Titus
Chapter 3
“Verses 1-11”: In his closing
remarks, Paul admonished Titus to remind believers under his care of
their attitudes toward:
(1) The unsaved rulers (verse 1), and people in general (verse 2);
(2) Their previous state as unbelievers lost in sin (verse 3);
(3) Of their gracious salvation through Jesus Christ (verses 4-7);
(4) Of their righteous testimony to the unsaved world (verse 8);
(5) And of their responsibility to oppose false teachers and factious members within the church (verses 9-11).
All of these matters are essential to effective evangelism.
Speak evil of no man literally means blaspheme no one.
Be no brawlers (literally, “abstain from fighting”). Unto all
men indicates the universal extent of the Christian mission.
Salvation is not accomplished by works of righteousness, but by
the washing of regeneration. That is, the cleansing that results from
being born again (John 3:3). This is not a reference to baptism but
to the spiritual renewing produced by the Holy Ghost (see Ezekiel
36:25-26). Consequently, we are justified by his grace and will be
made heirs because we have the hope (strong confidence), of eternal
life.
Titus 3:1
"Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and
powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,"
“Subject”: Submission to the authority of Scripture demands
submission to human authorities as part of a Christian’s testimony
(Rom. 13:1-7; 1 Pet. 2:12-17).
We have discussed before how God makes a person to be king, or
president, or in fact, governors or lesser offices, for His purpose.
To go against the ruling government, would be saying that you cannot
trust God's judgment.
The way to go up against them is at the voting booth. The only
time we should go against the government is, if what they ask you to
do is against your belief in God. It is best to keep the laws of the
land and live peaceable lives.
Titus 3:2
"To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, [but] gentle,
showing all meekness unto all men."
“All men”: Christians are to exemplify these godly virtues in
their dealings with everyone. The admonition applies especially to
dealings with unbelievers. The use of this phrase here to refer to
mankind in general (particularly those who cross our paths). Rather
than every person who lives, supports the fact that it has the same
meaning (in 2:11).
We should not even speak evil against our enemy. We are not to
create trouble for ourselves, or anyone else. We are to be
peacemakers. The meekness above, is really speaking of being humble.
The worldly man tends to talk about others, thinking it will make
him look better, but Christians should do the opposite and build
others up.
Titus 3:3
"For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish,
disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in
malice and envy, hateful, [and] hating one another."
“Ourselves”: It is not that every believer has committed every
sin listed here, but rather that before salvation every life is
characterized by such sins. That sobering truth should make believers
humble in dealing with the unsaved, even those who are grossly
immoral and ungodly.
If it weren’t for God’s grace to His own, they would all be
wicked (1 Pet. 3:15; 2 Tim. 2:25). For other lists of sins (see
Romans 1:18-32; 1 Cor. 6:9-10; Gal. 5:19-21; Eph. 4:17-19).
This is a perfect description of all of us, before we came to
Jesus. This is the way of the world, or the way of the flesh.
Selfish, unsaved people do all the things above, because they are
listening to the lust of their flesh. Until we receive the pattern of
the perfect love of Jesus, we do not know how to love.
I love the answer Jesus gave when the disciples asked Him; what
were the most important commandments. The following is the answer He
gave them.
Mark 12:30-31 "And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all
thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all
thy strength: this [is] the first commandment." "And the
second [is] like, [namely] this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as
thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these."
Hate is of the world, love is of God.
Titus 3:4
"But after that the kindness and love of God our Savior
toward man appeared,"
“Kindness … appeared” (as in 2:11). Paul is speaking of
Jesus Christ, who was kindness and love incarnate, appearing in human
form (Ephesians 2:4-6).
A companion Scripture to this is;
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but
have everlasting life."
While we were yet in sin, Christ gave Himself to save us;
1 Timothy 4:10 "For therefore we both labor and suffer
reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of
all men, specially of those that believe."
The kindness and love of God our Savior toward men, is caught up
in one word, grace. "Grace" is unmerited favor from God to
man.
Ephesians 2:4-5 "But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great
love wherewith he loved us," "Even when we were dead in
sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are
saved;)"
Titus 3:5
"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but
according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration,
and renewing of the Holy Ghost;"
“Not by works of righteousness”: Salvation has never been by
deeds, or works (see Eph. 2:8-9; Rom. 3:19-28).
“According to his mercy”: (Eph. 2:4; 1 Tim. 1:13; 1 Peter 1:3,
2:10).
“Washing of regeneration” (see Ezek. 36:25-31; Eph. 5:26-27;
James 1:18; 1 Pet. 1:23). Salvation brings divine cleansing from sin
and the gift of a new, Spirit generated, Spirit-empowered, and
Spirit-protected life as God’s own children and heirs (verse 7).
This is the new birth (John 3:5; 1 John 2:29; 3:9; 4:7; 5:1).
“Regeneration” refers to the work of the Holy Spirit in the
salvation experience that produces new life in the believer. To
express this concept, Jesus used the expression “born again” in
His conversation with Nicodemus (John 3:3-7).
Regeneration is the work of God through the Holy Spirit, of
placing in one who has faith a new nature, capable of doing God’s
will.
“Renewing of the Holy Ghost” (Romans 8:2). He is the agent of
the “washing of regeneration.”
The Holy Spirit is the agent of divine workman of this
regeneration. His instrument is the bible which is likened to a
hammer that judges sin (Jer. 23:29); a mirror that reveals sin (James
1:23), a sword that defeats Satan (Heb. 4:12), and a lamp that guides
the believers (Psalm 119:105).
