56 Titus

The Rheims New Testament (1582) — Titus

Saint Paul's Epistle to Titus, as printed in the Rheims New Testament of 1582, the English Catholic translation made from the Latin Vulgate at the English College, then in exile at Rheims, chiefly by Gregory Martin. The page gives the edition's argument of the book, all 3 chapters, each with its printed summary, every verse in the original spelling, and the marginal notes (cross-references, the days on which passages are read, and other readings); the edition's annotations follow 2 of the 3 chapters, as printed.

The Argument

THE ARGVMENT OF THE EPISTLE OF S. PAVL TO TITVS.

THAT Titus vvas a Gentil, and not a Ievv, and that he vvas in S. Paules traine, at the leaſt the 14 yere after his conuerſion, if not before, vve vnderſtand by the Epiſtle to the Galatians c. 2. And that he continued vvith him to the very end, appeareth in the ſecond to Timothee c. 4. Vvhere he maketh mention that he ſent him from Rome into Dalmatia, vvhen him ſelf vvas ſhortly after to be put to death.

And therefore although S. Luke neuer name him in the Actes, as neither him ſelf, yet no doubt he comprehendeth him commonly, vvhen he ſpeaketh thus in the firſt perſon plurall: Forthvvith vve ſought to goe into Macedonia. Act, 16. For S. Paul alſo ſent him to Corinth, betvvene the vvriting of his 1 & 2 to the Corinthians (vvhich time concurreth vvith Act. 19) by occaſion vvhereof he maketh much and honorable mention of him in the ſaid ſecond Epiſtle c▪ 2. &c. 7. and againe * he ſent him vvith the ſame Epiſtle: both times about great matters: ſo that no doubt he vvas euen then alſo a Biſhop, and receiued accordingly of the Corinthians, vvith feare and trembling. 2. Cor. 7, v. 15. But the ſame is plainer in this Epiſtle to him ſelf c. 1. v. 5. Vvhere the Apoſtle ſaith: for this cauſe I left thee at Crete, &c. By vvhich vvordes it is manifeſt alſo, that this Epiſtle vvas not vvritten during the ſtorie of the Actes (ſeing that no mention is there of S. Paules being in the ile of Crete) but after his diſmiſsion at Rome out of his firſt trouble, and before his ſecond or laſt trouble there, as is euident by theſe vvordes: Vvhen I ſhall ſend to thee Artemas or Tychicus, make haſt to come to me to Nicopolis, for there I haue determined to vvinter. Tit. 3. [Margin: 2 Corinth. 8.]

Therefore he inſtructeth him (and in him, all Biſhops) much like as he doth Timothee, vvhat qualities he muſt require in them that he ſhall make prieſts and Biſhops, in vvhat ſort to preach, and to teach al ſortes of men, to commend good vvorkes vnto them: finally, him ſelf to be their example in all goodnes.

Chapter 1

Of vvhat qualitie the Prieſts and Biſhops muſt be: 9 namely learned, conſidering the Iudaical ſeducers of that time. 12 That the Cretenſians muſt be roughly vſed, 10 haue them continue ſound in faith.

1 PAVL the ſeruant of God, and an Apoſtle of IESVS Chriſt according to the faith of the elect of God and knowledge of the truth: vvhich is according to pietie

2 into the hope of life euerlaſting, vvhich he promiſed that lieth not, God, * before the ſecular times:

3 but hath manifeſted in due times his vvord in preaching, vvhich is cōmitted to me according to the precept of our Sauiour God:

4 to Titus my beloued ſonne according to the cōmon faith, grace and peace from God the father, and Chriſt IESVS our Sauiour.

5 For this cauſe left I thee in Crete, that thou ſhouldeſt reforme the things that are vvanting, and ſhouldeſt ″ ordaine prieſtes by cities, as I alſo appointed thee:

6 * if any be vvithout crime, the huſband ″ of one vvife, hauing faithful children, not in the accuſation of riote, or not obedient.

