The Bible and Holy Scriptures conteyned in the Olde and Newe Testament. Translated according to the Ebrue and Greke, and conferred with the best translations in diuers languges. VVith moste profitable annotations vpon all the hard places, and other things of great importance as may appeare in the epistle to the reader

THE EPISTLE OF Paul to Titus.

THE ARGVMENT.

WHen Titus was left in Creta to finish that doctrine which Paul had there begonne, Satan stirred vp certeine which went about not onely to ouerthrowe the gouernement of the Churche, but also to corrupt the doctrine: for some by ambition wolde haue thrust in them selues to be Pastours, others, vnder pretext of Moses Law broght in manie trifles. Against these two sortes of men Paul armeth Titus: first teachyng him what maner of Ministers he ought to chose, chiefly requiryng that they be men of sounde doctrine to the intent they myght resiste the aduersaries, and amongs other things he noreth the Iewes whiche put a certeine holines in meates and suche outwarde ceremonies, teachyng them whi∣che are the true exercises of a Christian life, and what things apperteine to euerie mans vocation. Againste the whiche if anie man rebelle or els doeth not obey, he willeth him to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉.

CHAP. I.

5 He aduertiseth Titus touchyng the gouernement of the Church. 7. The ordinance and office of ministers. 12 The nature of the Cretians, and of them which sowe abroade Iewish fables and inuentions of men.

1 PAVLa“ 1.1 seruant of God, and an Apostle of IESVS Christ, accordynge to thea 1.2 fayth of Gods elect and the knowled∣ge of the trueth, which is ac∣cordyng to godlines.* 1.3

2 Vnder the hope of eternall life, whiche God* 1.4 that can not lie, hatheb 1.5 promised before the* 1.6 *worlde began.* 1.7

3 But hathe made hys worde manifeste in due time through the preachyng, which is* com¦mitted vnto me, according to the comman∣dement of God ourc 1.8 〈◊〉〈◊〉:

4 To Titus (my) naturalld 1.9 sonne accordynge to the commune faith, Grace, 〈◊〉〈◊〉, (and) pea ce from God the Father, and (from) the Lord Iesus Christ our Sauiour.

5 For this cause left I thee in Creta, that thou shuldest continue to redresse the things that remaine, and shuldest ordeine Elders in euc∣rie citie, as I appointed thee.

6 *If anyee 1.10 be vnreproueable, the housbande of one wife, hauyng faithfull children, whi∣che are not sclandered of riote, nether are disobedient.* 1.11

7 For a byshop muste be vnreproueable, asf 1.12 Gods stewarde, not“ 1.13 frowarde, not angrie, not giuen to wyne, no striker, not giuen to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 lucre.

8 But harberous, one that loueth“ 1.14 goodnes, wise,g 1.15 righteous,h 1.16 holie, temperate.

9 Holding fast the faithfull worde accordyng to doctrine, that he also may be able to ex∣horte with wholsome doctrine, and improue them that say against it.

10 For there are manie disobedient and vayne talkers and deceiuers of mindes, chiefly they of thei 1.17 Circumcision.

11 Whose mouths 〈◊〉〈◊〉 be stopped, which sub uert whole houses, teachyng things, whiche they ought not, for filthie lucre sake.

12 One of thē selues, (euen) one of their ownek 1.18 prophetes said, The Cretians (are) alwayes lyars, euil beastes, slowe belyes.

13 This witnes is true: wherfore rebuke them sharpely, that they may be soūde in the faith.

14 And not taking hede to *Iewish fables and commandements of men, that turne from the trueth.

15 Vnto the pure *(are) all things pure, but vnto them that are defiled, and vnbeleuing, (is) nothing pure, but euen their mindes and consciences are defiled.

16 They professe that they knowe God, but byl 1.19 workes they denie (him,) and are abo∣minable and disobedient, and vnto euerie good worke reprobate.

CHAP. II.

1 He commendeth vnto him the wholsome doctrine, and telleth him how he shall teache all degrees to be haue thē* 1.20 selues. 11 Through the benefite of the grace of Christ.

