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The Apostle continues:
"To speak evil of no man, not to be contentious, to be gentle, showing all meekness
toward all men."
As we have before pointed out, `to speak evil' is blasphemeo to blaspheme, and it may
come as a shock to some to realize that in the Word of God we are warned against
blaspheming our fellow man as well as God. The word occurs twice in this epistle as the
structure shows:
B2 | 2: 2-8. Believers. Subject (hupotasso)
that Word be not blasphemed (blasphemetai).
A pattern of good works.
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B4 | 3: -1, 2. Believers. Subject (hupotasso) to authority.
Ready to every good work, not speak evil (blasphemein).
In Christian circles this is often not treated with the seriousness it has in the
Scriptures. Some would not dream of stealing a fellow-believer's possessions, but
apparently they have no compunction in stealing away his character by untrue or unjust
and prejudiced accusations. This has happened again and again by expositors who often
have no first-hand knowledge of the people or writings they criticize. Such is sheer
misrepresentation or blasphemy and cannot fail to come under the Lord's displeasure,
both now and at His judgment seat.
Amachos, not contentious, is literally non-fighter, and is rendered "no brawler" in
I Tim. 3: 3. Our wrestling is `not with flesh and blood' (Eph. 6: 12). "The servant of
the Lord must not fight (strive)" (II Tim. 2: 24). The only weapon we are allowed to use
is `the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God' (Eph. 6: 17) and while this must
be used faithfully, it should be in love, gentleness and meekness (Titus 3: 2).
The Apostle now looks back to the days when unsaved, just as he does in Eph. 2::
"For we also were aforetime foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and
pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another" (Titus 3: 3 R.V.)
Not that every believer necessarily exhibited all these vices, but this was the general
picture, indicating the great need of God our Saviour:
"But when the kindness of God our Saviour, and His love toward man appeared" (4).
We are now taken back to the Lord's first appearing and the rich blessings that flow
because of his redemptive work at Calvary. Chrestotes kindness, is several times
translated `goodness', e.g., Rom. 2: 4; 11: 22. Love towards man is philanthropia, our
English `philanthropy', which only occurs twice in the N.T., here and Acts 28: 2.
God's philanthropy rises immeasurably above man's. It is exhibited supremely in the gift
of His Beloved Son. In this way was the fathomless love of God manifested (Jn. 3: 16),
and it was absolutely undeserved: