Titus

Below you will find my notes on Titus in the form of a summary of the text, life applications, and additional (older) notes:

SUMMARY

The Apostle Paul had left his trusted co-worker (2 Cor. 8:23) Titus on the island of Crete to ‘straighten out’ the church(es) there. Cretans, in general, had a terrible reputation (Titus 1:12) and the church itself was being ruined through the influence of ungodly members. Paul wrote to Titus to give him instruction on how to administrate the situation.

Summary of the Text

In chapter 1, after a fairly lengthy introduction, Paul insists that Titus appoint elders in every town of Crete. Not just anyone could serve in such a capacity, however. Paul provides Titus with a set of criteria to guide the appointment process. People of integrity (in all areas of life) were to be chosen. Leadership was critical at this juncture due to the presence of ungodly members who were corrupting the church from within.

Indeed, as chapter 2 lays out, it was pivotal that all of God’s people in Crete live lives of high character. The older men and women were to live exemplary lives and train the younger men and women to do the same. Slaves, too, should demonstrate respectable behavior. Paul’s hope is that by their exceptional character, the church will make the Gospel attractive to their fellow Cretans.

Chapter 3 continues in the same vein. The Christians should be the best citizens on Crete. This good behavior, of course, would not flow from human effort, but out of the saving and sanctifying work of God in their lives.

APPLICATION

1.     The truth of the Gospel leads to Godliness. If we’ve responded to the Gospel without becoming more godly then it is questionable (at best) whether we’ve truly responded to the Gospel.

2.     As a church grows, leadership becomes more and more of a central issue (because problems tend to grow too). Leaders exist, in part, to straighten such things out. For this to work, leaders must be people of integrity.

3.     There is some debate as to whether the list of elder qualifications is to be enforced strictly or as a guideline (this pertains specifically to the requirements that the elder must be a married male with believing children).

4.     False teaching (which leads to false practice) must be confronted in the church. The goal of such confrontation should be not only protection of the church, but restoration of the erring brother.

5.     Every member of a church plays a part in the reputation of a church. Whether male or female, young or old, slave or free, it is utterly important that Christians live with integrity so as to make the Gospel attractive to the surrounding community.

6.     We must always remember that Christianity is not about trying our best to be good. It is about responding to God’s grace by continually yielding ourselves to his continuous work of transformation.

OLDER NOTES

Who was Titus?
1. Titus probably became a Christian in Antioch sometime between Pentecost & the 1st Missionary Journey
2. Titus must have been one of the strongest early gentile believers b/c he was picked by Paul to represent them in the early 50's (Galatians 2:1-5)
3. Titus was sent out by Paul to raise money for the church in Jerusalem
4. Titus was supposed to meet Paul in Troas (2 Cor. 2:13)
5. Titus and Paul finally found each other. Titus had been in Corinth (2 Cor. 7:6, 14)
6. Titus was sent back to Corinth in the mid 50's (2 Cor. 8:17, 23)
7. Titus was travelling with Paul again in the early 60's
8. Titus was left in Crete to organize the church there
9. Paul sent him a letter about the same time as he wrote to Timothy. That letter is "Titus"
10. Titus was later replaced by Artemas or Tychicus (Titus 3:12) and sent to Dalmatia (2 Tim 4:10)

Why Read Titus?
1. It can aid our faith (1:1)
2. It can increase our knowledge (1:1)
3. It can focus our hope (1:2)
4. It can teach us to provide for ministry (3:14)
5. It can teach us how to live productive lives (3:14)

What do we learn about Paul from the existence of this letter?

1. "He left" because he was determined to fulfill God's purpose for his life in spreading the Gospel
2. He left Titus because he realized that evangelism was just 1 part of discipleship. He cared about lasting fruit
3. He understood the principle of delegation which requires humility (an understanding that it was God's ministry, not his)
* There is wisdom in having 1 plant, another water, and others lead the churches. Christ, then, is more readily seen as the Head.

