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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadGreater Men and Women of the Bible by James Hastings: 687. The Comforter of St. Paul
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The Comforter of St. Paul
Titus had been sent to Corinth as the bearer of the First Epistle to the Corinthians, and had been told to rejoin St. Paul at Troas; but perhaps the precipitation of St. Paul's departure from Ephesus had brought him to that town earlier than Titus had expected, and, in the uncertain navigation of those days, delays may easily have occurred. At any rate, he did not come, and St. Paul grew more and more uneasy, until in that intolerable oppression of spirit he felt that he could no longer continue his work, and left Troas for Macedonia. There, at last, he met Titus, who relieved his painful tension of mind by intelligence from Corinth which, although chequered, was yet on the main point favourable. From Titus he learnt that his change of plan about the visit had given ground for unfavourable criticism, and that many injurious remarks on his character and mode of action had been industriously disseminated, especially by one Jewish teacher. Still, the effect of the First Epistle had been satisfactory. It had caused grief, but the grief had been salutary, and had issued in an outburst of yearning affection, lamentation, and zeal. Titus himself had been received cordially, yet with fear and trembling. The offender denounced in his letter had been promptly and even severely dealt with, and all that St. Paul had said to Titus in praise of the Church had been justified by what he saw.
2. That welcome visit from an old comrade was, we may be sure, like a gleam of sunshine on a wintry day. It exhilarated the lonely Apostle like a tonic. It was as the cool touch of a mother's hand on the hot forehead of her fevered child. “When two friends meet after a period of absence,” says Edward Irving, “and exchange their various experiences, recount their dangers past and their present condition, they are refreshed again; they open up their schemes to one another, their difficulties, and their fears; and before the good countenance and encouragement of our friend, our difficulties, like the great mountain before Zerubbabel, become a plain; we feel like new men again; and we go forth to renew the struggle in the sea of troubles wherewith we are encompassed.”
The incident of a friend's visit may be part of God's large providence of encouragement. Titus comes in many ways. James Smetham closes a letter with thanks to a friend for writing to him when he happened to be depressed. “Glad to get your friendly letter. It was like the coming of Titus. I think Providence in these days often sends Titus by post.”1 [Note: J. Moffatt, Reasons and Reasons, 185.]
The late George Ensor, the first English missionary in Japan, used at C.M.S. meetings to tell the story of his first convert. Open missionary work was then impossible in Japan, but an inquirer came at night who was eventually baptized and given the name of Titus; “for God,” Mr. Ensor used to say, “who comforteth the downcast, comforted me by the coming of Titus.”2 [Note: E. Stock, Plain Talks on the Pastoral Epistles, 9.]
Oh, gift of God, my friend!
Whose face has brought th' Eternal nigh;
No sermon like thy life doth tend
To turn my gaze toward the sky.
Oh, ray of light, my friend!
When sorrow's gloom made life so drear.
Then comfort sweet thy words did lend,
As if Christ spake, “Be of good cheer!”
Oh, rock of strength, my friend!
When shifting sands beneath my feet,
And changing scenes my steps attend,
Thy truth and constancy are sweet.
Oh, home of rest, my friend!
When wearied with the toil and rush
My wistful gaze on thee I bend,
Then o'er my spirit falls a hush.
I clasp thy hand, my friend!
Thank God that thou art here;
I am not worthy He should send
To me a gift so dear.1 [Note: Una, In Life's Garden, 12.]