ADORNING THE DOCTRINE OF GOD
Click chart to enlarge
Charts from Jensen's Survey of the NT - used by permission
Another chart by Charles Swindoll - click chart on right side of page to enlarge
HENRY ALFORD
James Rosscup writes that "This was the great work in the life of the versatile Dean of Canterbury. An outcome of this production was the New Testament for English Readers (4 vols.). Alford was a Calvinist, conservative and premillennial, though not dispensational. He takes a literal interpretation of the thousand years in Rev. 20 and has a famous quote there, is strong on sovereign election as in Ro 8:29, 30 and 1Pe 1:2, but, unfortunately, holds to baptismal regeneration in such texts as Titus 3:5 and John 3:5. He shows a great knowledge of the Greek text and faces problems of both a doctrinal and textual nature." (Commentaries for Biblical Expositors: An Annotated Bibliography of Selected Works)
John Piper writes ""When I’m stumped with a...grammatical or syntactical or logical [question] in Paul, I go to Henry Alford. Henry Alford...comes closer more consistently than any other human commentator to asking my kinds of questions."
Charles Haddon Spurgeon writes that this text "is an invaluable aid to the critical study of the text of the New Testament. You will find in it the ripened results of a matured scholarship, the harvesting of a judgment, generally highly impartial, always worthy of respect, which has gleaned from the most important fields of Biblical research, both modern and ancient, at home and abroad. You will not look here for any spirituality of thought or tenderness of feeling; you will find the learned Dean does not forget to do full justice to his own views, and is quite able to express himself vigorously against his opponents; but for what it professes to be, it is an exceedingly able and successful work. The later issues are by far the most desirable, as the author has considerably revised the work in the fourth edition. What I have said of his Greek Testament applies equally to Alford’s New Testament for English Readers,* which is also a standard work." (Spurgeon, C. H. Lectures to my Students, Vol. 4: Commenting and Commentaries; Lectures Addressed to the students of the Pastors' College, Metropolitan Tabernacle)
This material is very helpful if you are preaching or teaching through Titus.
Mp3's of Don's Lessons on Titus
Titus Teacher Notes
Titus Lecture Notes - note used to prepare the "Teacher Notes" - includes comments, illustrations, etc
BAKER EVANGELICAL DICTIONARY - et al
- Theology of Titus - Wesley L Gerig
- 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica The Epistle to Titus
- Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia Titus epistle to
- Easton's Bible Dictionary Titus, Epistle to
- Fausset Bible Dictionary Titus, the Epistle to
- Holman Bible Dictionary Titus, Epistle to
- Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible Titus, Epistle to
- Morrish Bible Dictionary Titus, Epistle to
- Smith Bible Dictionary Titus, Epistle to
- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia Titus, Epistle to
- McClintock and Strong's Bible Encyclopedia Titus, Epistle To
WILLIAM BARCLAY
James Rosscup writes that Barnes "includes 16 volumes on the Old Testament, 11 on the New Testament. The New Testament part of this old work was first published in 1832–1851. Various authors contributed. It is evangelical and amillennial...Often the explanations of verses are very worthwhile." (Commentaries for Biblical Expositors: An Annotated Bibliography of Selected Works)
C H Spurgeon "Albert Barnes is a learned and able divine, but his productions are unequal in value, the gospels are of comparatively little worth, but his other comments are extremely useful for Sunday-school teachers and persons with a narrow range of reading, endowed with enough good sense to discriminate between good and evil....Placed by the side of the great masters, Barnes is a lesser light, but taking his work for what it is and professes to be, no minister can afford to be without it, and this is no small praise for works which were only intended for Sunday-school teachers." (Spurgeon, C. H. Lectures to my Students, Vol. 4: Commenting and Commentaries; Lectures Addressed to the students of the Pastors' College, Metropolitan Tabernacle)
- Titus 3 Unscrambling Eggs
CHRIS BENFIELD
- Transformed in Christ - Titus 3: 1-7
- Parting Words - Titus 3: 8-15
