Obrighterdays

2 Peter 2:1

2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

KJV

 

Hab 2:18-20

 

18 What profiteth the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it; the molten image, and a teacher of lies, that the maker of his work trusteth therein, to make dumb idols?

 

19 Woe unto him that saith to the wood, Awake; to the dumb stone, Arise, it shall teach! Behold, it is laid over with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in the midst of it.

 

20 But the LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him.

KJV

 

Rom 1:15-3:1

 

15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

 

Romans 2

 

2:1 Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.

2 But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.

3 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?

4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;

6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds:

7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:

8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,

9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;

10 But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:

11 For there is no respect of persons with God.

12 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;

13(For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.

14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:

15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)

16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.

17 Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God,

18 And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law;

19 And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness,

20 An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law.

21 Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?

22 Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?

23 Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God?

24 For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.

25 For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.

26 Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?

27 And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law?

28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:

29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

 

 

KJV

Nowadays it’s hard to show any affection to anyone without it looking evil.

The most common showing of affection is that outstretched hand in the closest anyone gets is about 4ft. between them. In today’s society a minister or clergy shows the affection to any one is perceived perverted.

 

Main book 2 Tim 3.

 

1 Chron 29:3

 

3 Moreover, because I have set my affection to the house of my God, I have of mine own proper good, of gold and silver, which I have given to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house,

KJV

 

Rom 1:31

 

31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

KJV

 

Col 3:2

 

2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

KJV

 

Col 3:5

 

5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

KJV

 

2 Tim 3:3

 

3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

KJV

 

Rom 16:16

 

16 Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you.

KJV

 

1 Cor 16:20

 

20 All the brethren greet you. Greet ye one another with an holy kiss.

KJV

 

2 Cor 13:12

 

12 Greet one another with an holy kiss.

KJV

 

1 Thess 5:26

 

26 Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss.

KJV

 

 

 

2 Timothy 3:1

 

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

[In the last days] This often means the days of the Messiah, and is sometimes extended in its signification to the destruction of Jerusalem, as this was properly the last days of the Jewish state. But the phrase may mean any future time, whether near or distant.

 

2 Timothy 3:2

 

For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

[For men shall be] The description in this and the following verses the Papists apply to the Protestants; the Protestants in their turn apply it to the Papists; Schoettgen to the Jews; and others to heretics in general. There have been both teachers and people in every age of the church, and in every age of the world, to whom these words may be most legitimately applied. Both Catholics and Protestants have been lovers of their own selves, etc.; but it is probable that the apostle had some particular age in view, in which there should appear some very essential corruption of Christianity.

[Lovers of their own selves] Philautoi. Selfish, studious of their own interest, and regardless of the welfare of all mankind.

[Covetous] Philarguroi. Lovers of money, because of the influence which riches can procure.

[Boasters] Alazones. Vainglorious: self-assuming; valuing themselves beyond all others.

[Proud] Hupereephanoi. Airy, light, trifling persons; those who love to make a show-who are all outside; from huper, above, and phainoo, to show.

[Blasphemers] Blaspheemoi. Those who speak impiously of God and sacred things, and injuriously of men,

[Disobedient to parents] Goneusin apeitheis. Head-strong children, whom their parents cannot persuade.

[Unthankful] Acharistoi. Persons without grace, or gracefulness; who think they have a right to the services of all men, yet feel no obligation, and consequently no gratitude.

[Unholy] Anosioi. Without piety; having no heart reverence for God.

 

2 Timothy 3:3

 

Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

[Without natural affection] Astorgoi. Without that affection which parents bear to their young, and which the young bear to their parents. An affection which is common to every class of animals; consequently, men without it are worse than brutes.

[Truce-breakers] Aspondoi. From a, the alpha negative, and spondee, a libation, because in making treaties libations both of blood and wine were poured out. The word means those who are bound by no promise, held by no engagement, obliged by no oath; persons who readily promise anything, because they never intend to perform.

[False accusers] Diaboloi. Devils; but properly enough rendered false accusers, for this is a principal work of the Devil. Slanderers; striving ever to ruin the characters of others.

[Incontinent] Akrateis. From a, the alpha negative, and kratos, power. Those who, having sinned away their power of self-government, want strength to govern their appetites; especially those who are slaves to uncleanness.

[Fierce] Aneemeroi; From a, the alpha negative, and heemeros, mild or gentle. Wild, impetuous, whatever is contrary to pliability and gentleness.

[Despisers of those that are good] Aphilagathoi. Not lovers of good men. Here is a remarkable advantage of the Greek over the English tongue, one word of the former expressing five or six of the latter. Those who do not love the good must be radically bad themselves.

 

2 Timothy 3:4

 

Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

[Traitors] Prodotai. From pro, before, and didoomi, to divide up. Those who deliver up to an enemy the person who has put his life in their hands; such as the Scots of 1648, who delivered up into the hands of his enemies their unfortunate countryman and king, Charles the First; a stain which no lapse of ages can wipe out.

[Heady] Propeteis. From pro, forward, and piptoo, to fall; headstrong, precipitate, rash, inconsiderate.

[High-minded] Tetuphoomenoi. From tuphos, smoke; the frivolously aspiring; those who are full of themselves, and empty of all good.

[Lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God] This is nervously and beautifully expressed in the Greek, phileedonoi mallon ee philotheoi, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God; i.e. pleasure, sensual gratification, is their god; and this they love and serve; God they do not.

 

2 Timothy 3:5

 

Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

[Having a form of godliness] The original word morphoosis signifies a draught, sketch, or summary, and will apply well to those who have all their religion in their creed, confession of faith, catechism, bodies of divinity, etc., while destitute of the life of God in their souls; and are not only destitute of this life, but deny that such life or power is here to be experienced or known. They have religion in their creed, but none in their hearts. And perhaps to their summary they add a decent round of religious observances. From such turn away-not only do not imitate them, but have no kind of fellowship with them; they are a dangerous people, and but seldom suspected, because their outside in fair.

