INTRODUCTION TO THE BOOK OF TITUS
AUTHOR: THE GREETING (TITUS 1:1) and the Holy Tradition both affirm that St. Paul is the author …
DATE: AD 63-65 … The circumstances, content, and organization of Titus are like those of 1 Timothy … Meaning that these two books were most likely written about the same time … Paul’s work with Titus on the Crete does not fit into the time covered by the Book of Acts, so it probably occurred after Paul’s release from his first imprisonment in Rome …
MAJOR THEME: OVERSEEING THE CHURCH ACCORDING TO THE TRUE FAITH … As the Church grew, it naturally developed theology and structure and encountered heresy and sub-Christian behavior among its members, as had been prophesied… Paul here advises Titus as he faces these issues …
BACKGROUND: Titus was a Gentile converted to Christ by St. Paul (Titus 1:4) … After Paul was released from prison in Rome somewhere around AD 63, he and Titus visited Crete (Titus 1:5) … When Paul moved on, he appointed Titus as apostolic overseer there … After Paul left Titus in charge of consolidating and organizing the church on the island of Crete, he found theological problems are like those being confronted by Timothy in Asia Minor … Further, whereas Timothy was restoring order in established churches, Titus was establishing order in young churches …
TITUS 1 STUDY GUIDE & BREAKDOWN
GREETING – (Titus 1:1-4)
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, 2 in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began, 3 but has in due time manifested His word through preaching, which was committed to me according to the commandment of God our Savior.
4 To Titus, a true son in our common faith:
Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and [a]the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior.
NOTES
1:1 In the Roman world, A BONDSERVANT – (Greek – “doulos”) was in an unenviable position: he had no name, rights, will, or even time of his own … But in the world of OT, a bondservant was often the king’ right hand man- one of the most honored titles … Moses and other OT prophets were bondservants of the Lord … Paul, of course, knew of both usages … AN APOSTLE, “one sent out”, was a New Covenant equivalent to a bondservant …
ACKNOWLEDGMENT – (Greek – epignosis) is deeper than mental knowledge; it is experimental, not theoretical Knowledge – (THE TRUTH) AND ACTION (GODLINESS) is a unity; knowledge that does not change one’s life does not save …
ORDINATION OF SOUND ELDERS – (Titus 1:5-9)
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— 6 if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of [b]dissipation or insubordination. 7 For a [c]bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, 8 but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled, 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.
NOTES
1:5: When Paul evangelized an area, he did not leave it unattended – (1Corinthians 3:6-10; & Colossians 1:7) …
1:5-9: ALL CHRISTIANS ARE PRIESTS IN CHRIST … Candidates for eldership, that is, for the special priesthood inside general priesthood of all, should exhibit a wholesome and united family life – (v. 6), control over passions and emotions – (v. 7), loving and righteous relations with others – (v. 8), and careful adherence to tradition – (v. 9; see also 1Timothy 3:1-16; and 1Timothy 5:21; 2Timothy 2:2) …
OPPOSITION TO FALSE TEACHERS – (Titus 1:10-16)
10 For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, 11 whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain. 12 One of them, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” 13 This testimony is true. Therefore, rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, 14 not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn from the truth. 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. 16 They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being [d]abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.
NOTES
1:10-16: FALSE LEADERS also exhibit certain characteristics … They upset rather than reconcile – (v. 11), have an eye for personal profit – (v. 11), lack discipline and integrity – (vv. 12, 13), misjudge reality – here setting up external laws when the uncleanness is internal – (vv. 14, 15), and are immoral … bad Theology leads to bad behaviors – (v. 16) …
PSALM 56 (57) STUDY GUIDE & BREAKDOWN
NOTES
PSALM 56 (57) – Prophesies the death and Resurrection of Christ – (THE END, v. 1) … He did not corrupt – (v. 1), that is, His holy body did not decay in the grave – (THE CAVE, v. 1; see also Psalm 15:8-11; Acts 2:25-32; and Acts 13:34-37) … Verses 2-12 give the Church the hope of “the resurrection from the dead and the life of the world to come” – (Nicene Creed) …