- Marvelous Mercy and Grace - Titus 3: 3-7
JOHANN BENGEL
Spurgeon comments on the goal to make Bengel's Gnomon (listed above) more accessible -- "Such is the professed aim of this commentary, and the compilers have very fairly carried out their intentions. The whole of Bengel’s Gnomon is bodily transferred into the work, and as 120 years have elapsed since the first issue of that book, it may be supposed that much has since been added to the wealth of Scripture exposition; the substance of this has been incorporated in brackets, so as to bring it down to the present advanced state of knowledge. We strongly advise the purchase of this book, as it...will well repay an attentive perusal. Tischendorf and Alford have contributed largely...to make this one of the most lucid and concise commentaries on the text and teachings of the New Testament" (Spurgeon, C. H. Lectures to my Students, Vol. 4: Commenting and Commentaries; Lectures Addressed to the students of the Pastors' College, Metropolitan Tabernacle)
- Titus 3 Commentary
- Titus 3 Commentary - for English readers
JOSEPH BENSON
BEST COMMENTARIES ON TITUS
- Best Commentaries on the Pastoral Epistles - Challies Dot Com
- Top 5 Commentaries on the Pastoral Epistles by Keith Mathison - Ligonier Ministries
- Best Commentary on Pastoral Epistles - Best Commentaries Reviews
- Titus 2:9-3:2 Being Good Citizens
- Titus 3:3-7 Telling the Salvation Story
- Titus 3:8-11 Keeping Harmony in the Church
- Titus 3:12-15 Working as a Team
HORATIUS BONAR
ERNEST FAULKNER BROWN THE PASTORAL EPISTLES TITUS
D Edmond Hiebert - Westminster Commentaries. London: Methuen & Co. (1917). A concise, conservative, phrase-by-phrase interpretation by a missionary in India who understands the positions of Timothy and Titus in the light of his own missionary experience.
PAUL BUCKNELL
- Titus 3:9-15 Connected & Caring, Intro
- Titus 3:9-15 Bible Study Questions
- Titus 3:9-11 Discerning Conversations
- Titus 3:12-14 Right Relationships
- Titus 3:15 Loving Good-byes
- Titus 3:1-4 Bible Study Questions pdf
James Rosscup - Calvin was not only a great theologian but also a great expositor, and his insight into Scripture contributed to his grasp of doctrinal truth. His commentaries are deep in spiritual understanding, usually helpful on problem passages, and refreshing in a devotional sense to the really interested reader. He usually offers good help on a passage. The present work skips Judges, Ruth, Samuel, Kings, Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, II and III John and Revelation. Calvin is amillennial on long-range prophecy, but in other respects usually has very contributive perception on passages and doctrinal values edifying to the believer. He also can be very wordy, but the serious and patient glean much.
CAMBRIDGE BIBLE FOR SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES - A. E. Humphreys
D Edmond Hiebert - The introduction adequately treats the critical problems from a conservative position. Full and informative notes on the text; valuable appendixes.
CAMBRIDGE GREEK NEW TESTAMENT
D Edmond Hiebert - Greek text. The introductions provide a satisfactory study of the problems connected with the Pastorals from a conservative viewpoint. The exegetical notes on the text of the epistles are thorough, thoughtful, and scholarly.
Cyril Barber - This....1886 commentary from the Cambridge Greek Testament series readily interacts with critical issues raised by the publication of the NT texts of Tischendorf and Tregelles. Plummer then treats these letters in a most commendable way, providing some unique insights into the thought of the apostle and the nuances of the original text. (The Minister's Library, Volume 2)
James Rosscup writes "Though old, this is a good study from the Greek text which will be helpful in any more advanced study of the epistles. There are other works more highly recommended, however." (Commentaries for Biblical Expositors: An Annotated Bibliography of Selected Works)
CENTURY BIBLE COMMENTARY
Click critique of his theological persuasion.
James Rosscup - This old, conservative Wesleyan Methodist work is good devotionally and aggressive for righteous living. Laypeople can find it still valuable today. It is Arminian in viewpoint and thus helpful, for example, in showing the reader how this approach deals with texts involving the eternal security question. The work contains much background material from many sources on all books of the Bible.