 

2 Timothy 3:6

 

For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,

[For of this sort are they] He here refers to false teachers and their insinuating manners, practising upon weak women, who, seeing in them such a semblance of piety, entertain them with great eagerness, and at last become partakers with them in their impurities. Among the Jews there are remarkable cases of this kind on record, and not a few of them among the full fed monks of the Romish church. But in what sect or party have not such teachers been occasionally found? yet neither Judaism, Protestantism, nor Roman Catholicism makes any provision for such men.

 

2 Timothy 3:7

 

Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

[Ever learning] From their false teachers, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth, because that teaching never leads to the truth; for, although there was a form of godliness, which gave them a sort of authority to teach, yet, as they denied the power of godliness, they never could bring their votaries to the knowledge of the saving power of Christianity.

There are many professors of Christianity still who answer the above description. They hear, repeatedly hear, it may be, good sermons; but, as they seldom meditate on what they hear, they derive little profit from the ordinances of God. They have no more grace now than they had several years ago, though hearing all the while, and perhaps not wickedly departing from the Lord. They do not meditate, they do not think, they do not reduce what they hear to practice; therefore, even under the preaching of an apostle, they could not become wise to salvation.

 

2 Timothy 3:8

 

Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds reprobate concerning the faith.

[Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses] This refers to the history of the Egyptian magicians, given in Ex 7, where see the notes, and particularly the concluding observations at the end of that chapter, where several things are said concerning these two men.

[Men of corrupt minds] It appears as if the apostle were referring still to some Judaizing teachers who were perverting the church with their doctrines, and loudly calling in question the authority and doctrine of the apostle.

[Reprobate concerning the faith.] Adokimoi. Undiscerning or untried; they are base metal, unstamped; and should not pass current, because not standard. This metaphor is frequent in the sacred writings.

 

2 Timothy 3:9

 

But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.

[But they shall proceed no further] Such teaching and teachers shall never be able ultimately to prevail against the truth; for the foundation of God standeth sure.

[Their folly shall be manifest] As the Scriptures, which are the only role of morals and doctrine, shall ever be preserved; so, sooner or later, all false doctrines shall be tried by them: and the folly of men, setting up their wisdom against the wisdom of God, must become manifest to all. False doctrine cannot prevail long where the sacred Scriptures are read and studied. Error prevails only where the book of God is withheld from the people. The religion that fears the Bible is not the religion of God. Is Popery or Protestantism this religion?

 

2 Timothy 3:10

 

But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,

[Thou hast fully known my doctrine] And having long had the opportunity of knowing me, the doctrine I preached, my conduct founded on these doctrines, the object I have in view by my preaching, infidelity to God and to my trust, my long-suffering with those who walked disorderly, and opposed themselves to the truth, and did what they could to lessen my authority and render it suspected, my love to them and to the world in general, and my patience in all my adversities; thou art capable of judging between me and the false teachers, and canst easily discern the difference between their doctrines, conduct, motives, temper, spirit, etc., and mine.

As the article’s author, the British Evangelical scholar David Instone-Brewer, points out, for most of 2,000 years Christians have viewed divorce through two scriptural citations. In Matthew, the Pharisees ask Christ, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause?” Jesus refers to the Old Testament and then replies, “Whoever divorces a wife, except for sexual indecency, commits adultery.” The apostle Paul adds in the book First Corinthians that a Christian is “not bound” to a non-Christian spouse who abandons him. Simple, right?

Instone-Brewer radically reinterprets the first passage using, of all things, quotation marks. The Greek of the New Testament didn’t always contain them, and scholars agree that sometimes they must be added in to make sense of it. Instone-Brewer, an expert in Jewish thought during Jesus’s era, writes that Christ’s interlocutors were not asking him whether there was any cause at all for divorce, but whether he supported something called “any-cause” divorce, a term a little bit like “no-fault” that allowed husbands to divorce wives for any reason at all. Instone-Brewer claims Jesus’s “no” was a response to this idea, and that his “except for sexual indecency” condition was not a statement of the sole exemption from God’s blanket prohibition, but merely Christ’s reiteration of one of several divorce permissions in the Old Testament - one he felt the “any-time” advocates had exaggerated. Finally, Instone-Brewer tallies four grounds for divorce he finds affirmed in both Old and New Testaments: adultery, emotional and sexual neglect, abandonment (by anyone) and abuse.

Christianity Today has written previously on divorce, often bemoaning how easy it is in today’s America. However, the Instone-Brewer essay appeared to be its editors’ attempt to offer Evangelicals an escape from a classic dilemma. The “plain sense” of Jesus’s words without quotes seems clear enough, but also inhumane: how could a loving God forbid divorce, even by omission, in cases of wife-beating, or of abandonment by a Christian spouse?

Each branch of Christianity deals with divorce in its own way: Catholicism bans it entirely, but many divorced and remarried couples nonetheless find that their conscience permits them to take Communion. Liberal Protestantism accepted divorce some decades ago without much engagement of the scriptural issue. Evangelicals define themselves as being tightly bound by scripture. But besides the humanitarian problem, there are some uncomfortable facts on the ground: The divorce rate among Evangelicals, which first became news after polls released by the Barna Research Group in 2001, has been as high or higher than the national average.

The Evangelical movement has actually made tremendous accommodations given the strictures it lives under. Ministries for the newly divorced are common at mega churches; and on the historically less-rigid Pentecostal side of the spectrum, celebrity preachers Juanita Bynum and Paula White both recently announced their intention to divorce. Most experts interviewed for this story attested that whereas 30 years ago, a pastor might well order a battered woman home to return her husband, that is rare today.

