Titus 01

Titus was written while Paul was free, between his two Roman imprisonments, 63- 64 AD. Titus was one of Paul’s most reliable helpers. Responsibilities to set order in Crete, Corinth, in charge of the collection for the poor at Jerusalem, and eventually to Dalmatia, or Yugoslavia. Titus was a Greek, and one of Paul's converts (Titus 1:4) and accompanied Paul to Jerusalem, whose circumcision Paul steadfastly resisted (Galatians 2:3-5)

Titus in the end became bishop of Crete and die peacefully at an advanced age. Paul must of trusted Titus geatly because of the task he had he preforming. He appears with Paul in Ephesus and is sent to Corinth to look after certain disorders, and to initiate the offering for the Poor Saints in Jerusalem ( II Corinthian 8:6, 10. Later he reutrns from Corinth and Paul meets him in Macedomia. Explaining the situation to Paul about Corinth He is sent back to Corinth ahead of Paul for Paul's coming and to complete the offerings II Corinthians 2:3, 12, 13; 7:5, 6, 13, 14; 8:16, 17, 18, 23;

After a period of 7 to 8 years later is the last notice of Titus in this Epistle of Titus. About A. D. 65 He is in Crete (Titus 1:5 ) shows us that Paul was with Him and there are two oppiions on this. The first one is that Paul's ship on his vojage to Rome ( Act 27 ) on the South Shore of Crete. The second one and the prevailing opinion is that Paul's release from his first impreisonment in rome, about A. D. 63 he included Crete in his intinerary upon returning east. Titus is replaced by Artenas or Tychicus after settleing the Crete Churches in order. He is then asked to rejoin Paul in Nicoopolis in western Greece ( Titus 3:12 ) Evidently Titus rejoined Paul and was with him when he was arested and accompaning him to Rome because II Timothy 4:10 where it said he went from Rome to Dalmatia. We hope he ldft Paul because Paul sent him to finish the evangelolization of the coast northwest of Greece.

1: 5-9 Shows us the qualificatons of an Elder ( 5 ) and Bishop ( 7 ) are practically the same as I Timothy 3: 1-7. The Cretan Churches had false teacher 1:10-16 just like the ones spoken in II Peter 2 and Jude, were abominable and reprobate ( 16 )

Cretan poet (12 ) quatation is from the Cretan poet ( 12 ) and is from Epimenides 600 B.C.

FALSE TEACHERS IS NOT TO BE STOPPED BY FORCE BUT BY VIGOROUS PROCLAMATION OF THE TRUTH ( 11 )

v 1. Paul frequently speaks of himself as a slave or bond servant of Christ. God has led him to the discernment and recognition of the truth that leads to godliness.:14, 18.

v 2. Salvation for man was in God’s plan in eternity past.

v 3. The Word goes forth by preaching, Rom. 10:17. Paul’s call,Acts 9

v 4.  This is Paul’s typical salutation, also indicating Titus was one of his converts.

v 5. Titus was left or sent to Crete to put the church in a more orderly fashion. They had qualified men, but had never taken the step of having them appointed as elders. They are given by the Holy Spirit but are to be appointed by men.  They were to be pastors or spiritual leaders of the church with the responsibility of teaching, guard from error and oversee as a shepherd would his flock.

v 6. They were to have unquestionable integrity, the husband of only one wife,(we would assume if the first wife died he could remarry), and children who are well trained believers, without loose morals or conduct. Bishops were not overlords but overseers. Elders and bishops were the same, the former referring to the man, the latter to the function of his office. Churches are divided over whether the pastors are the elders or whether the elders are under the pastor as spiritual leaders in the church with deacons caring for material duties such as trustees, while also meeting spiritual qualifications. Riot = profligacy = incorrigible = insubordinate.

v 7. Negatives: Not self-willed, not quick tempered, not a drinker, nonviolent and not greedy (not in it for the money). Standards above local standards.

v 8. Positives: Hospitable, loving and friendly, especially to believers, sensible and  discreet, upright and fair minded, living a devout spiritual life, and under self control, regardless of what he had been before salvation.

v 9. Hold fast the words of truth he has been taught so he can teach sound doctrine to others and point out the error of those who oppose these truths. Opposers = gain sayers = contradictors.

v 10. There were many disorderly, misleading and deceiving talkers, especially  some who had been converted from Judaism. Compare Acts. 20:30.

v 11. They needed to be silenced because they were misleading and distressing whole families for their own advantage and to make disreputable gain.

v 12. Even one of their own leaders admitted they were liars, beastly and lazy gluttons.

v 13. It was an accurate statement so they needed to be dealt with sternly and severely so they could be true to the faith and free from error.

v 14. Quit listening to wrong teachings because they will turn you from the truth.

v 15. Only sin, not ascetic rules, defile those who are pure in heart. The problem with aforementioned false teachers was that their minds and consciences were impure. They will even twist innocent statements into something suggestive or vulgar.

v 16. False professors prove by their works that they deny the Lord. Moral decay goes along with theological error and their true natures are revealed.