Spurgeon - Adam Clarke is the great annotator of our Wesleyan friends; and they have no reason to be ashamed of him, for he takes rank among the chief of expositors. His mind was evidently fascinated by the singularities of learning, and hence his commentary is rather too much of an old curiosity shop, but it is filled with valuable rarities, such as none but a great man could have collected....If you have a copy of Adam Clarke, and exercise discretion in reading it, you will derive immense advantage from it, for frequently by a sort of side-light he brings out the meaning of the text in an astonishingly novel manner. I do not wonder that Adam Clarke still stands, notwithstanding his peculiarities, a prince among commentators. I do not find him so helpful as Gill, but still, from his side of the question, with which I have personally no sympathy, he is an important writer, and deserves to be studied by every reader of the Scriptures. He very judiciously says of Dr. Gill, “He was a very learned and good man, but has often lost sight of his better judgment in spiritualizing the text;” this is the very verdict which we pass upon himself, only altering the last sentence a word or two; “He has often lost sight of his better judgment in following learned singularities;” the monkey, instead of the serpent, tempting Eve, is a notable instance.
- Titus 3:1-7 Gracious Reminders
- Titus 3:4-8 Motivation for Service
- Titus 3:9-11 Dealing with Factious People
- Titus 3:12-15 Paul's Team
J N DARBY
JOHN DUMMELOW
- Titus 3:1-8 Justified by Grace/Careful for Good Deeds
- Titus 3:9-15 Shun Foolish Controversies/Help Christians to be Fruitful
James Rosscup - Though concise in its statements, this old commentary reveals a thorough knowledge of the Greek and is very helpful in matters of grammar and word meanings.
- Titus 3:1-9 The Practice of Godliness
- Titus 3:1-15 The Motivating Power of Divine Mercy
- Good Deeds (Titus 3)
EXPOSITOR'S BIBLE COMMENTARY- Alfred Plummer
- Titus 3:1-3 The Duty of Obedience to Authority, With Its Limits
- Titus 3:4-7 The Co-Operation of the Divine Persons in Effecting the New Birth
- Titus 3:10, 11 The Meaning of Heresy in the New Testament
EXPOSITOR'S GREEK TESTAMENT - Newport J. D. White
PATRICK FAIRBAIRN - The Pastoral Epistles , 1874
D Edmond Hiebert - Uses the Greek text of Tischendorf and the author's translation on facing pages. A voluminous (nearly 450 pages) exposition by a conservative Scottish theologian. Still worth consulting but devoid of the results of recent scholarship.
DON FORTNER
James Rosscup - This dispensationally oriented work is not verse-by-verse, but deals with the exposition on a broader scale, treating blocks of thought within the chapters. Cf. also Arno C. Gaebelein, Gaebelein’s Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible (I Volume, Neptune, NJ: Loizeaux, 1985), the Annotated Bible revised. The author was a popular evangelical Bible teacher of the first part of the century, much like H. A. Ironside in his diligent but broad, practical expositions of Bible books. Gaebelein was premillennial and dispensational, and editor for many years of Our Hope Magazine.
TONY GARLAND
GENE GETZ - principles from the respecitive passages
Cyril Barber on Getz's written work on Titus - Published first in 1978 by Zondervan. This practical study now takes its place alongside the author's other "Measure of" books. It is a pleasing series of meditations on Paul's letter to his youthful protege and edifies as well as instructs the reader. (The Minister's Library - Volume 2)
- Titus 2:15-3:7; Conquering Evil with Good: Without compromising our own faith, we are to do everything we can to demonstrate Christlike qualities to unbelievers. Video
- Titus 3:13-15; Ample Honorarium: As local church communities, we are to care for the economic needs of faithful men and women who have been appointed to serve us. Video
JOHN GILL
James Rosscup - Gill (1697–1771), a pastor of England, wrote these which are two-column pages, ca. 900–1,000 pages per volume, Originally they were 9 volumes, folio. He also wrote Body of Divinity, 3 volumes, and several other volumes. His commentary is evangelical, wrestles with texts, is often wordy and not to the point but with worthy things for the patient who follow the ponderous detail and fish out slowly what his interpretation of a text is. He feels the thousand years in Revelation 20 cannot begin until after the conversion of the Jews and the bringing in of the fullness of the Gentiles and destruction of all antiChristian powers (volume 6, p. 1063) but in an amillennial sense of new heavens and new earth coming right after Christ’s second advent (1064–65), and the literal thousand years of binding at the same time. He feels the group that gathers against the holy city at the end of the thousand years is the resurrected wicked dead from the four quarters of the earth (i.e. from all the earth, etc. (1067).
