"Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, to speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, showing all meekness unto all men."
Titus 3:1-2
Part 1
“Put them in mind.”
We, humans, have very short memories sometimes. Paul told Titus to be reminding them… and reminding, and reminding…[1] It sounds almost parental.
“To be subject to principalities and powers,”
Titus was to remind them to have the right attitude toward their leaders. Submission can only come from a humble, “willing” heart.
Principalities, “beginning = that which begins: the leader, principality” (Vincent). These are the highest leaders, as the Roman emperors, or the “supreme civil authorities” everywhere.[2] These are leaders with “right authority” because God has set them up to lead. The “powers” were those magistrates and other authorities over the people. Paul is calling for humble obedience to these leaders.
“To obey magistrates,”
Believers must obey their magistrates. These are government officials who are serving by the rightful authority. We can expect “commands” from them. They should be able to expect obedience from us. Generally, their job is to praise the good citizens and punish the bad.[3] In fact, Paul said in Romans,
“For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil” (Romans 13:3-4).
The citizens of Crete were not known for living lawful lives. Paul’s words to Titus had special meaning for them (Titus 1:12-13).
As long as our authority is not commanding us to do something illegal, immoral, or unscriptural, we must comply with the right attitude.
What did Paul mean when he told Titus to “be ready to work?” Come back tomorrow and let’s think this through.
[1] The Greek verb is in the present tense, the action is to be ongoing, repeated.
[2] See Adam Clarke in eSword.
[3] See Jamison, Fausset, and Brown. Jamison-Fausset-Brown’s Commentary, the electronic version in eSword.