Day 346: Titus

(This is Part 1 for Day 346. The epistle to Philemon also posted on this same day as Part 2 for Day 346.)

(The epistle to Titus was the twelfth book of the section of the New Testament known as the Pauline Epistles. Paul wrote this letter around 67 AD from Macedonia, making this letter a contemporary with 1 Timothy. Many scholars believe Paul was released from prison during the time recorded in Acts 28, around 64 AD. Paul traveled to Macedonia (where he wrote his first epistle to Timothy) and Asia Minor. While this was the third and final letter of the section known as the Pastoral Epistles, it was technically the second pastoral letter chronologically. This letter was very similar to 1 Timothy. Remember, Paul's letter to the Corinthians was to the entire church. The purpose of this epistle to Titus was to specifically give one person (Titus) direction in pastoring and leading a church. The overarching theme covered grace: allowing the Holy Spirit to direct our actions would result in Salvation, sound Doctrine, the ability to convict unbelievers, and the ability to teach/instruct believers towards good works, which would bring order to the church.)

Titus 1
¹ Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness,

(A Doctrine-filled introduction...)

² in hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before times eternal;

(Doctrine: God cannot lie. This did not say that God could lie but chooses not to or God does not lie. God is not able to lie, because God's Nature is always completely Right and always completely Just. For God to be able to lie, He would have to have the causes of being able to lie within Himself, which would be "darkness." God is light, in Him there is no darkness at all (1 John 1:5). God's Nature possesses none of the causes that would be able to result in being able to lie. Hebrews 6:18 stated the same Doctrine.)

(Doctrine: God promised eternal life before the creation of the world.)

³ but in his own seasons manifested his word in the message, wherewith I was intrusted according to the commandment of God our Saviour;

(God made these promises apparent in His Word, the same Word that was intrusted to Paul.)

⁴ to Titus, my true child after a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Saviour.

(Paul was writing to Titus.)

⁵ For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that were wanting, and appoint elders in every city, as I gave thee charge;

(Paul left Titus in Crete to set things in order and to appoint (ordain) elders in the cities which Paul told him. Paul was an apostle. The elders were the same as what we refer to today as pastors. Apostles and prophets began churches. Both were appointed by God. The apostles and prophets appointed elders/pastors for the church. Paul wrote this epistle to help Titus bring order to the church, just like Paul wrote to Timothy.)

(Verses 6-9: the qualifications of a bishop/overseer.)

⁶ if any man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having children that believe, who are not accused of riot or unruly.

(The husband of one wife meant "one wife at a time." To interpret this verse to also have meant "never having been remarried" or "never having been divorced" or "never having been widowed" contradicted the Bible's view of Marriage. If a man was a bishop and had more that one wife, he would not have time to put forth what was needed to be a bishop. His time would be put into leading his wives.)

⁷ For the bishop must be blameless, as God's steward; not self-willed, not soon angry, no brawler, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre;

(This verse showed that Paul was describing bishops. Bishops and elders were not the same. A bishop was an overseer. An elder was a pastor.)

⁸ but given to hospitality, as lover of good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled;

(Just like we saw in 1 Timothy, Paul stated a bishop was given to hospitality: "generous to guests." This meant a bishop reached out to unbelievers. Notice, the best examples of the faith ought to be reaching out to unbelievers.)

⁹ holding to the faithful word which is according to the teaching, that he may be able to exhort in the sound doctrine, and to convict the gainsayers.

(A bishop ought to have sound Doctrine and convict the gainsayers, able to debate with those who appeared to have a right what, but actually had a wrong how/why. This would only be able to be done with God's Doctrine.)

¹⁰ For there are many unruly men, vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision,
¹¹ whose mouths must be stopped; men who overthrow whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.

(One reason the bishops should exhort and convince vain talkers and deceivers was to silence them.)

¹² One of themselves, a prophet of their own, said, Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, idle gluttons.
¹³ This testimony is true. For which cause reprove them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith,
¹⁴ not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men who turn away from the truth.
¹⁵ To the pure all things are pure: but to them that are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but both their mind and their conscience are defiled.

(Those who were defiled and unbelieving were impure, even their minds and conscience.)

¹⁶ They profess that they know God; but by their works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

(Great summary for this chapter! The deceivers say (right what) they knew God but their actions (do) denied God, their how/why was wrong. Again, Paul used the word adokimos (reprobate) to solidify this point. We saw Paul used this word in Romans 1:28, 1 Corinthians 9:27, 2 Corinthians 13:5-7, and 2 Timothy 3:8. This word referred to a coin that represented a value (right what), but actually was worth something less (wrong how/why) than what was represented. This entire chapter stressed truly having the right how/why for the right what that was represented. Having a right how/why for your right what makes you able to identify and correct deceivers.)




Titus 2
¹ But speak thou the things which befit the sound doctrine:

(This was the opposite of being reprobate. Speak things (what) that fit with (right how) sound Doctrine (God's Doctrine)...why?)

² that aged men be temperate, grave, sober-minded, sound in faith, in love, in patience:
³ that aged women likewise be reverent in demeanor, not slanderers nor enslaved to much wine, teachers of that which is good;
⁴ that they may train the young women to love their husbands, to love their children,
⁵ to be sober-minded, chaste, workers at home, kind, being in subjection to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed:

(The reason why we ought to speak things befitting sound Doctrine was so that we got these effects from aged men and aged women...)

