TITUS Chapter 1
Introduction
The material in this outline was taken from the book New Testament
Commentary on Titus by William Hendriksen
(ISBN: 0-8010-4213-5 combined volume of 1Tim, 2Tim, Titus).
If you are interested in an in-depth study of
Titus, then I would encourage you to obtain William Hendriksen's commentary on
Titus. He is an outstanding
author from whom I have learned a great deal.
The material in this outline is used by permission of Baker Book House Company,
copyright © 1999.
All rights to this material are reserved. Materials are not to be distributed to
other web locations for retrieval, published in other media, or mirrored at other
sites without written permission from Baker Book House Company.
(http://www.bakerbooks.com)
Table of Contents
Titus 1:1-4 - Salutation
- Titus is one of Paul's converts who was an uncircumcised Gentile.
(Titus 1:4, Gal. 2:1-5)
- After Paul's first imprisonment in Rome (Acts 28), Paul and Titus worked
briefly in Crete. Paul had Titus stay behind and finish up the organization of the church
while he moved on.(Titus 1:5)
- Paul probably wrote the letter from Corinth between A.D. 63 and
A.D. 65. Paul's purpose was to give Titus personal authorization against
any opposition (Ti 1:5, 2:15, 3:9) and to instruct
them in "doing what was good". (Ti 1:16, 2:7, 2:14,
3:1, 3:8, 3:14)
- Titus 1:1 - who Paul is
- "Servant of God"
- The word "servant" could also be translated "slave". And in that sense, we have been
bought with a price and Christ owns us. However, slave usually conveys involuntary
service or harsh treatment. Therefore, the word servant is used (even though we
are not compensated)
- I always think of this word as "voluntary slave". For a slave cannot exercise
personal freedom, but is in effect "dead to himself". In the same, way we are to "deny
ourselves and pick up our cross". (Matt 16:24)
- In a sense, a "servant of God" forfeits his personal freedom but in return finds
freedom from sin. (Ro 6 - 8:17)
- "Apostle of Jesus Christ"
- Apostle means "one who is sent or commissioned". Paul's apostleship
authority is not of men, but of Jesus Christ. 1Cor 1:1 - Paul says he is an
apostle by the will of God.
- "For the faith of God's elect and the knowledge of the truth"
- In other words, Paul's service "is in the interest of" or "in order to further
promote" the faith of God's chosen (upon himself) and to increase their knowledge of
truth (which will lead them to Godliness).
- "which leads to Godliness"
- Truth lead us to Godliness. When we really understand our sin and see it in truth as
God sees it, we repent.
- When we are blind, our sin seems fun and we continue in it. But in truth we are like
dogs who return to their own vomit. (Prov 26:11)
- Titus 1:2 - why Paul is
- Everything that has been said up to this point "rests" in the hope of everlasting life.
- Some say that "Paul's ministry" is:
- In the interest of others
- And in the hope of eternal life (excluding the elect)
- But the better understanding is:
- Paul's ministry and apostleship
- Faith of God's elect
- Acknowledgment of the truth
- Col 1:5 - All rests in hope of eternal life. If not, then eat, drink,
and be merry because devotion and discipleship are in vain.
- "God, who cannot lie"
- You might think, "why did Paul throw that in there, of course God cannot lie".
Then why do we have trouble standing on His promises? (This is a good reminder)
- "promised before time began"
- God elected us before the foundation of the world (Eph 1:4). And those
He elected, He promised eternal life before time began.
- Titus 1:3
- This verse is really a parenthesis of v.2
- God has not revealed everlasting life in its full heavenly phase. (otherwise we
would never die) But in respect to "His word through preaching".
- In O.T., eternal life was not "fully proclaimed" nor "fully realized" nor
"fully understood".
- Now, eternal life is fully manifested in universal Gospel-Preaching
- Titus 1:4 - what Paul's mission is
- "my true son in our common faith"
- Titus is a true "son of faith" because he was converted by Paul's ministry
- However, Paul is not greater than Titus before God and they share the common faith
of all believers.
- Grace and Peace
- Grace is the Gentile form of greeting and Peace is the Jewish form of greeting
- Some "Name-It-And-Claim-It" churches use verses like this to try to get what they want
- "Jesus Christ our Savior"
- This coupled with "God our Savior" in v.3 is a good example of the Deity of Christ.
Titus 1:5-9 - Elders
- Titus' task on Crete is to appoint Elders following the list of directions and
qualifications
- Titus 1:5 - Titus' Task on Crete
- "The reason I left you in Crete ..."
