rwp - Titus:1:1-4

rwp@Titus:1:1 @{According to the faith of God's elect} (\kata pistin eklektn theou\). Here \kata\ expresses the aim of Paul's apostleship, not the standard by which he was chosen as in strkjv@Phillipians:3:14|; a classic idiom, repeated here with \epignsin, eusebeian, epitagn\, "with a view to" in each case. For "God's elect" see strkjv@Romans:8:33; strkjv@Colossians:3:12|. {The knowledge} (\epignsin\). "Full knowledge," one of Paul's favourite words. For the phrase see strkjv@1Timothy:2:4|. {Which is according to godliness} (\ts kat' eusebeian\). "The (truth) with a view to godliness." The combination of faith and full knowledge of the truth is to bring godliness on the basis of the hope of life eternal.

rwp@Titus:1:2 @{God who cannot lie} (\ho apseuds theos\). "The non-lying God." Old adjective (\a\ privative and \pseuds\), here only in N.T. See strkjv@2Timothy:2:13|. In Polycarp's last prayer. {Promised} (\epggeilato\). First aorist middle indicative of \epaggell\. Antithesis in \ephanersen de\ (manifested) in verse 3| (first aorist active indicative of \phanero\). Same contrast in strkjv@Romans:16:25; strkjv@Colossians:1:26|. {Before times eternal} (\pro chronn ainn\). Not to God's purpose before time began (Ephesians:1:4; strkjv@2Timothy:1:9|), but to definite promises (Romans:9:4|) made in time (Lock). "Long ages ago." See strkjv@Romans:16:25|.

rwp@Titus:1:3 @{In his own seasons} (\kairois idiois\). Locative case. See strkjv@1Timothy:2:6; strkjv@6:15|. {In the message} (\en krugmati\). See strkjv@1Corinthians:1:21; strkjv@2:4| for this word, the human proclamation (preaching) of God's word. {Wherewith I was intrusted} (\ho episteuthn\). Accusative relative \ho\ retained with the first aorist passive indicative of \pisteu\ as in strkjv@1Timothy:1:11|. See strkjv@1Timothy:2:7|. {Of God our Saviour} (\tou stros hmn theou\). In verse 4| he applies the words "\tou stros hmn\" to Christ. In strkjv@2:13| he applies both \theou\ and \stros\ to Christ.

rwp@Titus:1:4 @{My true child} (\gnsii tekni\). See strkjv@1Timothy:1:2| for this adjective with Timothy. Titus is not mentioned in Acts, possibly because he is Luke's brother. But one can get a clear picture of him by turning to strkjv@2Corinthians:2:13; strkjv@7:6-15; strkjv@8:6-24; strkjv@12:16-18; strkjv@Galatians:2:1-3; strkjv@Titus:1:4f.; strkjv@3:12; strkjv@2Timothy:4:10|. He had succeeded in Corinth where Timothy had failed. Paul had left him in Crete as superintendent of the work there. Now he writes him from Nicopolis (Titus:3:12|). {After a common faith} (\kata koinn pistin\). Here \kata\ does mean standard, not aim, but it is a faith (\pistin\) common to a Gentile (a Greek) like Titus as well as to a Jew like Paul and so common to all races and classes (Jude:1:3|). \Koinos\ does not here have the notion of unclean as in strkjv@Acts:10:14; strkjv@11:8|.