Titus Menu

Titus Chapter 1

Memory verses for this week:  Psa 124:8  Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth. 

Introduction:  We begin a new study on the book of Titus this week.   The author of Titus is another book written by Paul.   It is believe to be have written a.d. 62–66 which is close to the same general period of time in which 1 Timothy was written, i.e., in the period which elapsed between Paul’s first and second Roman imprisonments. Titus may have been written from Macedonia or Philippi. Paul was traveling to Nicopolis (3:12) where he was to spend the winter and meet Titus. The recipient of this letter is Paul’s young associate Titus. Mentioned thirteen times in the New Testament, Titus is Paul’s young Greek convert who is often overlooked in regard to his importance to the apostolic community.  [1]

I.  Greetings to Titus

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;

Titus 1:2  In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

Paul greets Titus and begins the chapter discussing Godliness in the church.   He speaks of himself as a bondman of God, one sent by the Lord Jesus Christ.   Paul represents himself as one according to the faith of God’s elect.  The word “elect” means chosen.  Who make up the elect is one of those deeper topics of the bible like predestination that are difficult to comprehend.  But if you are “in Christ”, you are one of the elect.   Paul writes concerning the true knowledge of the faith, which is according to godliness.   In verse 2, it begins with “in hope of eternal life.”  Eternal life was promised in eternity past before the world began.   What security we can have in this promise… It is God who made the promise, the One who cannot lie.    We have security in our salvation that neither the world nor Satan can take away.  It embraces all of mankind.

Revelation 22:17  And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

Heb 6:13  For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,

Heb 6:14  Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.

Heb 6:15  And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.

Heb 6:16  For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife.

Heb 6:17  Wherein God, willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:

Heb 6:18  That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

Heb 6:19  Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;

Heb 6:20  Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

Titus 1:3  But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;

Titus 1:4  To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.

Thank the Lord that God’s word is now manifested through the preaching of the Gospel as authorized by command of God.   Titus was like Timothy in that he was saved under Paul’s ministry.   He encourages Titus with things all Christians need… Grace, Mercy, and Peace.  There is no peace outside of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Isa 57:19  I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the LORD; and I will heal him.

Isa 57:20  But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.

Isa 57:21  There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.

II.  Instructions Given for the Ordination of Elders

Titus 1:5  For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:

Paul had left Titus in Crete for several reasons as verse 5 tells us.  First, he was to set in order the things that are wanting… in other words things left undone.   And secondly, he was to ordain elders in every city as Paul had appointed.

1 Corinthians 12:28   And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. 

God sets ministers in the church as it pleases him.  We know the first to be set in the church, the apostles, were done during Christ’s personal ministry.   Many today believe the church was formed on the day of Pentecost, but it had existed for some time prior to this.   They had already had a business meeting and elected a man to replace Judas Iscariot.   Also the Lord had instituted the Lord’s Supper and sang with the congregation fulfilling prophecy concerning how he would sing in the church.   God sets things in the church as he chooses, all the way down to the members themselves.

Ephesians 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 

Pastors, Bishops, and teachers are all placed in the church for the perfecting of the saints and to edify the body of Christ.  The pastor is to teach the Word and rules according to what is in the bible.

Hebrews 13:7 Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.  

Hebrews 13:17  Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you. 

The pastor is the overseer of the church and has a command from God to feed the sheep and the lambs.

Acts 20:28  Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

John 21:15   So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. 16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. 17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

Titus 1:6  If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.

Titus 1:7  For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;

Titus 1:8  But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;

We see the qualifications given for a pastor in the verses beginning in verse 6.  So many churches totally ignore what God has set as his standards.   A pastor is one who should be blameless.    This is not saying he lives totally sinless, but he lives such a life that blame can not be placed on him.  He should be the husband of one wife and his children should be well trained.   He should be a man of integrity with morals and conduct his life in an orderly fashion.  It speaks of being a good steward of God in both his life and finances.  A man who is not self-willed and not soon angry.   He should also not be given to wine or being one who is quick to a fight, and certainly one not given over to the love of money.  The love of money has caused some to err from the faith.  A pastor should never take the job of being a minister for the money it pays.

1 Timothy 6:10  For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 

1 Peter 5:2  Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; 

Titus 1:9  Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.

The man of God is to hold fast the faithful word he has been taught.  He is to be one that makes up the ‘hedge’ as God’s Word puts it.  By knowing God’s Word and using sound doctrine, he is able to exhort Christians and convince those who oppose God’s teachings. (heretics and gainsayers).

J. Vernon McGee added this to the need for truly qualified pastors.

There were two things that an officer should be able to do: (1) He should be able to exhort, that is, to teach the Word of God; and (2) he must be able to confute or refute the heretics. I feel that men who hold office in a church should be Bible-trained men. During World War II we had what was called “ninety-day wonders.” The army needed more officers and so they put them through a short course in a hurry, and they came up with some rather peculiar second lieutenants in those days. Remember that Paul told Timothy to “lay hands suddenly on no man …” (1 Tim. 5:22). You are not to have a man converted one night, ask him to give his testimony the next night, make him an officer in the church on the third night, an evangelist on the fourth, and the pastor of the church on the fifth night! We sometimes do things like that today, and it is very unfortunate for the church. A church officer should be able to stand on the Word of God and to give it out.  [2]

III. Reasons for Such High Qualifications

Titus 1:10  For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:

Titus 1:11  Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.

The reason there are high qualifications for the ministry is due to the fact that there are so many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers in the world.  Verse 11 says that their mouths need to be stopped, and that takes knowing what you are saying, and then not just saying the things of God, but also living their lives according to what they preach.  Just as we can’t tell our children to ‘do as I say, not as I do’, and then expect success, neither can a pastor preach accurately and then live ungodly.   What we do always carries more weight than what we say.  And the two should be consistent.   Verse 11 says these deceivers subvert whole houses teaching false things for money’s sake.  We see that today on some of the television ministries.   When the 800 number is coming up more than God’s Word, beware of the teachers.   I know all ministries need money to carry on, but true ministries are taken care of by God.   They do not have to solicit money every time their mouth opens.   Our tithes and offerings should go to our local church, not to some far away man who you may never meet.   When you need a funeral preached or need help in your hour of need, it will be your local pastor that supplies that need.   One who teaches for money would be considered a hireling.  And in John Chapter 10, it says the hireling cares not for the sheep.

John 10:12  But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. 13  The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.

Titus 1:12  One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.

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

Verse 12 says that one of the Cretians’ own prophets had stated that they were liars, evil beasts, and slow bellies.  This report was true, and Titus was to rebuke them sharply. “Evil beasts” means the Cretans were rude and cruel. “Slow bellies” means lazy gluttons. Paul is not being very complimentary here, is he? But this is the reputation they had in the Roman world of Paul’s day.   If we are to be sound in the faith, we have to believe the whole Word of God and stand on it.   Those we teach will not be any stronger or better prepared than what we accurately teach.   Titus was to know the Word and to teach the Cretians (and all men) be sound in faith.

Titus 1:14  Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.

Titus 1:15  Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.

Jewish fables and commandments of men will turn one away from the truth.   We need to be careful what we study and be sure the author is a person who is true to God’s Word.  We can learn error even more quickly than we can the truth of God’s Word.  Spend your time predominantly in the Bible, and God will open your eyes to the truth with much study of the Word.  Those who are true Christians and are pure in heart delight in things that are accurate and pure.   Those that are defiled and unbelieving can never find things that suit them.    They do not find delight in the truth, but their mind and conscience is defiled.  God help us to walk according to the Holy Spirit and to seek after perfect and pure things.  Remember the teachings of our Lord to the Samaritan woman at the well.

John 4:19  The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.

John 4:20  Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.

John 4:21  Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.

John 4:22  Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.

John 4:23  But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

John 4:24  God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Titus 1:16  They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

Verse 16 says that these people professed that they know God, but in works they deny him.   God’s desire is for His people to walk in the light as He is in the light.   Those that deny God will not be saved.  It says they are abominable, disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

2 Tim 3:1  This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

2 Tim 3:2  For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

2 Tim 3:3  Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

2 Tim 3:4  Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

2 Tim 3:5  Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

Mat 7:21  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

Mat 7:22  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

Mat 7:23  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

1 John 1:6  If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

1 John 1:7  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

1 John 1:8  If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

1 John 1:9  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 1:10  If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

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Prov 4:18  But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

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