More conservative Evangelicals remain uneasy about divorce. If a split itself is inescapable, notes Christianity Today editor Andy Crouch, “remarriage is where the rubber meets the road,” and many remarried couples find themselves denied church membership. Says Russel Moore, dean of the 16.3 million-member Southern Baptist Convention’s influential Southern Seminary, “We teach our future pastors that marriage is a lifelong, one-flesh union.” Any woman in an abusive marriage should “leave that situation,” he acknowledges, and a “majority” probably accept remarriage. Asked if he does, Moore demurred: “Let me think about that for a little bit. I could answer in a way that would be very easily misunderstood.”

Evangelical conflict on the topic was obvious in reader response to the Instone Brewer essay. Initially the mail was heavily negative. The most stinging broadside sas a column by John Piper, a respected theological conservative, that called the essay not just weak but “tragic.” The magazine’s editor in chief, David Neff, felt the need to explain online that “Instone-Brewer’s article did not… give people carte blanche on divorce.” The mail eventually leveled off at 60% negative to 40% positive.

Still, the controversy suggests that even the country’s most rule-bound Christians will search for a fresh understanding of scripture when it seems unjust to them. The implications? Flexibility on divorce may mean that evangelicals could also rethink their position on such things as gay marriage, as a generation of Christians far more accepting of homosexuality begins to move into power. (The ever-active Barna folks have found that 57% of “born-again” Christians age 16-29 criticize their own church for being “anti-homosexual.”) It could also give heart to a certain twice-divorced former New York mayor who is running for President and seeking the conservative vote. But that may be pushing things a bit.

By DAVID VAN BIEMA

I was lying in bed the other night and out of the blue God asked me how you want to be remembered. It was like my life left me. At the ripe   age of fifty three it hit home. “You all know what I mean” ok God help me just how do I want to be remembered/ what does your written word say?

Prov 22:1

22:1 A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.

 Eccl 7:1

7:1 A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one’s birth.

KJV

God has said to have a good name, one that people will remember. Man did I do same thinking that night. Do I have a good name yes, no maybe? I thank that we all could look in to it and see. What I’m getting at is do people see God in you. That’s how I what to be remembered I want floks to see the God in me not me.

 

Ex 20

20:1 And God spake all these words, saying,

2 I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

 I believe the Father laid the subject of honor on my heart to search it out. Let’s look at what Moses was given from the Father, with the commandments. First and foremost is to have no other Gods before the Lord of Lords, most people think that’s as if worshiping other gods and it is. However, let’s go one step further and put it to the test. At this time in life it could be almost anything, like a job, kids, money, TV, anything or anyone that consumes your attention. Just who is the god in your life?

I have seen for many years how church leaders make buildings of earth their god. The bigger the building the better and we want more seats than the church down the road. We have exalted these leaders and bow to them as if they are god. Yet still, Jesus did die for all that believe on him, we all know that in our hearts and minds, the Lord Jesus said in the Gospels we are sheep lead to the slaughter. We dishonor God our Father when we exalt these leaders above Him. As I look at the church today I watch these big name preachers as they lie through their teeth on television, they seem to love money and to see their names in lights more than God. Where is the honor in that? Yet we run to them.

We have a generation of children growing up today that does not honor their parents; another commandment from God the Father. It’s time we as God fearing children lift our praises, repent of our sins to the Father and to start praying for the young ones in Christ that they will run to Jesus and not to the world for love and acceptance. There were some of us in the eighties that fell for the name it and claim it church, and then in the nineties a lot of these men became discouraged and fell. Yet we still run in groves to fall down to worship these leaders.

In Matt 24: 10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

Jesus said it and I believe every word,

Ex 20:4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:

5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;

6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

7 Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:

10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:

11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

13 Thou shalt not kill.

14 Thou shalt not commit adultery.

15 Thou shalt not steal.

16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.

17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.

 God the Father has said what we are to do, but some still ask the same old thing yet they don’t pray and read his word the BIBLE. Inclosing I’ll add that God will offend your mind to reveal your heart. In his love, Jim

I have been looking at the way the body of Christ is heading. It’s looking good in same places and very self rightness in others. In the seventies there was this thing called the barking dog spirit that would come on people, they had mistaken the spirit of Satan for the holy spirit of God the Father. Well, I can say this, when the world said that we are fools that time they are right. Now some twenty years later what has changed?  

  Matt 10:16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

 Our Lord has said to be wise. What happened? Are we so dumb down that we depend on the man preaching in front of us and we don’t pray and read God’s word for ourselves anymore? If you say no I read the word all the time (by the way it does not count reading the over head in church) just how do you know what I say is true? Just turn on the Christian television. See the self rightness on there. They will tell you they know God better then you. It’s time that we as the Church get down on our knees and start praying. Better yet start moving. It’s so much easier to steer a moving vehicle than one that is standing still. It says in

Isa 50:7 For the Lord God will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.

No one has to do a song and dance for God; Jesus said if you lift me up I will draw all men unto me. There was a minster years ago that said “do the work “it’s not hard at all. We tell ourselves that it is, we forget it’s not about us.

Remember John 3:16 says

John 3: 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

 

God loved the world he sent his only begotten Son.  See it’s not about us. By him and for him.  God bless Jim

Paul said in Romans that we should not be conforming to this world…..

  The church has gone the way of the world. Just look at the divorce rate higher than the world? Since 2000 we have seen many things happen, there was 911, and the church cried out to the Father. that was just for a short time. Now the church talks about the Government as the enemy. Now I do understand, anyone can see who is running the government; just look at who’s running for president. Folks the church has falling out of touch with God. We can see that in the preaching all over the TV today. It’s all about what God does for you. The Ten Commandments does not say anything about what God does for us? All it says he brought us out of bandage and we all know the bandage you and I were in amen. These men and women have they sold out to God or money. I read about the men of old that sold everything they had and did what they believe God told them to do. Does anyone see that in the Preaching today or is it just a meeting of self help preaching? So if one needs to be lifted up start praising the Father sell out to him we all sing   it in church on Sunday morning “I give my life to you Lord” and we take it back on Monday morning. Let look at it; if my church was just like me what kind of church would my church be. Paul wrote in 2 Tim 3:1 in the last days what kind of church there would be. Paul writes in Titus what a minster of God is to be like. I’m saying these things not to judge and one person and brothers and sisters in the Lord we are to judge the way a person acts and speaks that is how we know the Holy Spirit show us. The Lord Jesus said it in the gospels you know them by their fruit.

