years subsequent to the last notice of him in Second Corinthians, 57 A. D. He probably met Paul, as the apostle desired, at Nicopolis; for his subsequent journey into
Dalniatia, thence (or else from Rome, whither he may have accompanied Paul) would be more likely, than from the distant Crete (2 Timothy 4. 10, written suhsequer Uly to the Epistle to Titus). In the unsettled state of things then, Titus' episcopal commission in Crete was to be but temporary, Paul requiring the presence of Titus with himself, whenever Artemas or Tychicus should arrive in Crete and set him free from his duties there.
Tradition represents him to have died peaceably in Crete, as archbishop of Gortyna, at an advanced age.
embracing Titus a Gentile (2 Peter 1. 1; Jude 3). Grace, mercy, and peace—"Mercy" is omitted in some of the oldest MSS. But one of tlie best and oldest MSS. supports it (Notes, cf. 1 Timothy 1. 2; 2 Timothy 1. 2). There are many similarities of plirase in tlie Pastoral Epistles, the Lord Jesus Christ—The oldest MSS. read only " Clirist Jesus." our Saviour—found thus added to " Christ" only in Paul's Pastoral Epistles, and 2 Peter 1. 1, 11 ; 2. 20; 3. 18, 5. I left thee—"I left thee 6e/imd" [Alford] wlien I left the island: not implying permanence of commission (cf. 1 Timothy 1. 3). in Crete—now Candia. set in order rather as Greek, "that tliou miglitest follow tip (the work begun by me) setting right the things that are wanting," which I was unable to complete by reason of the shortness of my stay in Crete. Christianity, doubtless, had long existed in Crete: there were some Cretans among those who heard Peter's preacliiug on Pentecost (Acts 2. 11). The number of Jews in Crete was large (v. 10), and it is likely that those scattered in the persecution of Stephen (Acts 11. 19) preached to them, as they did to the Jews of Cyprus, &c. Paul also was there on his voyage to Rome (Acts 27. 7-12). By all these instrumentalities the Gospel was sui-e to reach Crete. But until Paul's later visit, after his first imprisonment at Rome, the Cretan Christians were witli Qut Cluirch organization. This Paul began, and had commissioned (before leaving Crete) Titus to go on with, and now reminds him of that commission, ordain-rather, "appoint," " constitnte." in every city—"from city to city." as I . . . appointed tliee i.e., as I directed thee; prescribing as well tiie act of constituting elders, as also the manner of doing so, which latter includes the qualifications required in a presbyter presently stated. Those called "elders'' here are called "bishops," v.l. Elder is the term of dignity in relation to the college of presbyters ; bishop points to tlie duties of his office In relation to the fiock. From tlie unsound state of the Cretan Christians described here, we see the danger of the want of Church government. The appointment of presbyters was designed to check idle talk and speculation, by setting forth the "faithful word." 6. (Notes, cf. 1 Timothy 3. 2-4.) The thing dwelt on here as the requisite in a bisliop, is a good reputation among tliose over whom he is to be set. T1m» immoralily of the Cretan professors rendered this a necessary requisite in one wlio was to be a reprover: and their unsoundness in doctrine also made needful great steadfastness in the faith (v. 9, 13). having faithful thlldren—i. e., believing cliildren. He wiio could not bring his children to faith, how sliall he bring others? [Bengel.] Alford explains, " establislied in the faith." not accused—Not merely not riotous, but " not (even) accused of riot" ("profligacy" [Alford]; "Dissolute lite" [Wahl]). unruly insubordinate; opposed to "in subjection" (1 Timothy 3. 4). 7. For . . . must—The empha-
CHAPTER I.
Ver. 1-16. Address : For what End Titus was Left IN Crete. Qualifications for Elders: Gainsayers IN Crete Needing Reproof. 1. servant of God—not found elsewhere in the same connection. In Romans 1.
