Simple
Studies in the Scriptures
The Epistle of
Paul the Apostle to Titus
Leader’s Study Guide
Titus
Human Author: Paul
Date Written: c. AD 65- 67
Key thought:
Teach the Gospel
“ Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.”
~*~
TITUS 1
The combined letters to Timothy and Titus can be called Pastoral Epistles as exhortation is given to be diligent in Christian service. To Timothy the apostle stresses the importance of sound doctrine whereas to Titus the apostolic concentration is on proper behavior. The Theme of Titus is, “The Truth which is According to Righteousness.” Paul wants Titus to be sincere and without hypocrisy.
The apostle had just been freed
from prison when he wrote to his Greek friend Titus on the
Godliness simply means to be like God. In the soul of the godly person will be piety produced by biblical truth in the heart.
In order for godliness to rule
the church, qualified elders are to be appointed provided they have met
specific standards of conduct. A need for spiritually strong leaders in
Moving from instructions concerning church conduct the apostle speaks of godliness in the home. He has a message for aged men and women, young men and women and the servants as well.
In instructing others Titus must never be insincere. He who handles holy matters must be blameless or the power of the message proclaimed will be diminished if not lost.
In Titus 3 the relationship of the Christian to the world is considered. The believer is to be a responsible citizen. No Christian is to argue with others but live soberly, righteously in a godless age. Individuals are to be helped whenever possible.
The epistle closes with the
customary Pauline benediction, “Grace be with you
all. Amen.”
1 Paul, a servant of God, and an
apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect [chosen], and
the acknowledging of the
truth which is after godliness;
1:1 The Faith.
The reference is to that body of gospel truth which Christians are called to
defend.
1:1 God’s elect. The doctrine of election was
a precious truth in the early church. Paul was personally and perpetually
grateful he had been chosen in
Christ for salvation and service, as should every Christian.
2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;
1:2 What God cannot do.
· God cannot lie
Titus 1:2
· God cannot be faithless.
2 Timothy 2:13
· God cannot change or be less than God in His
essence.
Malachi 3:6
· God cannot sin and so should never be charged with
evil
Matthew 5:38
1:2 Eternal life.
Eternal life is not only a quantify but a quality. It
is defined in Scripture as having a personal relationship with the living God
and with His Son, Jesus. John 17:3 And this is life
eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
1:2 Promised.
The first promise of God is stated in Genesis 3:15. “And
I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her
seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” These words in the Old Testament find a
parallel in the New Testament in John 3:16. Before the ages
of human
history began God promised eternal life. Since the Garden hearts have lived in
the hope of that promise.
“My faith has found a
resting place,
Not in device or creed;
I trust the ever living One,
His wounds for me shall plead.
I
need no other argument,
I need no other plea,
It is enough that Jesus died,
And that He died for me.”
~*~
3 But hath in due times manifested [revealed] his
word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment
of God our Saviour;
1:3 The value of preaching
cannot be over stated. It is God’s ordained means of revealing His Word.
“Preach the Gospel,
sound it forth,
Tell of free and full salvation;
Spread the tidings o’er the earth,
Go to every tribe and nation.
Spread
the joyful tidings
In anthem and story
Jesus hath redeemed us,
Oh, give Him the glory!”
~*~
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.
5 For this cause left I thee in
2:5 A Gentile by birth (Gal.
2:3) Titus
was converted through the ministry of Paul (Titus 1:4). Recognizing his
faithfulness to Christ and administrative gifts Paul used Titus when trouble
arose. In the city of
There is need for someone with organizational skills to provide a framework for service. Direction is needed as a biblical theology is set forth. Details need oversight. Decisions have to be made about church location, requirements for membership, doctrinal
stance, matters of discipline and many other matters.
To facilitate him in the work Titus was to ordain elders. Here is the apostolic patter. The leaders of a congregation are called by God, prompted with a desire to lead by the urging of the Holy Spirit, appointed by other elders and recognized by the
church body as worthy to b submitted to in matters of doctrine and practice provided belief and behavior is based upon the Word of God with chapter and verse to appeal to.
6 If any be blameless [above reproach], the husband of one wife, having
faithful [obedient] children
not accused of riot or unruly.
1:6 Blameless
Qualifications for Church Leadership
·
The husband of one wife. The qualification may mean
having only one wife at a time or it may mean being married only once. In
either situation the man is to be above reproach in his marital status.
·
Having faithful children. The children of church
leaders seem to be a special target for satanic opposition and so must be under
authority. They are not be undisciplined as the sons of Eli who brought shame
to the priesthood and to the people of God (1 Sam.
7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of
God; not self-willed, not
soon angry, not given to wine, no striker [brawler], not given to filthy lucre;
·
Not self-willed. The elder is to be a servant
and not a lord over the people (1 Peter 5:2,3).
·
Not soon angry. While some dispositions are
gentle by nature an elder must possess a calm presence for he will face many
trying circumstances.
