him, having some special occasion for his assistance. And though this was not entirely agreeable to the apostle, he might be the rather disposed to it, hoping, that as he went to Jerusalem, he should have an opportunity to leave Timothy at Ephesus. Which, as I apprehend, he did, when he came to Miletus.

Farther, this difficulty is very much abated by the account formerly given of this period of our apostle's history. For it was then shown, that there was a space of almost two years between St. Paul's going from Ephesus, when he went into Macedonia, and his coming to Troas, in the way to Jerusalem. Timothy therefore may have resided at Ephesus above a year, and yet be with the apostle at the writing of the second epistle to the Corinthians, which was not sent to them till near the end of the year 57.

Dr. Benson* supposeth this epistle to have been written at Troas, soon after the apostle was come from Ephesus. And indeed many learned men think, that Paul now went into Macedonia by the way of Troas. This has been collected from 2 Cor. ii. 12, 13. But that appears to me a difficult text. And it may be disputed, whether Paul there refers to his journey from Ephesus. For it is difficult to conceive, how the apostle could have reason to expect Titus at Troas at that season: considering, that his removal from Ephesus had been sudden, or, however, somewhat sooner than he had intended. How then was it possible for him to have made an appointment for Titus to meet him at Troas punctually at the time of his arrival there.

But allowing Paul to have gone from Ephesus to Macedonia by the way of Troas, it will not follow, that this epistle was written there. It may be concluded from 1 Tim. i. 3, that the apostle was now in Macedonia, or had been there, since he left Ephesus. Accordingly, Lightfoot, Baronius, and Estius, before named, suppose this epistle to have been written in Macedonia. Says Y Lightfoot: It is apparent 'from 1 Tim. i. 3, that this epistle was written after Paul's setting out from Ephesus for Macedonia.-Now it cannot be conceived to have been written when he was going toward Macedonia. For then he was but newly parted 'from Timothy. And it is not likely, that he would so 'write to him, when he was but newly come from him.

• Therefore it cannot but be concluded, that this epistle was written whilst he was in Macedonia, or the parts there

* See his preface to the first epistle to Timothy, sect. iii.

y Harmony of N. T. Vol. i. p. 307.

' about, at this time that we are upon.' To which I readily

assent.

I shall add only what is also already hinted by Lightfoot, that it is very improbable, that the apostle should use those expressions, 1 Tim. iii. 14, " hoping to come and see thee shortly," before he had been in Macedonia. St. Paul was much more likely to say this, when he had been some months absent from Ephesus, than when he had been come away but a few days only.

I should now say more particularly when this epistle was written. And I think it must have been written in the year 56. In the beginning of that year, according to our account, Paul wrote the first epistle to the Corinthians. Before Pentecost in that year he left Ephesus. And before the end of that year, I suppose, he might write this epistle to Timothy. The place is not absolutely certain. Before writing this epistle the apostle had been in Macedonia, since he left Ephesus. But whether he was now in that country, cannot, I apprehend, be fully determined by those expressions, I Tim. i. 3. However, this may be reckoned very likely, that the apostle was either in Macedonia, or near it. Lewis Capellus, as before observed, was in doubt which was first written, this epistle, or the second to the Corinthians. About that I have no doubt. We shall soon see clear proof, that the second epistle to the Corinthians was written not long before the end of the year 57. This first epistle to Timothy was written in the year 56, and probably, some good while before the end of it.

Z

SECT. VI.

The Epistle to Titus.

Says Theodoret immediately after what was transcribed from him above concerning the first epistle to Timothy : 'After that, as I think, was written the epistle to Titus. For being still in those parts, he desired Titus to come to him, saying: "When I shall send unto thee Artemas, or Tychicus, be diligent to come to me at Nicopolis. For I • have determined to winter there," Tit. iii. 12. They say, 'that Nicopolis is a city of Thrace, nigh unto Macedonia.'

