Get Ready
This is the third of Paul’s “pastoral” letter’s (the other two were to Timothy). Like the others, this reflects the Apostle’s concern that his protege provides correct instruction and solid guidance to the young churches left in his care.
Author
There has been no dispute that Paul is the author of this letter. Titus was well known as one of Paul’s associates, and was, in fact, the “model” of a Gentile Christian. Titus accompanied Paul and Barnabas on their second visit to Jerusalem and meeting with the first council [Acts 15:2, Gal 2:1-3]. The church leaders agreed that Titus, a Gentile, did not have to be circumcised to be considered a follower of Jesus.
Titus was especially involved in Paul’s difficult relationship with the Corinthian church [see the Introduction, earlier in this series]. Paul called him his “partner and coworker,”
[2 Cor 8:23], and delegated him to collect the contributions for the believers suffering in Jerusalem.
Context
Like the first letter to Timothy, Paul probably wrote to Titus during his freedom between the first “imprisonment” [Acts 28:16], and his final incarceration prior to his death. Paul had left Titus in Crete to “put in order what remained to be done,” [Titus 1:5]. Paul will continue on to Ephesus, where he leaves Timothy to watch over that church, and then to “Nicopolis” in Asia Minor (there is no other reference to such a town), where he writes this letter.
Structure
This letter is similar to the letters to Timothy. In between a greeting and the closing Paul provides direction in three areas:
- Appointing good leaders and dealing with false teachers in Crete: evidently some believers were being led astray by the Jewish leaders insisting that they must be circumcised. Paul tells Titus to rebuke them sharply, so that they may become sound in the faith, not paying attention to Jewish myths or to commandments of those who reject the truth, [Titus 1:13-14].
- Teaching sound doctrine about relationships among the believers: Paul deals with how older men, older women, younger men, and slaves should conduct themselves with one another,
[2:1-15]. - Maintaining good works and a good reputation: Paul wants Titus to encourage the believers to follow Jesus’s example of “goodness and loving kindness,” and to avoid stupid controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law,” [Titus 3:9].
Paul closes with a familiar blessing: “Grace be with you all,” [Titus 3:15].
Major Themes
This letter is similar to the two letters to Timothy. It was written about the same time, and conveys Paul’s guidance and direction for Titus to continue the work of developing and strengthening the church – to “put in order what remained to be done.”
He states his overall purpose in the salutation, which is longer than most of his other letters: For the sake of the faith of God’s elect and the knowledge of the truth that is in accordance with godliness, in the hope of eternal life that God, who never lies, promised before the ages began, [Titus 1:1-2].
Paul’s foundation, as it is in all his letters, is the Gospel: For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, [Titus 2:11]. He then stresses two aspects of a believer’s life: Renouncing impiety and worldly passions, and living lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly, [Titus 2:12].
Paul also focuses on the Holy Spirit, who is the believer’s source of strength to live “godly” lives: This Spirit he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life, Titus 2:6-7].
As Paul’s active ministry is winding down, he wants to ensure that his associates continue to preach the Gospel, and build up the church so the work will continue into the future. Even though Paul personally believed Christ would return sooner rather than later, these three letters represent his hope that, whenever Christ does return, the church will continue to be his body in this world.
And in fact they have achieved such a goal. The letters to Timothy and Titus have been used from the time they were written as a guideline for identifying and equipping church leaders. Paul’s direction is as relevant today as it was in the first century.
Get into the Word
1. Who wrote this letter? Who is the recipient? What is the relationship between them? How does the author refer to the recipient? What tasks does he delegate to him?
2. When was this letter written? What was Paul’s situation at the time? Where was he when he wrote this letter? What church does he assign to Titus? What overall task does he give him? What happens to the other associate?
3. How is this letter organized? What subjects does Paul write about? Why do you suppose he chose these subjects and not others? What makes these topics significant for Paul? Why should they be important to Titus?
4. How does Paul describe his purpose in writing this letter? What is Paul’s basis for the directions in the letter? What does he say about the life a believer should live? How does he describe this type of life? How is a Christian able to live in this way?
5. What do these letters tell us about Paul’s view of the future of the Christian church? What did he personally believe about the future? How does this belief affect his approach to training and guiding Timothy and Titus? How do these letters relate to the church in today’s world?
Bible Trivia:
The church leader checklist:
Paul gives Timothy and Titus a checklist of what he thinks is necessary to be a good church . . .
