A Heavy Greeting

Pastorals: Message Thirty-Nine

Titus 1:1-4

ETS: Paul greeted Titus with a theologically heavy word.

ESS: We learn about the activity of God through Paul’s greeting to Titus.

OSS: [MO: Doctrinal] {SO: I want the hearers to become more acquainted with the activity of God.}

PQ: What theological truths can we observe in this passage?

UW: Truths

Intro.: Similar to the first letter to Timothy, Paul wrote to Titus to encourage him in his difficult task of ministering to the church of Crete. However, in the third longest salutation or greeting in all of Paul’s epistles (Kostenberger, 307), Paul greeted Titus with a theologically rich greeting.

TS: Let us examine together a few theological truths from this greeting:

Paul was sent by Jesus Christ. (v. 1a)

“apostle” (ἀπόστολοσ) literally means “sent one”- Paul was sent by Jesus Christ.

Application: We are commissioned and sent out by God. The closest modern term to apostle is “missionary” understood as one sent out on a religious task or mission (Oxford Web Dictionary). We are sent by Jesus.

Paul was given a specific purpose by God. (v. 1b)

The preposition translated as “for” (κατὰ) provides a sense of purpose: Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for (the purpose) the faith…the knowledge…leads to (corresponds to, according to) godliness

Thomas Lea commented, “The sequence of these three significant terms Paul used in this first verse- faith, knowledge, godliness- suggests a pattern of true Christian growth. Saving faith that opens one’s eyes to the knowledge of the truth should result in a transformed life characterized by godliness.” (Lea, 266)

Furthermore, Lea explained, “Paul’s concern was that as a servant and an apostle he would be used to produce faith (salvation), knowledge (of God and all his work in Jesus Christ), and godliness (being “conformed to the image of Christ Jesus,” Rom. 8:29).” (Lea, 267).

Thus, Paul not only knew his purpose, but he concerned himself with fulfilling his purpose.

APPLICATION: Jesus sends us out with specific purposes. We must know them and seek to fulfill them.

Faith and knowledge are grounded in God’s promise for eternal life. (v. 2)

This verse combined with the last verse creates a grammatical difficulty for interpretation, specifically regarding the three prepositional phrases: the two in v. 1 beginning with κατὰ and the one in v. 2 beginning with ἐπ᾽

Two possible interpretations are suggested: 1) parallel preposition phrase serving as a third functioning purpose of Paul’s apostleship 2) a modifying prepositional phrase modifying the two purpose phrases in v. 1

Both Lea (268) and Kostenberger (308) agree that the phrase should be understood to modify the other phrases from v. 1.

As such, this modifying phrase functions to suggest that the faith and knowledge of the elect rests upon the grounding that God promised hope of eternal life.

“promised before time began” Thomas Lea explained, “Paul’s words are best understood to mean that God’s original intention before creation was for people to enjoy eternal life. In a sense, it was “promised” (as a birthright, so to speak), although there is no specific biblical record of God having made this promise before creation. The fact that death itself was the punishment for human disobedience suggests that eternal life was the original plan for men and women.” (Lea, 270-271)

APPLICATION: 1) our faith and knowledge of Jesus is grounded in the hope of God’s promise of eternal life. 2) Our being sent by Jesus to reach others with this faith and knowledge is grounded in the hope of God’s promise of eternal life.

God’s word (the Gospel) was revealed at an appointed time. (v. 3)

The verb ἐφανέρωσεν is in the aorist tense, suggesting a definite, pointed time. Furthermore, Lea wrote this suggested, “…indicates that at a definite period in time, once and for all, and in a public and visible manner, God’s promise was fulfilled. By modifying this thought with the words “at his appointed season” (lit. “in his own times,” cf. 1 Tim. 2:6; 6:15), Paul contrasted the promise fulfilled with the promise made “before the beginning of time,” thus indicating God’s complete faithfulness to his word.

His word was revealed at an appointed time fulfilling the promise, and now the message thereof has been entrusted to Paul by Jesus’ commission showing two things: 1) Paul was commissioned to proclaim the message; 2) In way of reiteration, Paul was commissioned and sent directly by God. (see, “by the command of God our Savior”)

Application: God has revealed His word through Jesus (John 1) and entrusted the message thereof to those whom He sends. As believers, we are sent by God to proclaim His word.

There is only one saving faith. (v. 4a)

Similar to the introduction of 1 Timothy, Paul claimed Titus as a “legitimate” or “true” son in order to give him credibility and validate his authority in the task entrusted to him at the church of Crete.

“True son” could suggest that Titus was one of Paul’s converts, or it could suggest a personal, affectionate relationship. The first is most likely.

Of particular importance is the phrase, “in our common faith” for a few reasons: 1) Paul was a Jew; Titus was a Greek. By tradition, it would not have been accepted for Titus to claim faith without circumcision and other ritual practices. 2) This affirms that there is one faith, and that faith is sufficient to save anyone. Lea wrote, “Even though Titus is not mentioned by name in Acts, all the evidence strongly indicates that Paul presented Titus to the Jersualem Council in Acts 15 as living proof that the Jewish rite of circumcision was not necessary for salvation (see Paul’s account in Gal. 2:1-10, especially noting v. 3).”

Titus was a Greek (Gentile), likely convert of Pauls, and a co-worker of Paul’s. He is mentioned in other NT texts such as 2 Corinthians, Galatians, 2 Timothy, and Titus (Lea, 272). There is not a detailed knowledge of Titus aside from these texts.

Application: There is one faith which is common to man, and that faith is sufficient to save any and all people.

CONCLUSION:

Several theological truths came to light as we studied this salutation, but of utmost importance is the fact that it is God who calls and commissions us with a specific calling, purpose, task, and message. Today, have you considered the Lord’s calling in your life? What hinders you from responding in obedience to His calling upon your life?