Titus, chapter 3, comments

 

Titus 3:1 ¶  Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, 2  To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men. 3  For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. 4  But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 5  Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6  Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; 7  That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 8  This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.

In the Roman world, peace and order was mandatory and disturbing the peace would receive punishment from the state more than would committing a personal murder, as I have shown previously from my research.

Titus is to emphasize being a law-abiding citizen, as an example to all men. As we live in a revolutionary age where all tradition and authority is questioned or opposed this is difficult for us. Paul has given these instructions previous to this. Please read Romans, chapter 13.

Romans 13:1 ¶  Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. 2  Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. 3  For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: 4  For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. 5  Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. 6  For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.

    7 ¶  Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour. 8  Owe no man any thing, but to love one another; for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. 9  For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 10  Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

    11 ¶  And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. 12  The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. 13  Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. 14  But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

Notice Peter’s remarks on this subject.

1Peter 4:15  But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters. 16  Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. 17  For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

 

Christians are not political revolutionaries, AS Christians. They are peaceful, law-abiding citizens of the country in which they live, which makes their persecution stand out even more starkly.

 

Paul has already given these commands in verse 3 in the letters to Timothy and in Titus here for bishops (pastors) and deacons and elders and now shows that they apply to all Christians. Paul acknowledges that we were all guilty of these things, if not in deed then in thought, in our past lives.

 

1Corinthians 6:9 ¶  Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10  Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11  And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

 

But God’s mercy saved us and His continuing mercy, His grace, preserves us.

Roman 2:4  Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

Verse 5 is a great memory verse. We are sealed and we cannot be unsaved once saved as then we could never be saved again without crucifying Christ again, a logical absurdity.

Ephesians 4:30  And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

Hebrews 6:4  For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 5  And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 6  If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

Notice how he likens the Holy Ghost’s renewing in us to a washing, a rebirth, and yet, there is no mention made of water baptism here.

Being justified by that grace we have become heirs of eternal life through Christ. And having said all of that it is incumbent upon us to do right, to live right, to follow God’ s commands through Christ, Paul, and the other New Testament writers, to do good things. Paul said previously;

Titus 2:11 ¶  For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12  Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13  Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14  Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Titus 3:9 ¶  But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. 10  A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; 11  Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself. 12  When I shall send Artemas unto thee, or Tychicus, be diligent to come unto me to Nicopolis: for I have determined there to winter. 13  Bring Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey diligently, that nothing be wanting unto them. 14  And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful. 15  All that are with me salute thee. Greet them that love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen. «It was written to Titus, ordained the first bishop of the church of the Cretians, from Nicopolis of Macedonia.»

Paul closes his letter to Titus with some practical things that Titus should do. We’ve already seen in the letters to Timothy the warnings about foolish questions and arguing just for the sake of arguing. I recommend reviewing what I noted about his commands to Timothy.

You might get a couple of chances to put forward some opposition to the gospel Paul has taught but a heretic is to be rejected after a second attempt to correct him or her. Paul then talks about sending his helpers to Titus and Titus meeting him at Nicopolis where he plans on spending the winter bringing a couple of helpers important to Paul. Finally, Paul reinforces the importance of good works which he has done repeatedly. This balances Paul’s doctrine. Good works don’t save you but they are important for the Christian to express or as James says, faith without good works is a dead thing.