In Romans 12:2 it says to be not conformed to this world but to renew your mind in the word. Anyone who sees with open eyes can see that there is no difference in the world and the body of Christ. Let’s look at marriage do we date and get to know one another for a time? When was the last time anyone saw a couple date that was not living with each other? One in four teenage girls today has STDs. Why is that? We as a people do not see the wrong in sex before marriage. When I was a young man in my 20’s I would say try the car out before you buy it. I was a whore then, I see the truth now, and I thank God for opening my eyes to the truth. We as a body should keep our eye on Jesus and not each other, we cry and cry about what is going on in our lives, and we let it happen. We let the government show us how to live because they know so much. Just the other day the governor of New York stepped down because he was accused of paying for whores. Yes, they know so much. I was watching a news program that was saying a five year old boy was going around saying he was a girl and the child psychologist said that the five year old knew what he wanted to be. So God did wrong by making that child a boy? We have let the world tells us what is right and wrong and put God in a building on Sundays only. Is it so politically correct to be a Christian in today’s society? Or on the other hand, is it just a fad? We as believers can’t even agree on when someone becomes saved. We all sing songs on Sunday morning singing I was saved at the time I first believed, hmmm. Folks, Jesus has said lift him up and he will draw all men unto him. God said believe on the name of the Lord and you will be saved. Look to Jesus for your needs. Luke: 6 says a lot of things, it says to love one another not to rob each other it says to help one another. What happen to seeing Jesus? Let’s try for two weeks Praying and seeking Jesus for your needs and see if that helps your walk in this world.
In his Love, Jim

Titus 2:1-3:1

2:1 But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:

2 That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.

3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;

4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,

5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

6 Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded.

7 In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,

8 Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.

9 Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again;

10 Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.

11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

KJV

Titus 2:1

But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:

But … thou - in contrast to the reprobate seducers, Titus 1:11, 15-16. ‘He deals more in exhortations, because those intent on useless questions needed chiefly to be recalled to a holy life; for nothing so allays men’s wandering curiosity as the being brought to recognize practical duties’ (Calvin).

Speak - without restraint, with open mouth: contrast Titus 1:11, “mouths must be stopped.”

Titus 2:2

That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.

Sober, [neefalious] - ‘vigilant,’ as sober men alone can be (1 Tim 3:2). But “sober” here answers to “not given to … wine” (Titus 2:3; 1:7).

Grave - ‘dignified.’

Temperate, [soofronas] - ’self-restrained,’ ‘discreet’ (Titus 1:8; 1 Tim 2:9).

Faith, in charity (love), in patience - combined in 1 Tim 6:11. “Faith, hope, charity” (1 Cor 13:13). “Patience” [hupomonee: brave endurance] is supported by “hope” (1 Cor 13:7; 1 Thess 1:3). The grace which especially becomes old men; the fruit of ripened experience derived from trials overcome (Rom 5:3).

Titus 2:3

The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;

Behaviour, [katasteemati] - ‘deportment:’ ‘the gait, movements, expression of countenance, speech, silence’ (Jerome).

As becometh holiness, [hieroprepeis] - ‘as becometh women consecrated to God’ (Wahl): Christian women being priestesses unto God (Eph 5:3; 1 Tim 2:10). ‘Observant of sacred decorum’ (Bengel).

Not false accusers - slanderers: a besetting sin of elderly women.

Given to much wine - the besetting sin of the Cretians (Titus 1:12). [Dedoulomenas, ‘enslaved to much wine.’] Addiction to wine is slavery (Rom 6:16; 2 Peter 2:19).

Teachers - in private: not public (1 Cor 14:34; 1 Tim 2:11-12): influencing for good the younger women by precept and example.

Titus 2:4

That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,

Teach … to be sober, [soofronizoosin] - ’self-restrained,’ ‘discreet:’ Titus 2:2, “temperate” [soofronas]. But see note; cf. note, 2 Tim 1:7. Ellicott, ‘That they school the young women to be lovers of their husbands,’ etc. (the foundation of all domestic happiness). It was judicious that Titus, a young man, should admonish the young women, not directly, but through the older women.

Titus 2:5

To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

Keepers at home, [oikourgous] - ‘guardians of the house.’ So C H f g, Vulgate. But ‘Aleph (a) A Delta G read [oikourgous] ‘workers at home:’ active in household duties (Prov 7:11; 1 Tim 5:13).

Good - kind, beneficent (Matt 20:15; Rom 5:7; 1 Peter 2:18). Not churlish and niggardly, while thrifty as housewives; not harsh to servants.

Obedient, [hupotassomenas] - “submitting themselves,” as in Eph 5:21-24, notes.

Their own - marking the duty of subjection which they owe them as being their own husbands (Col 3:18).

Blasphemed - ‘evil spoken of.’ That no reproach may be cast on the Gospel, through the inconsistencies of its professors (Titus 2:8,10; Rom 2:24; 1 Tim 5:14; 6:1).

Titus 2:6

Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded.

Young, [tous neooterous] - in contrast to “the aged men” (Titus 2:2). ‘The younger men.’

Sober-minded - self-restrained. ‘Nothing is so hard at this age as to overcome undue pleasures’ (Chrysostom).

Titus 2:7

In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,

In - with respect to all things.

Thyself a pattern - though but a young man. All teaching is useless unless one’s example confirm his word.

In doctrine - in thy ministerial teaching (showing) uncorruptness; i.e., untainted sincerity [afthorian, ‘Aleph (a) A Delta, for adiafthorian (C)] (cf. 2 Cor 11:3). As “gravity,” etc., refers to Titus’ manner (dignified seriousness in delivery), so “uncorruptness” to his doctrine.