6

* Μετα ταυτην ὑπολαμβάνω την προς Τιτον γεγραφθαι εν εκείνοις γαρ ετι διαγων τοις μερεσι, καταλαβειν αυτόν παρηγγύησε. Λέγει δε έτως οταν πέμψω Αρτεμαν.--Την δε Νικοπολιν Θρακικην μεν πολιν ειναι φασι, τη dε Makɛdovia weλalty. Theod. T. III. p. 4. C.

So writes Theodoret in his general preface to St. Paul's epistles. And in his note upon Tit. iii. 12, he says, Nicopolisa is a city of Thrace, nigh unto Macedonia. It is 'manifest therefore, that he wrote this epistle when he was ' in Macedonia and Achaia.'

Following the opinion of this learned ancient, which I think to be very right, the epistle to Titus was written in the year 56, and Paul spent the winter of that year at Nicopolis.

b

If it be asked, when was Paul in Crete? I answer, in general, a short time before he wrote this epistle, as may appear from those words: "For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I appointed thee," ch. i. 5. More particularly, I suppose, that Paul had been in Crete in this year 56, since he came from Ephesus, to g'o into Macedonia. About this time, I think, he was in Crete and Illyricum, as well as in Macedonia. But as I do not indulge myself in making conjectures, I do not attempt to describe the order of the apostle's voyages. It was before shown to be probable, that between Paul's leaving Ephesus in the spring of the year 56, and his coming to Troas, after the passover, in the year 58, in his way to Jerusalem, there was the space of about two years. In that time Paul might do, and probably did, more than is particularly related by St. Luke. Few learned men, considering the conciseness of St. Luke's manner of writing, can make any difficulty to allow, that he has not related all the apostle's journies. It is observable, that Titus was the person who was sent by Paul into Dalmatia, when he was come to Rome. As it appears from 2 Tim. iv. 10. Which may be reckoned an argument that he had been there before.

About this time the epistle to Titus was written, according to the opinion of divers learned men, to whom I refer: as d Baronius, Capellus, f Hammond, and & Lightfoot. Estiush

a

с

Της Θρακης εσιν ἡ Νικοπολις, τη δε Μακεδονια πελαζει. Δηλον τοινυν ὡς κατ' εκείνον τον καιρον, καθ' όν εν τη Μακεδονία και Αχαιᾳ διέτριβεν, εγραψε b See Vol. v. ch. xi. Tηv επisoληv. Ibid. p. 515, A. Neque enim omnia Pauli itinera descripsit Lucas, sed notabiliora quædam. Wits. de Vità Pauli. Sect. 9. num. v. d Baron. Ann. 57. num. ccix. e Lud. Capell. Hist. Ap. p. 16. et 66. Vid. et Jacob. Cap. Compend. in Apost. Hist. Chronol. Tab. f Præf. in ep. ad Tit.

8 Lightfoot's Works, Vol. i. p. 309, 310. hæc epistola, non liquet, nec facile ex Actis non legatur Paulus Cretam ingressus fuisse. Apostoli, quia vinculorum hic nulla mentio. ‘nim statui hiemare,' plane significat, non esse

h Quando scripta sit Apost. colligi potest, quod in iis Verisimile est, ante captivitatem Imo, cum dicit cap. iii. ibi evinctum. Est. Argum. ep. ad. Tit.

could not determine the time of this epistle exactly: but he thought it was written before the apostle's imprisonment at Jerusalem and Rome.

Cave in his Historia Literaria placeth this epistle in the year 63. But, when he wrote the lives of the apostles, hek supposed it to have been written soon after the first epistle to the Corinthians.

Mill' placeth this epistle in the year 64. Pearson in 65. Paul having, as he supposes, been in Crete, and left Titus there the year before, that is, in 64. And many others may be of the same opinion.

But this appears to me too late a date. All that is said of Paul's going into Spain, and Crete, and some other places, after being released from his imprisonment at Rome, is mere conjecture, without any good authority, either from the books of the New Testament, or very early antiquity. It is not likely that Paul, who in his epistle to Philemon calls himself" aged," should after that undertake new work. It is more probable, that he went to such places, where he had been before, and where he had disciples already: as he intimates in his epistles to the Philippians, the Colossians, Philemon, the Hebrews. Nor is it at all likely, that the Cretans should have been so long without being instructed in the doctrine of the gospel, as Pearson supposeth.