⁶ the younger men likewise exhort to be sober-minded:

(...as well as from young men. Titus speaking sound Doctrine would result in the aged men, aged women, and young men representing righteous behavior, which would help keep the church in order.)

⁷ in all things showing thyself an ensample of good works; in thy doctrine showing uncorruptness, gravity,

(In this verse ensample meant "having a sample of the original; all tests prove it is the same as original, not a copy." Verse 7 stated that Titus ought to have the original right causes within himself, which would be the Holy Spirit, who is God. If we have God in us via the Holy Spirit, and we choose to let Him influence our actions, then our Doctrine will be uncorrupted...)

⁸ sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of us.

(...our speech not only cannot be condemned, but those who speak contrary to us will be ashamed because they will not be able to speak evil of us. These were effects of allowing God to direct our actions via the Holy Spirit. These were effects of grace: the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life.)

⁹ Exhort servants to be in subjection to their own masters, and to be well-pleasing to them in all things; not gainsaying;
¹⁰ not purloining, but showing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.

(Exhort servants to be obedient to their masters so that they can adorn (show, embellish) the Doctrine of God, our Saviour in all things. Again, gainsaying referred to appearing to have the right what but actually supporting it with a wrong how/why. From the beginning of this chapter, Paul had given the Righteous effects of being an ensample, of having God within us via the Holy Spirit and allowing Him to direct our actions. Next, Paul blatantly explained the cause (right how/why) of these Righteous effects...)

¹¹ For the grace of God hath appeared, bringing salvation to all men,

(…because the grace of God that brings Salvation has appeared to all men, the atonement of Salvation is not limited but is available to all. Paul stated the cause (right how/why) of this was grace, however Paul was not finished explaining grace...)

¹² instructing us, to the intent that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly and righteously and godly in this present world;

(Doctrine: Grace (God's influence upon the heart, and its refection in the life) teaches/instructs us (why/how) to do the following right what's: deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, to live soberly, righteously, and godly.)

¹³ looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
¹⁴ who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a people for his own possession, zealous of good works.

(Doctrine: Christ gave Himself for us so that He could redeem us from all iniquity and purify unto Himself a peculiar (His own) people that are zealous (eagerly desiring a thing) of good works. Christ's death and resurrection (and going away) provided the ability for us to have grace via the Holy Spirit, and Salvation is attained by this grace.)

¹⁵ These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

(Paul stated that allowing the Holy Spirit to direct your actions (grace) would result in Salvation, sound Doctrine, the ability to convict unbelievers, and the ability to teach/instruct believers towards good works, which will bring order to the church.)




Titus 3
¹ Put them in mind to be in subjection to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready unto every good work,
² to speak evil of no man, not to be contentious, to be gentle, showing all meekness toward all men.

(Paul summarized the letter by telling Titus what to tell the believers in the church to do.)

³ For we also once were foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another.
⁴ But when the kindness of God our Saviour, and his love toward man, appeared,

(From the love and kindness of God did Christ our Saviour appear to man.)

⁵ not by works done in righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,

(Not by our works of righteousness but by God's mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration (new birth), and the renewing of the Holy Spirit...which is grace.)

⁶ which he poured out upon us richly, through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
⁷ that, being justified by his grace, we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

(This is shed on us abundantly through Christ so that we are justified by His grace which makes us heirs with Christ.)

⁸ Faithful is the saying, and concerning these things I desire that thou affirm confidently, to the end that they who have believed God may be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men:
⁹ but shun foolish questionings, and genealogies, and strifes, and fightings about law; for they are unprofitable and vain.

("Foolish questionings" were debates with no understanding. Paul warned Timothy (2 Timothy 2:14) of the same unprofitable actions.)

¹⁰ A factious man after a first and second admonition refuse;
¹¹ knowing that such a one is perverted, and sinneth, being self-condemned.

(Doctrine: We must admonish a person we think is being divisive at least two times, then we can refuse to interact with him. Admonish meant "to correct in person through discussion." This was not a one-way judgment of the person.)

¹² When I shall send Artemas unto thee, or Tychicus, give diligence to come unto me to Nicopolis: for there I have determined to winter.
¹³ Set forward Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey diligently, that nothing be wanting unto them.
¹⁴ And let our people also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.
¹⁵ All that are with me salute thee. Salute them that love us in faith. Grace be with you all.

(The epistle to Titus was the twelfth book of the section of the New Testament known as the Pauline Epistles. Paul wrote this letter around 67 AD from Macedonia, making this letter a contemporary with 1 Timothy. Many scholars believe Paul was released from prison during the time recorded in Acts 28, around 64 AD. Paul traveled to Macedonia (where he wrote his first epistle to Timothy) and Asia Minor. While this was the third and final letter of the section known as the Pastoral Epistles, it was technically the second pastoral letter chronologically. This letter was very similar to 1 Timothy. Remember, Paul's letter to the Corinthians was to the entire church. The purpose of this epistle to Titus was to specifically give one person (Titus) direction in pastoring and leading a church. The overarching theme covered grace: allowing the Holy Spirit to direct our actions would result in Salvation, sound Doctrine, the ability to convict unbelievers, and the ability to teach/instruct believers towards good works, which will bring order to the church.)

Day 346 (Part 2)