Commentary on Galatians Ephesians Philippians Colossians Thessalonians Timothy Titus and Philemon John Calvin (continued)
CHAPTER 1
Titus 1:10-12
Titus 1:10-12
10. For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:
10. sunt enim multi et inoboedientes vaniloqui et seductores maxime qui de circumcisione sunt
11. Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.
11. quos oportet redargui qui universas domos subvertunt docentes quae non oportet turpis lucri gratia
12. One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.
12. dixit quidam ex illis proprius ipsorum propheta Cretenses semper mendaces malae bestiae ventres pigri
10 For there are many unruly. 1128 After having laid down a general rule, which ought to be everywhere observed, in order that Titus may be more attentive to adhere to it, he holds out to him the urgent necessity which ought to excite him more than all things else. He warns him that he has to deal with many obstinate and incorrigible persons, that many are puffed up with vanity and idle talk, that many are deceivers; and that therefore they ought to choose, on the other hand, such leaders as are qualified and well prepared to oppose them. For, if the children of this world, when dangers arise, increase their solicitude and watchfulness, it would be disgraceful for us, when Satan is using his utmost efforts to remain careless and inactive, as if we were in a state of peace.
Unruly Instead of (inobedientes) disobedient, which is the rendering in the old translation for {ἀνυπότακτοι} Erasmus translates it (intractabiles) incorrigible. He means those who cannot endure to be brought to obey, and who throw off the yoke of subjection. He gives the appellation of vain talkers, 1129 not only to the authors of false doctrines, but to those who, addicted to ambitious display, occupy themselves with nothing but useless subtleties. {Ματαιολογία} 1130 (vain talking) is contrasted with useful and solid doctrine, and therefore includes all trivial and frivolous speculations, which contain nothing but empty bombast, because they contribute nothing to piety and the fear of God. And such is all the scholastic theology that is found, in the present day, in Popery. Yet he calls the same persons deceivers of minds. It may be thought preferable to view this as relating to a different class of persons; but, for my own part, I think that it means the same class; for the teachers of such trifles entice and fascinate the minds of men, so as no longer to receive sound doctrine.
Chiefly they who are of the circumcision. He says that they are chiefly of 1128"Car il y en a plusieurs qui ne se peuvent ranger." — "For there are many of them who cannot submit."
1129"Parlans vanitez." — "Speaking vanities." 1130"Vanite de paroles." — "Vanity of words."