1 BVt speake thou the things which becomea 1.21 wholsome doctrine.

2 That the Elder men be sobre, honest, discrete sounde in the faith, in loue, (and) in paciēce.

3 The Elder women likewise, that they be in* 1.22 suche behauiour as becometh holines, not false accusers, not giuen to much wine (but) teachers of honest things.

4 That they may instruct the yong women to be sobre minded, that they loue their hous∣bands, that they loue their children.

5 (That they be) discrete, chast,b 1.23 kepyng at* 1.24 home good and * subiect vnto their hous∣bands, that the worde of God be not euill spoken of.

6 Exhorte yong men likewise, that they be sobreminded.

7 Aboue althings shewe thy self an ensample of good workes with vncorrupt doctrine, with grauitie, integritie.

8 (And) with the wholsome worde, whiche can not be reproued, that he whiche with∣standeth, may be ashamed, hauing nothyng concerning you to speake euill of.

9 *Let seruants be subiect to their masters, and* 1.25 please (thē) in al things not answering again* 1.26

10 Nether pykers, but that they shewe al good* 1.27 faithfulnes that they may adorne the do∣ctrine of God our Sauiour in all things.

11 *For the grace of God, that bringethc 1.28 sal∣uacion* 1.29 vnto all men, hathe appeared.* 1.30

12 And teacheth vs that we shulde denie vn∣godlines, and worldlie lustes, and that we shulde liue sobrely and righteously, & godly in this present worlde.

13 Loking for the blessed hope, ād appearyng of the glorie of the mightie God, and of our Sauiour Iesus Christ.

14 Who gaue him self for vs, that he might redeme vs from all iniquitie, and purge vs (to be) ad 1.31 peculiar people vnto him self, zealous of good workes.

15 These things speake, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and re∣buke with alle 1.32 autoritie. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that no man des∣pice thee.

CHAP. III.

1 Of obedience to suche as be in autoritie. 9 He warneth Titus to be ware of foolish and vnprofitable questions. 12 Concluding with certeine 〈◊〉〈◊〉 matters. 15 And salu∣tacions.

1 PVt them in remembrance that they *a 1.33 be* 1.34 subiect to the Principalities and Powers,* 1.35 (and) that they be obedient, (and) readie to euerie good worke.

2 That they speake euil of no man, that they be no fighters, (but) softe, shewing all meke∣nes vnto all men.

3 *b 1.36 For we our selues also were in times past vnwise, disobedient, deceiued, seruing the* 1.37 lustes and diuers pleasures, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in mali∣ciousnes and enuie, hatefull, (and) hatyng one another.

4 But when the bountifulnes and loue of God our Sauiour to warde man appeared.

5 *Notc 1.38 by the workes of righteousnes, which* 1.39 we had done, but accordyng to his mercie he saued vs, by thed 1.40 washing of the new birth and the renuyng of the holie Gost.

6 Whiche he shed on vs abundantly, through Iesus Christ our Sauiour.

7 That we, being iustified by his grace, shulde be made heires accordyng to the hope of e∣ternall life.

8 This (is) a true saying, and these things I will thou shuldest affirme, that they whiche haue beleued in God, might be carefull to shewe forthe good workes. These thyngs (are) good and profitable vnto men.

9 *But stay foolish questions, and genealogies and contentions, and brawlings about the Law: for they are vnprofitable and vaine.

10 e 1.41 〈◊〉〈◊〉 him that is an heretike, after once or twise admonicion.

11 Knowing that he that is suche, isf 1.42 peruer∣ted, andg 1.43 sinneth being damned of his owne self.

12 When I shall send Artemas vnto thee, or* 1.44 Tychicus, be diligent to come to me vnto* 1.45 Nicopolis: for I haue determined there to winter.

13 Bring Zenash 1.46 the expounder of the Law, and Apollos on their iourney diligently, that they lacke nothyng.

14 And let ours also learne to shewe for: the good workes for necessarie vses that they be not vnfruteful.

15 Al that are with me, salute thee. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 them that loue vs in the faith. Grace (be) with you all,

Amen.

To Titus, elect the first bishope of the Church of the Cretians, written from Nicopolis in Macedonia.

