Titus 3.8b-The Cretan Christian Community was to Perform Excellent Works in Response to Titus Communicating Paul's Teaching in Titus 3.1-7
Wenstrom Bible Ministries
Pastor-Teacher Bill Wenstrom
Sunday August 31, 2014
Titus: Titus 3:8b-The Cretan Christian Community was to Perform Excellent Works in Response to Titus Communicating Paul’s Teaching in Titus 3:1-7
Lesson # 35
Please turn in your Bibles to Titus 3:1.
Titus 3:1 Continue to make it your habit of reminding them to make it their habit of voluntarily subjecting themselves to governmental rulers, or in other words, governmental authorities by making it their habit of being obedient, to be ready for any kind of act which is divine good in quality and character. 2 They are to be characterized as slandering absolutely no one, to be characterized as peaceable, magnanimous with the result that together they show every consideration for each and every member of the human race. 3 For, we ourselves also, at one time, were existing in the state of being foolish ones, disobedient ones, deceived ones, those enslaved to various lusts as well as pleasures, continually spending our lives in malice as well as envy, hateful ones, hating one another. 4 But when the kindness, yes the love for mankind originating from the Savior who is our God was manifested, 5 He saved us, by no means on the basis of meritorious actions as constituting its source. In other words, on the basis of human self-righteousness which we ourselves have done. But rather on the basis of His mercy as constituting the standard, by means of a washing produced by regeneration, specifically, a renovation produced by the Spirit who is holy, 6 whom He poured out upon us in full measure through Jesus who is the Christ, our Savior. 7 The divine purpose was accomplished so that we became heirs in order that we can confidently expect to experience eternal life because we have been justified by this His grace. 8 This is, as an eternal spiritual truth a trustworthy statement. Therefore, concerning these things, I myself always want you to discipline yourself in making it your habit of confidently communicating in order that those who have placed their absolute confidence in God would be intent on disciplining themselves in making it their habit of performing excellent works. These things are as an eternal spiritual truth excellent, indeed, beneficial for the human race. (My translation)
Titus 3:8 This is a trustworthy statement; and concerning these things I want you to speak confidently, so that those who have believed God will be careful to engage in good deeds. These things are good and profitable for men. (NASB95)
“And concerning these things I want you to speak confidently” presents the result of Paul’s previous statement that his doctrinal statement in Titus 3:4-7 is a trustworthy statement and expresses Paul’s desire that Titus continue making it his habit of emphasizing these things he mentions in Titus 3:1-7.
“These things” refers to Paul’s instructions in Titus 3:1-7.
“So that those who have believed God will be careful to engage in good deeds” presents the purpose for Paul’s Spirit inspired desire that Titus discipline himself in making it his habit of confidently communicating his teaching in Titus 3:1-7.
“Those who have believed God” is composed of the articular participle form of the verb pisteuō (πιστεύω), “those who have believed” and the noun theos (θεός), “God.”
The verb pisteuō means to “trust, place complete or absolute confidence in” God the Father.
“Will be careful to engage” is composed of the verb phrontizō (φροντίζω), “will be careful” and the verb proistemi (προΐστημι), “to engage in.”
The verb phrontizō has the force “to put one’s mind to it, to consider carefully, to be intent on doing something” or “to be preoccupied with” something and emphasizes the use of one’s rational faculties to assess a situation.
Therefore, Paul wanted the Cretan Christian community “to be preoccupied with” or “intent” on performing actions which are excellent because they are the result of obedience to the Spirit and the result of the Spirit’s power.
The present tense of the phrontizō is a customary present indicates that Paul wanted the Cretan Christian community to exist in the state of being intent or preoccupied with performing actions which are excellent because they are the result of obedience to the Spirit and His power.
The verb proistemi means “to perform” and indicates that Paul wanted the Cretan Christian community to be intent on “performing” excellent works in the sense that these actions are the direct result of Paul’s Spirit inspired commands and prohibitions in this epistle.
The present tense of the verb proistemi is a customary present indicating that Paul wanted the Cretan Christian community to make it their habit of being intent on making it their habit of performing excellent works.
The middle voice of the verb proistemi is causative meaning that the members of the Cretan Christian community were to cause themselves to be intent on making it their habit of performing excellent works and implies that they were to discipline themselves in making this their habit of performing excellent works.
“Good deeds” is composed of the adjective kalos (καλός), “good” and the noun ergon (ἒργον), “works.”
