Living Doctrine (Transformative Word)

The Book of Titus

Daniel L. Akin, Craig G. Bartholomew, David Beldman

• Publisher: Lexham Press
• Year: 2017
• eBook ISBN: 9781683590613
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Biblical Studies

1

INTRODUCTION

Imagine parachuting behind enemy lines, working alone in occupied territory, and fighting off attacks from all sides, all the while tasked to accomplish a life-or-death mission. In a very real sense, this was Titus’s position. We can playfully say this brother in the faith was Paul’s Green Beret, his spiritual Navy Seal, who could go into the hard places and set things in order, get things fixed, make things right.

Titus was tasked with doing ministry in a hard place. The island of Crete was known as the mythical birthplace of Zeus; famous for the legendary Minotaur, a half-bull and half-human monster; and deeply immersed in worship of the emperor as universal savior. Combine these influences with the local culture, which celebrated sin and embraced infiltrating false teachers, and the fledgling congregations on the island of Crete needed serious attention, and they needed it quickly.

In the midst of these hardships, Paul penned this letter to Titus to serve as a manual of instruction. Some even refer to it as an apostolic manual for church planting. It certainly provides a blueprint for planting and building churches that will survive and thrive for the glory of God. It is not surprising that along with 1 and 2 Timothy it is referred to as a Pastoral Epistle. Anyone looking for how a New Testament church should be ordered will find these letters to be a treasure trove of instruction and wisdom.

Overview

The author of Titus is Paul the apostle. This conclusion is supported by the text itself (1:1), the internal evidence of theology and language, and the external testimony of the overwhelming majority of the church fathers. The differences between the letters to Timothy and Titus and the other Pauline epistles are adequately explained by understanding that the other letters are written to churches, whereas the Pastorals (and Philemon) are personal letters to associates.1 The extremely personal nature of this letter further supports its genuineness as the work of the apostle Paul.

Though he does not appear by name in Acts, Titus is mentioned thirteen times in the New Testament (2 Cor 2:13; 7:6, 13; 8:6, 23; 12:18 [2×]; Gal 2:1, 3; 2 Tim 4:10; Titus 1:4). Titus was a convert from non-Jewish heritage early in Paul’s ministry who first appears with Paul at the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15:2; Gal 2:1, 3), where he is the apostle’s proof that one does not need to become a Jew to be a Christian. Later, Titus’s work is related to the Corinthians as he appears as an emissary to Paul concerning the Corinthians’ reaction to 1 Corinthians (2 Cor 7:16) and as the bearer of the second epistle to them. Titus had a special relationship to the troubled church at Corinth (2 Cor 8:16), and his work there and on the difficult island of Crete reveals Paul’s confidence in him.

OUTLINE 1.Sound Doctrine and the Church’s Leadership (1:1–9) a.Greeting: Saved to Serve (1:1–4) b.The Selection and Qualification of Elders: Qualification of a Godly Leader (1:5–9) 2.Sound Doctrine and False Teaching: The Ministry of Confrontation (1:10–16) 3.Sound Doctrine in the Lives of Certain Groups (2:1–15) a.Pursuing Godliness: The Roles of Men and Women in the Church (2:1–8) b.Servant Evangelism: A Biblical Perspective on Slavery (2:9–10) c.The Amazing Grace of God (2:11–15) 4.Sound Doctrine and the Church’s Witness (3:1–15) a.In the Community (3:1–8) b.In the Church (3:9–11) c.In Our Calling (3:12–14) d.Conclusion (3:15)

Paul seems to have evangelized the island of Crete but could not stay long enough to develop local leadership for the young church. Because this is lacking (1:5) and false teachers are infiltrating the scattered flocks (1:10–16), Titus is summoned to temporarily remain on Crete to “set in order the things which are lacking and ordain elders in every city” (1:5 author’s translation). The letter affirms Paul’s instructions, telling Titus both what to do (1:5–16) and what to say (2:1–3:11).

Major Theological Ideas

Being sound in doctrine and zealous for good works are twin themes that tie this short, powerful epistle together. In the book of Titus, Paul teaches that Christian doctrine and Christian living are to be sound (1:9, 13; 2:1–2, 8) because they are intimately tied together. Saved by grace means saved unto good works (1:16; 2:7, 14; 3:1, 5, 8, 14) because God’s grace leads a person to live a godly life (1:4; 2:11–15; 3:7, 15). Other themes concern the qualifications and responsibilities of pastors (1:5–9), the ethics of the believer (2:1–10), the return of Christ (2:11–14), and the nature of salvation (3:3–7).

Repeated words in this brief letter help us to understand the burden that was on Paul’s heart. The title Savior appears twelve times in the New Testament, six of those times in Titus (1:3, 4; 2:10, 13; 3:4, 6). Three times it is applied to God (1:3; 2:10; 3:4), and three times it is applied to Jesus (1:4; 2:13; 3:6). The question of who is Savior must have been an issue on the island of Crete. The false teachers are also a main focus of Paul. It is likely that the church on Crete suffered from two sources: (1) visiting Jewish teachers who mixed law and grace, teaching that gentile converts to Christianity had to obey Jewish customs such as circumsicion before becoming a Christian (cf. Acts 15; Gal 2:4, 12; Phil 3:2); and (2) ignorant Christians who abused the grace of God and turned his forgiveness into license to sin.