1 it is "servant of Jesus Christ" (Galatians 1. 10; Philipplans 1. 1 ; cf. Acts 16; 17 ; Revelation 1. 1 ; 15. 3). In Romans 1. 1, there follows, "called to be an apostle," which corresponds to the general designation of tlie office first, "servant of God," here, followed by the special description, "apostle of Jesus Christ." The full expression of his apostolic office answers, in both Epistles, to the design, and is a comprehensive index to the contents. The peculiar form here would never have proceeded from a forger, according to the faith—rather, " for," "witli a view to Bubserve the faith ;" this Is the object of my apostleship
(cf. v. 4, 9; Romans 1. 5). the elect—for whose salie we ougbt to endure all things (2 Timothy 2. 10). This election has its ground, not in anything belonging to those thus distinguished, but in the purpose and will of God from everlasting (2 Timothy 1. 9; Romans 8. 30-33; cf. Luke 18.
7; Ephesians 1. 4 ; Coiossians 3. 12). Acts 13. 48 shows tliat all faith on the part of the elect, rests on the Divine foreordination: they do not become elect by their faith, but receive faith, and so become believers, because they are elect, and the acknowledging of the truth—"and (for promoting) the full knowledge of the truth," i. e., the Christian truth (Ephesians 1. 13). after godliness i. e., which belongs to piety: opposed to the knowledge wliich has not for its object tiie truth, but error, doctrinal and practical (v. 11, 16; 1 Timothy 6. 3); or even wliicli has for its object mere earthly truth, not growth in the Divine life.
' Godliness," or "piety," is a term peculiar to the pastoral Epistles: a fact explained by the apostle having in them to combat doctrine tending to "ungodliness" (2 Timothy 2. 16; cf. ch. 2. 11, 12). a. In hope of eternal life —Connected with the whole preceding sentence. That whereon rests my aim as an apostle to promote the elects' faith and full knowledge of the truth, is, " the hope of eternal life" (ch. 2. 13; 3.7; Acts 23. 6; 24.15; 28. 20). that cannot lie—(Romans 3.4; 11. 29; Hebrews 6. 18.) promised before the world began—A contracted expression for "purposed before the world began (lit., before the ages of time), and promised actually in time," the promise springlug from the eternal purpose; as in 2 Timothy 1.9, the gift of grace was the result of the eternal purpose " before the world began." 3. In due times Greek, "in its own seatMis," tlie seasons appropriate to it, and fixed by God for it (Acts 1 '). manifested—implying that the " promise,"
V. 2, had lain hidden in His eternal purpose heretofore (cf. Coiossians 1. 2(i; ? Timotliy 1. 9, 10). his word—equivalent to "eternal rile" (v. 2; John 5.24; 6.03; 17.3, 17). through preaching— t?reeA:, "in preaching," or rather as Alforu (iVo<<>, cf. 2Timotliy 4. 17), "in the (Gospel) proclamation (the thing preaclied the Gospel) with which I was entrusted." according to-in pursuance of (cf. 1 Timothy 1. 1). of God our Saviour— ratlier us Greek, "otour Haviour God." God is predicated ot our iS'aui'our (of. Jude 25 ; Luke 1. 47). Also Psalm 21. 5 ; Isaiah 12. 2 ; 45. 15, 21,LXX. Applied to Jesus, v. 4; cli.2. 13; 3.6; 2 Timothy I.
sis is on must. The reason why I said "blameless," is the very Idea of a " bishop" (an overseer of tlie flock ; he here sul)stitutes for "presbyter" the term which expresses his duties) involves tlie necessity for such blamelessuess, if he is to have influence over the flock, steward of God—The greater the master is, the greater the virtues required in His servant [Bengel] (1 Timothy .3. 15); the Church is God's house, over whicli the minister is set as a steward (Helirews 3. 2-6; 1 Peter 4. 10, 17). Note, ministers are not merely Clairch officers, but God's stewards; Church government is of Divine appointment, not self-willed lU., "self-plea-sing;" unaccommodating toothers; /i«r»A, the opposite of "a lover of hospitality" {v. 6); so Nabal (I 431
10. 4. Tltuu, mine own aon—Greek, " my genuine child"
(1 Timothy 1. 2), t. e., converted by my instrumentality
(1 Corintliians 4.17; Philemon 10). after the common folth—A genuine son in respect to (in virtue of) the faith common to all tlie people of God, comprising in a common brotherhood Gentiles as M ell as Jews, therefore