Spurgeon - Beyond all controversy, Gill was one of the most able Hebraists of his day, and in other matters no mean proficient...His ultraism is discarded, but his learning is respected: the world and the church take leave to question his dogmatism, but they both bow before his erudition. Probably no man since Gill’s days has at all equalled him in the matter of Rabbinical learning.
He preached in the same church as C. H. Spurgeon over one hundred years earlier. Yet most people today have never heard of John Gill. This is unfortunate, since his works contain priceless gems of information that are found nowhere except in the ancient writings of the Jews.
GOSPEL COALITION - Alistar Begg, Justin Taylor, et al
GOT QUESTIONS
- Book of Titus
- Why is sound doctrine so important?
- How important is Christian conduct to how the unbelieving world sees Christ?
- The Foolish Controversies of Titus 3
- Titus 3:5 What is regeneration according to the Bible?
GRACE NOTES
L M GRANT Commentary on Titus
W H GRIFFITH-THOMAS
UNABRIDGED
Spurgeon - A Christian man wishing for the cream of expository writers could not make a better purchase. Ministers, as a rule, should not buy condensations, but get the works themselves.
James Rosscup - This evangelical work, devotional in character, has been in constant demand for about 280 years. Its insight into human problems is great, but it often does not deal adequately with problems in the text. The one-volume form eliminates the Biblical text and is thus less bulky. It has sold very well. The late Wilbur M. Smith, internationally noted Bible teacher, seminary professor and lover of books, tabbed this “The greatest devotional commentary ever written”. Henry was born in a Welch farmhouse, studied law, and became a Presbyterian minister near London. He wrote this commentary in the last 13 years before he died at 52 in 1714. The first of six volumes was published in 1708. He completed through Acts, and the rest of the New Testament was done by 14 clergymen. (Ed: Thus James are not the comments of Matthew Henry).
F B HOLE
HOLMAN CHRISTIAN STANDARD STUDY BIBLE
- Holman Christian Standard Bible Study Bible - Well done conservative notes. Includes access to Holman NT Commentary on each Gospel (see Library in left gutter).
DAVID HOLWICK
HOMILETICS
ALFRED HUMPHREYS
- Titus 3 Commentary - click to go to next page
INTERNATIONAL CRITICAL COMMENTARY Walter Lock
D Edmond Hiebert - Lock leans to the conservative view but makes no pronouncements on the vexing critical problems. The notes on the Greek text are rather thin. Not up to the high standard of this series.
HARRY A IRONSIDE
Cyril Barber - Continuously in print for 50 years, having made its debut in 1947. Ironside always has something good to say. He is easy to read, evangelical, and provides deft applications of the truth to life. One limitation of this revision is the use of the KJV when some other modern translation (e.g., NKJV) would have better served the needs of modern readers. Otherwise, this exposition is lucid and ideal for lay Bible study.
James Rosscup - He is staunchly evangelical, showing good broad surveys based on diligent study, practical turns, even choice illustrations. In prophecy he is premillennial dispensational....Many preachers have found that Ironside works, read along with heavier books on details of exegesis, help them see the sweep of the message and prime their spirits for practical relevance.
John Cereghin - Ironside, Harry A., Expository Notes on the Epistles of James and Peter, 1947, 41 pages. Brief devotional exposition. He attacks hyper-Calvinism (68); denounces the error of “soul sleep” (73); suggests that angels may refer to Genesis 6 (82-83); teaches the Premillennial coming of Christ (98). A practical and devotional exposition. Reprinted from the 1904 edition.