The noun ergon means “works, actions” referring to actions produced by the Holy Spirit through the Christian when they exercise faith in the Word of God and specifically exercising faith in Paul’s Spirit inspired commands and prohibitions in this epistle addressed to Titus.
The adjective kalos means “excellent” and describes these works or actions as being of the highest moral quality or character because they were done by the power of the Spirit as a result of obedience to the Spirit inspired commands and prohibitions in the Word of God.
The implication is that these works or actions are useful and a great benefit to the Christian community, the entire human race and to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
“These things” refers to the noun ἔργων, “work” which is indicated by the fact that in Titus 3:9 Paul contrasts the performance of excellent works by the Cretan Christian community with the evil works of the Judaizers and those apostate Christians and pastors who adhered to their legalistic and false teaching.
“Profitable” is the adjective ophelimos (ὠφέλιμος), which means “beneficial” in the sense of promoting or conducive to well-being and conferring benefits.
As we have noted, Paul informed Titus that his doctrinal statement in Titus 3:4-7 is a trustworthy statement.
In other words, he affirmed that his teaching in Titus 3:4-7 was trustworthy regarding when the Christian was saved and the basis for their salvation, the means by which they were saved as well as the purpose for which they were saved.
Consequently, Paul wanted Titus to continue disciplining himself in making it his habit of confidently communicating to the Cretan Christian community not only his doctrinal statement in Titus 3:4-7 but also his instructions in Titus 3:1-3.
The first “these things” in Titus 3:8 is a reference to Paul’s teaching in Titus 3:1-7 and not just 3:4-7 which is indicated first of all by the fact that in Titus 3:8, Paul expresses his desire that the Cretan Christian community would perform excellent works for the benefit of the non-Christians in their periphery.
Secondly, Titus 3:1-2 contains specific instructions regarding the proper godly conduct the Cretan Christian community was to manifest with regards to the non-Christian community whereas Titus 3:3-7 presents the doctrinal foundation for Paul’s instructions in Titus 3:1-2.
Titus 3:3-7 presents the reason why the Cretan Christian community is obligated to obey Paul’s instructions recorded in Titus 3:1-2.
Therefore, all this reveals the importance of sound doctrine in relation to godly conduct since Paul teaches Titus that the purpose of having him communicate his doctrinal teaching in Titus 3:4-7 was so that the Cretan Christian community would be able to perform excellent works.
The communication of sound doctrine by Titus will not automatically result in the Cretan Christian community performing excellent works since the performance of these excellent can only be the result of the Christian responding by faith to this sound doctrine.
This faith results in obedience to the Word of God and results in godly conduct and excellent works.
The apostle Paul then communicates to Titus the purpose for which he wants Titus to continue disciplining himself in making it his habit of confidently communicating to the Cretan Christian community his teaching in Titus 3:4-7.
His purpose was that the Cretan Christian community would be intent on disciplining themselves in making it their habit of performing excellent works.
Therefore, in Titus 3:8, the apostle Paul not only communicates to Titus his responsibility with regards to his teaching in Titus 3:4-7, but also the Cretan Christian community with regards to this teaching.
“Those who have placed their absolute confidence in God” is important in relation to the performance of excellent works because it emphasizes that the performance of excellent works can only be performed by Christians since God rewards only those actions which are the result of the appropriation of His power.
In other words, only Christians can perform works which are pleasing to the Father since they are in union with Christ and indwelt by the Trinity which provides them the capacity to perform excellent works which are acceptable to the Father.
This absolute confidence in God is a reference to the Father which is expressed by placing one’s absolute trust or confidence in Jesus Christ since Jesus taught that He who believed in Him believed in the Father who sent Him (John 12:44).
Only those who have a relationship with the Triune God through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone can perform excellent works which are pleasing and acceptable and rewarded by God.
Lastly, in Titus 3:8, the apostle then reiterates to Titus that these works are indeed excellent but then he identifies specifically what he means by the word “excellent.”
These works are excellent because they are beneficial for the entire human race.
Therefore, we can see that Paul’s statements here in Titus 3:8 are related to the Cretan Christian community’s responsibility with regards to those outside of their community and specifically their responsibility toward the non-Christian.
In fact, all of Paul’s statements address the Christian’s duty outside the Christian community.
The performance of these excellent works is designed to evangelize the non-Christian and the evangelization of the non-Christian is directly related to the Christian’s royal ambassadorship.