Sincerity, [aftharsian] - Delta. But omitted in ‘Aleph (a) A C G, Vulgate.

Titus 2:8

Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.

Speech - discourse in public and private.

He that is of the contrary part - the adversary (Titus 1:9; 2 Tim 2:25), whether pagan or Jew.

May be ashamed - put to confusion by the power of truth and innocence (cf. Titus 2:5,10; 1 Tim 5:14; 6:1).

No evil thing - in our acts or demeanour.

Of you. So A. But ‘Aleph (a) C Delta G f g read ‘of us,’ Christians.

Titus 2:9

Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again;

Servants - ’slaves.’

To please them well - to be complaisant in everything: to have that zealous desire to gain the master’s good-will which anticipates the master’s wish, and does even more than is required. The reason for the frequent injunctions to slaves to subjection (Eph 6:5, etc.; Col 3:22; 1 Tim 6:1, etc.; 1 Peter 2:18) was, that in no rank was there more danger of the spiritual equality and freedom of Christians being misunderstood than in that of slaves. It was natural for the slave who became a Christian to forget his place, and put himself on a social level with his master. Hence, the charge for each to abide in the sphere in which he was when converted (1 Cor 7:20-24).

Not answering again - in contradiction to the master [antilegontas] (Wahl).

Titus 2:10

Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.

Not purloining, [nosfizomenous] - ‘Not appropriating’ what does not belong to one. ‘Keeping back’ dishonestly or deceitfully (Acts 5:2-3).

Showing - in acts.

All - all possible, every form of, good; really; not in mere appearance (Eph 6:5-6). ‘Heathen do not judge of the Christian’s doctrines from these, but from his actions and life’ (Chrysostom). Men will write, fight, and even die for religion; but how few live for it!

God our Saviour, [Tou Sooteeros heemoon Theou] - ‘of our Saviour God;’ i.e., God the Father, the originating Author of salvation (cf. note, 1 Tim 1:1; 2:3). God deigns to have His Gospel-doctrine adorned even by slaves, regarded by the world as no better than beasts of burden. ‘Though the service be rendered to an earthly master, the honour redounds to God, as the servant’s good-will flows from the fear of God’ (Theophylact). His love in being “our Saviour” is the strongest ground for adorning His doctrine by our lives: the force of “For” in Titus 2:11.

Titus 2:11

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

The grace of God - God’s gratuitous favour in redemption.

Hath appeared, [epefanee] - ‘hath been made to shine from above’ (Isa 9:2; Luke 1:79), ‘hath been manifested’ (Titus 3:4), after having been long hidden in God’s loving counsels (Col 1:26; 2 Tim 1:9-10). The grace of God was embodied in Jesus, “the brightness of the Father’s glory,” the manifested “Sun of righteousness,” “the Word made flesh.” The Gospel dispensation is “the day” (1 Thess 5:5,8: there is a double “appearing,” that of “grace,” that of “glory,” Titus 2:13: cf. Rom 13:12). [Translate, hoe sooteerios pasin anthroopois, ‘the grace … that bringeth salvation to all men hath,’ etc., not “appeared to all men:” for “us” fellows (1 Tim 2:4; 4:10). Hence, God is called “our Saviour” (Titus 2:10). Jesus means the same.]

To all - cf. the different classes (Titus 2:2-9): even to servants; to us Gentiles, once aliens from God. Hence arises our obligation to all (Titus 3:2).

Titus 2:12

Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

Teaching, [paideuousa] - ‘disciplining us.’ Grace is connected with disciplining chastisements (1 Cor 11:32; Heb 12:6-7). Children need disciplining. The discipline which grace exercises teaches us to deny worldly lusts, and to live soberly, etc., in this present world [aion, course of things], wherein self-discipline is needed, since its spirit is opposed to God (Titus 1:12,16; 1 Cor 1:20; 3:18-19): in the coming world we may gratify every desire without need of self-discipline, because all desires there will be conformable to the will of God.

That, [hina] - ‘in order that:’ the end of the ‘disciplining’ is ‘in order that … we may live soberly’ etc. This is lost by the translation, “teaching us.”

Denying … lusts (Luke 9:23). The aorist [arneesamenoi], ‘denying once for all.’ We deny them when we withhold our consent from them, refuse the delight they suggest, and the act to which they solicit; nay, tear them up by the roots out of our soul (Bernard, ‘Sermon’ 11).

Worldly lusts - the [tas: all] lusts of the world (Gal 5:16; Eph 2:3; 1 John 2:15-17; 5:19). The world [kosmos] will not come to an end when this present age [aeon] or world-course shall.

Live soberly, righteously, and godly - the positive side of the Christian character; as “denying … lusts,” the negative. “Soberly,” i.e., with self-restraint, in relation to one’s self: “righteously,” or justly, toward our neighbour; “godly,” toward God (not merely amiably and justly, but something higher, with reverential love toward God). These three comprise our ‘disciplining’ in faith and love, from which he passes to hope (Titus 2:13).

Titus 2:13

Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

(Phil 3:20-21).

Looking for - with constant expectation [prosdechomenoi], “waiting for” (Luke 2:25), and joy (Rom 8:19): the antidote to worldly lusts; the stimulus to “live in this present world” conformably to this expectation.

That - Greek, “the.”

Blessed - bringing blessedness (Rom 4:7-8).

Hope - i.e., object of hope; including glory, righteousness, and resurrection (Rom 8:24; Gal 5:5; Col 1:5).

The glorious appearing. One Greek article connects closely “hope” and “appearing” (the hope being about to be realized only at the appearing of Christ). ‘The blessed hope and manifestation (cf. note, Titus 2:11) of the glory.’ [Epiphaneian] ‘Manifestation’ is translated “brightness,” 2 Thess 2:8. As His “coming” [parousia] expresses the fact, so Epiphany, or ‘manifestation,’ His personal visibility when He shall come. There are two Epiphanies-the one of grace (Titus 2:11), the other of glory.