JAMIESON, FAUSSET, BROWN
Rosscup - This is a helpful old set of 1863 for laypeople and pastors to have because it usually comments at least to some degree on problems. Though terse, it provides something good on almost any passage, phrase by phrase and is to some degree critical in nature. It is evangelical. There is also a 1-volume edition, briefer at some points (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1961). Especially in its multi-volume form this is one of the old evangelical works that offers fairly solid though brief help on many verses. Spurgeon said, “It contains so great a variety of information that if a man had no other exposition he would find himself at no great loss if he possessed this and used it diligently” (Commenting and Commentaries, p. 3). Things have changed greatly since this assessment! It is primarily of help to pastors and lay people looking for quick, though usually somewhat knowledgeable treatments on verses.
Spurgeon - A really standard work. We consult it continually, and with growing interest. Mr. Fausset’s portion strikes us as being of the highest order.
My Comment - This is one of the best older (Pre-1800) works on interpretation of prophecy as it tends to interpret the text literally and not allegorically.
- Titus 3 Commentary
- UNABRIDGED VERSION
- Titus 3 Commentary
S LEWIS JOHNSON
- Titus 3:1-8 Instruction to Live as Good Citizens
- Titus 3:9-15 Final Instructions and Greetings to Titus
PAUL E KRETZMANN - Popular Commentary
D Edmond Hiebert - Oosterzee, J. J. Van, "The Pastoral Letters," J. P. Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures. Translated from the German. (1863). The abundant material is in three sections: exegetical and critical; doctrinal and ethical; homiletical and practical. A full evangelical treatment by a Dutch Reformed minister and theologian of the past century.
James Rosscup - The treatments of books within this evangelical set (Lange's Commentary) vary in importance. Generally, one finds a wealth of detailed commentary, background, and some critical and exegetical notes. Often, however, there is much excess verbiage that does not help particularly. On the other hand, it usually has something to assist the expositor on problems and is a good general set for pastors and serious lay people though it is old.
J P LILLEY TITUS EXPOSITORY COMMENTARY
D Edmond Hiebert - A scholarly, conservative work (published in 1901) giving a comprehensive discussion of the Pastorals as a group as well as the individual epistles. A verse-by-verse exposition characterized by spiritual warmth and practical appeal.
- Titus 3:1-2: Christian's Responsibility in Pagan Society - 1
- Titus 3:3-8: Christian's Responsibility in Pagan Society -2
- Titus 3:4-7: He Saved Us
- Titus 3:9-15: Last Word on Relationships
- Link to multiple additional resources that mention Titus in the body of the text
- Titus 3 Commentary Mp3's
F B MEYER
HEINRICH MEYER Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament
D Edmond Hiebert - Greek text. A full exegetical treatment of these epistles by an evangelical German scholar of the past century (1893). Scholarly and technical, providing references to scholarly views of the authors own times.
- Titus 3:2 brawlers
- Titus 3:4 God our Saviour
- Titus 3:5 saved us washing of regeneration
- Titus 3:6 abundantly
- Titus 3:7 hope
- Titus 3:8 faithful saying
- Titus 3:9 foolish questions
- Titus 3:10 heretick reject
- Titus 3:12 Artemas Nicopolis
- Titus 3:13 Zenas on their journey diligently
- Titus 3:1-2 Roadmap to Personal Godliness
- Titus 3:3-7 God's Kindness to Sinners, Part 1
- Titus 3:3-7 God's Kindness to Sinners, Part 2
- Titus 3:8-11 Now that You're a ChristianTitus 3:12-15 Engaging in Good Deeds
OUR DAILY BREAD DEVOTIONALS
- Titus 3 Good Deeds or The Cross?
- Titus 3:1-8 Win or Lose, Do Good
- Titus 3:1-8 Unused Gears
- Titus 3:1-7 Tiny Island
- Titus 3:1-8 How Gentle are You?
