own testimony stood firm; he was strong for the Lord through grace. The strength of the Lord was with him to confess Christ, and to exhort Timothy to so much the more diligent and devoted an exercise of his ministry, because the days were evil.

"This is very important. If we love the Lord, if we feel what He is to the assembly, we feel that in the latter all is in ruin. Personal courage is not weakened, for the Lord remains ever the same, faithful, and using His power for us: if not in the assembly which rejects it, it is in those who stand fast that He will exercise His power accordig to the individual need created by this state of things.”*

*Synopsis.

TITUS

The Epistle to Titus.

Introduction.

Titus, to whom this Epistle is addressed, was a Greek convert of the Apostle (Titus i:4; Gal. iii:3). We have little knowledge of him. From the Epistle to the Galatians we know that he accompanied Paul and Barnabas in their journey to Jerusalem to attend the council in which the question of the relation of believing Gentiles to the law was decided (Acts xv). From the Second Epistle to the Corinthians we learn that Paul sent him to Corinth to gather the collection (2 Cor. viii:1-6) and that he discharged the duty in a zealous way. "But thanks be to God, who put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you. For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more forward, of his own accord he went unto you” (2 Cor. viii:16–17). Paul also stated in the Second Corinthian Epistle that he had no rest when he did not find Titus (2 Cor. ii:13), but when he came Paul was greatly comforted. "Nevertheless God, who comforteth those who are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus" (2 Cor. vii:6). The Epistle shows that he was in the island of Crete. Paul visited this island in company with Titus, leaving him there. Titus probably did not stay long in Crete, for Paul asked that he should meet him at Nicopolis (iii:12). This is all that can be said on the person of Titus.

The contents of this Epistle are of the same nature as the Epistles to Timothy, though the departure from the faith so prominent in the Epistles to Timothy is less prominent in this Epistle. That the truth must be after, or according to, godliness is especially emphasized; the truth must be manifested in a godly walk.

The Divisions of the Epistle to Titus.

The Epistle contains practical instructions. We make three divisions.

I.

INSTRUCTIONS AND WARNINGS. Chapter i.

II. THINGS WHICH BECOME SOUND DOCTRINE. Chapter ii.

III. IN RELATION TO THE WORLD AND FALSE

TEACHERS. Chapter iii.

Verses 1-4. Paul calls himself in writing to Titus "a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ," for he speaks in these introductory words of God's elect, and their faith in Him; and the promise of eternal life, God, who cannot lie, gave before the dispensations began; and that His Word is now manifested through preaching which was committed unto him by our Saviour-God. God's elect are those who have trusted in Christ. They have personal faith in God and know His love and are in relationship with Him. But such a faith and relationship demands godliness; therefore the statement, "The acknowledgment of the truth which is after godliness." These two, truth and godliness, belong together. If the truth is given up or not held, then godliness also is given up; the truth must be manifested in godliness. As to statement on the promise of life before the ages began, see annotations on 2 Tim. 1:9.

Verses 5-9. Paul had left Titus in Crete. From Acts ii:11 we learn that the inhabitants of Crete were present on the Day of Pentecost and heard Peter preach. These Cretan Jews may have brought the Gospel to the island. Titus is commissioned by Paul to set the things in order which were wanting, and to appoint elders* in every city. We do not find the same intimacy between him and Titus as that intimacy and confidence which existed between Paul and Timothy. He does not open his heart to him as he did to Timothy. He invests Titus with authority to appoint

*That bishops are elders, etc., see annotations on 1 Timothy iii.