The great God and our Saviour Jesus, [Tou megalou Theou kai Sooteeros].

(1) One article combines “God” and “Saviour,” which shows that both are predicated of one and the same Being. ‘Of Him who is at once the great God and our Saviour.’ Also

(2) “appearing” [Epefanee] is never by Paul predicated of God the Father (John 1:18), or even of ‘His glory’ (as Alford explains it), but invariably of CHRIST’S coming, to which (at His first advent, cf. 2 Tim 1:10) the kindred “appeared” [epefanee], Titus 2:11, refers (1 Tim 6:14,16; 2 Tim 4:1,8). Also

(3) in the context (Titus 2:14) there is no reference to the Father, but to Christ alone; and here there is no occasion for reference to the Father. Also

(4) the expression “great God,” is uncalled for as to the Father, but is appropriate to Christ, the glory of His appearing being contrasted with His humility in “giving Himself for us,” as “the true God” is predicated of Christ (1 John 5:20).

The phrase occurs nowhere else in the New Testament, but often in the Old. Deut 7:21; 10:17, predicated of Yahweh, their manifested Lord, who led the Israelites through the wilderness, the Second Person in the Trinity. Believers now look for the manifestation of His glory, as they shall share in it. Even the Socinian explanation, making “the great God” to be the Father, “our Saviour,” the Son, places God and Christ on an equal relation to “the glory” of the future appearing: incompatible with the notion that Christ is not divine: it would be blasphemy so to couple any created being with God.

Titus 2:14

Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Gave himself - Himself, His whole self, the greatest gift ever given (Ellicott) (Gal 1:4; Eph 5:25).

For us, [huper heemoon] - ‘in our behalf.’

Redeem us, [lutrooseetai] - ‘ransom us from bondage at the price of His precious blood’ (Eph 1:7; Matt 20:28). An appropriate image in addressing bond servants (Titus 2:9-10).

From all iniquity, [anomias] - ‘lawlessness,’ the essence of sin; namely, ‘transgression of the law’ (1 John 3:4), in bondage to which we were until then. The aim of redemption was to redeem us, not merely from the penalty, but the being of iniquity. He reverts to the “teaching,” or disciplining effect of the grace of God that bringeth salvation (Titus 2:11-12).

Peculiar - peculiarly His own, as Israel was: treasured up as such [Periousion. 1 Peter 2:9, laos eis peripoieesin; Hebrew, `am cªgulaah, Ex 19:5; Deut 7:6; note, Eph 1:14].

Zealous - in doing and promoting “good works.”

Titus 2:15

These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

With all authority, [epitagees] - ‘authoritativeness’ (Titus 1:13; Matt 7:29, Jesus).

Let no man despise thee. Speak with such vigour as to command respect (1 Tim 4:12): that no one may think himself above [perifroneito] admonition.

Titus 1:12-13

12 One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.

13 This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;

KJV

The character of the Cretians

The character of the Cretians: — The charge of falsehood is repeated undoubtedly by Callimachus, and this characteristic must have been deserved, if we are to trust the host of testimonies to the same effect from other sources. The very word “Cretize” was invented, meaning, “to play the part of a Cretian,” and was identical with “to deceive, or to utter and circulate a lie.” “Evil beasts” is a phrase expressive of untamed ferocity, truculent selfishness, and greed; while “idle bellies,” or “do nothing gluttons,” completes a picture of most revolting national character.

(H. R. Reynolds, D. D.)

(from The Biblical Illustrator Copyright © 2002, 2003 Ages Software, Inc. and Biblesoft, Inc.)

CRETE

CRETE. A large island in the Mediterranean, about 150 miles in length and from 6 to 35 miles wide. It lies 60 miles S of Cape Malea in the Peloponnesus. Anciently it was the home of the great Minoan civilization. It is mountainous, and its famous peak is Mt. Ida. The vessel carrying Paul on his way to Rome sailed along the southern coast of the island, where it was overtaken by a storm (Acts 27:7-21). Cretans were among those specially mentioned as attending the great feast of Pentecost (2:11). The Cretans had a name in ancient times for being good sailors, skilled archers, and experts in ambush.

The ancient notices of their character fully agree with the quotation that Paul produces from “a prophet of their own” (Titus 1:12): “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” The classics abound with allusions to the untruthfulness of the Cretans; and it was so frequently applied to them that kretizein, “to act the Cretan,” was a synonym for to play the liar. Paul sent Titus to organize the church there.

Though archaeological work on Crete is extensive, it concerns the Minoan civilization and is not germane to biblical studies. Caphtor (which see), home of the Philistines, is usually identified with Crete.

(from The New Unger’s Bible Dictionary. Originally published by Moody Press of Chicago, Illinois. Copyright © 1988.)

Think you all for being here.

I will be reading out of Titus. 1:12-13

And pulling off that:

For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:

[For this cause left I thee in Crete] That Paul had been in Crete, though nowhere else intimated, is clear from this passage. That he could not have made such an important visit, and evangelized an island of the first consequence, without its being mentioned by his historian, Luke, had it happened during the period embraced in the Acts of the Apostles, must be evident. That the journey, therefore, must have been performed after the time in which Luke ends his history, that is, after Paul’s first imprisonment at Rome, seems almost certain.

[Set in order the things that are wanting] It appears from this that the apostle did not spend much time in Crete, and that he was obliged to leave it before he had got the church properly organized. The supplying of this defect, he tells Titus, he had confided to him as one whose spiritual views coincided entirely with his own.

[Ordain elders in every city] That thou mightest appoint, katasteesees, elders-persons well instructed in divine things, who should be able to instruct others, and observe and enforce the discipline of the church. It appears that those who are called elders in this place are the same as those termed bishops in Titus 1:7. We have many proofs that bishops and elders were of the same order in the apostolic church, though afterward they became distinct. Lord Peter King, in his view of the primitive church, has written well on this subject.

