Titus one, verses one to four, in hope of eternal life

 

Paul had fourteen years of experience in starting churches and missionary work, some commentators say, after his conversion before he returned to Jerusalem. He had only spent two weeks in Jerusalem after his conversion and saw only Peter (see the context of Galatians 2:1). He brought Titus with him from that time of growing in the Lord and doing God’s work when he returned to Jerusalem.

Galatians 2:1 ¶  Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also.

Later, Paul would send Titus to the church at Corinth to assist in straightening their doctrine and behavior out.

2Corinthians 8:6  Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also…16  But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you…23  Whether any do enquire of Titus, he is my partner and fellowhelper concerning you: or our brethren be enquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ.

2Corinthians 12:18  I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? walked we not in the same spirit? walked we not in the same steps?

2Corinthians 13:14  The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. «The second epistle to the Corinthians was written from Philippi, a city of Macedonia, by Titus and Lucas.»

Titus was very important to Paul, who called him his partner and fellowhelper. As in the letters to Timothy, and here in Titus, Paul gives instructions for pastors (bishops) and other elders of the church so the letters to Timothy and Titus are called Pastoral Epistles. Titus is celebrated in several different kinds of churches and is the patron saint of The U.S. Army Chaplain Corps.

Titus is, at the time of this writing, setting up churches on the island of Crete.

Titus 1:1 ¶  Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness; 2  In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; 3  But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour; 4  To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.

Paul’s writings, except for Hebrews, typically contain his name in the first verse of the first letter to a person or a church body.

2Thessalonians 3:17  The salutation of Paul with mine own hand, which is the token in every epistle: so I write.

Paul declares himself a servant of God and an apostle sent directly by Jesus Christ Himself whom Paul first encountered in the famous road to Damascus vision we all know from the Acts of the Apostles, we just call Acts. It is the faith of God’s elect, which I have discussed in comments on Romans and 1^st and 2^nd Timothy among other places, those people whom God foreknew would receive Christ, who are His. Paul declares that God’s elect and he himself are in agreement to acknowledging the truth which follows godliness, hoping for eternal life, expecting it, because it is not in God to lie. This eternal life is promised to God’s elect before the world began, especially through the promise of the resurrection, a doctrine inextricably linked to eternal life, life everlasting. While there are statements of it throughout the Bible, in Genesis, Job, Isaiah, Daniel, etc. etc. which we’ve discussed previously, it is now told through the preaching of Christ’s apostles and the rest of the elect of God by the command of Christ. Starting in Genesis describing a tree that bore fruit that produced eternal life we have;

Genesis 2:9  And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

Not only did God plant beautiful, life-giving trees for food in the Garden of Eden but the Tree of Life was there. It is now in the heavenly city.

Revelation 2:7  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

Revelation 22:2  In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations…14  Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

Eating of the fruit of the Tree of Life restores the body and permits the person to inhabit a physical body forever.

Genesis 3:22  And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:

So, clearly this is like some tree you have never seen and has not ever been classified by a scientist. But even after that tree is removed we can see what is promised to God’s elect.

Job 14:14  If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come. 15  Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands.

Job 19:25  For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: 26  And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: 27  Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.

Isaiah speaks of a resurrection.

Isaiah 26:19  Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.

Daniel speaks of a resurrection.

Daniel 12:2  And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

Hosea speaks of a resurrection.

Hosea 13:14  I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.