7 For a Biſhop muſt be vvithout crime, as the ſtevvard of God: not proud, not angrie, not giuen to vvine, no ſtriker, not couetous of filthy lucre:

8 but giuen to hoſpitalitie, gentle, ſober, iuſt, holy, continent:

9 embracing that faithful vvord vvhich is according to doctrine, that he may be able to exhort in ſound doctrine, & to reproue them that gaineſay it.

10 For there be many diſobedient, vaine-ſpeakers, and ſeducers, eſpecially they that are of the Circumciſion.

11 vvho muſt be controuled. vvho ſubuert vvhole houſes, teaching the things they ought not, for filthie lucre.

12 One of them ſaid, their ov⟨illegible⟩ne proper prophete, The Cretenſians alvvaies lier⟨illegible⟩, naughtie beaſtes, ſlouthful bellies.

13 This teſtimonie is true. For the vvhich cauſe rebuke them ſharpely, that they may be ſound in the faith,

14 not attending to Ievviſh fables, and commaundements of men auerting them ſelues from the truth.

15 * Al things are cleane to the cleane: but to the polluted and to infidels nothing is cleane: but polluted are both their minde and conſcience.

16 They confeſſe that they knovv God: but in their vvorkes they deny, vvhereas they be abominable and incredulous and to euery good vvorke reprobate.

Marginal notes to Chapter 1

v. 2 2. Tim. 1, 9.
v. 6 1. Tim. 3, 2.
v. 12 Epimenides.
v. 15 ⸬ He ſpeaketh not of the Churches abſtaining from meates ſome times, vvhich is not for any vncleannes in the creatures, but for chaſtening their bodies: but he meaneth the Ievviſh ſuperſtition, vvho novv being Chriſtians, vvould not ceaſe to put difference of cleane and vncleane according to their old lavv. See S. Auguſtine Cont. Fauſt. li. 31. c. 4.
v. 15 Rom. 14, 20.

Annotations to Chapter 1

ANNOTATIONS CHAP. I.

5. Ordaine Prieſts.] Though Prieſts or Biſhops may be nominated and elected by the Princes, people, or Patrons of places, according to the vſe of the time and diuerſitie of Countries and faſhions, yet they can not be ordered and conſecrated but by a Biſhop vvho vvas him ſelf rightly ordered or conſecrated before, as this Titus vvas by S. Paul. And here it ſeemeth that he did not onely conſecrate them vvhom the people had elected before, but him ſelf alſo made choiſe of the perſons, no mention being here made of any other election popular. Vvhich though it vvere long vſed in the primitiue Church, yet for diuers cauſes and ſpecially for continual tumultes, partialities, and diſorders vvhich S. Auguſtine much complaineth of in his time, vvas iuſtly taken avvay, and other better meanes of their deſignement appointed. See Conc. Laodic. cap. 12. 13. S. Auguſt. de adult. coniug. li. 2. ⟨illegible⟩. 20. Ep. 110. and Poſsid. in vita. Aug. ⟨illegible⟩. ⟨illegible⟩. [Margin: Prieſts muſt be conſecrated by Biſhops only. · The popular election of the Cleargie taken avvay.]

And that the ordering of Prieſts or impoſition of hands to that purpoſe, belongeth onely to Biſhops, and to no inferior Prieſts or other perſons, it is plaine by the Apoſtolike practiſe ſet dovvne in the Scriptures, namely in the Actes, and in the Epiſtles to Timothee and Titus. And S. Hierom, vvho ſeemeth ſometimes to ſay that in the primitiue Church there vvas no great difference betvvixt a Biſhop and Prieſt, yet he euer excepteth giuing holy Orders, vvhich preeminence he attributeth to Biſhops onely. ep. 85. as he doth alſo Confirming the Baptized by giuing them the holy Ghoſt through impoſition of hand and holy Chriſme. Dial. cont. Lucifer. c. 4. Note alſo that Aërius vvas of old condemned of hereſie, for holding that there vvas no difference betvvixt a Prieſt and a Biſhop. Epiph. har. 75. Auguſt. har. 53. Note laſtly the fraudulent tranſlation of the Heretikes alvvaies, turning for Prieſts (vvhich here is euident to be a calling of Order and office) elders, ſaying, That thou ordaine Elders. vvhich in our vulgar tonge ſignifieth the age, and not the Office properly: and al this for hatred of Prieſts. [Margin: The preeminēce of a Biſhop aboue a Prieſt. · To put no differēce betvvene them is Aërius hereſie. · Heret. tranſlation.]

