Paul’s Letter to Titus
Restoration of order in the Cretan churches
Titus chapter 1
Introduction
The theme of this epistle is the connection of good doctrine, taught by faithful men, with the pious and Christian life. Saving grace produces good works, but in Crete the churches lacked both teaching and spiritual order and progress. Paul sent Titus to correct this situation.
Titus. He was a Greek (Gentile), converted by Paul, and who accompanied Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem at the major conference on relations between Jews and Gentiles (Acts 15, Galatians 2:1-3). Then he was sent to Corinth (2 Corinthians 8:6, 16, 23, see also 12:18) on a delicate and important mission.
In this Epistle to Titus, we read that Paul left him in Crete (1:5), which shows that Paul had been there with him - but we do not know on what occasion. Then Titus was with the apostle when he expected to die in Rome; from there Titus went to Dalmatia (see the 2 Timothy 4:10).
Crete. It is an island, also called Candia in the Mediterranean Sea, southeast of Greece. Perhaps the Gospel had been brought there first by Cretans who heard Peter's preaching at Pentecost (Acts 2:11).
Perhaps Paul worked on the island when he was in Ephesus, or Corinth, but there is no certainty of this.
Salutation – verses 1 to 4
This is a bit long. Paul is “bondservant" and "apostle" (as in Romans 1:1,5 and in 2 Timothy 1:1-3). "The faith of the elect of God” and all the gospel truth; it gives us hope of eternal life, promised from eternity (see 2 Timothy 1:9) and duly proclaimed by Paul on the authority of "God our Saviour." The apostle welcomes his spiritual son, Titus, in the name of God the Father and of "our Saviour Jesus Christ "(v. 4).
Elders – verses 5 to 9
“Elders" and "bishops" are the same people, who "govern" and "shepherd" the local church. In "every city" (v. 5), the church should have its bishops, known for their Christian character and their ability to teach and govern the assembly biblically. The ecclesiastical system of having a bishop over several churches is unknown in the Bible; the New Testament teaches a plurality of bishops (also called "overseers") in each congregation (local church).
Paul gives several necessary features in the character (and family) for a brother to be recognized by the church as an elder or bishop (vs. 6-8), similar to those contained in 1 Timothy 3:1-7. Even more important is their loyalty to the true Christian doctrine - the word "faithful" - because then they can exhort with biblical authority and convince those who oppose it.
Fight against error – verses 10 to 16
Unbelieving Judaism constantly rejected evangelical doctrines and the Cretans were, as a nation, of a very carnal nature, and were easily deceived by false and greedy teachers. They called themselves Christians, but preferred a liberal Christianity that did not require sacrifice of carnal pleasures.
The apostolic sentence in this passage is very severe and Titus does not have to be "soft" in his ministry in those churches. The situation was serious, the testimony of believers was terrible, because they denied their faith by their works. They needed a "severe reprimand" - similar to the words of the Lord Jesus Himself to the pharisees and scribes in Matthew 23. See also Hebrews 12:5-13.
"All things are pure to the pure: but to the defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure" (v. 15). It seems that the Jewish heretics taught to abstain from certain foods as being "unclean" according to the Mosaic Law. However, the Lord Jesus resolved this issue once and for all in Mark 7:14-19; see also Acts 10:9-15. Purity and impurity consist of works, of motives, of the character of a person and the teachers among the Cretans showed themselves to be very impure, so Paul calls them “abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.”
Richard Dawson Jones (1895 - 1987)
1 Paul, a bondservant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect and the acknowledgment of the truth which accords with godliness,
2 in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began,
3 but has in due time manifested His word through preaching, which was committed to me according to the commandment of God our Savior;
4 To Titus, a true son in our common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior.
5 For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you—
6 if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination.
7 For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money,
8 but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled,
9 holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.
10 For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision,
11 whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain.
12 One of them, a prophet of their own, said, "Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons."
13 This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith,
14 not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn from the truth.
15 To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled.
16 They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.
Titus chapter 1