Lange Commentary - Titus 3:12 - 3:15

Online Resource Library

Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | Download

Lange Commentary - Titus 3:12 - 3:15


(Show All Books | Show All Chapters)

This Chapter Verse Commentaries:

VI

Final Directions and Greetings

Tit_3:12-15

12When I shall send Artemas unto thee, or Tychicus, be diligent [hasten] to 13come unto me to Nicopolis: for I have determined there to winter. Bring [forward] Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey diligently [zealously], that nothing be wanting unto them. 14And let ours also [but also let ours, in Crete] learn to maintain [practise] good works for necessary uses [the necessary wants of others], that they be not unfruitful. 15All that are with me salute thee. Greet them that love us in the faith. Grace be with you all.

EXEGETICAL AND CRITICAL

Tit_3:12. Artemas or Tychicus. Of the first we hear nothing further: the second is mentioned also in 2Ti_4:12. One of these was to arrive at Crete before Titus could leave this post, and, in compliance with the wishes of the Apostle, meet him at Nicopolis. The city meant was probably Nicopolis in Epirus, which was built by the Emperor Augustus in commemoration of his victory at Actium. Other cities of the same name are at least less noted. On the design of Paul to spend the winter there, see the Introduction, § 2. The opinion of Märcker, that Nicopolis in Thrace is meant, would hardly have been defended with so much warmth, if it were not connected with the endeavor to put the Epistle to Titus at a later period of Paul’s life.

Tit_3:13. Zenas and Apollos. The former of these is entirely unknown; he is called a lawyer, be cause, before his conversion, he had belonged to that profession. On Apollos, comp. Act_18:24-28. Both were just at present in Crete, but were proposing to take their departure, perhaps upon a missionary tour. On this journey Titus was to forward them, ðñïðÝìðåéí (3Jn_1:6), and that zealously, óðïõäáßùò , i.e., not speedily, but with diligence.—That nothing be wanting to them (comp. Rom_15:24; 1Co_16:6; 1Co_16:11). “Titus, therefore, had means. They were not to depart empty;” Bengel.

Tit_3:14. And let ours also, &c. The last particular direction in the Epistle leads the Apostle to make a more general exhortation.—Ours, in the connection, can be none other than the fellow-believers with Paul and Titus in Crete, who were to be witnesses of the faithful obedience of their overseer to the Apostle’s injunction (Tit_3:13).—To practise good works, êáëῶí ἔñãùí ðñïÀóôáóäáé (comp. Tit_3:8), here, decidedly, works of Christian beneficence and mercy.—Not unfruitful. If they lacked this love, they would show that their faith was like an unfruitful tree. There is no, good reason for restricting the clause which follows—for the necessary wants, åἰò ôÜò ἀíáãêáßáò ÷ñåßáò —to the material supplies necessary for Zenas and Apollos, and to which the other Christians, along with Titus, were to contribute according to their ability. It would rather seem, from ìáíäáíÝôùóáí , that the present care of Titus for Zenas and Apollos was to teach the others, for the future, as often as it might be necessary hereafter, to do their part towards the support of needy brethren. “Whether, therefore, he directs them to excel in good works, or to yield the precedence, he means that it will be useful to them to exercise liberality, lest they become unfruitful under the pretext that occasion was wanting, or necessity did not require ;” Calvin.

Tit_3:15. Salute thee, &c. It is impossible to determine with certainty what fellow-laborers and friends Paul here has in mind.—Greet them that love us in the faith. The Apostle here confines his greeting to those with whom the common faith is the bond of the most intimate union.—Grace be with you all. The key-note on which the Pauline Epistles usually close. It cannot, indeed, be inferred from the words, “with you all,” in themselves alone, that the Epistle was addressed to the church in Crete, as well as to Titus; but we have seen, in the Introduction, that on other grounds this is probable, and the entire contents of the Epistle have only strengthened us in this conviction. The final word, Amen, found in the Recepta, is of later origin.

DOCTRINAL AND ETHICAL

1. Down to the very close of the Pastoral Epistles, the Apostle remains like himself, both in his exhibition of the substance of the gospel, and his directions in respect to the government of the church and the conduct of its members and officers. Is it not an unequivocal proof of the moral greatness of Paul, the power of grace in him, and even of the genuineness of the Epistle itself, that, from beginning to end, it is so completely pervaded by the same original Apostolic spirit?

2. Between the Christian philanthropy which Paul here enjoins, and the mere humanitarian philanthropy which finds so many defenders in our day, there is a great difference in respect to their origin, extent, power, aim, and practical result, which can in no wise be overlooked or disregarded.

“Spiritual need lays a foundation for duties, that one may not be able to stand aloof from another;” Bengel.

HOMILETICAL AND PRACTICAL

The Christian is at liberty to lay plans for the future, provided only that he does so with a deep feeling of dependence (comp. Heb_6:3; Jam_4:13-15).—Travelling ministers of the gospel, and missionaries needing help, should be properly cared for.—The love which we see shown to others, we ourselves must imitate according to our ability.—Fruitful and unfruitful faith.—The communion of love.

Starke: There is a great diversity of gifts among the children of God, of which one is especially serviceable for this, and another for that (1Co_12:4 sqq.)—It is useful, as well as pleasing to God, that those who labor in the word, and are engaged in the same service, should live in mutual confidence, kindly seek each other’s advice, listen, and follow it.—A pastor must not leave his church, either for a long journey and a protracted absence, or permanently by the acceptance of a call elsewhere, until he is sure that his church either is or will be provided with a true minister of the word.—Happy are they who are able to divide their work with pious and faithful helpers: it will thus be the more successful.—Hedinger: Christianity demands training till one become habitually a doer of good works. Oh! strive, agonize, that ye be not unfruitful.—Osiander: We should do good to all, but especially to those who hold the true religion with us, and are fellow-believers.

Lisco: The fruits of true faith.—Are ye in the state of good works ? Whereby shall we know that the preaching of Christ has become effectual in us?