General Notes on the Book of Titus

This epistle chiefly contains directions to Titus concerning the elders of the Church, and the manner in which he should give instruction; and the latter part tells him to urge obedience to magistrates, to enforce good works, avoid foolish questions, and shun heresies. The instructions the apostle gave are all plain and simple. The Christian religion was not formed to answer worldly or selfish views, but it is the wisdom of God and the power of God.

The reason for Paul writing the letter was to help Titus clear up some unfinished business. "The reason I left you in Crete was that you might straighten out what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you. (1:5)     Paul then lists eighteen various qualifications for appointment of elders (1:6-9).

Paul next describes the false teachers Titus is likely to meet. He sums them up by saying - "They are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for doing anything good." (1:16)

Paul then states the basis for all Christian teaching "You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine." (2:1)

"Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities..." (3:1)

"Since it is important for the ongoing witness and furtherance of the gospel, believers must be obedient to civil and governmental authorities, obey the civil law, be good citizens, and act as respectful neighbors. The only exception occurs when governmental law conflicts with Biblical teaching." (Donald Stamps)

"Grace be with you all." -Paul

Paul’s Letter to Titus

The Apostle Salutes Titus

Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God’s elect and the knowledge of the truth that is in accordance with godliness, ²in the hope of eternal life that God, who never lies, promised before the ages began— ³in due time he revealed his word through the proclamation with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior, ⁴To Titus, my loyal child in the faith we share: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.

The Qualifications of a Faithful Pastor

5 I left you behind in Crete for this reason, so that you should put in order what remained to be done, and should appoint elders in every town, as I directed you:

6 someone who is blameless, married only once, whose children are believers, not accused of debauchery and not rebellious. ⁷For a bishop, as God’s steward, must be blameless; he must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or addicted to wine or violent or greedy for gain; ⁸but he must be hospitable, a lover of goodness, prudent, upright, devout, and self-controlled. ⁹He must have a firm grasp of the word that is trustworthy in accordance with the teaching, so that he may be able both to preach with sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict it.

The Evil Temper and Practices of False Teachers

¹⁰There are also many rebellious people, idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision; ¹¹they must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for sordid gain what it is not right to teach. ¹²It was one of them, their very own prophet, who said, ‘Cretans are always liars, vicious brutes, lazy gluttons.’ ¹³That testimony is true. For this reason rebuke them sharply, so that they may become sound in the faith, ¹⁴not paying attention to Jewish myths or to commandments of those who reject the truth. ¹⁵To the pure all things are pure, but to the corrupt and unbelieving nothing is pure. Their very minds and consciences are corrupted. ¹⁶They profess to know God, but they deny him by their actions. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.

My Commentary

In Chapter 1 from Titus Paul speaks of the people one would choose to be pastors and preachers. Of course, they are all men. This opens up the interpretations again that men are the only ones that can have authority in these areas. Also, it looks that the having only one wife comes into play in this book, as well as the men should be blameless  as well as not drunkards or greedy for money. They must also enjoy guests in their home, be sensible and fair, be clean minded and level headed, believe in the truth so they can teach it to others, and show those who disagree with them that they are wrong.

As I look at this, it may be this latter part that we as United Methodists may have the hardest time with. As we talk about inclusiveness and ecumenicalism, it also becomes apparent that many different people in the denomination have very different ideas as to what "sin" is. A former pastor of mine stated that we cannot be afraid to "name sin." Yet, rarely do I see us name it in meaningful ways outside of The Discipline. Once again, I come back to those issues of accountability that Wesley so strongly advocated. Concerns with "backsliding" and addressing these issues with fellow believers was essential to Wesley. We need to learn to do these things again, but in a loving way. How, I don't know...

Once again, Paul rails against those who feel a duty to obey the Jewish laws. The paraphrase admonishes Christians to stop listening to "Jewish Folk Tales," )probably not the most sensitive way to put it) and the demands of men who turn their back on the truth. To Paul, it seems faith is everything.

As far as Christian living, I really like what Paul says in Titus 1:15 - "A person who is pure of heard sees goodness and purity in everything, but a person whose own heard is evil and untrusting finds evil in everything, for his dirty mind and rebellious heart color all he sees and hears." In some ways, this verse speaks directly to me, as I sometimes have difficulty in trusting others. I tend to look for ulterior motives. This has gotten worse over the years as I have paid more attention to the political processes and watched and listened to candidates simply lie to me at the lowest local level. The entire political system is at times so corrupt that I no longer believe anything anyone says at the moment it is said. I fear the path this country is taking is built in lies, greed, and definitely non-Christian values. I spend life sometimes being very cynical.

Five Lessons about God

Titus 1:1-4

God is mentioned five times in these first four verses of Titus. They lead us to some important ideas about God:

GOD IS PREEMINENT

"Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ..."

Paul allowed God the Father and God the Son to be preeminent in his life. They were in charge, along with the working of the Holy Spirit. We must allow God to be first in our lives.

GOD HAS A PEOPLE

Titus 1:1-2 - "...according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;"

All those who place faith in Christ as Savior are God's elect. As God's people we are to be acknowledging God's truth and allowing it to lead them to godliness.

GOD KEEPS HIS PROMISES

Titus 1:2-3 - "In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;"

GOD REVEALS HIS WORD THROUGH PREACHING

Titus 1:3 - "But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;"

GOD PROVIDES

Titus 1:4 -To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.
God provides grace, mercy and peace to His children.