6. Of one vvife.] To that vvhich is ſaid vpon the like vvordes 1 Tim. 3: adde this teſtimonie of S. Epiphanius li. 3. ⟨illegible⟩. 2. cont. hareſe⟨illegible⟩ in fine. Holy Prieſthod, ſaith he, for the moſt part procedeth of Virgins: and if not of virgins, yet of them that liue a ſole or ſingle life: but and if the ſingle and ſole perſons ſuffice not to the Miniſterie, of ſuch as conteine from their vviues, or after once marying remaine vvidovves. For, him that hath him maried tvviſe, it is not lavvful to take to Prieſthod &c. If you liſt to ſee the cauſes vvhy bigamie is forbidden them that are to be Prieſts, and continencie required of the Clergie, ſee the ſame author li. 2. to. 1. hareſ. 59. S. Ambroſe li. 1. Offic. c. 50. and vpon 1 Tim. 3. S. Auguſtine de b⟨illegible⟩no Coniugal. c. 18. S. Hierom ep. 50 c. 5 ad Pammachium, and againſt Iouinian li. 1 c. 19. S. L⟨illegible⟩o ⟨illegible⟩p. 87. and other auncient authors. [Margin: Bigami excluded from holy Orders, and the cauſes thereof.]

And if the ſtudious reader peruſe al antiquitie, he ſhal finde al notable Biſhops and Prieſts of Gods Church to haue been ſingle, or continent from their vviues, if any vvere maried before they came to the Clergie. So vvas S. Paul, and exhorteth al men to the like. 1 Cor. 7, 7. So vvere al the Apoſtles after they folovved Chriſt, at S. Hierom vvitneſſeth, affirming that our Lord loued Iohn ſpecially for his virginitie. Apol. ad Pammach. c. 8. & li. 1 cont. Iouin. c. 14. S. Ignatius ⟨illegible⟩p. ⟨illegible⟩ ad Philadelph. ſaith of the ſaid Iohn, and of Timothee, Titus, Euodius, Clement, that they liued and died in chaſtitie, reckening vp of the old-Teſtament diuers notable perſonages that did the ſame, as Elias, Ieſus Naue (othervviſe called Ioſue) Melchlſedec, Eliſaeus, Hiere⟨illegible⟩e, Iohn Baptiſt. No man is ignorant that al the notable fathers of the Greeke and Latin Church liued chaſt: Athanaſius, Baſil, Nazianzene, Chryſoſtom, Cyprian, Hilarie (vvho entered into holy Orders after his vviues death) Ambroſe, Hierom, Auguſtine, Leo, Gregorie the great. Certaine other notable fathers had once vviues, but no holy men euer vſed them, much leſſe maried, after they vvere in holy Orders. A maruelous thing, that ſo many heretofore ſhould haue the gift of chaſtitie then, and novv ſo fevv, if the Proteſtants ſay true, that ſkarſe one among them in our age of al their ſectes, euen of their principal Superintendents, hath had it. [Margin: The notable men of both Teſtamēts, that liued cōtinētly from vviues. · Only the Proteſtants complaine that they haue not the gift of chaſtitie.]

