Titus 3

1-3 4-7 8-11 12-15

1-3

1

The them goes back to who Paul was discussing in chapter 2, the church member, Paul says to remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities. God has put rulers and authority figures over us through his sovereign will, and repeatedly commands us to obey those who have been installed over us, with one major exception, never let man’s will and man’s law overrule God’s commands and laws. Who are we to ignore God’s command because of our personal preference, also God could allow sinful rulers to be put in place to test and sharpen our faith and trust in Jesus. Also to remind the church that has been left in his care to be ready for every good work, works that are pleasing in the sight of God, this could be referring to being submissive and obedient to ruler over us, as being obedient when God commands it would be pleasing to Him and a good work in itself, or this could be the next item in this list of reminders that continues on with.

2

Not speaking evil of anyone, avoid quarreling, being gentile, and showing perfect courtesy toward all people. While verse one speaks of those in power above us, verse two is more interpersonal attitude of our peers. Not speaking evil of people, don’t engage in rumor spreading, gossiping, putting someone down, or belittling anyone. Avoid arguments, this does not say don’t disagree or not to correct, but don’t disagree or correct in an argumentative fashion. But do be gentle, gentile in our speech and attitude, showing everyone, not just the people who agree with us or whom we like, everyone perfect courtesy. Perfection is hard, or impossible to obtain for a fallen sinner, but this is our goal and what we are to strive for with the help of the Holy Spirit, perfect courtesy to all people, all people.

3

We know how the world acts toward one another because we were once ourselves of the world, foolish, disobedient, going down the wrong path, slaves to all of the world’s sins and evil pleasures. Spending all our days envious of everybody while at the same time hating everyone as much as they hated us. This is how the fallen sinful world is, mired in hatred of everyone and everything, but the root of the world hating everyone is the hatred of God.

4-7

4

Verse 3 painted the dark and grim picture of the fallen world in its hatred and sin, but verse 4 shines the holy light of the good news. When the goodness and loving kindness of God our savior appeared. Pause there for a second, scripture is clearly pointing here that Jesus, who is our savior, is God, and He appeared in human form. This is one of the many passages that clearly says that Jesus was God. Some other translations include toward man after goodness and loving kindness, it is God’s love for all mankind that He sent Jesus, the Son, to us.

5-6

In order to save us. And this salvation is accomplished through Christ’s work alone and not by anything we have done or could ever do, it was and is accomplished through God’s grace that He determined to freely bestow on us before the foundations of the world, washing us clean with the blood of Jesus, removing our hardened hearts and replacing it with a heart of flesh, regenerating us or granting us to be born again, giving us His Holy Spirit causing us to have the will, desire, and ability to have saving faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

7

So now that we are justified, we are legally declared not guilty, by the grace of God alone, through the work of Christ alone, we are now heirs in eternal life along side Jesus. Being heirs means the adoption of us by God, sons and daughters of God along side Jesus, granting us the same resurrection and eternal life as Jesus, who was the firstborn of the dead.

8-11

8

This gospel, this good news from verses 4-7 is trustworthy and true and must be preached and taught so that the believers will know the cost of their salvation and be zealous for good works, good works that are done for the glory of God alone and not so that they can be seen by others or be praised by man, but to bring glory and honor to God, that is what is excellent and profitable for all.

9

As Paul winds down the letter he once again reminds us not be involved or take any part of foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, or quarreling about the law. Simply refuse to listen to any of the false teachers attempting to pull you away from the true gospel and the truth of the scriptures. Paul adds that they are unprofitable and worthless, in contrast to what he says about the true scripture in 2 Timothy 3:16 “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,”

10-11

If there is anyone in the church that is “stirring up division” or is causing divisions in the church, two warnings are to be given, following the pattern of church discipline given by Christ in Matthew 18:15–17 ““If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.” If the sinner does not repent and come back to God after the multiple warnings then have nothing to do with them and know that this person, who refuses to repent after these warnings is condemning himself. Continue to pray for them, and love them enough to tell them the truth about their sin, and having peace that it is not your responsibility to save them, yours is to love them and give them the gospel. It is the work of God alone that can cause true repentance and salvation.

12-15

12

This is the only place in the Bible that Artemas is mentioned, but Tychicus is mentioned in Acts, Colossians, and Ephesians. He delivered the letter from Paul to the Colossians and possibly also to the Ephesians. Artemas and Tychicus were possibly going to take over the work in Crete from Titus as Paul instructs Titus to meet him at Nicopolis, which was probably in southern Greece and a good place to spend the winter, after their arrival in Crete.

13

This is the only mention of Zenas in the Bible and it is unclear if he is a Roman law or biblical law expert. Apollos on the other hand is mentioned several times in Acts and 1 Corinthians and was a fellow teacher of the gospels who was first converted from the teachings of John the Baptist and then with further instruction from Priscilla and Aquila in Ephesus. Both of these men were apparently in Crete with Titus and Paul makes sure that their needs are met and they were equipped for whatever further journey that they were to be speeded onto.

14

Here right before Paul ends the letter he reminds Titus again to teach and help all of the church members in Crete to be about showing the fruit of their salvation which is the good works for the glory of God, and helping those in urgent need of care, especially spiritual needs. Pointing out that they are not to be unfruitful in their Christian lives and continuing sanctification. James 2:26 “For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.”

15

Paul ends the letter, telling Titus that all those who are with Paul send him their greetings, and he is to tell all of the “those who love us in the faith” or all of the believers in Crete that Paul has not forgotten them and sends his greetings. Ending the letter in his familiar way, grace be with you all.