__ Above reproach
__ Married only once
__ Temperate
__ Sensible
__ Respectable
__ Hospitable
__ An apt teacher
__ Not a recent convert
__ Children are believers
__ Lover of goodness
__ Prudent
__ Upright
__ Self-controlled
__ Devout
__ Have a firm grasp of the Word
__ Good preacher
__ Able to refute error
73: Teach sound doctrine, maintain good deeds –Titus 2:1-3:11
Get Ready
How did you learn to do your job? Do you have an instruction manual or “How-To-Do-It” guide? Or did you go to a specialized training course or school? Or did you have an on-the-job mentor? What did your preparation cover? Was it adequate to prepare you for the daily work?
The Word
2But as for you, teach what is consistent with sound doctrine.
2 Tell the older men to be temperate, serious, prudent, and sound in faith, in love, and in endurance. 3 Likewise, tell the older women to be reverent in behavior, not to be slanderers or slaves to drink; they are to teach what is good, 4 so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 to be self-controlled, chaste, good managers of the household, kind, being submissive to their husbands, so that the word of God may not be discredited.
6 Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. 7 Show yourself in all respects a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, gravity, 8 and sound speech that cannot be censured; then any opponent will be put to shame, having nothing evil to say of us.
9 Tell slaves to be submissive to their masters and to give satisfaction in every respect; they are not to talk back, 10 not to pilfer, but to show complete and perfect fidelity, so that in everything they may be an ornament to the doctrine of God our Savior.
11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, 12 training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. 14 He it is who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds.
15 Declare these things; exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one look down on you.
3Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, 2 to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show every courtesy to everyone. 3 For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, despicable, hating one another. 4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy, through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. 6 This Spirit he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
8 The saying is sure. I desire that you insist on these things, so that those who have come to believe in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works; these things are excellent and profitable to everyone. 9 But avoid stupid controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. 10 After a first and second admonition, have nothing more to do with anyone who causes divisions, 11 since you know that such a person is perverted and sinful, being self-condemned. NRSV
Get into the Word
1. Who is Paul writing to? What is he writing about? Why is he writing this type of letter?
2. What subject does Paul deal with at the beginning? What is the basis of his directions? How are family members to relate to one another? Why is this important? What specific teaching does he have for each group?
3. What group does Paul deal with next? What does he say about the behavior of the people in this group? How should they relate to their masters? How does Paul justify these directions? Who is the real author? Who is the model we should follow in our behavior toward others?
4. What does Paul say about Christians’ attitude toward public authorities? Who does he present as the “before” model? How did he behave? What has changed? Why has he changed? How was he able to change? What should believers avoid? Why?
Get Personal
How do you relate to others in your family? In your work place? How does God help you be a “good” model?
Notes . . .
2:1. Sound doctrine — the false teaching that Paul notes in the first chapter was “upsetting whole families,” [Titus 1:11], so Paul provides direction for relationships among families and other members of the community.
NOTE: Family in Paul’s day was based as much on social connection and status (e.g. master and slave) as it was on actual relationship by blood.
2:2. Older men — Paul’s direction is consistent with Roman and Greek culture, but note the inclusion of “sound in faith” – men’s actions must be consistent with their faith.
2:3. Older women — the characteristics, again, are consistent with the culture, and point out the key role of women in nurturing and maintaining the family. Paul also relates this description to the faith: so that the word of God may not be discredited, [Titus 5].
2:6. Younger men — because they had little role in society, younger men were often undisciplined; Paul says they need to show their faith through their lives, which means self-control and “sound speech.”
2:9. Slaves — Paul neither approves nor condemns slavery, but directs Christian slaves to respect and serve their masters
so that in everything they may be an ornament to the doctrine of God our Savior, [Titus 2:10, also check 1 Tim
6:1-2].
2:11. Grace . . . salvation — the believer’s faith is the basis for the behavior that Paul is directing Titus to encourage. Such behavior also is consistent with the virtues of the Greek culture in which the church was planted. For Paul, godly behavior is always the outgrowth of faith.
3:1. Remind them — Paul now turns to the relationship of believers to the community; he tells Titus to remind the Christians that they should be good citizens of this world, just as Jesus was obedient to Jewish and Roman law [v. 4].
3:3. For we ourselves — Paul uses his own life as an example of the “before-and-after” effect of becoming a follower of Christ. The Holy Spirit causes the change because of God’s mercy, [Titus 3:5].
3:8. Good works — believers demonstrate the validity of their faith through their lives – Paul agrees with James (even though Luther, among others, thought James was a “book of straw”).
Memory Verse
He it is who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own who ar zealous for good deeds, [Titus 2:14].
Next Lesson
Philemon: Paul’s personal plea for a slave.
