TITUS
CHAPTER ONE: Godliness in the Church
Introduction: This letter was written to Titus about the same time as II Timothy and was one of Paul’s last letters. Paul and Titus had worked together in Crete between Paul’s two Roman imprisonment's. Because of the pressing need of Paul’s presence elsewhere, Paul had left Titus to build up and establish the churches in Crete, verse 5, and to appoint elders or pastors in those churches. This letter gave Titus written authority from Paul to do so. The churches were deficient in organization and needed positive instruction in doctrine and Christian living and this was Titus's task. Titus had been a faithful Christian and servant with Paul for at least 14 years. He had gone with Paul to Jerusalem after Paul’s first missionary journey (Acts 15). He was a trusted and useful Christian. Paul had used him for tasks that required honesty and wisdom in the past. II Corinthians 8:16-24. The subject of the epistle is, "The Truth according to Godliness" in the Church. This emphasis was important because of the nature of the Cretians, verse 12, and the false teachers that were so prevalent. Verse 10, 11.
Verse 1 -- Servant is the word "doulos" and means "bond slave". Paul was also an apostle and this position placed him on par with the other apostles and gave him great prestige. He says, he is an apostle in accordance with The Faith ( that body of doctrine which the elect are to defend ) and according to the truth which is after godliness (God -likeness). People could believe Paul was an apostle because of his stand and because of his godliness.
Verse 2 -- "In hope of eternal life" means " upon the basis of eternal life." Our assurance of eternal life is based upon the fact of God’s holiness which involves the fact that He cannot lie and He has promised it. John 3:16.
Verse 3 -- Paul here emphasizes his authority as a preacher which has been obtained from God and that God is now revealing through preachers, His word, which offers eternal life to all who believe.
Verse 4 -- The letter was written to Titus who had been saved through Paul’s ministry.
Verse 5 -- The reason for the letter is set forth in this verse. "Ordain" means "appoint". "Elder" means "Pastor "or "Bishop". Verse 7 and Ephesians for 4:11 -- Elders suggests a man of maturity, while Bishop emphasizes his office (ie. as that of an overseer or superintendent) and Pastor speaks of teaching and other considered pastoral duties.
Verse 6 -- The qualifications of these elders are herein set forth. Vs. 6--9. Paul's enumeration of the necessary qualifications falls into three groups: verse 6-the elder's social and domestic relationships; his personal qualifications, verse 7,8; and his doctrinal qualification s, verse 9. Blameless -- a man whose past and present conduct is such that accusations of a harmful nature could not be leveled against him. He should not have more than one living wife. His children should be under control. If a man cannot control his household, how can he control and manage the things of God?
Verse 7 -- a steward is a manager for God and one who is intrusted with Godly work. Five negative qualities are listed.
1. Not "self-willed" -- not having a self-loving Spirit which seeks to gratify self in arrogant disregard of others.
2. "Not soon angry" -- one having his temper under control.
3. "No striker" -- not quick to use his fists.
4. "Not given to wine" -- wine was clearly recognized as an evil and the bishop must avoid it.
5. "Not given to filthy lucre" -- He is not to use his office as a means for the accumulation of unjust gains.
Verse 8 --Then Paul lists six positive characteristics which the bishop must manifest. A hospitable and warmly social person, warm of heart toward good men, a sober-serious person, just (upright), holy (pure and unpolluted from the stain of sin), temperate (one in control of all his desires and appetites).
Verse 9 -- He must be doctrinally stable, knowing what he believes and why, and one who will stand true to the word of God and teach it. He must, by sound doctrine, be able to help and strengthen the sheep and to drive away the wolves who would corrupt the church members by their false doctrines. These qualifications as above listed outlined the ideal toward which each local assembly must look in the selection of its pastor but also give us the ideal toward which we all should strive.
Verse 10 -- The need of men with the aforementioned qualities was important in the churches of Crete because of the enemies of the gospel there and because of the nature of the cretians. Some of the enemies were within the church. They were unruly individuals. God’s people should follow their pastor’s leadership. Hebrew's 13:17. They were vain talkers, gossipers. CF. Leviticus 19:16; Proverbs 11:13; 20:19.
Verse 11 -- Some of the enemies were outside the church. Those of the circumcision were those that followed Judaism or variations thereof. They were leading many Christian families astray and were doing so for their own material benefit.
Verse 12 -- The Cretians had quite a reputation. They were liars, fierce in nature, and loved cruelty. They were also persons who were lazy and gluttonous.
Verse 13 -- Their (the Cretians) sins were to be exposed so that they would be sound in the faith. John 16:8-11; such preaching would help them, (those that were saved) to overcome their old nature. Ephesians 4:22-24.
Verse 14 -- Paul desired that the Christians in these churches be sound and not mixed up on their beliefs.
Verse 15 -- "Unto the pure all things are pure". First Corinthians 6:12. To the saved all things are lawful but to the religionists nothing is pure. Romans 14: 14,20. Colossians 2:20. There is a sense in which all things are pure in that they are lawful, although not necessarily right. We are saved by Grace. Paul goes on to point out the counterfeitness of the Judaizers. vs. 15 and 16.
DISCUSSION:
What are some of the problems that confronted the churches of Crete?
Are there are similar problems today?