{An Epistle Study} Titus

Hello! This is the third installment of the epistle studies. 🙂 For July we are doing Titus. I’m super excited about this one.

“Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ to further the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness—in the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time,and which now at his appointed season he has brought to light through the preaching entrusted to me by the command of God our Savior, To Titus, my true son in our common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.” ~Titus 1:1-4.

We learn a few things here. Paul is writing it. He has a job: to further the faith, increase knowledge, and reveal the truth. His job is a command from God. This is Paul’s introduction to his letter. Also, we see that Titus is the recipient of the letter. He is his “spiritual” son in the faith. He is also sending grace from the Lord.

“The reason I left you in Crete was that you might put in order what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you. An elder must be blameless, faithful to his wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. Since an overseer manages God’s household, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. Rather, he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.” ~Titus 1:5-9. 

I apologize for the length of this part of the Scripture. However, I feel this is part should be together. We now realize some of the things about Paul’s journey; for example, why he left Titus in Crete. Paul needed to appoint elders for every town. These towns needed them and Paul was dedicated to the job.

Paul Is Setting Standards for the Elders.

Paul left to fulfill a purpose God gave him. We see the standards for elders in this part of Titus 1. Let’s focus on verse six.

Why Must An Elder’s House Be In Order?

Having well-behaved children is a sign of a good home and even better parents. Also, to be an elder you must be faithful. If a man is faithful to his wife, it shows faithfulness and steadfastness. And those are good traits for any man, much less an elder and thus a leader. 

What About Perfection?

From these standards, it sounds like elders have to be practically perfect. This can be disconcerting. And unsettling. It’s not about perfection, though it is the standard; God knows we can never reach that as we are sinners/mortals. However, we know it is because Jesus is the standard and He is perfect.

Let’s go further.

“For there are many rebellious people, full of meaningless talk and deception, especially those of the circumcision group. They must be silenced, because they are disrupting whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach—and that for the sake of dishonest gain.” ~Titus 1:10-11.

Paul Is Saying Being Meaningless Is Bad. Not Everything Needs A Reaction, (Hence “Silenced”).

We all understand rebellious. And meaningless talk (many people call it legalism now!)

Wait…Who Is the Circumcision Group?

In case you’re confused, let me explain. The Torah in the Old Testament has specific rules. One of those being that every male infant is circumcised if he is an Israelite. It also states it in Jeremiah 4:4. Circumcision is not a “save” or “not saved” thing, and it doesn’t count for much if you are unfaithful to the law. (Romans 2:25-29).

For “Gentiles” (people that came into the faith that were not born as “God’s people) were not required in that time to be circumcised. Thus making the circumcision party a thing. When Paul mentions them as “rebellious people” he is not saying because of their circumcision but because they themselves were hypocrites (sadly).

“One of Crete’s own prophets has said it: “Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons.” This saying is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, so that they will be sound in the faith and will pay no attention to Jewish myths or to the merely human commands of those who reject the truth. To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted.  They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.” ~Titus 1:12-16.

Cretans Have A Bad Reputation.

“Therefore rebuke them sharply,” with teaching, people like Paul, and the Scripture. As Christians, we are commissioned to share and teach. However, we can’t teach if we don’t know it ourselves. And some people(s) back then, and some people now, don’t. And the “Jewish myths” that are being referred to–many cultures have legends and myths, the Jewish people do as well. And Paul goes on to say the corrupted people’s minds are “corrupted.” No one’s conscience’s should be corrupted. It’s a lack of spirit and when you’re flesh has taken over. You are corrupted.

“You, however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine. Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance.” ~Titus 2:1-2.

Teach sound doctrine. Not anything else. This is a simple statement, but I think it carries a bigger meaning, (don’t most of Paul’s writings?)

Teach What Is Sound. Be Faithful, & Not Corrupted.

Even good people can be corrupted or the devil use them in an evil plight to someone else. Don’t let that happen. Teachers, in fact, are judged more “harshly” according to James, (James 3:1), because they are teaching other believers. You can’t teach wrongly, for you can lead someone astray. So, teach what is “appropriate to sound doctrine.”

And, of course, we know these attributes. They are familiar to us. Let me touch on endurance. I’ve heard it said ‘it’s not how you start but how you finish’ and this is attributing to endurance, perseverance, steadfastness, etc. Do you have these things? Be these things. Especially in the truth.

“Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.” ~Titus 2:3-5.

And now onto women! (Fun times.) We should have no addictions, anything that we are addicted to is a wall between us and the Lord.

