Titus Chapter 1
Greeting
1 Paul, a bond servant 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.
Qualified Elders
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.
“Dissipation”- Immoral living.
“Insubordination”- Resistance to authority,
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.
The Elders’ Task
10 For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision,
“Circumcision”- Judaism.
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.
Chapter 2
Qualities of a Sound Church
1 But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine:
2 that the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience;
“Temperate”- Restrained, calm.
3 the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things,
“Slanderers”
To attack the reputation
of another.
4 that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children,
5 to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.
“Discreet”
Having good judgment,
careful.
“Chaste”
Not guilty of unlawful
sexual intercourse.
6 Likewise, exhort the young men to be sober-minded,
“Exhort”- Advise.
“Sober-minded”
Self-restrained,
sensible.
7 in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility,
“Integrity” - Honesty.
“Reverence”- Living for God.
“Incorruptibility”
Incapable of physical corruption,
or moral contamination.
not to be bribed.
8 sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you.
9 Exhort bondservants to be obedient to their own masters, to be well pleasing in all things, not answering back,
10 not pilfering, but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.
“Pilfering”- To steal.
“Fidelity”- Faithfulness, devotion.
“Adorn”- obey.
Trained by Saving Grace
11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,
12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age,
“Ungodliness”
“Jude 17-18”
But you, beloved,
remember the words
which were spoken before
by the apostles of our Lord
Jesus Christ how they told you
there would be mockers in the
last time who would walk
according to their own
ungodly lusts.
“Worldly lusts”
“James 4:4”
Adulterers and adulteresses!
Do you not know that friendship
with the world is enmity with God.
Whoever wants to be a friend of
the world makes himself
an enemy of God.
“1 John 2:15-17”
Do not love the world
or the things in the world.
If anyone loves the world,
the love of the Father is
not in him. For all that is
in the world; the lust of
the flesh, the lust of
the eyes, and the
pride of life; is
not of the Father
but is of the world. And
the world is passing away,
and the lust of it; but he who
does the will of God abides forever.
“Soberly”
“1 Peter 1:13-16”
Therefore gird up the loins
of your mind, be sober,
and rest your hope
fully upon the grace
that is to be brought to
you at the revelation
of Jesus Christ;
as obedient children,
not conforming yourselves
to the former lusts, as in
your ignorance, but as
He who called you is holy,
you also be holy in all your
conduct, because it is written,
“Be holy, for I am holy.”
13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,
14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.
“Redeem”
“Ephesians 1:7”
In Him we have
Redemption
through His blood,
the forgiveness of sins,
according to the riches
of His grace.
15 Speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you.
Chapter 3
Graces of the Heirs of Grace
1 Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work,
2 to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men.
3 For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.
“Malice”
Grudge, resentment
hostility, revenge
bitterness.
“Envy”
Wanting what
others have.
4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared,
5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,
6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior,
7 that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.
Avoid Dissension
9 But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless.
10 Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition,
“Divisive” - causing divisions.
“Admonition” - warning.
11 knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned.
Final Messages
12 When I send Artemas to you, or Tychicus, be diligent to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there.
13 Send Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey with haste, that they may lack nothing.
14 And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful.
Farewell
15 All who are with me greet you. Greet those who love us in the faith.
Grace be with you all. Amen.