I have already shown the most probable date of the first epistle to Timothy. It is likely, that the epistle to Titus was written about the same time. For the state of things in both appears to be very similar. In both are instructions concerning the qualifications of elders, or bishops, and deacons. So 1 Tim. iii. and Tit. i. Nor is it reasonable to think that Paul should have occasion, so late as the year 64 or 65, to send to his assistants and fellow-labourers such particular directions concerning that matter, as are in these two epistles. It is probable, that instructions of that kind had been given sooner. Moreover, the like errors are guarded against in both these epistles. 1 Tim. i. 4, "Neither give heed to fables, and endless genealogies. Ch. iv. 7," But refuse profane and old wives' fables."--Ch. vi. 20, “ Avoiding profane and vain babblings."--Tit. iii. 9," But avoid fool

· Epistola ad Titum--data anno 63, e medio aliquo loco inter Macedoniam et Nicopolim. Illic enim hiemare decreverat. H. L. in Paulo. k See there the Life of St. Paul, sect iv. num. ix. 1 Proleg. num. 122.

Ann. Paulin. p. 20-22.

n Non verisimile est, ad illud usque tempus ignoratum fuisse Christum in Cretâ; quum tota Achaia, Macedonia, Asia, Cyprus, Syria, personarent evangelii præconio. Wits. de Vitâ Pauli, sect. v. num. i.

ish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law. For they are unprofitable and vain." See also ch. i. 10-14. In both are like directions for paying a proper regard to civil magistrates, 1 Tim. ii. 1–6, and Tit. iii. 1-3. There are also like directions concerning relative duties, particularly those of masters and servants, 1 Tim. vi. 1, 2; Tit. ii. 9, 10. Timothy and Titus are in a like manner exhorted to take heed to themselves and their doctrine, and to be examples of virtue, 1 Tim. i. 18, 19; iv. 6, 16; Tit. ii. 1-8. I might add, that near the conclusion of each epistle the practice of good works is in a very similar manner enjoined upon the converts to christianity.

It appears from many texts of the second epistle to the Corinthians, written in Macedonia, that about this time Paul had the assistance of Titus in those parts. And Tychicus, mentioned Tit. iii. 12, was likewise with Paul at this time: for he was one of the company that went with him into Asia, Acts xx. 4. And therefore, probably, not he, but Artemas, had been sent into Crete, to relieve Titus. Moreover, Apollos was at Ephesus, a little before Paul left that city, to go into Macedonia. That is manifest from 1 Cor. xvi. 12. And it may be reckoned very probable, that he did not stay long at Ephesus after Paul: but either went with him into Macedonia, or came into those parts soon afterwards. So that Paul might now have occasion to recommend him to Titus, in Crete, together with Zenas, Tit. iii. 13.

There are not in this epistle any tokens of Paul's great age, or of his being near the period of his ministry. He is plainly at liberty at the time of writing this epistle. Nor are there any intimations of his having as yet endured any long imprisonment.

This letter may be the shorter, because probably, Paul had lately written at length upon the same subject to Timothy. Moreover, Titus was older, and might have more experience. Chrysostom judged the brevity of this epistle to be an argument of the ability of Titus. He did not need a long exhortation. A few hints were sufficient.

St. Paul says, Tit. iii. 12, Tit. iii. 12, "When I shall send Artemas unto thee, or Tychicus, be diligent to come to me at Nicopolis. For I have determined there to winter." Thereby Theodoret understood Nicopolis in Thrace, as seen above. So likewise Chrysostom. But Jerom supposed the apos

βραχειαν δε ποιεί την επιτολήν, εικότως. Τιτε τεκμηριον ην, το μη δεισθαι λογων πολλων, In Tit. hom. i. tom. XI. p. 730. B. εɩ. Chrys. in Tit. hom. 6. ib. p. 766. B.

Και τετο δε της αρετης τε αλλ' ώσπερ τινος ὑπομνήσεως. Ἡ δ' Νικοπολις της Θράκης 1 Scribit igitur Apostolus