Addictions = World, World < God

Older teaches younger. This is the same for men and women. On to “busy at home.” This means to be diligent and do the work you have been handed from God and the leader of your home (husband). Of course, since most of you are teenagers reading this, as am I, we are to obey the leaders of the house (parents). And respect our elders, (Lev. 19:32).

“Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.” ~Titus 2:6-8.

And we go on to teaching men, (this is going to men, and that is why it says “similarily”). I’m going to focus on one main part here. We know the message, correct? I believe so. However, one part that people might get tricked up on is the thing that says “seriousness and soundess of speech.” Soundness meaning quality of good condition in modern terms.

However, there is another word used here. It says “seriousness.” The Greek word is

σοβαρότητα (sovarótita)

And to be sure we get the message, the other meanings are: soberness, graveness, etc.

There Is A Time To Laugh & A Time to Be Sober.

Some of you may find this obvious, some of you may totally disagree with me. Who knows, I have a very much varied crowd!

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.” ~Eclesiastes 3:1-8.

*Bolded included to show where I want to highlight.* So, you see my point. There is a time to laugh. This point, in Titus, was pointing out there is a time to be “somber” or “seriousness” and business-like. It’s not all unicorns and lollipops.

“Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.” ~Titus 2:9-10.

This is basic respect. And I think many of us can hear this particular passage, even though it does say “slaves.” And a quick note…

Was Paul for Slavery?

Slavery was a fact back then. It just was. And he focused more on if you’re in that position respect those leaders, rather than “Slavery is wrong!” because I don’t necessarily think he was for it. And you do have to realize slavery and servanthood can sometimes be changed from Greek to English. And in the Old Testament, there were bondservants.

“For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.” ~Titus 2:11-14.

Say No To Wordly Passions By God’s Grace.

God’s grace has shown us a new path, it illuminated a better way of life. Take it. We are to live to serve Him and share the truth we know all the way until He comes back. It’s not a one day, one year, one decade sort of thing. It’s a lifestyle. This doesn’t necessarily mean that we all have to be missionaries! You can impact people in just about any profession; for good or for bad, your choice.

We need to be eager to do what is good!

“These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.” ~Titus 2:15.

Encourage and rebuke. Both. Not one or the other. Do not give them a reason to despise you. Be faithful to your King.

“Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.” ~Titus 3:1-2.

God has put the rulers in place for a reason. We should look for peace, not a fight. And finally, gentle doesn’t mean “weak.” It means courteous and polite. In fact, sometimes it’s harder to be gentle. It takes self-control.

“At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.” ~Titus 3:3-8.

I apologize for the long text. It just seems to go together and I hate to break it up.

Pleasures, passions of this world, addiction (Ari add in), and those things are walls between us and God.

We Are Reborn. You Are Different, You Are New.

I like this part of Titus because it says “whom he poured out on us generously…” Why? Well, He gave generously. God gave us His son, Jesus Christ gave us salvation, the Holy Spirit guides us, we have so much grace and good judgment from Him, our Father. And it is all given generously. God is generous in His gifts because it is a joy to give them. Isn’t that amazing? We take it for granted, (at least a lot of us), and He gave it all to us. That si why Paul wanted to “stress” these things, they are insanely important and rather underrated.

“But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless. Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them. You may be sure that such people are warped and sinful; they are self-condemned.” ~Titus 3:9-11.

Be Wise, Not Foolish, & Remember The Truth.

Some things aren’t worth it (modern terms) and that is Paul’s point. Mark Twain once said, “Never argue with stupid people, they will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience.” This isn’t necessarily exactly the way Proverbs say it, but I do think there is validity in this statement.

Avoid divisive people.

It’s not about an “I don’t like you, bye.” Hence the warnings. The problem? We tend to forget warnings. Although, as Paul says, they are “self-condemned” so no matter how we “leave” they have their own judgment and they are responsible for themselves.

And now, Paul gives his final instructions.

“As soon as I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, because I have decided to winter there. Do everything you can to help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way and see that they have everything they need. Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order to provide for urgent needs and not live unproductive lives. Everyone with me sends you greetings. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all.” ~Titus 3:12-15.

This is Paul’s goodbye. And final instructions, as you can see in verse twelve and so on. This is the “job” of Titus and those with him. Paul is helping them on their way and making sure they help others, specific people.

Live productively, live for Him

And now, grace be will you all. (From Ariana, myself).

I hope you enjoyed this epistle study. How did you like it? Which one do you think I should do next?

Thanks for reading!