Clarke's Bible Commentary - Titus 3:15
Verse 15. All that are with me] He means his companions in the ministry. Salute thee.] Wish thee well, and desire to be affectionately remembered to thee.
Greet them that love us in the faith,] All that love us for Christ's sake, and all that are genuine Christians.
Grace be with you] May the Divine favour be your portion for ever.
Some MSS. read, The grace of the Lord be with you all; others, The grace of God be with you all; and one, Grace be with THY spirit, as if the greeting was sent to Titus only, whereas the others send it to the whole Church at Crete.
Amen.] This is wanting in ACD, and some others.
The subscriptions are, as usual, various. Those of the VERSIONS are the following:- The Epistle to Titus was written from Nicopolis; and sent by the hands of Zena and Apollo. - SYRIAC.
To the man Titus. - AETHIOPIC.
The end of the epistle: it was written from Nicopolis. Incessant and eternal praise be to the God of glory. Amen. - ARABIC.
Written in Nicopolis, and sent by Artemas, his disciple. - COPTIC.
The Epistle to Titothy is ended, who was the first bishop of the Church of the Cretans: and it was written from Nicopolis of MACEDONIA. - PHILOXENIAN SYRIAC.
There is no subscription in the VULGATE.
The MANUSCRIPTS are also various.
To Titus. - C, and Clarom.
That to Titothy is completed: that to Philemon begins. - DEFG.
To Titus, written from Nicopolis. - A.
To Titus, written from Nicopolis of Macedonia. - of the Macedonians.- From Nicopolis, which is a province of Macedonia.
Paul the apostle's Epistle to Titus.
To Titus, ordained the first bishop of the Church of the Cretans: written from Nicopolis of Macedonia. - Common Greek Text.
To Titus, archbishop of Crete. - One of the Vienna MSS., written A. D. 1331.
THERE is not one of these subscriptions of any authority, and some of them are plainly ridiculous. We do not know that Titus was what we term bishop, much less that he was ordained bishop of Crete, as appointed to a particular see; and still less that he was the first bishop there. As to his being archbishop, that is the fiction of a time of deep darkness. That the epistle was written from some place near to Nicopolis, of Epirus, is very probable. That it was not written at Nicopolis is evident; and that this was not Nicopolis of Macedonia is also very probable. See the preface to this epistle for farther information on this point. And see a treatise by old Mr. Prynne entitled, The unbishoping of Timothy and Titus, 4to. Lond. 1636 and 1660, where, among many crooked things, there are some just observations.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 15. All that are with me salute thee , etc.] All the apostles, fellow labourers, and the ministers of the Gospel that were with him; and all the members of the church where he was, sent their Christian salutation to Titus; he being a person greatly esteemed, and whose praise was in all the churches: greet them that love us in the faith ; not merely as men, as their countrymen, as related to them in the flesh; or on account of any external things, but as believers; because of the doctrine of faith, professed and preached; and because of the grace of faith obtained and possessed; or who love us faithfully, sincerely, and uprightly, from their hearts, and not in word and tongue only: grace be with you all, Amen ; which is the common concluding salutation in all Paul's epistles. This shows that this epistle was not designed for Titus only, but for the saints at Crete. It was written to Titus the first bishop of the church of the Cretians . But this subscription, as many others, is not to be depended upon; it is not very likely that Titus was bishop of this church at all; since his stay there was but short, nor indeed elsewhere, seeing he was an evangelist; though this is asserted both by Eusebius , and Sophronius , who adds, that he died and was buried here: and what follows, that it was written from Nicopolis of Macedonia , does not seem to be just, as may be concluded from ( Titus 3:12). Many learned men think it was written from Colosse, or some neighbouring place; though when he wrote his epistle to the Colossians it looks as if he had never been there before: the Syriac version adds, sent by the hands of Zenas and Apollos; which is not unlikely, since he desires they might be accommodated by Titus with what was necessary for the remaining part of their journey, ( Titus 3:13).
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 12-15 - Christianity is not a fruitless profession; and its professors must be filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. They must be doing good, as well a keeping away from evil. Let "ours" follow some honest labour an employment, to provide for themselves and their families. Christianit obliges all to seek some honest work and calling, and therein to abid with God. The apostle concludes with expressions of kind regard an fervent prayer. Grace be with you all; the love and favour of God, with the fruits and effects thereof, according to need; and the increase an feeling of them more and more in your souls. This is the apostle's wis and prayer, showing his affection to them, and desire for their good and would be a means of obtaining for them, and bringing down on them the thing requested. Grace is the chief thing to be wished and praye for, with respect to ourselves or others; it is "all good. __________________________________________________________________
Greek Textus Receptus
ασπαζονται 782 5736 σε 4571 οι 3588 μετ 3326 εμου 1700 παντες 3956 ασπασαι 782 5663 τους 3588 φιλουντας 5368 5723 ημας 2248 εν 1722 πιστει 4102 η 3588 χαρις 5485 μετα 3326 παντων 3956 υμων 5216 αμην 281 [προς 4314 τιτον 5103 της 3588 κρητων 2912 εκκλησιας 1577 πρωτον 4413 επισκοπον 1985 χειροτονηθεντα 5500 5685 εγραφη 1125 5648 απο 575 νικοπολεως 3533 της 3588 μακεδονιας] 3109
Vincent's NT Word Studies
15. Them that love us in the faith (touv filountav hmav en pistei). Better, in faith. The phrase N.T.o . Filein to love, only here in Pastorals, and in Paul, only 1 Cor. xvi. 22. See on ajgaph love, Gal. verse 22. Const. in faith with that love us.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
3:15 {That love us} (tous filountas hemas). Paul craved the love of his friends as opposed to #2:8.