Titus 02

v 1. Teaching by Titus was to be in marked contrast to the false teachers of 1:10.

v 2. Maturity of older men should help them to be an example in these things.

v 3. Idleness of older women could contribute to slander and drinking, so they were to develop a ministry of teaching younger women what was good.

v 4,5. Young women were to be or do these eight things. (1 sober minded  2 love their husbands  3 love their children  4 discreet  5 chaste  6 keepers at home  good  obedient to their own husbands) Love was to be a primary factor. Keepers at home, with 1 Tim. 5:14, would lend support to the thought of a man being the head of the home and a woman being head of the house in domestic affairs, but still being subordinate to her husband (Not being guided by other men). These characteristics would vindicate, not dishonor the word of God.

v 6. In a similar manner, young men were to take life seriously. That does not mean no fun at all, but not frivolous, keeping things in proper perspective.

v 7,8. The young man Titus and other young men were to be a pattern unto all. There actions as well as their strict regard for truth and doctrine would put enemies of the truth to shame, that they could not bring honest accusation against them.

v 9,10. Many slaves had been saved and they were still to be obedient, seeking to please masters without any back talk. They were not to steal even minor things (office pens etc.), and prove themselves reliable, because good behavior would be fitting to sound doctrine. “Adorn” comes from the Greek word, cosmetics. Believers adorn the doctrine of God as cosmetics enhance the beauty of the user.

v 11,12. By God’s grace (unmerited favor), salvation is available to all men. His grace also teaches and enables us to walk the walk of a believer, not just talk the talk. We are to live lives pleasing to God now, not wait, planning to just do that in our resurrected bodies.

v 13,14. The anticipation of Christ’s return should also cause us to purify ourselves now, 1 Jn. 3.3. Christ paid for our redemption to free us from sin and give us the desire to do good works as a part of our purification, which will continue to perfection after we have been caught up to be with Him.

v 15. These things Titus was to teach others. He was to aggressively exhort and rebuke upon the authority of the word of God. As Paul told young Timothy, 1 Tim. 4:12, his actions were to command the respect of others and not allow them to look down on him.
Three mandates on how to live fit for our Lord:

Titus 03

v 1,2. Titus was to further remind people to do these seven things. (1 be subject to principalities and powers  2 obey magistrates  3 be ready to every good work  4 speak evil of no man  5 not brawlers  6 gentle  7 showing meekness to all) Big ones are being in subjection to those in authority over us and not speaking evil of anyone.

v 3. We have but to examine our own hearts and we are reminded of all the evil that was in our hearts before we were saved.  Unfortunately, some of those things have reoccurred in our lives after salvation.

v 4. That should have all changed after we were saved, not because of what we have done, but because of what God has done.

v 5. God saves us according to his mercy, again, not because of any thing we have deserved. The washing from the filth of sin in the new birth and the renewal by the Holy Spirit are both things which God has done.

v 6,7. In fulfillment of Christ’s promise, the Holy Spirit began to be poured out abundantly at Pentecost. This was so that when we are justified by His grace, believers may become heirs and have the hope of eternal life.

v 8. Paul’s statements have been trustworthy. For the third time, (See 2:1,15) Paul tells Titus to teach them. He needed to stress the things that would promote godly behavior, because that is profitable for everyone. Once more, good works are stressed as going hand in hand with sound doctrine.

v 9. Just as sound teaching was profitable, foolish controversies, genealogies and arguments about the Law were unprofitable. To the Jewish people, it was the traditions added to the law rather than the law itself. We must beware of misusing the Word in any way. God gave the information in the genealogies for a very useful purpose for study, but these people were making an issue of the pride of genealogies in connection with the traditions of the Law. 

v 10,11. A man involved in these heretical teachings and causing divisions was to be given two warnings. Failure to respond would indicate this person was warped and corrupted and would keep on sinning, even if convicted of wrong.

v 12. Paul would send one of these two men to relieve Titus at Crete so he could come and assist Paul at the place where he would minister through the winter.

v 13. We know nothing about Zenas but Apollos has been mentioned several times. Apparently Titus was in a position to see that these two men would have all their needs supplied, whether by the church in Crete or from others.

v 14. The people of Crete were perhaps to follow the example of other churches in providing for the needs of these missionaries. We know from 1:12 “slow bellies” that these people needed to be prodded into action to even supply their own needs. Hence also the repeated instruction to do good works.

v 15. We don’t know who all with Paul were sending greetings, but “you all” indicates he was sending greetings to more than just Titus.

