New Testament Commentary - Titus 3

by Don R. Hender

Scriptural Text [& Editorial]	Commentary & Explanation	Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
CHAPTER 3 Saints must live righteously after baptism.
1 PUT them in mind to be ^asubject to ^bprincipalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, 2 To ^aspeak evil of no man, to be ^bno brawlers, but gentle, shewing all ^cmeekness unto all men. 3 For we ourselves also were ^asometimes foolish, ^bdisobedient, deceived, serving divers ^clusts and pleasures, living in ^emalice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 5 Not by works of ^arighteousness which we have done, but according to his ^bmercy he saved us, by the ^cwashing of regeneration, and ^drenewing of the Holy Ghost; 6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; 7 That being ^ajustified by his grace, we should be made ^bheirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Genealogies, For What Purpose? [Selfish or Unselfish?] When one speaks of their 'genealogy' it is well to discern for what purpose they are so referencing it. It is to the selfless ends of providing for their forefathers and for family history or it is to the end of making one out to be better than another because of that genealogy? If it is for the selfish purpose of providing one 'prestiege' and one-ups-manship of self pride and to the placing others beneath them, then their cause and purpose in there genealogy is foolish and of an endless worthlessness. For they are doing or keeping it for the wrong reasons, it becoming an end in itself and not a means to an end of providing for the good of others. Thus in keeping genealogies, always ask oneself to what end, and that end ought to include the turning of the hearts of the children to their fathers for the gospel benefit thereof.
8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good ^aworks. These things are good and profitable unto men. 9 But avoid ^afoolish questions, and genealogies^a, and ^bcontentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.	9^a genealogies 'Foolish' and 'endless' genealogies are spoken against in the scriptures. These are they which are used to raise the esteem of a man above the other. One's genealogy ought not make the worth of a man one above the other. The gospel is without respect to persons and 'genealogies'. But this is not to say that one ought not maintain and know one's of family history and do genealogy work for their ancestors to the end of turning the hearts of children to their father in so providing them with the blessings and ordinances of the gospel. These type of genealogies which have unselfish purposes and benefit the souls of our past ancestors are not they type of genealogies so spoken against by scripture. All is in the 'use' to which or of which the genealogy is kept and used, whether unselfish unto the salvation of our father ancestors or to the building up of oneself above another becuase of some pretended 'prestigeous' genealogy.
10 A man that is an ^aheretick after the first and second ^badmonition reject; 11 Knowing that he that is such is ^asubverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.
12 When I shall send Artemas unto thee, or Tychicus, be diligent to come unto me to Nicopolis: for I have determined there to winter. 13 Bring Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey diligently, that nothing be wanting unto them.
14 And let ^aours also learn to maintain ^bgood works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful. 15 All that are with me salute thee. Greet them that love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen.
¶ It was written to Titus, ordained the first bishop of the church of the Cretians, from Nicopolis of Macedonia.