- Titus 3:1-8 They’re Watching
- Titus 3:1-8 Inspiration to Perspiration
- Titus 3:1-11 Restored To Favor
- Titus 3:3-11 Allergic to…
- Titus 3:3,5 Watershed Line
- Titus 3:1-8 A Complete Salvation
- Titus 3:2 Out Of Chaos
- Titus 3:3-6 Housekeeping of the Heart
- Titus 3:4 Watershed Line
- Titus 3:4 Anonymous Has Come
- Titus 3:4 A Little Kinder
- Titus 3:4-8 Making Things Square
- Titus 3:5 One Solution
- Titus 3:5 Changed
- Titus 3:5 The Midwife's Tale
- Titus 3:5 The Link To Life
- Titus 3:5 It's Too Easy
- Titus 3:5 Saved By Grace
- Titus 3:5 Good Deeds Or The Cross?
- Titus 3:5 By Mercy, Not Merit
- Titus 3:5-6 Housekeeping Of The Heart
- Titus 3:5,7 A Complete Salvation
- Titus 3:9 Allergic To…
- Titus 3:8 A Perfect Fit.
- Titus 3:14 Everyday Disciples
- Titus 3:14 Exercise Your Right
JOSEPH PARKER - The People's Bible
J B PHILLIPS
PREACHER'S HOMILETICAL COMMENTARY
REFORMATION STUDY BIBLE
- Titus 3:1–8, Titus 3:1, Titus 3:3, Titus 3:4, Titus 3:5, Titus 3:7
- Titus 3:8, Titus 3:9–11, Titus 3:9, Titus 3:10, Titus 3:12–15
- Titus 3:12, Titus 3:13, Titus 3:14, Titus 3:15
- Titus 3:1-11 Being Good
- Titus 3:1-11 The Causes of Salvation
- Titus 3:1-11 False Teaching in the Church
- Titus 3:12-15 Once More: The "Good" Life
- Titus 3:1-3 Subject to Authority
- Titus 3:4-7 Grace & Redemption
- Titus 3:8-15 Deal Biblically with Heresies
SERMON BIBLE COMMENTARY
SERMONS BY VERSE - older expositions
- Study Guide for Titus
- Titus - Through the Bible Series
- Titus 3:3-7 He Saved Us
- Titus 3:5-7 The Hope of Eternal Life
- Titus 3:5-7 Saved by Mercy, Justified by Grace
- Titus 3:5-7 Doing the Right Thing in the Wrong Way
- Remind Others to Do Good - Titus 3:1-2
- Reminding: Its Basis - Titus 3:3-7
- Total Depravity - Titus 3:3
- But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared - Titus 3:4
- He saved us - Titus 3:5-6
- Justified - Titus 3:7
- Reminding: Obedience and Its Benefits - Titus 3:8
- Responsibility in Ministering to False Teachers - Titus 3:9-11
- Controversies - Titus 3:9
- Heretics - Titus 3:10-11
- Final Greetings and Benediction - Titus 3:12-15
- Artemas ... Tychicus - Titus 3:12
- Zenas . . . Apollos - Titus 3:13
- Grace be with you all - Titus 3:14-15
- Titus 3:1
- Titus 3:2
- Titus 3:3
- Titus 3:4
- Titus 3:5
- Titus 3:6
- Titus 3:7
- Titus 3:8
- Titus 3:9
- Titus 3:10
- Titus 3:11
- Titus 3:12
- Titus 3:13
- Titus 3:14
- Titus 3:15
THOMAS WATSON
- Titus 3:3 If God left us!
- Titus 3:5 A bull may be adorned with ribbons
- Titus 3:8 The children which faith bears
DAVID THOMPSON SERMONS
TODAY IN THE WORD DEVOTIONALS
- Titus 3:1-7
- Titus 3:1-11
- Titus 3:1-2
- Titus 3:3-5
- Titus 3:5
- Titus 3:3-7
- Titus 3:6-7
- Titus 3:8-11
- Titus 3:12-15
SERMONS BY VERSE - Older expositions