Titus Role
--The closest paralel in the Wesleyan Church would be District SuperIntendant
--Paul, then, was like a General Superintendant
--There was no 'pastor(s)' in Crete in the modern sense of the term
--Each church was to have a group of qualified elders to lead the ministry

1. He was to straighten out what was left unfinished
2. He was to appoint elders in every town

Qualifications for Elders
1. Blameless

Blameless includes NOT
a. overbearing
b. quick tempered
c. given to drunkenness
d. violent
e. pursuing dishonest gain

Blameless includes
a. hospitable
b. lover of good
c. self control
d. upright
e. holy
f. disciplined

2. Husband of but one wife
3. Believing Children (not wild/disobedient)
4. Encourager of others in sound doctrine
5. Refute those who oppose sound doctrine

The need to find quality leaders (as seen in the previous study) was great because...

There were false leaders

WHO?
Teachers who claim to know God

3 kinds of false teachers...
1. Those who Disagree (evil brutes, disobedient)
2. Those who Don't Know (lazy gluttons, unfit)
3. Those who Deceive (liars, detestable)


WHAT?
They were ruining households

WHERE?
On the Island of Crete

WHEN?
In the 1st Century

WHY?
For the sake of dishonest gain
www.ministrywatch.com

HOW?
By teaching things they ought not teach

SO WHAT?

1. Silence them
2. Rebuke them sharply
3. Aim at correction/reform
4. Make sure the focus remains on grace

Vs. 15 (see Matthew 15:11)
--It doesn't mean a pure person can do wicked things and have it be ok
--It does mean everything has a purpose that the pure can find
--It's about one's attitude (positive and relationally focused)

Instructions for relationships within the church

The world uses many methods to move merchandise. Fear. Humor. Sex. Etc.
The churches key commercial is you!
You are a walking advertisement for Jesus Christ
The community of the body of Christ is what the world knows of Jesus
Are we attractive or not? (2:10)

Instructions for Titus

1. Teach with integrity (2:7)
--Practice what you preach
--A good message can be made ineffective by a poor messanger

2. Teach with Seriousness (2:7)
--Be prepared
--Don't be an entertainer
--Understand the gravity of the truth

3. Teach with soundness of speech (2:8)
--Don't say things critics can poke solid holes through
--Stick with Biblical truth, not human ideas
--Make it so no one can oppose your 'rightly'

4. Teach with authority (2:15)
--Encourage those who obey
--Rebuke those who disobey
--Churches, today, do little disciplining of their people

Instructions for Older Men

1. Be temperate
2. Be worthy of respect
3. Be self-controlled
4. Be sound in faith (a faith marked by love and endurance)

Instructions for Older Women

1. Be reverent
2. Don't slander
3. Don't be addicted to wine
4. Teach what is good

Instructions for Younger Women

1. Love husbands & children
2. Be self-controlled
3. Be pure
4. Be busy at home
5. Be kind
6. Be subject to husbands

Instructions for Young Men

1. Be self-controlled

Instructions for Slaves

1. Be subject to masters in everything
2. Try to please your masters
3. Don't talk badly about your masters
4. Don't steal from your masters
5. Show yourself to be trustworthy

Titus was ministering in a century of competition and confrontation
Jews vs. Gentiles
Slave vs. Free
Men vs. Women
Rome vs. Natives
Pharisees vs. Saducees
Etc.

The answer to the conflict was the Gospel
And that's the answer to conflict today
As we saw in the previous study...
Only in the 'new community' of the church
Could this 'competition/conflict' be defeated

For the LAW of God that brings WRATH has appeared to all JEWS
vs.
For the GRACE of God that brings SALVATION has appeared to all MEN

Romans 4:15
Romans 7:8-9
Galatians 3:28

It teaches us to say NO
vs.
It teaches us to say NO and YES

Yes to a righteous life
To victory over sin

Romans 7:14-8:9a

Only if we are people of GRACE
will we experience the attractive community
mentioned in the previous study

"God and Savior, Jesus Christ"
---KJV isn't quite as good here
---Granville Sharp rule
---This verse shows the deity of Christ
Jesus
1. Gave Himself
2. Redeemed us
3. Purified us
SO...We are eager to do good!