- It is the conjecture that Paul met Titus in Crete immediately after his 1st Roman
imprisonment
- Paul was probably very anxious (therefore) to move on and visit the established
churches. But rather than leave the ministry in Crete half done, he leaves Titus
behind to establish and organize the local churches
- Similar circumstance: 1Tim 1:3, 2Tim 4:9-13. Paul didn't
feel obligated to do everything, but delegated (Jethro, Ex 1:8)
- "and appoint elders"
- Is correctly rendered "and MIGHT appoint elders"
- Elders must meet recommendations and want to be elders
- "as I commanded you"
- or "as IN THE MANNER that I have commanded you"
- Evidently, Paul had already commissioned Titus with instructions and direction
orally before he left.
- Reasons for the written repetition:
- To remind Titus, make sure they are on the same wave-length
- To confirm Titus' authority to appoint elders in writing
- So that future Titus(es) will have knowledge to appoint
- Titus 1:6-9 - Qualifications for Elders
- "if a man is blameless" is connected to v.5 in regards to appointing elders
- Lit. v.6 = "a person can be appointed if he is blameless"
- Def. = Blameless - "that which cannot be called into account" (Greek) -> un-accused, above
reproach
- Blameless in Attitude = Blameless in Action (Matt 5, Phil 2:3-8)
- The requirements listed fall into 3 groups
- The person must have a good reputation (v.6)
-> especially in leading his family
- Negatives: Is not the type of person who wants to please himself (v.7)
-> Negative aspects of a selfish person includes violence
- Positives: This person must have evidence that he wishes to bless others
in deed and doctrine (v. 8-9)
- Cross-Ref with 1Tim 3:1-13 for similar and expanded requirements list
- Elders, Overseers, Deacons
- Elder (v.5), Overseer (v.7), Deacon (1Tim 3)
- In this passage, it is clear that an Overseer is an Elder
- In 1Tim 3 is shows Elders who are Deacons
- Job description
- It seems that Elders are people who have reached a certain age and
dignity and wisdom.
- An Overseer or Deacon is simply a job or task that only Elders are called to perform
- Qualifications
- See Description: Gal 5:19-24, 1Cor 13 (love)
- Gal 5:16 Walk in the Spirit and you shall not fulfill the lusts of
the flesh (read Word, Payer, Fellowship)
- Eph 6:11 Put on the full armor of God
- Phil 4:6 Don't be anxious, ... but keep in communication with God
Titus 1:10-16 - Purpose of Elders
- Last section we looked at the high qualifications for an Elder/Bishop
- The reason such men are especially needed in Crete is now stated
- Titus 1:10-14 - Reasons Elders are Needed
- The same type of group is listed in 1Tim 1:3-11
- The only difference is in 1Tim 1:3 where it says "certain individuals", and in
Titus 1:10 it says "many" insubordinate
- Insubordinate can mean "disobedient" or "rebellious"
- Who are the insubordinate? (or insubordinate people)
- v.10 - Both idle talkers and deceivers
- Idle talk is talk that has no purpose. We should examine ourselves to keep from
getting caught up in this
- Idle talk is the sin of being slack
- (v.10) "... especially those of the circumcision " (-> why "especially"? )
- The Jews were especially a problem because they probably considered themselves an
authority of the truth.
- (v.11) Whose mouths "must be stopped"
- Paul uses a rare verb here (episuntrecho) which has a primary meaning of
"by means to bridle, muzzle, or gag"
- Its clear that this problem cannot be tolerated, especially since they are
subverting whole households for dishonest gain (see Gal 6:1)
- Therefore, how do we deal with these problem people specifically?
- (v.12) - "One of them a prophet"
- The prophet's name is Epimenedes (630-500 B.C.)
- Paul quotes a fellow countryman of Crete because it holds more weight
(considering a Cretan would be more likely to brag that self condemn)
- "... liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons ..."
- If the prophet is a Cretan and all Cretans are liars, then the prophet must be
lying or inaccurate and not a true prophet
- What is the balance?
- As a society, Cretans are liars. ( like saying, "all politicians are liars",
but in reality not every single one)
- In Matt 5:22, Jesus says, "If you say to your brother, 'Raca!', you are in
danger of judgment." Yet Paul takes this opportunity to smear the Cretans and
says in v.13 that this is true.
- How can this be justified?
- Paul is pointing out the problem so that is can be dealt with specifically
(see 2Cor 13:10)
- (v.13) The solution being to "rebuke them sharply"
- Therefore they may be sound in the faith
- Therefore not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments
- Titus 1:15-16 - True / False Teachers Defined
- (v.15) Pure = Pure, Defiled = Defiled (see Php 4:10)
- Notice "unbelieving" and "defiled" goes together
- (v.16) "... profess to know God, but in works deny Him."
- James 2:17 Faith without works is dead
- Faith produces works like fire produces smoke. (no smoke = no fire)
- "... disqualified for every good work."
- Disobedience (or sin) disqualifies you to be used by God (or for your sacrifice
to be acceptable)
- Then how do we test to see if they are qualified?
- By their works
- A person who is in sin is disqualified for the work of God, and will
eventually quit church service because he doesn't have the heart for it (or the
character or the strength)