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In the early 90's I started studing the bible by taking college courses, because I believe the Lord wanted me to become a pastor in a Nazarne Church. My goal has changed with all my studies. My wife and I have both joined the Catholic Church. I have read and compared numerous translations and commentaries in my many years of studying the bible. Some of these authorities disagree with each other. I come across information on studies and classes that I have taken 15 to 20 years before and I have no documentation of where it came from. Plus I have given away or returned many books for college classes that I have taken. So if I have failed to give someone the credit that is due them I ask for their forgiveness. The following is a list of translations and commentaries that I still have and use.

1. Apocrypha
2. Confessions of St Augustine
3. Divine Comedy of Dante (Henery Carytr)
4. King James Bible
5. LDS (Mormons)
6. Martin Luther
7. St John of the Cross
8. Budhist
9. Christian-King James
10. Hindu
11. Islam
12. Judaism
13. Sikh
14. Tao
15. Zoroastrian

OUR ETERNAL HOME by Richard W. Dehaan,
PROPHECY STUDY BIBLE by Tim Lahaye
READER'S DIGEST JESUS AND HIS TIMES by the Readers Digest Association Inc,
REFLECTING GOD STUDY BIBLE By Zondervan Corporation;
SAINT JOSEPH EDITION OF THE NEW AMERICAN BIBLE by Catholic Book Publishing Co.
SEVEN KEYS TO FAMILY POWER by Billy Joe Daugherty,
SIX HOURS ONE FRIDAY by Max Lacado,
THE AMPLIFIED BIBLE by the Zondervan Corporation;
THE BATTLE BELONGS TO THE LORD by Jocyce Meyer,
THE BIBLE PROMISE BOOK by Babbour Publishing Inc,
THE BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER by Charles Mortimer Guilbert
THE BOOK OF HOPE by Tyndale House Publishiers, Inc,
THE BORN AGAIN CATHOLIC by Albert H. Boudreau,
THE CASE FOR CHRIST by Lee Strobel,
THE CATHOLIC ANSWER BOOK by Peter MJ Stravinsiasi
THE COMPLETE BOOK OF BIBLE KNOWLEDGE by Mark D. Taylor;
THE DAY CHRIST DIED by Jim Bishop,
THE GREAT BIBLE QUESTION AND ANWERS BOOK by Playmore Inc
THE HOME BIBLE STUDY COURSE by Dr. Harold L. Wilmington;
THE KING JAMES BIBLE ARCHAIE WORDS DEFIND by David W. Daniel
THE KING JAMES BIBLE COMPANION by David W. Daniels;
THE KING JAMES STUDY BIBLE by Thomas Nelson Publishers,
THE LAYMAN’S BIBLE  DICTIONARY by George W. Knight and Rayburn W. Ray;
THE LAYMAN’S PARALLEL NEW TESTAMENT by Zondervan Bible Publisher
THE LAYMAN'S LIST by Calance Stucup
THE MESSAGE BIBLE by Eugone H. Peterson,
THE NEW AMERICAN BIBLE by World Catholic Press;
THE NEW AMERICAN BIBLE Saint Joseph Edition;
THE NEW STRONG’S EXHAUSTIVE CONCORDANCE OF THE BIBLE by James Strong LL. D S.T.D.;
THE RISKS AND REWARDS OF INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE by Cardinal Francis Arinze
THE TRINITY by Rose Publish
THE VERY FIRST ESTER by Paul L. Maier,
THE WAY CATHOLIC LIVING BIBLE by Tyndale House Publishers;
UNCHRISTIAN by David Kennan and Gabe Lyon
UNDERSTANDING GOD’S LOVE by Ronald Greib
VINE’S EXPOSITORY DICTIONARY OF OLD AND NEW TESTAMENT WORDS By W. E. Vine;
WHAT’S SO SECRET ABOUT THE RAPTURRE? By Christian Record Services, INC
WHEN GOD WINKS AT YOU by Tomas Nelson
WILLMINGTON’S GUIDE TO THE BIBLE by Dr. H.L. Willmington,
WOMAN OF FAITH STUDY BIBLE by Zschech/Heillsong
YESTERDAY TODAY AND FOREVER by New Leaf Press
YOU WERE BORN FOR THIS by Anthony Wilhen