`The Gnostics, or men of knowledge (gnosis), were so called from their

claiming to be the sole depositories of the knowledge of the true God

... .  The system of Gnosticism was compounded of heterogeneous

ingredients.  From the Platonic school it drew the doctrine of Ideas,

namely, that all created things had archetypes in the Divine mind, and

had received their impression.  The cabalistic fables of the Jews, with

their legions of angels and ceremonial observances, furnished another

and large contribution; and from oriental Philosophy was borrowed the

notion of two independent co -eternal principles, God and Matter, the

one the author of Good, and the other of Evil.  Lastly, to this strange

mixture was added no inconsiderable portion of Christianity, into which

Gnosticism had been imported by the father of heresy, Simon Magus'

The introduction to the epistle of Titus occupies the first four

verses, the benediction of verse 4 rounding off the opening of the epistle

with the words `Grace, mercy and peace'.  Among the literary links that tie

the three pastoral epistles together must be placed the introduction to these

`Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our

Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope; unto Timothy, my own

son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and

Jesus Christ our Lord' (1 Tim. 1:1,2).

`Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the

promise of life which is in Christ Jesus, to Timothy, my dearly beloved

son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our

Lord' (2 Tim. 1:1,2).

`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; in hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie,

promised before the world began; but hath in due times manifested His

word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the

commandment of God our Saviour; to Titus, mine own son after the common

faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus

Christ our Saviour' (Titus 1:1 -4).

`Hope', `promise', `life', characterize these introductions, and would come

naturally to the mind of anyone whose span of life is nearly completed.  In

the same way `mercy' is added to the words `grace and peace' which are the

usual terms of benediction found in the earlier epistles.  At the close of a

life of self -sacrificing service such as few can hope to emulate, the

apostle still remembered that he had `obtained mercy' (1 Tim. 1:13,16), and

evidently still needed that same tender grace after years of devoted service.

`He counted me faithful ... I obtained mercy' (1 Tim. 1:12,13).  Such a term

as `mercy' introduced in such a context robs the best of us of any boasting

in ourselves, in our attainments, or in our service.  Let us examine this

introduction to Titus, and commence it with the structure of the first four

The Introduction

A