In every city.-Kata polin. This seems to intimate that the apostle had gone over the whole of the hecatompolis or hundred cities for which this island was celebrated. Indeed it is not likely that he would leave one in which he had not preached Christ crucified.

Titus 1:6

If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.

[If any be blameless] See the notes at 1 Tim 3:2, etc.

[Having faithful children] Whose family is converted to God. It would have been absurd to employ a man to govern the church whose children were not in subjection to himself; for it is an apostolic maxim, that he who cannot rule his own house, cannot rule the church of God; 1 Tim 3:5.

Titus 1:7

For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not self willed, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;

[Not self-willed] Mee authadee. Not one who is determined to have his own way in everything; setting up his own judgment to that of all others; expecting all to pay homage to his understanding. Such a governor in the church of God can do little good, and may do much mischief.

[Not soon angry] Mee orgilon. Not a choleric man; one who is irritable; who is apt to be inflamed on every opposition; one who has not proper command over his own temper.

Titus 1:8

But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;

[A lover of hospitality] Philoxenon. A lover of strangers. See the note at 1 Tim 3:2. Instead of philoxenon, one manuscript has philoptoochon, a lover of the poor. That minister who neglects the poor, but is frequent in his visits to the rich, knows little of his Master’s work, and has little of his Master’s spirit.

[A lover of good men] Philagathon. A lover of goodness or of good things in general.

[Sober] Prudent in all his conduct. Just in all his dealings. Holy in his heart. Temperate-self-denying and abstemious, in his food and raiment; not too nice on points of honour, nor magisterially rigid in the exercise of his ecclesiastical functions. Qualifications rarely found in spiritual governors.

Titus 1:9

Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.

[Holding fast the faithful word] Conscientiously retaining, and zealously maintaining, the true Christian doctrine, kata teen didacheen, according to the instructions, or according to the institutions, form of sound doctrine, or confession of faith, which I have delivered to thee.

[That he may be able by sound doctrine] If the doctrine be not sound, vain is the profession of it, and vain its influence. It is good to be zealously affected in a good thing; but zeal for what is not of God will do no good to the souls of men, how sincere soever that zeal may be.

[To exhort] Them to hold the faith, that they may persevere.

[And to convince] Refute the objections, confound the sophistry, and convert the gainsayers; and thus defend the truth.

Titus 1:10

For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:

[There are many unruly] Persons who will not receive the sound doctrine, nor come under wholesome discipline.

[Vain talkers] Empty boasters of knowledge, rights, and particular privileges; all noise, empty parade, and no work.

[Deceivers] Of the souls of men by their specious pretensions.

[They of the circumcision] The Judaizing teachers, who maintained the necessity of circumcision, and of observing the rites and ceremonies of the Mosaic law, in order to the perfecting of the Gospel.

Titus 1:11

Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.

[Whose mouths must be stopped] Unmask them at once; exhibit them to the people; make manifest their ignorance and hypocrisy; and let them be confounded before the people whom they are endeavouring to seduce.

[Subvert whole houses] Turn whole Christian families from the faith, attributing to the broad way what belongs only to the strait gate; ministering to disorderly passions, and promising salvation to their proselytes, though not saved from their sins.

Titus 1:12

One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.

[One of themselves, even a prophet of their own] This was Epimenides, who was born at Gnossus in Crete, and was reckoned by many the seventh wise man of Greece, instead of Periander, to whom that honour was by them denied. Many fabulous things are related of this poet, which are not proper to be noticed here. He died about 538 years before the Christian era. When Paul calls him a prophet of their own, he only intimates that he was, by the Cretans, reputed a prophet. And, according to Plutarch (in Solone), the Cretans paid him divine honours after his death. Diogenes Laertius mentions some of his prophecies: beholding the fort of Munichia, which guarded the port of Athens, he cried out: “O ignorant men! if they but knew what slaughters this fort shall occasion, they would pull it down with their teeth!” This prophecy was fulfilled several years after, when the king, Antipater, put a garrison in this very fort, to keep the Athenians in subjection. See Diog. Laert., lib. 1 p. 73.

Plato, De Legibus, lib. 2, says that, on the Athenians expressing great fear of the Persians, Epimenides encouraged them by saying “that they should not come before ten years, and that they should return after having suffered great disasters.” This prediction was supposed to have been fulfilled in the defeat of the Persians in the battles of Salamis and Marathon.

He predicted to the Lacedemonians and Cretans the captivity to which they should one day be reduced by the Arcadians. This took place under Euricrates, king of Crete, and Archidamus, king of Lacedemon; vide Diog. Laert., lib. 1 p. 74, edit. Meibom.

It was in consequence of these prophecies, whether true or false, that his countrymen esteemed him a prophet; that he was termed aneer theios, a divine man, by Plato; and that Cicero, De Divin., lib. 1, says he was futura praesciens, et vaticinans per furorem: “He knew future events, and prophesied under a divine influence.” These things are sufficient to justify the epithet of prophet, given him here by Paul. It may also be remarked that vates and poeta, prophet and poet, were synonymous terms among the Romans.

[The Cretians are always liars] The words quoted here by the apostle are, according to Jerome, Socrates, Nicephorus, and others, taken from a work of Epimenides, now no longer extant, entitled Peri chreesmoon, Concerning Oracles. The words form a hexameter verse:

Kreetes aei pseustai, kaka theeria, gasteres argai.

The Cretans are always liars; destructive wild beasts; sluggish gluttons.

That the Cretans were reputed to be egregious liars, several of the ancients declare; insomuch that Kreetizein, to act like a Cretan, signifies to lie; and chreesthai Kreetismoo, to deceive. The other Greeks reputed them liars, because they said that among them was the sepulchre of Jupiter, who was the highest object of the Greek and Roman worship. By telling this truth, which all others would have to pass for a lie, the Cretans allowed that the object of their highest admiration was only a dead man.

[Evil beasts] Ferocious and destructive in their manners.

[Slow bellies.] Addicted to voluptuousness, idleness, and gluttony; sluggish or hoggish men.

