SEV Biblia, Chapter 3:1
¶ Amonstales que se sujeten a los príncipes y potestades, que obedezcan, que estn prontos a toda buena obra.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Titus 3:1
Verse 1. Put them in mind to be subject to principalities, &c.] By principalities, arcaiv, we are to understand the Roman emperors, or the supreme civil powers in any place. By powers, exousiaiv, we are to understand the deputies of the emperors, such as proconsuls, &c., and all such as are in authority-under the supreme powers wherever we dwell. See the doctrine of obedience to the civil powers discussed at large in the notes on Rom. xiii. 1-7.
This doctrine of obedience to the civil powers was highly necessary for the Cretans, who were reputed a people exceedingly jealous of their civil privileges, and ready to run into a state of insurrection when they suspected any attempt on the part of their rulers to infringe their liberties.
Suidas, under the word aneseion, they stirred up, gives the following fragment: oi de krhtev, foboumenoi mh ti timwriav tucwsin, aneseion ta plhqh, parakalountev thn ex aiwnov paradedomenhn eleuqerian diafulattein. "But the Cretans, fearing lest they should be punished, stirred up the populace, exhorting them that they should carefully preserve that liberty which they had received from their ancestors." What part of the history of Crete this refers to I cannot tell; the words stand thus insulated in Suidas, without introduction or connection. To be jealous of our civil rights and privileges, and most strenuously to preserve them, is highly praiseworthy; but to raise a public tumult to avoid merited chastisement, under pretense that our civil privileges are in danger, is not the part of patriots but insurgents. For such advice as that given here the known character of the Cretans is a sufficient reason: "They were ever liars, ferocious wild beasts, and sluggish gluttons." Such persons would feel little disposition to submit to the wholesome restraints of law.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 1. Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers , etc.] Not angels, good or bad, which are sometimes so called, but men in high places; the higher powers ordained of God, as the apostle elsewhere calls them; and which the Apostle Peter distinguishes into the king as supreme, and into governors under him: the Roman emperor and senate, the consuls, and proconsuls, deputies and governors of provinces and islands, are here meant; particularly such who were appointed over the island of Crete. Now the reasons why the apostle exhorts Titus to put in remembrance those that were under his care, to yield a cheerful subjection to their superiors, were, because the Jews, from whom the Christians were not distinguished by the Romans, were reckoned a turbulent and seditious people; which character they obtained, partly through the principles of the Scribes and Pharisees, which they at least privately entertained, as not to give tribute to Caesar, or be under any Heathen yoke; and partly through the insurrections that had been made by Judas of Galilee, and Theudas, and others; and besides, there were many Jews in the island of Crete, and the Cretians themselves were prone to mutiny and rebellion: to which may be added, that the false teachers, and judaizing preachers, that had got among them, despised dominion, and were not afraid to speak evil of dignities, according to the characters which both Peter and Jude give of them, and taught the saints to abuse their Christian liberty, and use it for a cloak of maliciousness, to the great scandal of the Christian religion. To obey magistrates ; inferior ones; in all things that are according to the laws of God, and right reason, that do not contradict what God has commanded, or break in upon the rights and dictates of conscience; in all things of a civil nature, and which are for the good of society, and do not affect religion, and the worship of God: hence it follows, to be ready to every good work ; which may be taken in a limited and restrained sense, and design every good work enjoined by the civil magistrate; and all right and lawful obedience that belongs to him, as giving to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, tribute, custom, fear, and honour to whom they are due; and which should be done readily and cheerfully: or it may be understood more comprehensively of good works in general, which wicked men are reprobate to, and unfit for; and which they that are sanctified are meet for, and ready to; though this may not only intend their capacity, fitness, and qualifications, for the performance of good works, but their alacrity, promptitude, and forwardness unto them.