June 15th 2025 Titus ch 1
Paul's first words in his epistles reveals his point of view and attitude.
V 1. Servant of God has with it is the authority of apostleship.
In Romans, in II Timothy, and here, the apostle states the two aspects of his office together ( Rom 1 v 1,5; 2 Tim 1 v1-3). Elsewhere he uses one or the other alone. To the Philippians he was a servant;
to the Galatians and Corinthians, who needed rebuke and authoritative instruction, he was an apostle.
To Titus, who especially needed to be armed with Paul's authority before the Cretans, he is both servant of God and apostle of Jesus Christ.
The faith of God's elect is the body of revealed truth and promise that God's people have cherished through the ages.
Acknowledging of the truth. Knowledge Both faith and knowledge have their basis in a factual message that can be known and believed. Truth has the implication of "God's faithful revelation," so that Jesus Christ could say, "I am ... the truth."
It is according to godliness, a word of frequent occurrence in the Pastoral Epistles (1 Tim 3 v 16,).
V 2. In Hope is connected with Paul's service and apostleship; he was an apostle of hope, the hope of eternal life. which God promised before the world began, to our Saviour Jesus Christ (2 Tim 1 v9), to be given to us through the message.
V 3. In Due times. The eternal purposes come to completion in the history of this world through preaching the message Paul was an apostle by commandment; by commandment he received his message.
Commandment of God. The idea is that God made good his promise; he fulfilled his word in the Gospel.
Our Saviour is the great comprehensive word for Deliverer; both God and Christ are so named.
V 4. Mine own son. term of affection used by Paul of Timothy, Titus, and Onesimus.
After the common faith was shared by Paul, Titus, and all Christians.
The apostle may be using the analogy of inheritance: the faith is an estate or trust belonging to all;
Titus is being entrusted with the administration of it.
Mercy is in the Pastoral Epistles as God has had mercy on all believers, God and Lord: together they constitute the one divine source of all blessings.
The mission of Titus: To Set Matters in Order.. And to Appoint Teaching Elder..
V 5 Paul left Titus in Crete and may have proceeded toward Nicopolis in Epirus. near Dalmatia (2 Tim 4:10), where later Titus joined him and went on to Dalmatia.
Wanting tells us that certain things were left undone.
In Every city suggests an extensive but rapid evangelization of the island, leaving further organizing work to be done. This commission in Crete did not give Titus dictatorial power to appoint ministers.
Rather, as Paul and Barnabas ordained elders (Acts 1·1:23) who had been chosen by the people, so Titus was to do the same, keeping in mind the proper qualifications.
V 6 Paul gives three general qualifications with a list of negatives in v. 7,
and a list of positive qualifications 8, & 9. The whole section is closely parallel to I Tim 3 v 2-4. 9.
.As verse 9 suggests, doctrine has a double application: exhortation and conviction, to instruct believers and to convict gainsayers.
V 10. Unruly. The suggestion is of willful unbelief and rejection of truth.
Vain talkers and deceivers
Of the Circumcision. Unbelieving Judaism seemed to be moving into a more and more complete rejection of the truth.
At a somewhat later time John spoke of Jews who were of the "synagogue of Satan" (Rev 2:9; 3:9).
V 11 Mouths must be stopped. The principal end of contending for the faith is to exhort and convict.
The evidence should be so clearly presented that rejecters should at least be left without an excuse or answer.
In Crete the situation was aggravated by the greedy Judaizers and other false teachers, who subverted whole households in their desire to win favour and financial gain.
V 12. The rebuke is severe, but it comes from one of the Cretans' own number Paul did not object to using fragments of truths gleaned from heathen author (Acts 17:28;). Slow bellies equals idle gluttons
V 13. This witness is true. Paul presumably had been on the island for a time and could endorse the statement. Since the Cretan were liars, and were rejecting truth, their message had to be refuted. But also Titus was to rebuke sharply. those professing believers who listened and believed.
This makes it clear that Paul here turns his attention from the unbelievers to the professing Christians.
V 14. Fables. ,myths Commandments of men is suggestive of its source in Isa 29 v13.
False authority and fear of men is involved in rejection of the truth of God.
V 15. All things is to be taken in context as equivalent to "every creature of God" (1 Tim 4 v3,4).
For those who reject God's sovereignty, and worship the creature, all things are defiled, even their mind and conscience.
V 16. They profess ( 2 Tim 3 v5). The works are the decisive evidence of the condition of the heart (Mt 7 v 20; 1 John 4 v 20). Reprobate. Unfit for any good work.
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News from the Church New dates
18th June…. Knit and natter is a time to finish old projects or learn new skills
2nd July..…..Friendship Group, (this covers all ages and the lonely people)
ANSWERS TO 8th June QUESTIONS
1) Acts 2) Paul 3) 1 & 2 Corinthians 4) Matthew or Luke 5) None 6) Matthew and John
7) Revelation 8) Mark 9) Five 10) Paul 11) Acts 12) Matthew13) Gospels, History, Epistles and Prophecy 14) By him 15) Paul 16) Three
Bible Quiz this week’s Quiz is Numbers in the NEW TESTAMENT
1 How many Apostles did Jesus have?
2 How many gifts from the Wise Men?
3 How many days did Jesus spend, tempted by Satan?
4 In the parable of the 10 virgins, how many had extra oil for their lamps?
5 How many fish were used in feeding the 5000?
6 How old was Jesus when he was baptized?
7 How long had Lazarus been dead when Jesus restored his life?
8 How many times did Peter deny Jesus?
9 How many pots of water were changed into wine?
10 How many loaves did Jesus use to feed the 5000?
11 How many pieces of silver did Judas receive for betraying Jesus?
12 How many fishermen were the Apostles of Jesus?
13 When Jesus talked with the scholars in the Temple how old was He?
14 How many books in the New Testament?
15 How many lepers did not come back to thank Jesus?
16 How many times did Jesus say we ought to forgive others?
Titius 3 v 5
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy, He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost
God Bless