Titus
Book Outhne
Key theme: Christians should maintain good works
Key verse:
I. Church Organization ()
A. Preach God’s Word ()
B. Ordain qualified leaders ()
C. Silence false teachers ()
II. Christian Obligation ()
A. Older saints ()
B. Younger saints ()
C. Christian slaves ()
D. Christians as citizens ()
E. Problem people ()
F. Conclusion ()
Book Overview
While Timothy was laboring in metropolitan Ephesus, Titus had his hands full on the island of Crete. Titus was a Greek believer () who had served Paul well on special assignments to the church in Corinth (, ; , , ; ). Apparently, Titus had been won to Christ through Paul’s personal ministry () as Timothy had been (). “If anyone inquires about Titus,” Paul wrote, “he is my partner and fellow worker concerning you. Or if our brethren are inquired about, they are messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ” ().
But the people on the island of Crete were not the easiest to work with, and Titus became somewhat discouraged. Like Timothy, he was probably a young man. But unlike Timothy, he was not given to timidity and physical ailments. Paul had been with Titus on Crete and had left him there to correct the things that were wrong. Since Jews from Crete were present at Pentecost (), it is possible that they had carried the gospel to their native land.
Titus had his share of problems! The churches needed qualified leaders, and the various groups in the churches needed shepherding. One group of false teachers was trying to mix Jewish law with the gospel of grace (, ), while some of the Gentile believers were abusing the message of grace and turning it into license (). By nature, the people of Crete were not easy to work with (, ), and Titus needed extraordinary patience and love. It would have been easy for Titus to have “heard God’s call to go elsewhere,” but he stuck it out and finished his work.
“Be Transformed”
The letter to Titus, like the two letters to Timothy, serves as a guide for the identification and selection of leaders within the church. As you read and study these chapters, you will discover that its message is a condensation of Paul’s first letter to Timothy. These younger men extended Paul’s work, carrying out missions on his behalf. Titus and Timothy were delegated as leaders to leaders in fledgling churches.
In Titus, the checklist Paul compiled included multiple character and practice traits that ought to mark the life of a candidate for leadership (): blameless life, faithful to his wife, believing children with good reputations, capable to manage, without arrogance or quick temper, not a heavy drinker, or violent, or dishonest. A leader must have a history of hospitality, and demonstrate love for good, living wisely and practicing justice. Devotion and discipline must characterize a spiritual leader’s life. Strong personal belief must generate practical and encouraging teaching for other believers and clear answers to those who are wrong. These are certainly marks of a worthy lifestyle.
The crucial transformative lesson to remember throughout this letter is that the standards for leadership apply to everyone, not just leaders. God does give special skills to certain of His servants, but all of us are charged to live the kind of lives that represent Christ to the world and to one another. The best leaders within the church are not people who learn to project an image of ability, but those who by their very lives and teaching cause others to report, “That person helps me to follow Christ more closely by their example and their teaching.” If we are chosen to serve as leaders within the body of Christ, it ought to be because we are already living as leaders to those around us.
Greeting
Paul, a bondservant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect and the acknowledgment of the truth which accords with godliness,
2in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began,
3but has in due time manifested His word through preaching, which was committed to me according to the commandment of God our Savior;
4To Titus, a true son in our common faith:
Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior.
Qualified Elders
5For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you—
if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination.
7For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money,
8but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled,
9holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.
The Elders’ Task
For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision,
whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain.
12One of them, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”
13This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith,
14not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn from the truth.
To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled.
16They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.
Qualities of a Sound Church
But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine:
that the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience;
3the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things—
that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children,
5to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.
6Likewise, exhort the young men to be sober-minded,
7in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility,
8sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you.
Exhort bondservants to be obedient to their own masters, to be well pleasing in all things, not answering back,
10not pilfering, but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.
Trained by Saving Grace
For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,
teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age,
looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,
14who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.
15Speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you.
Graces of the Heirs of Grace
Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work,
2to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men.
3For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.
4But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared,
5not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,
6whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior,
that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.
Avoid Dissension
But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless.
10Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition,
11knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned.
Final Messages
12When I send Artemas to you, or Tychicus, be diligent to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there.
13Send Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey with haste, that they may lack nothing.
14And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful.
Farewell
15All who are with me greet you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen.
Annotations for Titus
Faith in Jesus Christ not only saves us today and makes our lives godly, but it also gives us assurance for the future (v. ) because of God’s promises—and God cannot lie (see ). We are born again into “a living hope” () because we have trusted the living Christ. We believers have eternal life now (; ), but when Jesus Christ returns, we will enjoy eternal life in an even greater way.
The fact that these standards applied to Christians on the island of Crete as well as to those in the city of Ephesus () proves that God’s measure for leaders does not fluctuate. A big-city church and a small-town church both need godly people in places of leadership.
Too often, new Christians feel a call to the ministry and want to be ordained before they have had a chance to establish their families in the faith. If the children are small, the problem is not too great; but mature children go through a tremendous shock when all of a sudden their household becomes “religious”! A wise father first wins his own family to Christ and gives them a chance to grow before he pulls up stakes and moves to Bible school. We would have fewer casualties in the ministry if this policy were followed more often.