The Duties Which Become Sound Doctrine

But as for you, teach what is consistent with sound doctrine. ²Tell the older men to be temperate, serious, prudent, and sound in faith, in love, and in endurance. ³Likewise, tell the older women to be reverent in behavior, not to be slanderers or slaves to drink; they are to teach what is good, ⁴so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, ⁵to be self-controlled, chaste, good managers of the household, kind, being submissive to their husbands, so that the word of God may not be discredited. ⁶Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. ⁷Show yourself in all respects a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, gravity, ⁸and sound speech that cannot be censured; then any opponent will be put to shame, having nothing evil to say of us.

My Commentary

A couple of other things I've noticed, One is where Paul states that older women should be taught to be quiet, respectful, not gossip, love their husbands, and be kind and obedient to them. I can see how this passage cause problems in this day and age!

Paul thought that older disciples must be sober not so much that the decays of age would justify any excess, but that comfort would be gained by a nearer communion to God, not by too much wine or other excess.

Paul felt that younger men (I notice he says men, but he means women too!) tend to be rash and thoughtless, tending to do deeds without thinking through eagerness and thoughtlessness. Paul encourages us to be thoughtful, “sober”, and self controlled in our deeds and in our words. In this age of computers, instant messaging, etc., this is hard.

Believing Servants Must Be Obedient

⁹Tell slaves to be submissive to their masters and to give satisfaction in every respect; they are not to talk back, ¹⁰not to pilfer, but to show complete and perfect fidelity, so that in everything they may be an ornament to the doctrine of God our Savior.

My Commentary

Much has been made of this passage as a Biblical reason to keep down those who have less, who still have “masters.”

All Paul is saying is that despite your circumstance, treat others as God wants us to treat them. In other words, this is for all ranks and conditions of humankind.

Yet, at what point, if you are a “slave” or if  you are enslaved by evil systems, powers, or governments, do you take this to heart?

All is Enforced from the Holy Design of the Gospel, Which Concerns All Believers

11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, ¹²training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly, ¹³while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. ¹⁴He it is who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds.

15 Declare these things; exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one look down on you.

Commentary

Matthew Henry writes: See our duty in a very few words; denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, living soberly, righteously, and godly, notwithstanding all snares, temptations, corrupt examples, ill usage, and what remains of sin in the believer's heart, with all their hindrances.

Obedience to Rulers, and Becoming Behavior to All, are Enforced From What Believers Were Before Conversion, and What They are Made Through Christ.

Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, ²to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show every courtesy to everyone. ³For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, despicable, hating one another. ⁴But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, ⁵he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy, through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. ⁶This Spirit he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, ⁷so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

My Commentary

Paul also states that one must obey the government and its officers. I can see how this could be hideously misinterpreted. If the government asks you to do evil, do you do evil? I don't believe that one should blindly follow their government. I believe that what Paul was alluding to is the fact that we need to concern ourselves with what is God's. This could be another rendition of the fact that one should give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God's.

Good Works to be Done, and Useless Works Avoided

⁸The saying is sure. I desire that you insist on these things, so that those who have come to believe in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works; these things are excellent and profitable to everyone.

9 But avoid stupid controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. ¹⁰After a first and second admonition, have nothing more to do with anyone who causes divisions, ¹¹since you know that such a person is perverted and sinful, being self-condemned.

My Commentary

I also like the fact that Paul states not to argue about unanswerable theological questions. he warns against causing division and those that cause division should be asked to leave after being warned three times. Paul seems concerned with the Big Picture, not religious in-fighting. I believe that he believed that there was more that connected Christians than that separated them.

Matthew Henry Writes: Spiritual privileges do not make void or weaken, but confirm civil duties. Mere good words and good meanings are not enough without good works. They were not to be quarrelsome, but to show meekness on all occasions, not toward friends only, but to all men, though with wisdom, James 3:13. And let this text teach us how wrong it is for a Christian to be churlish to the worst, weakest, and most abject. The servants of sin have many masters, their lusts hurry them different ways; pride commands one thing, covetousness another. Thus they are hateful, deserving to be hated. It is the misery of sinners, that they hate one another; and it is the duty and happiness of saints to love one another. And we are delivered out of our miserable condition, only by the mercy and free grace of God, the merit and sufferings of Christ, and the working of his Spirit. God the Father is God our Saviour. He is the fountain from which the Holy Spirit flows, to teach, regenerate, and save his fallen creatures; and this blessing comes to mankind through Christ.

Directions and Exhortations

¹²When I send Artemas to you, or Tychicus, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. ¹³Make every effort to send Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way, and see that they lack nothing. ¹⁴And let people learn to devote themselves to good works in order to meet urgent needs, so that they may not be unproductive. ¹⁵All who are with me send greetings to you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with all of you.

Commentary

Matthew Henry writes: Christianity is not a fruitless profession; and its professors must be filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. They must be doing good, as well as keeping away from evil. Let "ours" follow some honest labour and employment, to provide for themselves and their families. Christianity obliges all to seek some honest work and calling, and therein to abide with God. The apostle concludes with expressions of kind regard and fervent prayer. Grace be with you all; the love and favour of God, with the fruits and effects thereof, according to need; and the increase and feeling of them more and more in your souls. This is the apostle's wish and prayer, showing his affection to them, and desire for their good, and would be a means of obtaining for them, and bringing down on them, the thing requested. Grace is the chief thing to be wished and prayed for, with respect to ourselves or others; it is "all good."