Chapter 2

Vvhat to preach both to old and yong (not onely vvith vvord but vvith example alſo) and to ſeruants. 11 For there are of al ſortes in the Church, and they muſt be inſtructed accordingly.

1 BVT doe thou ſpeake the things that become ſound doctrine.

2 Old men that they be ſober, chaſt, vviſe, ſoūd in the faith, in loue, in patience.

3 Old women in like maner, in holy attire, not il ſpeakers, not giuen to much wine: teaching vvel,

4 that they may teach the yong women vviſedom, to loue their huſbands, to loue their children,

5 vviſe, chaſt, ſober, hauing a care of the houſe, gētle, ſubiect to their huſbandes, that the vvord of God be not blaſphemed.

6 Yong men in like maner exhort that they be ſober.

7 In al things ſhevv thy ſelf an example of good vvorkes, in doctrine, in integritie, in grauitie,

8 the vvord ſound, irreprehenſible: that he vvhich is on the cōtrarie part, may be afraid, hauing no euil to ſay of vs.

9 * Seruants to be ſubiect to their maiſters, in al things pleaſing, not gainſaying:

10 not defrauding, but in al things ſhevving good faith, that they may adorne the doctrine of our Sauiour God in al things.

11 For the grace of God our Sauiour hath appeared to al men:

12 inſtructing vs that denying impietie & worldly deſires, vve liue ſoberly, and iuſtly, and godly in this vvorld,

13 expecting the bleſſed hope and aduent of the glorie of the great God and our Sauiour IESVS Chriſt,

14 vvho gaue him ſelf for vs, that he might redeeme vs from al iniquitie, and might cleanſe to him ſelf a people acceptable, a purſuer of good vvorkes.

15 Theſe things ſpeake, and exhort ⊢ and rebuke vvith al authoritie. Let no man contemne thee.

Marginal notes to Chapter 2

v. 2 ᶜ ⟨non-Latin script⟩ pudicos▪
v. 8 Eph. 6, 5.
v. 9 Col. 3, 22.
v. 9 1. Pet. 2, 18.
v. 11 The Epiſtle at the firſt Maſſe on Chriſtmas day, and vpon the Circumciſion of our Lord.
v. 13 ᶜ ⟨non-Latin script⟩ ▪
v. 15 ⸬ ;Biſhops muſt be ſtout and cōmaund in Gods cauſe, and the people muſt in no vviſe diſobey or contemne them.

Chapter 3

To teach them obedience vnto Princes, and meekenes tovvardes al men, conſidering that vve alſo vvere as they, til God of his goodnes brought vs to Baptiſme. 8 To teach good vvorkes, 9 and to auoid vaine queſtion⟨illegible⟩; 10 and obſtinate Heretikes.

1 ADMONISH them to be ſubiect to Princes and Poteſtates, to obey at a vvord, to be ready to euery good vvorke,

2 to blaſpheme no mā, not to be litigious, but modeſt: ſhevving al mildenes tovvard al men.

3 for we alſo vvere ſometime vnvviſe, incredulous, erring, ſeruing diuerſe deſires & voluptuouſneſſes, liuing in malice & enuie, odible, hating one an other.

4 But vvhen the benignitie and kindnes tovvard man of our Sauiour God appeared:

5 * not by the vvorkes of iuſtice vvhich vve did, but according to his mercie he hath ſaued vs by the lauer of regeneratiō and renouation of the holy Ghoſt,

6 vvhom he hath povvred vpon vs aboundantly by IESVS Chriſt our Sauiour:

7 that being iuſtified by his grace, vve may be heires according to hope of life euerlaſting. ⊢

8 * It is a faithful ſaying, and of theſe things I vvil haue thee auouch earneſtly: that they vvhich beleeue in God, be careful to excell in good vvorkes. Theſe things be good and profitable for men.

9 But * fooliſh queſtions, and genealogies, and cōtentions, and controuerſies of the Lavv auoid. For they are vnprofitable and vaine.