Notes

• “ 1.1

  Or, minister.
• a 1.2

  That is, to prea che the faith, to increase 〈◊〉〈◊〉 knowledge, to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 them to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 godly that at length they may obteine eter nal life.
• * 1.3

  Rom. 16. 25. Ephe.
• * 1.4

  39. Col. 1. 26.
• b 1.5

  Hath willing∣ly, ād of his mere 〈◊〉〈◊〉 promi sed without fo e seyng our faith or workes as a cause to moue hym to this 〈◊〉〈◊〉 mercie.
• * 1.6

  2. Tim. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 10. 1 per.
• * 1.7

  1 20. Gal. 11.
• c 1.8

  VVho bothegi 〈◊〉〈◊〉 life, and pre ser ueth life.
• d 1.9

  In respecte of faith which was commune to thē both, so that here by they are bre∣thren: but in re∣spect, of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Paul 〈◊〉〈◊〉 him as his sonne is faith.
• e 1.10

  That is, with∣out all infamie whereby his au toritie might be diminished.
• * 1.11

  1. Tim. 3. 2.
• f 1.12

  VVho hath the dispensation of his gifts.
• “ 1.13

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 willy.
• “ 1.14

  Or, good men.
• g 1.15

  Toward men.
• h 1.16

  Towarde God
• i 1.17

  VVhiche were not onelye the Iewes, but also the Hebionites, & 〈◊〉〈◊〉 here tikes, which tau∣ght that the law muste be ioyned with Christ.
• k 1.18

  He calleth Epi∣menides the Phi∣losopher, or Poet, whose verse he here recireth, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉, becau∣se the Cretians so 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and as Laertius writeth, they sa∣crificedvnto him as to a God, for∣asmuch as he had a marueilousgift to vnderstand things to come: which thing Sa∣tan by the per∣mission of God hathe opened to the infideles frō time to time, but it 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to their greater cō∣demnacion, 1. Tim. 1. 4.
• l 1.19

  Forasmuche as thei stay at thīgs of nothing, and passenor for thē that are 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and so giue them selues to al wickednes.
• * 1.20

  Rom. 14. 20.
• a 1.21

  Wher with our soulesarefed and mainteined in helth.
• * 1.22

  Chap. II.
• b 1.23

  Not running to and fro without necessarie occa∣sions, which is a signe of 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.24

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 5. 23.
• * 1.25

  Ephes. 6. 3.
• * 1.26

  Colos. 3. 22.
• * 1.27

  1. Pet. 2. 18.
• c 1.28

  Of what con∣dicion or state 〈◊〉〈◊〉 they be.
• * 1.29

  1. Cor. 1. 2.
• * 1.30

  Colos. 1. 22.
• d 1.31

  Most dere and precious.
• e 1.32

  As becometh the ambassadour of God.
• a 1.33

  Althogh the rulers be infide∣les, yet we are bounde to obey them in ciuil po∣lices, and where as they cōmande vs nothing a∣gainst the worde of God.
• * 1.34

  Rom. 19. 1.
• * 1.35

  1. Pet. 2. 13.
• b 1.36

  For let vs con∣sider what we our selues were when God shes wed vs fauour.
• * 1.37

  1 Cor 6. 11.
• c 1.38

  God doeth not iustifie vs for re∣spect of anie thīg whiche he seeth in vs, but doeth preuent vs with his grace & frely accepteth vs.
• * 1.39

  2. Tim. 1. 9.
• d 1.40

  Baptisme is a sure signe of our regeneraciō, whi che is wroght by the holie Gost.
• e 1.41

  This comman∣dement is giuen to the minister, & so particularly to all men to whome the sworde is not cō∣mitted: but 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the magistrate, whose chief offi∣ce is to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Gods 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in his Church ought to cut of al suche rotten and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 members from the bodie.
• f 1.42

  So that there is no hope of amen dement.
• g 1.43

  Willingly, and wittingly.
• * 1.44

  1. Tim. 1. 4. & 4. 7.
• * 1.45

  2. Tim. 2. 23.
• h 1.46

  It is probable, that he was an interpreter of the Law of Moses. as Apollos. &c.