Words in italic type have been added for clarity. They are not found in the original Hebrew or Aramaic.

Titus 1

• The purpose of the church (the Bride of Christ) is Evangelizing and Discipleship.
• The Bride of Christ (the church) adorns the doctrine of Christ.

A letter from Paul to Titus

Greeting

Titus 1:¹ Paul, a bondservant 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,

• BONDSERVANT: The book of Titus is written by Paul who calls himself a bondservant of God. In some Bibles the word bondservant is the translation of the Greek word doulos, which means “one who is subservient to, and entirely at the disposal of, his master; a slave.” Other translations use the word slave or servant.

• In Roman times, the term bondservant or slave could refer to someone who voluntarily served others. But it usually referred to one who was held in a permanent position of servitude. Under Roman law, a bondservant was considered the owner’s personal property. Slaves essentially had no rights and could even be killed with impunity by their owners.

• The Mosaic Law allowed an indentured servant to become a bondservant voluntarily: “If the servant declares, ‘I love my master and my wife and children and do not want to go free,’ then his master must take him before the judges. He shall take him to the door or the doorpost and pierce his ear with an awl. Then he will be his servant for life” (Exodus 21:5-6).

• People Who Have Been Called a Servant of God:

1. Abraham: Gen 26:24, Numbers 12:7
2. Joshua, Joshua 24:29
3. David 2 Samuel  7:5
4.  Isaiah, Isaiah 20:3
5. Zerubbabel, Haggai 2:23
6. The Messiah Isaiah 53:11

• All of which were humble nobility and honorable positions.

Titus 1:² in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began,

Before the beginning – God promised man eternal life, whom He had not yet created!

 Titus 1:³ but has in due time manifested His word through preaching, which was committed to me according to the commandment of God our Savior;

Titus 1:⁴ 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

Titus 1:⁵ 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—

Titus 1:⁶ if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of (debauchery, lit. incorrigibility) dissipation or insubordination.

• Blameless, husband of one wife, faithful (respectful) children.

Titus 1:⁷ For a bishop (Literally: overseer, elder) must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money,

• Not self-willed, quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy.
• Greedy people believe “I owe me (the car is more important than you)”. The answer is to be a giver.
• For a list of sinful emotions, definitions, and answers See Topic: Sins and Answers

The leader must lead like Christ – and follow like Christ.

The leader must be the visual representation of Christ.

Titus 1:⁸ but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled,

• hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled.
  
  Why is Right Thinking so important to mental health? It contradicts panic attacks and even PTSD. To master these things is to live the kind of life that also produces the enjoyment of life.

How many church-goers have felt betrayed when a Pastor, Elder, or Leader chooses to set down his responsibility to the church to indulge his flesh?

A leader is a shepherd; hence, identifying with the leadership of Christ, whose actions will either elevate the name of Christ or debase it. God takes His name (character, identity) so seriously that the consequences in the Old Testament are dire for its defamation.

To harm the reputation of God is to shake one’s fist in His face.

Titus 1:⁹ 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.

• Holding fast to the Word
• Able to exhort and convict

Our faith resides in our image of God…So does our lack of faith.

The Elders’ Task

Titus 1:¹⁰ For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision,

• NOT those who resist authority, gossipers, deceivers (especially the Jews who are still being influenced by Jewish traditions.)

Titus 1:¹¹ whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain.

Titus 1:¹² One of them, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”

• One example is labeling a group of people with ugly accusations.

Titus 1:¹³ This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith,

Titus 1:¹⁴ not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn from the truth.

Titus 1:¹⁵ 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.

Don’t load up a pure heart with one’s own burdens.

Titus 1:¹⁶ They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being (detestable) abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.

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