10 A man that is ″ an heretike after the firſt and ſecond admonition auoid:

11 knovving that he that is ſuch an one, is ″ ſubuerted, and ſinneth, being condemned ″ by his ovvne iudgement.

12 Vvhen I ſhal ſend to thee Artemas or Tychicus, haſten to come vnto me to Nicopolis. for there I haue determined to vvinter.

13 Set forvvard Zenas the lavvyer and Apollos carefully, that nothing be vvanting to them.

14 And let our men alſo learne to excel in good vvorkes to neceſſarie vſes: that they be not vnfruiteful.

15 Al that are vvith me, ſalute thee: ſalute them that loue vs in the faith. The grace of God be vvith you al. Amen.

Marginal notes to Chapter 3

v. 4 ᵇ The Epiſtle at the 2 Maſſe on Chriſtmas day, and in the Votiue Maſſe of our B. Lady betvvene Chriſtmas and Candlemas.
v. 4 ᶜ ⟨non-Latin script⟩
v. 4 2, Tim. 1, 9.
v. 5 ⸬ As before in the Sacrament of holy Orders (1. Tim. 4. and 2 Tim. 1) ſo here it is plaine that Baptiſme giueth grace, & that by it as by an inſtrumental cauſe we be ſaued.
v. 8 1 Tim. 4.
v. 9 2. Tim. 2, 23.
v. 10 ⸬ ; Theſe admonitions or correptions muſt be giuen to ſuch as erre, by our Spiritual Gouernours and Paſtors: to vvhom if they yeld not, Chriſtian men muſt auoid them.
v. 14 ᶜ ⟨non-Latin script⟩ praeſſe.

Annotations to Chapter 3

ANNOTATIONS CHAP. III.

10. A man that it an Heretike.] Not euery one that erreth in religion, is an Heretike, but he onely that after the Churches determination, vvilfully and ſtubburnely ſtandeth in his falſe opinion, not yelding to decree of Councel or the cheefe Paſtors of the Church therein. They (ſaith S. Auguſtine ep. 162.) that defend their ſentence (though falſe and peruerſe) vvith no ſtubburne ſtomake or obſtinate hart, ſpecially if it be ſuch as them ſelues by bold preſumption broched not, but receiued it of their deceiued parents, and do ſeeke the truth vvarily and carefully, being ready to be reformed if they finde it, ſuch are not to be reputed among Heretikes. And againe. li. 18. de Ciuit. c. 55. They that in the Church of Chriſt haue any cr⟨illegible⟩ed or per⟨illegible⟩rſe opinion, if being admoniſhed to be of a ſound and right opinion, they reſiſt obſtinatly, and vvil not amend their peſtiferous opinions, but perſiſt in defenſe of them, are thereby become Heretikes, and going forth out of the Church, are counted for enimies that exerciſe vs. Again, li. 4 de Bapt. cont. Donat. c. 16. He is an Heretike that, vvhen the doctrine of the Catholike faith is made plaine and manifeſt vnto him, had rather reſiſt it, and chooſe that vvhich him ſelf held &c. And in diuers places he declareth that S. Cyprian, though he held an errour, yet vvas no Heretike, becauſe he vvould not haue defended it after a general Councel had declared it to be an errour. li. 2 de bapt. c. 4. So Poſſidonius in the life of S. Auguſtine reporteth, hovv, after the determination of the See Apoſtolike that Pelaglus opinion vvas heretical, al men eſteemed Pelagius an Heretike, and the Emperour made lavves againſt him as againſt an Heretike. Againe S. Auguſtine ſaith, He is an Heretike in my opinion, that for ſome temporal commoditie, and ſpecially for his glorie and principalitie, coineth or els folovveth falſe or nevv opinion. de vtillit. credendi cap. 1. [Margin: Vvho is proprely an Heretike, & vvho is not. · Deſcription or markes hovv to knovv an Heretike. · vit Aug. c. 1⟨illegible⟩.]

