Dr. Paul Writes Contemporary History in a Note to Titus
Introduction:
Titus has worked with Dr. Paul for many years in many places in evangelizing folks concerning Jesus and His Kingdom. This Note is after Dr. Paul is about to finish his time in Rome (AD 62), as his ‘Appeal to Caesar’ finishes its two-year requirement. No one has challenged Dr. Paul’s innocence in Caesar’s court, so he is able to receive a pardon. Dr. Paul had left Titus at the island of Crete, during Dr. Paul’s stop there for about 4-6 weeks (AD60), as he traveled to Rome for his trial about two years earlier. Titus worked on the island for that time, evangelizing Dr. Paul’s Good News of Jesus, maturing and developing Jesus’ Kingdom into a congregation in every city, and developing correct leadership among the members of Jesus’ new congregations in every city on Crete. Dr. Paul was going to ‘winter’ in Nicopolis before he goes to Spain and hoped the replacement for Titus would allow him to join Dr. Paul there for some rest, re-planning and the re-grouping for the coming effort in Spain.
Date: A.D. 62
[Dr. Paul left Titus in Crete to continue to mature the congregations in Crete, he had begun for two years, while he went to Rome.]
Letter: [from Rome two years later]
(1st) Paul, God’s slave, and an Apostle of Jesus Christ, [A] according to [a] faith, and [b] ‘complete understanding’ of Truth, possessed by God’s chosen ones, [B] according to [a] the godliness, [b] on hope of eternal life, which God, Who cannot lie, promised before times eternal; and at the proper time He revealed His Message in a Proclamation, which has been entrusted to me, [C] according to [the] Commandment of God our Savior. To Titus, my true child [D] according to shared faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior. {1:4}
(2nd) Because of ‘this’, I left you in Crete that you might [1] set in order the things that are lacking and [2] to appoint elders in every city (as I had charged you), if any is: [a] blameless, [b] the husband of one wife, [c] having believing children, [d] not accused of debauchery or [e] disobedience. An overseer, God’s trustee, is to be [‘must’] blameless: [a] not self-willed, [b] not prone to anger, [c] not given to wine, [d] not quick-tempered, [e] not given to shameful gain, but more so: [a] hospitable, [b] a strong affection of goodness, [c] sensible, [d] upright, [e] holy, [f] self-controlled, [g] firmly holding the reliable Message, according to the Teaching, [1] that he may be able both to encouragement by the wholesome [uncorrupted] Teaching, and [2] to correct the ones who contradict. There are many unruly deceivers who talk idly, especially of the circumcision, whom it is necessary to silence. They overturn whole houses, teaching for shameful gain things which are not allowed. A certain one of their own prophets said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, idle gluttons.” This testimony is true, so you must rebuke them sharply, that they may be healthy [no corruption] in ‘the Faith’, not clinging to Jewish myths and commandments of men who are turning away from the Truth. {1:14}
All things are pure to those who are pure, but more so, nothing is pure to the unbelieving and defiled. Both their mind and conscience are defiled. They profess that they know God, but in works they deny Him, being [1] detestable and [2] disobedient and [3] unfit for any good work. {1:16}
(3rd) But you must speak the things which are in accord with the healthy [uncorrupted] Teaching: [A] that the elderly men be clear-headed, reverent, sensible, healthy in ‘the Faith’, in love, and in patient endurance; [B] that the elderly women likewise be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not enslaved to much wine, teachers of things honorable; [C] that they train the young women to have strong affection for their husbands, to have strong affection for their children, to be sensible, pure, keepers of the home, good, obedient to their own husbands, so that God’s Message be not slandered. [D] In the same way you must exhort the younger men to be sensible in all things. {2:6}
(4th) Make yourself a model of noble works [in everything]. In the Teaching: display soundness, reverence, wholesome [uncorrupted] speech that is above criticism, in order that the opponent will be ashamed, having nothing bad to say about us. {2:8}
(5th) [Teach] Slaves, themselves to be [A] in subjection to their own masters in everything, [1] to be well-pleasing, [2] not talking back, [3] not stealing; but more so, [B] displaying all good faithfulness, that [C] they may adorn [dignify] the Teaching of God our Savior in all things. {2:10}
The saving Grace of God has been revealed to all people! [I] Instructing us: [A] that we should deny [1] irreverence and [2] worldly lusts, and [3] live [a] sensibly [under His control], [b] uprightly, and [c]reverently in this present age, [B] looking for [1] the happiest hope and [2] the glorious appearance of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. [C] Who gave Himself in our behalf, [1] that He might set us free from all lawlessness, and [2] purify for Himself a special people, [3] zealous of noble deeds [works]. [II] You [A] must speak these things, and [B] must encourage [exhort], and [C] must correct with all authority. [D] You must not allow anyone to disregard you. {2:15}
(6th) You must remind them [1] to be subject to rulers and authorities; [2] to obey; [3] to be ready for every good work; [4] to speak hurtfully of no one; [5] to be peaceable and considerate, [6] showing all humility [gentleness] to all men. {3:2}
Recall, we ourselves formerly were foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to lusts and various pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. But, when God our Savior revealed His kindness and strong affection for mankind, He saved us, not by works of righteousness which we had done, but more so, according to His mercy: through [1] a bath of new birth and [2] a renewal of Holy Spirit, Whom He has richly poured out on us through Jesus Christ our Savior, in order that, [3] having been justified by His Grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. {3:7}
(7th) This saying is reliable! And I want you to speak confidently on these things, that those who have believed in God might busy themselves in good works. These are honorable and profitable to men; but you must shun foolish questions and genealogies and strife and contentions about the Law, for they are harmful and futile. After a first and second warning, you must keep away from a factious man, knowing that such a one is perverted and sins, being self-condemned. {3:11}
(8th) When I send Artemas to you, or Tychicus, you ought to do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. You must do your best to help Zenas the attorney and Apollos on their way, so that they lack nothing. {3:13}
(9th) It is imperative that our people, themselves, learn to stay busy in good works unto pressing needs, that they might not be unfruitful. {3:14}
(10th) All those with me greet you. Be sure to greet the ones who have strong affection for us in faith. Grace be with all of you.