Titus 1:1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect… The apostle, by joining these two together, a servant and apostle, teacheth us that the chiefest offices in the Church are for the service of it. Was there any office above the apostles in the Church? And yet they preached the Lord Jesus, and themselves servants for His sake. Nay, our Lord Jesus Himself, although He was the Head of His Church, yet He came not into the world to be served, but to minister and serve. 1. Ministers must never conceive of their calling, but also of this service, which is not accomplished but by service; thus shall they be answerable to Peter's exhortation (1 Peter 3:3) to feed the flock of God depending upon them, not by constraint, but willingly; "not as lords over God's heritage, but as examples to the flock." 2. Would'st thou know what ambition Christ hath permitted unto His ministers? It is even this, that he that would be chief of all should become servant of all. (T. Taylor, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness; |
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