\\INTRODUCTION TO TITUS 3\\

In this chapter the apostle exhorts Titus to press various duties
incumbent on Christians, with arguments engaging to them; gives him
some directions about dealing with heretics, and some instructions
about private matters, and particular persons, and closes it with
salutations. And first, he charges him to put his hearers in mind of
their duty, to be subject to civil magistrates, and readily perform
whatever is right and proper for them to do; and to abstain from
blaspheming and brawling, and to exercise gentleness and meekness to
all men, \\#Tit 3:1,2\\. The arguments inducing thereunto are taken
partly from their former state and condition, while unregenerate:
when they were as ignorant and as wicked as other men, they are
exhorted to behave well to; and partly from the consideration of the
salvation they were now partakers of, \\#Tit 3:3,4\\ which leads on
the apostle to give an account of its causes and means: the moving
cause of it is the love and mercy of God; the way and means in which
it is brought about, are not works of righteousness done by men, but
the regenerating and renewing grace of the Spirit, which is
plentifully bestowed through Jesus Christ the Saviour, and
justification by the free grace of God, by virtue of which men become
heirs unto, and have an hope of eternal life, \\#Tit 3:4-7\\ which
several blessings of grace should be constantly insisted on in the
ministry of the word, in order to engage believers carefully to
perform good works; and because such doctrines are good in
themselves, and profitable to men; whereas questions, genealogies,
contentions, and strivings about the law, are foolish, vain, and
unprofitable, and to be avoided, \\#Tit 3:8,9\\, wherefore an
heretical man should be rejected from all Christian conversation and
communion, after he has been admonished at least twice, seeing he is
off of the foundation, has sinned, and is self-condemned, \\#Tit 3:10,11\\.
Next the apostle desires Titus to meet him at Nicopolis, where his
design was to pass the winter, upon sending two ministering brethren to
Crete, who are mentioned by name, \\#Tit 3:12\\ and that he would
accommodate two others, who are also named, with everything convenient
for their journey, \\#Tit 3:13\\ and charges him to exhort the brethren
under his care to learn to be diligent and industrious in the
performance of good works, which have their necessary uses, and prevent
unfruitfulness, \\#Tit 3:13,14\\. And the epistle is concluded with
salutations, and the apostle's usual benediction, \\#Tit 3:15\\.