rd

Titus 3

1 Of obedience to such as be in authority. 9 He warneth Titus to beware of foolish and unprofitable questions, 12 Concluding with certain private matters, 15 And salutations.
1.Put them in remembrance that they *abe subject to the Principalities and Powers, and that they be obedient, and ready to every good work,
2.That they speak evil of no man, that they be no fighters, but soft, shewing all meekness unto all men.
3.*bFor we our selves also were in times past unwise, disobedient, deceived, serving the lusts and divers pleasures, living in maliciousness & envy, hateful, and hating one another.
4.But when the bountifulness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
5.*Not cby the works of righteousness, which we had done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the dwashing of the new birth, and the renuing of the holie Ghost,
6.Which he shed on us abundantly, through Jesus Christ our Saviour,
7.That we, being justified by his grace, should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
8.That is a true saying, and these things I will thou shuldest affirm, that they which have believed in God, might be careful to shewe forth good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.
9.*But stay foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and brawlings about the Law: for they are unprofitable and vain.
10.eReject him that is an heretic, after once or twice admonition,
11.Knowing that he that is such, is fperverted, and gsinneth being damned of his own self.
12.When I shall send Artemas unto thee, or Tychicus, be diligent to come to me unto Nicopolis: for I have determined there to winter.
13.Bring Zenas hthe expounder of the Law, and Apollos on their journey diligently, that they lack nothing.
14.And let ours also learn to shewe forth good works for necessary uses that they be not unfruitful.
15.All that are with me, salute thee. Greet them that love us in the faith. Grace be with you all, Amen.
To Titus, elect the first bishop of the Church of the Cretians, written from Nicopolis in Macedonia.

Notes

1-*.
Rom. 13.1, 1 Pet. 2.13.
1-a.
Although the rulers be infidels, yet we are bound to obey them in civil policies, & where as they command us nothing against the word of God.
3-*.
1 Cor. 6.11.
3-b.
For let us consider what we ourselves were when God showed us favour.
5-*.
2 Tim. 1.9.
5-c.
God does not justify us for respect of anything, which he sees in us, but does prevent us with his grace and freely accepts us.
5-d.
Baptism is a sure sign of our regeneration, which is wrought by the holie Ghost.
9-*.
1 Tim. 1.4 and 4.7, 2 Tim. 2.23.
10-e.
This commandment is given to the minister, and so particularly to all men to whom the sword is not committed, but else the magistrate, whose chief office is to maintain God’s glory in his Church, ought to cut off all such rotten and infectious members from the body.
11-f.
So that there is no hope of amendment.
11-g.
Willingly, and wittingly.
13-h.
It is probable, that he was an interpreter of the Law of Moses, as Apollos, & c.