Scofield Reference Bible Notes
Titus 1

Tit 1:1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;

servant

bondman.

elect

Election (personal). 1Pe 5:13. (Deu 7:6; 1Pe 1:2).

Tit 1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

eternal life

Life (eternal). Tit 3:7. (Mat 7:14; Rev 22:19.)

world

age-times.

Tit 1:3 But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;

due times

its own due season.

God our Saviour

our Saviour-God.

Tit 1:4 To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.

mine own son after the common faith

1Ti 1:1-2.

Saviour [See also Tit 1:3.]

Scofield Romans 1:16, note.

Tit 1:5 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:

wanting

It is not at all a question of the presence in the assembly of persons having the qualifications of elders, made overseers by the Holy Spirit (Act 20:28); that such persons were in the churches of Crete is assumed; the question is altogether one of the appointment of such persons. These assemblies were not destitute of elders; but were "wanting," in that they were not duly appointed. There is a progress of doctrine in respect of the appointing of elders. Cf. Tit 1:5, note [below].

elders [See also Tit 1:7.]

Elders. Tit 1:5-9. (Act 11:30; Tit 1:5-9.)

Elder (presbuteros) and bishop (episcopos = "overseer") designate the same office (cf. Tit 1:7; Act 20:17; cf. 20:28), the former referring to the man, the latter to a function of the office. The eldership in the apostolic local churches was always plural. There is no instance of one elder in a local church. The functions of the elders are:

• to rule (1Ti 3:4-5; 5:17),
• to guard the body of revealed truth from perversion and error (Tit 1:9),
• to "oversee" the church as a shepherd his flock (Act 20:28; Jhn 21:16; Heb 13:17; 1Pe 5:2).

Elders are made or "set" in the churches by the Holy Spirit (Act 20:28), but great stress is laid upon their due appointment (Act 14:23; Tit 1:5). At first they were ordained (Greek cheirotoneo, "to elect," "to designate with the hand,") by an apostle; e.g. Act 14:23, but in Titus and 1 Timothy the qualifications of an elder become part of the Scriptures for the guidance of the churches in such appointment (1Ti 3:1-7).

Tit 1:7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;

not given to filthy lucre

no seeker of base gain.

Tit 1:8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;

holy

Sanctify, holy (persons) (N.T.). Heb 2:11. (Mat 4:5; Rev 22:11.)

Tit 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

2Th 2:15.

Tit 1:10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:

vain talkers and deceivers

Jas 1:26.

Tit 1:11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.

subvert whole houses

Mat 23:14.

filthy lucre's sake

the sake of base gain.

Tit 1:12 One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.

slow bellies

lazy gluttons.

Tit 1:13 This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;

rebuke

2Ti 4:2.

Tit 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.

all things are pure

Rom 14:14, 20.

Tit 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

2Ti 3:5, 7.

that they know God

Mat 7:20-21, 23; 25:12; 1Jo 2:4.

disobedient

Or, void of judgment.