The Pulpit Commentary on Titus 1:9

The Pulpit Commentary · Joseph S. Exell and contributors · Public domain

Holding to for holding fast, A.V.; which is according to the teaching for as he hath been taught, A.V.; both to exhort in the sound doctrine for by sound doctrine, both to exhort, A.V.; convict for convince, A.

V. Holding to ( ἀντεχόμενος). Holding fast is a better and more forcible rendering than holding to. It answers to the Latin adherere, to cling to. The faithful word which is according to the teaching is awkwardly expressed.

ἠ διδασή is "the Christian truth" as taught by the apostles, and "the faithful" or "sure word" to which Titusus is to cleave is described as being" according to that truth" (comp. Titus 1:1, ἀληθείας τῆς κατ εὐσέβειαν).

The A.V. gives substantially the apostle's meaning. The result of this adhesion to the faithful word is that he will be able to comfort and encourage believers by ( ἐν) his wholesome teaching, and also to convict the opposers of the truth.

The gainsayers; or, contradictors ( τοὺς ἀντιλέγοντας); such as those Jews described in Acts 13:45 and Acts 28:19 as "contradicting and blaspheming."

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