Titus 3:8

Faithful. Or, “trustworthy” (cf. 1 Tim. 1:15; 3:1; 4:9; 2 Tim. 2:11). Paul refers to the statements in Titus 3:4-7 concerning God’s gracious salvation.

These things. The simple but ever-satisfying story of God’s matchless love imparts new wonder and courage each time it is retold. Although sincere Christians are steadily maturing in character development, the constant reminder of God’s justifying and sanctifying love provides daily peace and encouragement. Paul’s outline of the plan of salvation (vs. 4-7) will never be fully appreciated by Christians in this life. Consequently, constant rehearsals of the truth concerning the nature of God will reveal treasures both old and new. These new insights provide added incentive to hasten the restoration of God’s image.

They which have believed. The Greek implies the additional thought, “and still believe.” Daily eating of the bread of life will maintain the fervent spirit of the genuine Christian. The Scriptures declare that those who are satisfied with only the elementary facts of the gospel soon cease to be useful to the Christian church. Their lives are stagnant because their minds are dormant. Because of their dullness “of hearing,” as time passes by, such people are unprepared for the forward movement of God’s Spirit (see on Heb. 5:11 to 6:1).

Maintain. Literally, “take the lead in.”

Good works. See on Gal. 5:22, 23.

Profitable unto men. That is, the program of instruction Paul has outlined in this epistle. The “vain talkers and deceivers” (ch. 1:10) who had endeavored to lead astray the Cretan church designed their teachings to favor the natural impulses of the church members, with a view to monetary advantage (v. 11). Paul, however, was interested solely in their character transformation (see on ch. 2:1—10). Paul’s gospel disturbed the Cretans, as it did others elsewhere, but it was this very disturbance that led men to examine themselves and to appropriate the cleansing mercy and restoring grace of God (see on chs. 2:14; 3:5).