Titus 2-3

Titus 2
1-15 Teach Sound Doctrine

• "As for you, teach what is consistent with sound doctrine." Interesting way to say this: Paul doesn't limit Titus to just rehearsing what has already been taught ("teach sound doctrine"). But what comes out of his mouth – no matter what the topic – needs to be consistent with what has come before.
• Instruct the older men - to be temperate, serious, prudent, sound in faith, love, and endurance. "Love" and "endurance" stand out to me here. You might expect them to be wise, but they must also be loving, and being older is no reason to quit.
• Instruct the older women - to be reverent, not slanderers or drinkers; to teach and encourage young women to be good wives, mothers, and keepers of the home. Again, being older gives them the responsibility to share the things they have learned - they have responsibilities unique to their position as older women.
• Urge the younger men - to use self control, to be a model of good work, integrity, sound speech - to prevent opponents of the faith from having any accusations against us. People are watching; how young men act is a reflection on the whole body.
• Tell slaves - submit to masters, don't pilfer, be true - in order to be an "ornament" to God's doctrine. Of course, we would find it curious that Paul doesn't condemn slavery here. A reminder to all of us that no matter what our circumstances, we remain conscious of our examples as Christians. I like this word "ornament" in the New Revised Version. It gives such a clear image. Other translations (ASV, NASV, KJV, NKJV) say "adorn the doctrine."
• Why act this way? Because the "grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to us all."
• It "trains" us to live godly, upright lives...
• ...while we wait for Christ to come again -- he who saved us from impure lives, purifying us "for himself." Christians lead godly lives – not only because it's a good example to others, but because it's who they are; they've been cleansed.

Titus 3
1-11 Maintain Good Deeds

• Remind all - to be good citizens, courteous
• For we were all once foolish, disobedient, slaves to pleasure. Interesting that Paul would place himself in this category; I can't imagine him ever being a "slave to pleasures."
• BUT - God our Savior - through his mercy alone - saved us through water and renewal by the Holy Spirit. It had nothing to do with our righteousness.
• Avoid stupid controversies; have nothing to do with those who are divisive. Similar to instructions he gave to Timothy – just as relevant today as then, especially to a young preacher who might be swayed by – or at the very least accommodate – older Christians who see Christianity as something to be argued endlessly.

12-15 Final Messages and Benediction

• Paul invites Titus to come to Nicopolis, where he expects to spend the winter.
• "Let people devote themselves to good works...." A last instruction to Titus as a preacher.
• All who are with Paul send greetings to Titus and to those who love him in the faith.
  

Titus 1

Titus 1
1-4 Salutation

• Paul - a servant - an apostle - for the sake of the faith - for the knowledge of the truth - in the hope of eternal life...
• ...that God - who never lies - promised before the ages began - revealing his word in due time - entrusting Paul with its proclamation. Both of these bullets are in one sentence, at least in the NRSV – one of those sentences of Paul's that is not just a greeting but a whole sermon, much like most of the sentences in the first chapter of Ephesians.
• To Titus - my loyal child in the faith we share. We don't know whether or not Paul converted Titus. At the very least, he was Titus's mentor.
• Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ our Savior. Exactly the same words he used in the greeting of both epistles to Timothy.

5-16 Titus in Crete

• Paul left Titus in Crete so he could put things in order; namely, to appoint elders
• He was to find men:

who are blameless, married only once

whose children are believers, not rebellious

who are not arrogant, quick-tempered, addicted to wine, violent, or greedy

who are hospitable, good, prudent, upright, devout, self-controlled

who know the word so they can teach it and refute false teachers

• Titus is also to silence many who deceive, especially those of the circumcision, for they upset the body. Choosing able men to be elders would be of great help to Titus in this task.
  
• One of their very own called Cretans liars, vicious brutes and lazy gluttons. Paul says he was right.
• "To the pure all things are pure, but to the corrupt and unbelieving nothing is pure." Certainly a reminder to us not to be naive about those who are evil in this world, like those who victimize innocent children.
  
• Paul calls such people "detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work." We may excuse people who seem to be doing good things, but if they are corrupt, nothing they do can be called a "good work."