A Few Thoughts on the Epistle of Titus Titus 1:1-4

Outline

B1 Chapter 1

C1 Titus 1:1-4 Salutation

C2 Titus 1:5-9 Church leaders

C3 Titus 1:10-16 Rebuke

B2 Chapter 2

C1 Titus 2:1-2 Older Men

C2 Titus 2:3-5 Older Women

C3 Titus 2:6-8 Young Men

C4 Titus 2:9-10 Slaves and Masters

C5 Titus 2:11 God Wants All to Be Saved

C6 Titus 2:12-15 Preach Godliness

B3 Chapter 3

C1 Titus 3:1-2 Dealing with non-Christians

C2 Titus 3:3-8 What We Were, and How God Changed Us

C3 Titus 3:9-11 Avoid

C4 Titus 3:12-15 Final Greetings

Chapter 1

Titus 1:1-4 Salutation

1 Paul a servant of God and apostle of Jesus Christ according to the faith of God’s chosen and full knowledge of that truth, which is according to godliness,

2 In hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before the world began.

3 At the right time, he made his word unmistakably clear through preaching which was entrusted to me according to the commandment of God our Savior.

4 To Titus, my true son in the common faith, may grace, mercy, and peace be yours from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior.

Notes

B1 Verse 1

C1 Servant and apostle

D1 Paul is a voluntary servant. He is not the slave of a harsh owner.

D2 God’s style of leadership (He is King of the Universe) is that He prefers voluntary service and obedience rather than coerced service.

D3 Paul’s commission from God is apostleship. God delegates. God is not a micromanager decreeing everything exhaustively and rendering it certain.

D4 God’s offices that He commissions: 1 Corinthians 12:28 NLT Here are some of the parts God has appointed for the church: first are apostles, second are prophets, third are teachers, then those who do miracles, those who have the gift of healing, those who can help others, those who have the gift of leadership, those who speak in unknown languages.

D5 The purpose of these offices is to assist and increase the church in knowledge (includes apologetics), faith, living the Christian life, teaching the Christian worldview, answering questions, healing the hurts (as much as possible) of the believers, etc. Ephesians 4:11-12 NLT Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God's people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.

D6 Every believer has a spiritual gift from God to serve each other. Hopefully we are exercising that gift, and not claiming, “It’s the pastor’s job.” 1 Corinthians 12:4-7 WEL Now there are different gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are different ministries, but the same Lord. 6 There are different results, but it is the same God who works all in all. 7 This observable ministry of the Spirit is given to everyone for the benefit [of all].

D5 An apostle

E1 Qualifications: Acts 1:21-22 CSB Therefore, from among the men who have accompanied us during the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us—beginning from the baptism of John until the day he was taken up from us—from among these, it is necessary that one become a witness with us of his resurrection.

E2 Paul had not accompanied Jesus but has seen the resurrected Christ on the Damascus road.

F1 1 Corinthians 9:1 NKJV Am I not an apostle? Am I not free? Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord?

F2 1 Corinthians 15:8 NKJV Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.

F3 Acts 9:3, 5 NKJV As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. ... And he said, "Who are You, Lord?" Then the Lord said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads."

C2 Faith of God’s chosen

D1 Faith refers to the body of Christian belief (Gospel, doctrine, and life).

D2 God’s chosen may refer to either Jesus Christ or all believers. Jesus is the teacher of the faith continued on through the work of the Holy Spirit.

E1 Refers to Jesus as in 1 Peter 2:6 NIV For in Scripture it says: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame."

E2 Refers to all believers as in Colossians 3:12-13 WEL Therefore put on—as the chosen of God, holy and dearly loved—a heart of compassion, kindness, a humble attitude, caring gentleness, longsuffering, 13 Putting up with one another and forgiving one another. If anyone has a quarrel against any other, then even as Christ forgave you, so you also do.

C3 Full knowledge would be complete knowledge. It is the responsibility of the leaders to teach the people the complete faith. It is the responsibility of the believers to read and study their New Testament to learn the faith. Biblical illiteracy is much too high.

C4 Godliness, that is, God’s standard.

B2 Verse 2

C1 Hope. Faith is believing God. Hope is the expectant waiting for what is promised.

D1 Paul had faith, that is, he believed God’s promise of eternal life.

D2 Paul had hope, that is, he has not yet experienced it but is confident it will happen.

D3 Faith is believing God: Hebrews 11:1 CSB Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen.

D4 Hope is the confidence of what we believe: 1 Thessalonians 5:8 NLT But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation.

C2 God cannot lie.

D1 Truth is the core character trait of God. Because of this we know God’s love is true love, God’s compassion is true compassion, God’s warning are true warnings, God’s offer of salvation is a true offer, God’s promises are true promises, and what God says (Scripture) is truth. It is not flattery, manipulation, deceiving, etc. God’s being, God’s thoughts, God’s words, God’s rules, God’s kingship, God’s character traits, God’s lifestyle, God’s decisions are all truth done in wisdom, love, and holiness.

D2 Psalm 12:6 NET The LORD's words are absolutely reliable. They are as untainted as silver purified in a furnace on the ground, where it is thoroughly refined.

D3 James 1:17 GW Every good present and every perfect gift comes from above, from the Father who made the sun, moon, and stars. The Father doesn't change like the shifting shadows produced by the sun and the moon.

D4 Compare those who did not (refuse to believe). They understood but did not believe.

E1 Psalm 106:24 NET They rejected the fruitful land; they did not believe his promise.

E2 Matthew 21:32 NET For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him. But the tax collectors and prostitutes did believe. Although you saw this, you did not later change your minds and believe him.

E3 Jude 1:5 NET Now I desire to remind you (even though you have been fully informed of these facts once for all) that Jesus, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, later destroyed those who did not believe.

C1 Promised before world began

D1 All was planned by God’s before creating.

D2 1 Corinthians 2:7 NLT No, the wisdom we speak of is the mystery of God—his plan that was previously hidden, even though he made it for our ultimate glory before the world began.

B2 Verse 3

D1 Messiah dying for our sins. Salvation as a gift in meeting God’s conditions. Faith, not works, for salvation. All was hidden and mysterious until Jesus came and preached.

E1 Romans 16:25 NASB Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past,

E2 Ephesians 6:19 CSB Pray also for me, that the message may be given to me when I open my mouth to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel.

B3 Verse 4

C1 Grace is God’s gift of strength to do His will.

C2 Mercy is God’s gift of not giving us what we really deserve, because of the ministry of His Son, the Lord Jesus.

C3 Faith is believing God.