Let our Proteſtants behold them ſelues in this glaſſe, and vvithal let them marke al other propretles that old Heretikes euer had, and they ſhal finde al definitions and markes of an Heretike to fall vpon them ſelues. And therfore they muſt not maruel if vve vvarne al Catholike men by the vvordes of the Apoſtle in this place, to take heede of them, and to ſhunne their preachings, bookes, conuenticles and companies. Neither neede the people be curious to knovv vvhat they ſay, much leſſe to confure them: but they muſt truſt Gods Church, vvhich doth refute and condemne them. And it is ynough for them to knovv that they be condemned, as S. Auguſtine noteth in the later end of his booke de hereſibus. And S. Cyprian ſaith notably to Antonianus demaunding curiouſly vvhat hereſies Nouatianus did teach: No matter, ꝙ he, What hereſies he hath or teacheth, vvhen he teacheth vvithout. that is to ſay, out of the Church. [Margin: The former markes agree to the Proteſtants. · Their bookes, ſeruice, & preaching muſt be auoided. · Ep. 52. nu. 7.]

11. Subueried.] Heretikes be often in corrigible, yet the Church of God ceaſeth not by al meanes poſſible to reuoke them. therefore S. Auguſtine ſaith ep. 162. The Heretike him ſelf though ſvvelling vvith odious and deteſtable pride, and madde vvith the frovvardnes of vvicked contention, as we admoniſh that he be aucided leſt he decriue the vveaklings and litle ones, ſo vve refuſe not by al meanes poſſible to ſeeke his amendment and reformation. [Margin: The Church ſeeketh the amendement of the moſt obſtinate Heretikes.]

11. By his ovvne iudgement.] Other greuous offenders be ſeparated by excommunication from the cōmunion of Saincts and the fellovvſhip of Gods Church, by the ſentence of their Superiors in the ſame Church: but Heretikes more miſerable and infortunate then they, runne out of the Church of their ovvne accord, and ſo giue ſentence againſt their ovvne ſoules to damnation. [Margin: Heretikes cut them ſelues frō the Church.]

Colophon

Printed edition: The Nevv Testament of Iesus Christ, translated faithfully into English, out of the authentical Latin … in the English College of Rhemes (Rhemes: Iohn Fogny, 1582; STC 2884, ESTC S102491), the Catholic New Testament translated from the Latin Vulgate chiefly by Gregory Martin. Copy transcribed: the Eton College Library copy, as filmed for Early English Books Online (image set 2646).

Transcription: Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership (EEBO-TCP), Phase I text A16049 (keyed 2005–06, proofread and released 2006), placed in the public domain under Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal. Converted for the Good Works Library in October 2026.

What was done: the spelling, punctuation and capitals of the transcription are kept exactly, including u/v, i/j, "vv" for w, long s (ſ), the abbreviation stroke (as in "vpō") and the edition's own marks (″ for an annotated word, ⸬ and * for marginal references, ⊢ for the end of a liturgical Gospel or Epistle; ▪ is the transcribers' sign for a punctuation mark they could not identify). Removed as apparatus: the TEI markup, page breaks, line-end hyphenation, and the small cross ✝ that the edition sets at the beginning of each verse beside the verse number in the margin; the number is given here instead. Marginal notes are gathered after each chapter, keyed to their verse; the annotations follow as the edition prints them. Words the transcribers could not read are shown as ⟨illegible⟩; words printed in Greek or other non-Latin letters, which the transcription did not key, are shown as ⟨non-Latin script⟩. No gap has been filled or guessed.

The book's heading in the edition reads: "THE EPISTLE OF PAVL TO TITVS." The page title gives it in ordinary capitals and lower case, without other change.

On this page 17 places are marked ⟨illegible⟩ and 4 words or phrases in Greek or other non-Latin letters are marked ⟨non-Latin script⟩.

This is an archival transcription of a historic English Bible. It is not a Good Works Translation.

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