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-7 - Spiritual privileges do not make void or weaken, but confirm civi duties. Mere good words and good meanings are not enough without goo works. They were not to be quarrelsome, but to show meekness on all occasions, not toward friends only, but to all men, though with wisdom Jas 3:13. And let this text teach us how wrong it is for a Christian to be churlish to the worst, weakest, and most abject. The servants of sin have many masters, their lusts hurry them different ways; prid commands one thing, covetousness another. Thus they are hateful deserving to be hated. It is the misery of sinners, that they hate on another; and it is the duty and happiness of saints to love on another. And we are delivered out of our miserable condition, only by the mercy and free grace of God, the merit and sufferings of Christ and the working of his Spirit. God the Father is God our Saviour. He is the fountain from which the Holy Spirit flows, to teach, regenerate and save his fallen creatures; and this blessing comes to mankin through Christ. The spring and rise of it, is the kindness and love of God to man. Love and grace have, through the Spirit, great power to change and turn the heart to God. Works must be in the saved, but ar not among the causes of their salvation. A new principle of grace an holiness is wrought, which sways, and governs, and makes the man a ne creature. Most pretend they would have heaven at last, yet they car not for holiness now; they would have the end without the beginning Here is the outward sign and seal thereof in baptism, called therefor the washing of regeneration. The work is inward and spiritual; this in outwardly signified and sealed in this ordinance. Slight not thi outward sign and seal; yet rest not in the outward washing, but look to the answer of a good conscience, without which the outward washing wil avail nothing. The worker therein is the Spirit of God; it is the renewing of the Holy Ghost. Through him we mortify sin, perform duty walk in God's ways; all the working of the Divine life in us, and the fruits of righteousness without, are through this blessed and holy Spirit. The Spirit and his saving gifts and graces, come throug Christ, as a Saviour, whose undertaking and work are to bring to grac and glory. Justification, in the gospel sense, is the free forgivenes of a sinner; accepting him as righteous through the righteousness of Christ received by faith. God, in justifying a sinner in the way of the gospel, is gracious to him, yet just to himself and his law. A forgiveness is through a perfect righteousness, and satisfaction is made to justice by Christ, it cannot be merited by the sinner himself Eternal life is set before us in the promise; the Spirit works faith in us, and hope of that life; faith and hope bring it near, and fill with joy in expectation of it.
Greek Textus Receptus
υπομιμνησκε 5279 5720 αυτους 846 αρχαις 746 και 2532 εξουσιαις 1849 υποτασσεσθαι 5293 5733 πειθαρχειν 3980 5721 προς 4314 παν 3956 εργον 2041 αγαθον 18 ετοιμους 2092 ειναι 1511 5750
Vincent's NT Word Studies
1. Put them in mind (upomimnhske exousiaiv). See on 2 Timothy ii. 14, and on uJpomnhsin reminding, 2 Tim. i. 5.
Principalities and powers (arcaiv exousiaiv). Omit and. Principalities which are authorities. Arch beginning = that which begins: the leader, principality. See on Col. i. 16; Jude 6; Acts x. 11. Only here in Pastorals. Exousia right, authority. See on Mark ii. 10; John i. 12; Col. i. 16. Only here in Pastorals. For the combination principalities and powers, see on Luke 20. 20.
To obey magistrates (peiqarcein). Comp. Acts v. 29, 32; xxvii. 21. See on Acts v. 29. The idea of magistrates is contained in the word itself; but it is quite proper to render as Rev. to be obedient. Rare in LXX.
Ready to every good work (prov pan ergon agaqon etoimouv einai). The phrase N.T.o . Etoimov ready, only here in Pastorals. Comp. eJtoimasia readiness or preparation, Eph. vi. 15 (note).
Robertson's NT Word Studies
3:1 {To be in subjection to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient} (arcais exousiais hupotassesqai peiqarcein). Remarkable double asyndeton, no kai (and) between the two substantives or the two verbs. Peitharchein (to obey), old verb (from peiqomai, arce), in N.T. only here and #Ac 27:21. {To be ready unto every good work} (pros pan ergon agaqon hetoimous einai). Pauline phrase (#2Co 9:8; 2Ti 2:21; 3:17), here adjective hetoimos (#2Co 9:5), there verb.