Titus 1:13

This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;

[This witness is true.] What Epimenides said of them nearly 600 years before continued still to be true. Their original character had undergone no moral change.

[Rebuke them sharply] Apotomoos. Cuttingly, severely; show no indulgence to persons guilty of such crimes.

[That they may be sound in the faith] That they may receive the incorrupt doctrine, and illustrate it by a holy and useful life.

Titus 1:14

Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.

[Not giving heed to Jewish fables] See the note at 1 Tim 1:4, and 4:7.

[Commandments of men] The injunctions of the scribes and Pharisees, which they added to the law of God.

[That turn from the truth.] For such persons made the word of God of none effect by their traditions. Sometimes the verb apostrephomai signifies to be averse from, slight, or despise. So, here, the persons in question despised the truth, and taught others to do the same.

(from Adam Clarke’s Commentary, Electronic Database. Copyright © 1996, 2003 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Titus 1:15

Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.

[Unto the pure all things are pure] This appears to have been spoken in reference to the Jewish distinctions of clean and unclean meats. To the genuine Christian every kind of meat proper for human nourishment is pure, is lawful, and may be used without scruple. This our Lord had long before decided. See the note at Luke 11:39-41.

[But unto them that are defiled] In their consciences, and unbelieving, apistois, unfaithful both to offered and received grace, nothing is pure-they have no part in Christ, and the wrath of God abides upon them. Their mind is contaminated with impure and unholy images and ideas, and their conscience is defiled with the guilt of sins already committed against God.

Titus 1:16

They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

[They profess that they know God] He still speaks concerning the unbelieving Jews, the seducing teachers, and those who had been seduced by their bad doctrine. None were so full of pretensions to the knowledge of the true God as the Jews. They would not admit that any other people could have this knowledge; nor did they believe that God ever did or ever would reveal himself to any other people; they supposed that to give the law and the prophets to the Gentiles would be a profanation of the words of God. Hence, they became both proud, uncharitable, and intolerant; and in this disposition they continue until the present day.

[But in works they deny him] Their profession and practice were at continual variance. Full of a pretended faith, while utterly destitute of those works by which a genuine faith is accredited and proved. Dio Cassius represents Caesar as saying of his mutinous soldiers: Onoma Roomaioon echontas, erga de Keltoon droontas. “Having the name of Romans, while they had the manners of the Gauls.” How near are those words to the saying of the apostle!

[Being abominable] Bdeluktoi. This word sometimes refers to unnatural lusts.

[And disobedient] Apeitheis. Unpersuadable, unbelieving, and consequently disobedient. Characters remarkably applicable to the Jews through all their generations.

[Unto every good work reprobate.] Adokimoi. Adulterate; like bad coin, deficient both in the weight and goodness of the metal, and without the proper sterling stamp; and consequently not current. If they did a good work, they did not do it in the spirit in which it should be performed. They had the name of God’s people; but they were counterfeit. The prophet said; Reprobate silver shall men call them.

1. Through the principal part of this chapter, and indeed of the whole letter, may be found in nearly the same words in the First Epistle to Timothy, yet there are several circumstances here that are not so particularly noted in the other; and every minister of Christ will do well to make himself master of both; they should be carefully registered in his memory, and engraven on his heart.

2. The truth, which is according to godliness, in reference to eternal life, should be carefully regarded. The substantial knowledge of the truth must have faith for its foundation, godliness for its rule, and eternal life for its object and end. He who does not begin well, is never likely to finish fair. He who does not refer everything to eternity, is never likely to live either well or happily in time.

3. There is one subject in this chapter not sufficiently attended to by those who have the authority to appoint men to ecclesiastical offices; none should be thus appointed who is not able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convince the gainsayers. The powers necessary for this are partly natural, partly gracious, and partly acquired.

a. If a man have not good natural abilities, nothing but a miracle from heaven can make him a proper preacher of the Gospel; and to make a man a Christian minister, who is unqualified for any function of civil life, is sacrilege before God.

b. If the grace of God do not communicate ministerial qualifications, no natural gifts, however splendid, can be of any avail. To be a successful Christian minister, a man must feel the worth of immortal souls in such a way as God only can show it, in order to spend and be spent in the work. He who has never passed through the travail of the soul in the work of regeneration in his own heart, can never make plain the way of salvation to others.

c. He who is employed in the Christian ministry should cultivate his mind in the most diligent manner; he can neither learn nor know too much. If called of God to be a preacher (and without such a call he had better be a galley slave), he will be able to bring all his knowledge to the assistance and success of his ministry. If he have human learning, so much the better; if he be accredited, and appointed by those who have authority in the church, it will be to his advantage; but no human learning, no ecclesiastical appointment, no mode of ordination, whether Popish, Episcopal, Protestant, or Presbyterian, can ever supply the divine unction, without which he never can convert and build up the souls of men. The piety of the flock must be faint and languishing when it is not animated by the heavenly zeal of an overseer; they must be blind if he be not enlightened; and their faith must be wavering when he can neither encourage nor defend it.

4. In consequence of the appointment of improper persons to the Christian ministry, there has been, not only a decay of piety, but also a corruption of religion. No man is a true Christian minister who has not grace, gifts, and fruit; if he have the grace of God, it will appear in his holy life and godly conversation. If to this he add genuine abilities, he will give full proof of his ministry; and if he give full proof of his ministry, he will have fruit; the souls of sinners will be converted to God through his preaching, and believers will be built up on their most holy faith. How contemptible must that man appear in the eyes of common sense, who boasts of his clerical education, his sacerdotal order, his legitimate authority to preach, administer the Christian sacraments, etc., while no soul is benefited by his ministry! Such a person may have legal authority to take tithes, but as to an appointment from God, he has none; else his word would be with power, and his preaching the means of salvation to his perishing hearers.

(from Adam Clarke’s Commentary, Electronic Database. Copyright © 1996, 2003 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)