Introduction:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Johnson
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Chapter 1:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Johnson
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 2 Timothy Philemon
Introduction to Titus
The Epistle to Titus is occupied with the maintenance of order in the
churches of God.
The especial object of those written to Timothy as the maintenance of sound
doctrine, although speaking of other things with regard to which the
apostle gives directions for the conduct of Timothy. This the apostle
himself tells us. In the First Epistle to Timothy we see that Paul had left
his beloved son in the faith at Ephesus, in order to watch that no other
doctrine was preached there; the assembly is the pillar and support of the
truth. In the Second Epistle we find the means by which Christians are to
be strengthened in the truth, when the mass have departed from it.
Here, in Titus, the apostle says expressly that he had left him in Crete to
set in order things that were yet wanting, and to establish elders in every
city. Although more or less the same dangers presented themselves to the
mind of Paul as when writing to Timothy, yet we find that the apostle
enters at once upon his subject with a calmness which shews that his mind
was not pre-occupied in the same way with those dangers, and that the
Spirit could engage him more entirely with the ordinary walk of the
assembly; so that this epistle is much more simple in its character. The
walk that becomes Christians, with regard to the maintenance of order in
their relationships of each other, and the great principles on which this
walk is founded, form the subject of the book. The state of the assembly
comes but little before us. Truths that flow more entirely from the
Christian revelation, and that characterize it, have more place in this
epistle than in those addressed to Timothy. On the other hand, prophecies
concerning the future condition of Christianity, and the development of the
decline that had already commenced, are not repeated here. While stating in
a remarkable way certain truths with respect to Christianity, the tone of
the epistle is more calm, more ordinary.
The promise of life is particularly spoken of here as well as in Timothy.
Moreover this promise distinguishes Christianity, and the revelation of God
(as the Father) in Christ , from Judaism.
But in this epistle the great boundaries of Christianity are set forth at
the outset. The faith of the elect, the truth which is according to
godliness, the promise before the world began of eternal life, and the
manifestation of the word of God through preaching are the subjects of the
introduction. The title of "Saviour" is here, as in Timothy, added to the
name of God as well as to that of Christ.
This introduction is not without importance. That which it contains is
presented to Titus by the apostle as characterizing his apostleship, and as
the special subject of his ministry. It was not a development of Judaism,
but the revelation of a life, and of a promise of life which subsisted
(that is, in Christ, the object of the divine counsels) before the world
was. Accordingly faith was found, not in the confession of the Jews, but in
the elect brought by grace to the knowledge of the truth. It was the faith
of the elect: this is an important truth, and that which characterizes
faith in the world. Others may indeed adopt it as a system; but faith is
in itself the faith of the elect.
Among the Jews this was not the case. The public confession of their
doctrine, and confidence in the promises of God, belonged to every one who
was born an Israelite. Others may pretend to the Christian faith; but it is
the faith of the elect. Its character is such that human nature neither
embraces it nor conceives it, but finds it to be a stumbling-stone. It
discloses a relationship with God, which to nature is inconceivable and at
the same time presumptuous and insupportable. To the elect it is the joy of
their soul. the light of their understanding, and the sustainment of their
heart. it places them in a relationship with God which is all that their
heart can desire, but which depends entirely on that which God is; and this
the believer desires. It is a personal relationship with God Himself;
therefore it is the faith of God's elect. Hence also it is for all the
Gentiles as well as the Jews.
Introduction:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Johnson
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Chapter 1:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Johnson
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 2 Timothy Philemon
This version of Darby's Synopsis of the New Testament is a derivative of an electronic version, Copyright 1995 by L. Hodgett. Used by permission. This material may be freely copied for private use or for distribution without charge but must not be used commercially without written permission from the compiler--L. Hodgett. A special thanks to L. Hodgett for permission to create and post this version of Darby's Synopsis of the New Testament.
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalm
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Acts
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James
1 Peter
2 Peter
1 John
2 John
3 John
Jude
Revelation
