or four living wives, women who had all successively been wives'

(Conybeare and Howson).

It will be remembered that the apostle actually encouraged second

marriage where widows were still young (1 Tim. 5:11 -14) but a widow of three

score years `having been the wife of one man' was eligible for being enroled

in `the number', a special company set apart apparently for some special

service (1 Tim. 5:9,10).  The spirit that actuates this restriction to one

wife, is seen in the word `blameless'.  In 1 Timothy 3:2, the word so

translated is anepileptos a term borrowed from the Greek games, signifying

`one who gives his adversary no hold upon him', the word translated

`blameless' in the parallel passage, Titus 1:6, is anegkletos `not called in

question' a term borrowed from the law courts.  Among terms and figures that

are somewhat unexpected is the double reference to `The Devil' (1 Tim. 3:6,7)

and `Satan' (1 Tim. 5:15).  Paul speaks of the novice who might fall into the

condemnation of the Devil.  `The condemnation here spoken of is passive'

(Bengel).  It is a similar condemnation into which the Devil himself fell in

the beginning.  The apostle then says that a bishop must have a good report

from them which are without, `lest he fall into reproach and snare of the

devil'.  The apostle had no reservation in speaking of the activities of the

Devil, and neither should we.  He saw a snare laid for the feet of anyone who

undertook the high office of an overseer, whose manner of life laid him open

to the slightest reproach of `them which are without'.  Again he saw that

`they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare' (1 Tim. 6:9), and

against this he utters his warning concerning `filthy lucre' into which some

who antagonize the truth are so likely to fall.  A bishop was enjoined to

have these `gainsayers' in view (Titus 1:9); he was not only to `hold fast

the faithful word', he was to `exhort and rebuke' as well, and the second

half of Titus chapter 1 is largely occupied with the gainsayer and the way he

had to be silenced.

The appointment of bishops, for which Titus had been left in Crete by

the apostle, necessarily included the teaching of positive doctrine, but the

emphasis in Titus 1:9 -16 is upon the rebuke and the stopping of a special

type of gainsayer, whose activities were causing considerable havoc among the

believers in Crete.

`Gainsayer', `unruly and vain talkers and deceivers', `who subvert

whole houses', `that turn from the truth' are some of the terms used by the

apostle of these false teachers (Titus 1:9,10,11,14) as is indicated by such

comments as `specially they of the circumcision', `Jewish fables' (Titus

We do not expect many `Bishops' are readers of The Berean Expositor,

but in this day of small things, when Rule has given place to Ruin in

organized Christianity, it behoves every one of us that loves the truth to be

able to distinguish between the gropings of muddled minds, and the antagonism

of those we know, for one reason or another, are subversive in their attitude

to the Truth.  Let us, therefore, review the terms used of such, so that we

may be better equipped in the good fight of faith; for to recognize who is

the enemy and in what his enmity stands, is half way to victory.

`Gainsayer' antilego.  The Greek word speaks for itself.  Anti meaning

in composition contrariety, opposition and lego meaning to speak.  Paul uses

the word again in chapter 2, where speaking of servants he says `not

answering again' where some element of insubordination is intended even as it