Friday, July 25 – Titus 1, 2

1. What principles given to Titus and the Cretans apply to each of us? (Titus 1:5-9; 2:1-14)

2. Which part of the church was omitted from Paul’s exhortation in these two chapters? (Titus 2:1-10)0)

3. Could we think of this epistle as a small church manual? (Titus 1:5; 2:1, 15)

Of the thirteen or fourteen epistles written by Paul, those addressed to Timothy, Titus, and Philemon are the only ones of a personal nature. I deeply admire the apostle Paul’s talent as a mentor to his young ministry partners: Silas, Timothy, Titus, Barnabas, Luke, Epaphroditus, Apollos, Epaphras, Tychicus, Aristarchus, and Demas, although tradition says that the latter eventually left the faith.

“The apostle made it a part of his work to educate young men for the office of the ministry. He took them with him on his missionary journeys, and thus they gained an experience that later enabled them to fill positions of responsibility. When separated from them, he still kept in touch with their work, and his letters to Timothy and to Titus are evidences of how deep was his desire for their success.” (The Acts of the Apostles, p. 368)

Regarding Titus, we have limited information. The book of Acts does not mention him. The first reference appears in Galatians 2:1-3. Paul regarded this young associate as trustworthy. The apostle appointed him as pastor and spiritual leader of the churches on the island of Crete.

Titus’ mission in those churches was to address issues of immorality. Paul instructed him to appoint elders (bishops, or episkopoi, presbyters) who were men of godly character. Of course, this does not exclude women from possessing these same virtues. The epistle was written between Paul’s first and second imprisonments, around A.D. 65.

Furthermore, Titus had to handle difficulties caused by false teachers, likely Jews who weren’t fully converted. Therefore, Paul’s advice to Titus is to protect sound doctrine.

Here, we see the false teachers exposed. The Judaizers insisted that Christian believers be circumcised and follow other ceremonial laws that were already abolished. The apostle’s clear directive is: “whose mouths must be stopped” (Titus 1:11, NKJV), because they were destabilizing entire households with teachings that lacked a foundation in God’s word. It appears that these false teachers within the church continued to imitate the attitudes and practices typical of the Cretan people. Paul quotes the famous Epimenides, whom the Cretans regarded as a prophet. He called them “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons” (Titus 1:12, NKJV).

Paul’s instruction to Titus is to rebuke them sharply so they may be sound in the faith. The false teachings infiltrating those Cretan congregations are what Paul calls “commandments of men.”

Verses 14 and 15 must be understood in their context. Some people, as we often say, “grasp at straws” to defend a certain viewpoint. It’s not about the Old Testament laws concerning clean or unclean foods here. Paul is not suggesting that everything is now clean for Christians to eat. He is talking about ritual purity in Judaism.

The apostle distinguishes between those who try to compensate for a lack of moral purity through ceremonial cleansing. Paul calls these “Jewish fables” (Titus 1:14, NKJV). Whether or not someone practices rituals, it does not free the Christian from moral purity. In summary, the pure in heart understand justification by faith and see the dangers of the Judaic system of ceremonial rites and fables. “They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.” (Titus 1:16, NKJV).

In chapter 2, the apostle continues instructing Titus to “speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine.” (Titus 2:1, NKJV). After establishing the qualities required of church leaders (chapter 1), Paul now discusses how Christians should live their lives in light of “the blessed hope.” (Titus 2:13, NKJV).

Like a father to his son, he urges Titus to be an example to the young men in prudence, good works, showing integrity, reverence, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that “he who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you.” (Titus 2:8, NKJV).

All that has been said so far can only be accomplished through God’s grace working in us. The result will be that we renounce ungodliness and worldly desires. The call is for us to live “soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.” (Titus 2:12-13, NKJV). Undoubtedly, we can call Jesus our God and Savior because that is who He is.

I thank Paul for leaving us this short letter, so full of teaching.

God bless you all today.