From Paul’s Pen – Titus and Philemon
Notes
Transcript
Today we come to the end of Paul’s letters concluding with Titus and Philemon – two short letters but a great message.
First some introductory matters.
Titus
Titus along with 1 & 2 Timothy make up what are called the Pastoral Epistles as they are written to two ministers serving the local church. Last week we looked at Timothy who served in Ephesus and this week we will look at Titus who served on the island of Crete in the Mediterranean.
The date of composition is debated but many think it was written between AD 62-68 during a proposed 4th missionary journey of Paul. Some have reconstructed this period of time by suggesting that Paul went on a fourth missionary journey which included a stop in Crete when he ministered briefly and left Titus there to continue the work they had begun.
Titus 1:5 (NIV) — 5 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.
This journey would have started in Rome after Paul was released from the imprisonment described at the end of Acts. He proceeded to make it to Spain, a desire he mentioned in his letter to the Romans. He then set sail to Crete and visited several other locations before he was rearrested and brought to Rome where he would be martyred in AD 68.
Paul’s 4th Missionary Journey (And I Don’t Mean His Trip to Rome) - Kenneth Berding — April 14, 2015
https://www.biola.edu/blogs/good-book-blog/2015/paul-s-4th-missionary-journey-and-i-don-t-mean-his-trip-to-rome#_ftn1
All that to say that Titus may have been written in that time period between AD 62-68.
Date and Destination of the letter to Philemon
There is no direct information about when it was written, where Paul was, or when it was written. But there are some clues.
Colossians 4:9 (NIV) — He is coming with Onesimus, our faithful and dear brother, who is one of you. They will tell you everything that is happening here.
Philemon 9 (NIV) — Paul, an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus.
Philemon 23–24 (NIV) — Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers.
Putting these clues together, it is assumed that the letter to Philemon was written by Paul from prison in Rome around AD 60 to Philemon who was in Colossae.
Let’s look at some of the content of the letter to Titus.
As with all of these sermons, we can’t go into all the details, but one section of this letter caught my attention:
Titus 2:7–10 (NIV) — 7 In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness 8 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. 9 Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, 10 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.
Paul wants Titus to be good. Paul wants Titus to teach the Christians there to be good. And that may not be easy especially in light of the fact that Crete was not known as a island of virtue. Look at this passing comment early in the letter:
Titus 1:12–13 (NIV) — 12 One of Crete’s own prophets has said it: “Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons.” 13This saying is true.
We are called to live differently than our culture. We are called to be good.
We are called to live differently than our culture. We are called to be good.
Titus 2:14 (NLT) — 14 He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.
Titus 3:14 (NIV) — 14 Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order to provide for urgent needs and not live unproductive lives.
There are many reasons/motives to do good but look at the motive here:
Titus 2:7–10 (NIV) — 7 In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness 8 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. 9 Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, 10 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.
Two motives to do good: (1) so none says anything bad about us, (2) so we can make the teaching of God attractive.
That intrigues me. It’s almost as if Paul is saying that we are in a sense spokespeople for the gospel.
“Be careful how you live. You may be the only Bible some person ever reads.”
“Be careful how you live. You may be the only Bible some person ever reads.”
“Preach the gospel at all times and if necessary, use words.”
“Preach the gospel at all times and if necessary, use words.”
Our lives, our behavior, our speech, everything about us should demonstrate the values of the kingdom and entice people to embrace those same values. A good spokesperson can really improve the image of a company
I did a little research on what makes a good spokesperson. Here is quote for Forbes magazine:
The best real spokespeople all have one thing in common: integrity. Knowing who you are and loving what you do wins admiration from the general public. A spokesperson must have the highest level of passion and commitment. If they believe in the product, consumers will believe in them.
We need to have passion and commitment and if those are lacking we will not be good representatives for the kingdom. Am I a good spokesperson for the gospel? Are you?
We need to have passion and commitment and if those are lacking we will not be good representatives for the kingdom. Am I a good spokesperson for the gospel? Are you?
If there was a talent search for people to be spokespeople for the Gospel and you submitted your resume, would you be hired? Do you embody the values of the Kingdom of God? Is your life holy and pure so that others know that you are a believer in Christ?
On the island of Crete, Paul says to Titus we need some spokespeople for the Kingdom. And this letter cries out to us. In Texoma God needs some spokespeople for the Kingdom.
Throughout all of his letters Paul has been talking about grace and mercy and the natural expectation is that those of us living under God’s grace and mercy ought to be radically transformed and live lives that stand out in this dark world.
Throughout all of his letters Paul has been talking about grace and mercy and the natural expectation is that those of us living under God’s grace and mercy ought to be radically transformed and live lives that stand out in this dark world.
That leads me to the final letter of Paul, Philemon.
Here’s the situation. Philemon, a believer in Colossae, has a slave, Onesimus. He has run away and somehow has crossed paths with Paul probably in Rome. Onesimus is converted and become a great help to Paul. However, Paul knows that according to Roman law and in keeping with Christian values Onesimus needs to go back to Philemon. This was a dangerous proposition. Philemon could have severely punished Onesimus and even could have had him put to death for running away. But Paul makes a radical request of Philemon:
Philemon 12–16 (NIV) — 12 I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you. 13 I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel. 14 But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do would not seem forced but would be voluntary. 15 Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever—16 no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a fellow man and as a brother in the Lord.
Why is this letter in the Bible? It’s an example that Christians need to be different than the world. We do not live by the standards of culture. We don’t see people as slaves, we see them as bothers. We don’t treat people by the standards of the world, we see everyone as useful. We see everyone as image bearers of God.
Paul is expecting Philemon’s faith to radically change the way he lives – not by the fallen standards of the world but by the grace infused values of the Kingdom of God.
Paul is expecting Philemon’s faith to radically change the way he lives – not by the fallen standards of the world but by the grace infused values of the Kingdom of God.
How has faith changed the way you treat people?
How has faith changed the way you order your time?
How has faith changed the way you spend your money?
How has faith changed the way you make decisions on things like entertainment, technology, habits, conversations you have?
Has faith made you more pure and holy?
Has faith made you a more ardent student of Scripture?
How has faith changed the way you live as a husband or wife?
How has faith changed the way you work at your job?
Are you being a good spokesperson for the gospel? Do people notice that you live by Kingdom standards and not this world’s standards? Are you that light on the hill that shines, like Jesus says, where people see your good deeds and glorify the Father in heaven? Do you shine?