It did not take long for false teachers to arise in the early church. Wherever God sows the truth, Satan quickly shows up to sow lies. Titus faced an enemy similar to that described in 1 Timothy—a mixture of Jewish legalism, man-made traditions, and mysticism. These leaders would not submit to God’s Word or to the authority of God’s servant, for they were unruly. “Insubordinate” (v. ) is a good translation of the attitude Paul was warning against. Beware of teachers who will not put themselves under authority.
These false teachers told lies from house to house and thus upset the faith of the people. Whole families were affected by their unhealthy doctrines. For one thing, they were teaching Jewish legalism (circumcision, v. ; see ) which Paul rejected. They were also teaching “Jewish fables” (), which probably described their fanciful interpretations of the genealogies in the Old Testament (). They were not ministering to the church; they were using religion to fill their own pockets.
, Paul’s purpose, of course, was to convince these teachers and get them to be “sound in the faith” (v. ). But while he was doing this, he needed to protect the church from their false teachings. False doctrine is like yeast: It enters secretly, grows quickly, and permeates completely (). The best time to attack false doctrine is at the beginning, before it has a chance to spread.
Behind the covetousness of the teachers was another problem: Their minds and consciences had been corrupted. This is what happens when people live double lives. Outwardly, they command respect, but inwardly, they deteriorate. No one can serve two masters. These deceivers’ love for money caused them to teach false doctrine and live false lives, and the result was a defiled conscience that did not convict them. This is one step closer to that “seared” conscience that Paul wrote about to Timothy ().
A church needs both the old and the young, and they should minister to one another. The grace of God enables us to bridge the generation gap in the church. One way to do this is for all members, young and old, to live up to the standards that God has set for our lives.
The older men should know what they believe, and their doctrinal convictions should accord with God’s Word. Knowledge of Bible doctrine, however, is no substitute for the other necessary virtues—such as love for the other believers and patience in the trials of life. In fact, a right faith in God’s Word should encourage a believer in love and endurance.
, One of the strongest forces for spiritual ministry in the local church lies with the older believers. Those who are retired have time for service. It is good to see that many local churches have organized and mobilized these important people. In my own ministry, I have been greatly helped by senior saints who knew how to pray, teach the Word, visit, troubleshoot, and help build the church.
The godly older women have the responsibility of teaching the younger women how to be successful wives, mothers, and housekeepers, and the younger women have the responsibility of listening and obeying. The Christian home was a totally new thing, and young women saved out of paganism would have to get accustomed to a whole new set of priorities and privileges. Those who had unsaved husbands would need special encouragement.
, Paul usually had a word concerning the slaves (see ; , ). We are glad for this word to Titus because Paul backed it up with one of the greatest statements about salvation found in the New Testament. Paul always linked doctrine and duty. Paul warned these Christian slaves about three common sins they must avoid: disobedience, talking back, and stealing. There are no slaves in our society today, but there are employees. Christian workers must obey orders and not talk back. They must not steal from their employers.
People could not save themselves. God’s grace had to bring salvation to lost mankind. This salvation was not discovered by sinners; it appeared to them via the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. God in His grace sent His Son to redeem those in the bondage of sin. This salvation is for “all men” who receive it (see ). There is a universal need, and God provided a universal remedy for all who will believe.
Salvation is not only a change in position (set free from the slavery of sin), but it is also a change in attitude, appetite, ambition, and action. The same grace that redeems us also reforms our lives and makes us godly. “Teaching” carries the idea of being disciplined. We are disciplined by God’s grace, trained to be the kind of people that glorify Him.
We are looking for Jesus Christ to return; this is our only hope and glory. This verse boldly affirms that Jesus Christ is God, for the Greek use the definite article the: “the great God and Savior.” Paul did not go into detail about the events surrounding the return of Christ. Believers should always be expecting His return and live like those who will see Him face to face.
The believer should not have a bad attitude toward the government, characterized by slanderous accusations and pugnacious actions. The word “gentle” (v. ) means “an attitude of moderation, a sweet reasonableness.” Christians with this quality do not insist on the letter of the law, but are willing to compromise where no moral issue is at stake.
Not only have we who are Christians been washed and made new in Christ, but Christ has also “declared us righteous.” Paul is using a term here traditionally translated “justified.” This wonderful doctrine is discussed in detail in . Justification is the gracious act of God whereby He declares a believing sinner righteous because of the finished work of Christ on the cross. God puts to our account the righteousness of His Son, so that we can be condemned no more.
“Good” works do not necessarily mean religious works or church work. It is fine to work at church, sing in the choir, and hold an office; but it is also good to serve our unsaved neighbors, to be helpful in the community, and to have a reputation for assisting those in need. Babysitting to relieve a harassed young mother is just as much a spiritual work as passing out a gospel tract. The best way a local church has to witness to the lost is through the sacrificial service of its members.
One kind of problem person we should deal with in the local church is the heretic. The word “heretic” doesn’t need to be used as a label, but the type of personality needs to be understood. This word means “one who makes a choice, a person who causes divisions.” This is a self-willed person who thinks he is right, and who goes from person to person in the church, forcing people to make a choice: “Are you for me or for the pastor?” This is a work of the flesh (see ). Such a divisive person should be admonished by the leadership at least twice, and then rejected.
Titus 1
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1:4 NU-Text reads and Christ Jesus.
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1:7 Literally overseer
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Titus 2
2:5
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2:7 NU-Text omits incorruptibility.
2:8 NU-Text and M-Text read us.
2:9
2:11 []
2:13
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2:14
2:14 [; ]
2:14
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Titus 3
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