·
Not given to wine. An inclination to excessive
drinking prohibits a man from leading the people of God.
·
No striker. The person who is a verbal
or physical brawler to settle matters will no use his mind or the fruit of the
Spirit.
·
Not greedy. There is no place in
spiritual leadership for a person whose heart desires to be rich or have much
of the goods of this world.
8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy,
temperate [self-controlled];
·
A lover of hospitality. Because elders lead by
example they are to be gracious in the use of their home to entertain others.
·
A lover of good men. It is just as easy to love
good men as it is bad and the elder is to enjoy not only helping people but
also helping the right type of people. Pearls are not to be case away recklessly.
·
Sober. Laughter is good medicine
but being serious should be a way of life. There are eternal
issues that presses doctrine upon the sensitive soul.
·
Just. The elder must be a fair man
and able o be impartial without taking sides.
·
Holy. Without holiness no one
shall see God. Those who seek to lead others to a holy God must be sanctified
themselves.
·
Temperate. Self-control in all areas of
life is a requirement, not a suggestion for being an elder. The honest soul
knows if there is a lust pattern or a behavioral pattern out of control. Such a
person becomes disqualified to be an elder.
9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine
both to exhort and to convince [convict] the
gainsayers [opposition].
·
Hold fast the faithful word. A man without convictions will convince no
one.
10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision [Jews]:
1:10 The scribes, Sadducees, Pharisees and other
Jewish officials and religious leaders had much to lose if the implications of
the Christian faith were embraced by the masses. Therefore, Paul found much
opposition to the gospel among the circumcised or among the Jews, the very
people for whom the Messiah had come to minister. “John 1:11 He came unto
his own, and his own received him not. 12 But as many as received him, to them
gave he power to
become the
sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert [mislead] whole houses,
teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's [ill gotten money]
sake.
1:11 Mouths that must be stopped.
By the nature of the new birth the people of God
called sheep are non-confrontational. Nevertheless, there are great doctrinal
issues at stake that must be contended for thereby stopping the mouths of those
who are characterized by spiritual lawlessness and deception. Prayer must be
offered for holy boldness.
Hugh Lattimer (1485-1555) once preached
before King Henry VIII. Henry was greatly displeased by the boldness in the
sermon and ordered Lattimer to preach again on the following Sunday and
apologize for the offence he had given.
The next Sunday, after reading his text, he
began his sermon by saying, “Hugh
Lattimer, dost thou know before whom thou are this day to speak? To the high
and mighty monarch, the king’s most excellent majesty, who can take away thy
life, if thou offendest. Therefore, take heed that thou speakest not a word
that may displease.
But then consider well, Hugh, dost thou not
know from whence thou comest—upon Whose message thou are sent? Even by the
great and mighty God, Who is all-present and Who beholdeth all thy ways and Who
is able to cast thy
soul into
hell! Therefore, take care that thou deliverest thy message faithfully.”
Hugh Lattimer then proceeded to preach the
same sermon he had preached the preceding Sunday, but with much more boldness.
.
12 One of themselves, even a
prophet of their own, said, The
Cretians are alway liars, evil
beasts, slow bellies [idle gluttons].
1:12 Quoting from the Cretan poet Epimenides, Paul characterizes the people of Crete as being liars and gluttons. Because of this Titus was to rebuke them in strong terms. The people of Crete were religious but not righteous. They professed to know God but denied Him by the works. A life of disobedience and abominable acts destroys any basis of confidence a person may have for salvation. God will not be mocked. Either the gospel produces a change in a person or it does not. To profess conversion and then behave in a wicked way is to deny the faith and fall into the pit of hell in the Day of Judgment.
13 This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;
14 Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn
from the truth.
15 Unto the pure all things are pure:
but unto them that are
defiled and unbelieving is nothing
pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.
1:15 Unto the pure.
The pure in heart delight in spiritual and
moral wholesomeness while the unholy delight in that which is morally and
spiritually reprehensible. By self-examination an honest assessment must be
made to discover what is delighted in. If time and money and effort are given
to supporting that which defiles the conscience and hardens the heart then
prayer must be made to be converted. God will have mercy and grace toward the
honest heart. “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his
thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him;
and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon” (Isaiah 55:7).
16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable [evil], and
disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate [worthless].
1:16 Religious
hearts without redeeming grace shall find no grace extended to them in the day
of ultimate judgment. Let this warning go forth. It is possible to profess
knowledge of God but in reality deny God through a spirit of rebellion towards
every good work. When the gospel presses upon the heart to be kind, forgiving,
suffering long and a heart of anger and bitterness and mean spiritedness is
manifested then the spiritual life can be summarized in one word, hypocrite.
Simple Studies in the Scriptures
The Epistle of
Paul the Apostle to Titus
1.
What can God not do and why is this significant (Titus 1:2)?
2.