It appears that Paul had several purposes in mind when he wrote to Titus: (1) to remind him of his work of reorganizing the church and appointing elders, (2) to warn him about false teachers, (3) to encourage him in pastoring the different kinds of people in the church, (4) to emphasize the true meaning of grace in the life of the Christian, and (5) to explain how to deal with church troublemakers.

SUGGESTED READING □Titus 2:11–14 □Titus 3:3–7

Reflection

This is a bargain-basement letter. You get more than your money’s worth, as Paul packs in so much truth and so much teaching in such a short amount of space. This short, three-chapter, forty-six-verse letter weds beautifully the Christian sonnet of doctrine and deeds, belief and behavior, conduct and creed. This message penned to an apostolic delegate in a dire situation proves a lasting charge to pastors and churches today.

Do you feel the urgency of your own calling as a follower of Christ that Titus felt of his? How would it change the way you read this letter if you were in desperate need of guidance?

Why does Paul focus on both doctrine and living? How does Paul say that they are connected?

2

SAVED TO SERVE

(1:1–4)

It is a fortunate person who knows who he is and why he is here. Such a person was Saul of Tarsus, the man better known as the apostle Paul. Here in 1:1–4, in one of Paul’s longest introductions, Paul begins by telling something about himself, something about salvation, something about preaching, and something about his son in the faith, a man named Titus. What then is his message for us today? What do we need to know about who we are and why we are here?

We Are Servants of Our Lord (1:1)

Paul, the greatest missionary-theologian who ever lived, was in his later years. While his eyes may have been growing dim at this time in his life, his spiritual vision had never been clearer. He saw clearly just who and what he was “in Christ.” He begins by identifying himself literally as a “slave of God.”1 He is now no longer his own (1 Cor 6:19); he was bought and paid for by the precious blood of Jesus (1 Pet 1:18–19).

Paul also calls himself an “apostle of Jesus Christ.” Though an apostle, Paul is “one abnormally born.” Unlike the twelve disciples, he was placed into the office at a different time and in an unusual way (1 Cor 15:8). The term “apostle” also has a general meaning that applies to every one of us, for we are “sent ones” as those who go out on behalf of Jesus Christ. This speaks of our calling and authority as missionaries of our Savior. His ministry, like ours, exists for the salvation of the lost among all the nations through the proclamation of the gospel.

In the remainder of verse 1, Paul expresses the purpose for which he was called—a purpose that we too share as believers. Watch carefully! Don’t miss it. He says his apostleship exists “for the faith” (here is human responsibility) “of God’s elect” (here is divine sovereignty). Salvation from beginning to end is the sovereign work of the grace of God (Eph 2:8; Heb 12:2). And yet, no one will be saved who does not repent and believe, and all who repent and believe will be saved (Rom 10:13).2 In short, Paul stands against anything that questions the sovereignty of God and anything that would harm a red-hot passion for missions and evangelism.

The faith of those belonging to God is also for a purpose. Saving faith moves one to a full knowledge of the truth that results in a new life of godliness. The child of God is to live a sanctified life, a holy life, a pure life, and a godly life. Here the genuineness of the truth of the gospel will be lived out for all to see.

We Are Secure in the Lord (1:2–3)

We are not only servants of our Lord, but we are also secure in the Lord. Note the wonderful chain reaction: the saving faith of those who belong to God leads to a knowledge of the truth, which will lead to godliness, all of which rests on the hope of eternal life in a God who cannot lie! What a promise! What a hope! In verses 2–3, Paul places before us two avenues of a sure and certain security. One is God’s witness. The other is God’s word.

This “hope of eternal life” is founded on the very character and integrity of the God “who does not lie” (author’s translation; cf. 1 Sam 15:29; Heb 6:18). Our God stands in stark contrast to Satan, who “is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44), as well as the Cretans, who are described as being “always liars” (v. 12). Paul points out that this hope of eternal life was promised b...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Table of Contents
• Chapter 1: Introduction
• Chapter 2: Saved to Serve (1:1–4)
• Chapter 3: Qualifications of a Godly Leader (1:5–9)
• Chapter 4: The Ministry of Confrontation (1:10–16)
• Chapter 5: Pursuing Godliness: The Roles of Men and Women in the Church (2:1–8)
• Chapter 6: Servant Evangelism: A Biblical Perspective on Slavery (2:9–10)
• Chapter 7: The Amazing Grace of God (2:11–15)
• Chapter 8: New Birth for a New Life (3:1–8)
• Chapter 9: Church Discipline: A Missing Essential in the Life of the Contemporary Church (3:9–15)
• Conclusion