People are instantaneously “born again,” the moment they trust
Christ as Savior (1 Peter 1:23). Christians should be careful to
cooperate with God in growing as children of God after they are
regenerated, or given new life.
Our own righteousness is but filthy rags. We could work forever
and the work would not make us righteous. We are righteous in God's
sight, because we are dressed in white robes washed in the blood of
the Lamb of God. We have been clothed in the righteousness of Christ.
We are acceptable to God, because Jesus made us acceptable, not by
any work we do.
Revelation 7:13-14 "And one of the elders answered, saying
unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence
came they?" "And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he
said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and
have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the
Lamb."
Another type of washing that this could mean, is the washing of
regeneration mentioned in the following Scripture.
Ephesians 5:26 "That he might sanctify and cleanse it with
the washing of water by the word,"
Titus 3:6
"Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our
Savior;"
“Abundantly”: When believers are saved, Christ’s Spirit
blesses them beyond measure (Acts 2:38-39; 1 Cor. 12:7, 11, 13; Eph.
3:20; 5:18).
We Christians, are born again in Jesus Christ. We die to the
flesh, and are quickened in our spirit by the Lord Jesus Christ. We
know that Jesus promised the Comforter would come. The Comforter did
come. He is the Holy Ghost. He empowers us in our spirit to minister.
Titus 3:7
"That being justified by his grace, we should be made
heirs according to the hope of eternal life."
“Justified”: The central truth of salvation is justification
by faith alone. When a sinner repents and places his faith in Jesus
Christ, God declares him just, imputes the righteousness of Christ to
him, and gives him eternal life by virtue of the substitutionary
death of Christ as the penalty for that sinner’s iniquity (Romans
3:21 – 5:21; Gal. 3:6-22; Phil. 3:8-9).
“Heirs”: As adopted children of God through faith in Jesus
Christ, believers become “heirs of God and fellow heirs with
Christ” (Rom. 8:17; 1 Pet. 1:3-4).
Because He shed His grace on us, we are justified (just as if we
had never sinned).
Galatians 3:29 "And if ye [be] Christ's, then are ye
Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise."
1 Peter 3:7 "Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with [them]
according to knowledge, giving honor unto the wife, as unto the
weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that
your prayers be not hindered."
All who are justified by Jesus will inherit life eternal and be
sons of God.
1 John 3:1 "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath
bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore
the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not."
Titus 3:8
"[This is] a faithful saying, and these things I will that
thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be
careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable
unto men."
“Faithful saying”: A common expression in the early church,
used 5 times in the Pastoral Epistles (1 Tim. 1:15; 3:1; 4:9: 2 Tim.
2:11), is in general, referring to those who respond by the holy
witness to the gospel.
This is just simply saying we must walk in the salvation we have
received of God. Paul is telling Titus to keep reminding his people
to be working, until Jesus comes. This is not only profitable to God
but to man, as well.
Titus 3:9
"But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and
contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable
and vain."
“Foolish questions”: Paul again warns against becoming
embroiled in senseless discussions with the many false teachers on
Crete (see 1:10, 14-16), especially the Judaizers
who contended that a Christian must be obedient to “the Mosaic
Law,” a view that assaulted the doctrine of
justification by grace through faith alone and, contrary to holy
living, which was good and profitable, was “unprofitable and
worthless.”
Proclaiming the truth, not arguing error, is the biblical way to
evangelize.
It seemed the Jewish Christians kept bringing up questions about
keeping the Law of Moses. Paul tells Titus not to even get into a
discussion with them on these matters. It would just cause confusion
and strife. They would not accomplish anything, except they would
divide the people.
Jesus warned over and over about studying genealogies. This is as
if one class of people are better than the other. Look what John the
Baptist had to say about genealogies in the next verse.
Matthew 3:9 "And think not to say within yourselves, We have
Abraham to [our] father: for I say unto you, that God is able of
these stones to raise up children unto Abraham."
“Verses 10-11”: A heretic was originally one who caused
divisions or factions, but later the word emphasized such a person’s
peculiar or unorthodox beliefs. Therefore, heretics and schismatics
are to be rejected. As in all his epistle, Paul urges fidelity to the
apostles’ doctrine.
Titus 3:10
"A man that is an heretic after the first and second
admonition reject;"
“Reject”: Anyone in the church who is unsubmissive,
self-willed, and divisive should be expelled. Two warnings are to be
given, following the basic pattern for church discipline set forth by
Christ (see Matt. 18:15-17; Rom. 16:17-18; 2 Thess. 3:14-15).
The word Heresy literally means “choosing one’s own ideas,”
but now refers to that which is untrue. Even the New Testament church
had false or heretical teachers who taught erroneous doctrine. Some
epistles were specifically written to combat them (e.g. Galatians and
2 Thessalonians).
Paul warned the Romans against identifying with those who promoted
divisive, heretical teachings (Rom. 16:17). He advised Titus to
reject heretics if they did not respond after two warnings (verse
10). John warned that a heretic should not be admitted into a
Christian’s home (2 John 10).
Not everyone who makes an incorrect doctrinal statement is a
heretic. When Apollos was further instructed concerning the gospel,
he grew into a mighty Christian leader (Acts 18:24-28). By contrast,
Hymeneus and Philetus were heretics when they rejected Gods truth and
hurt the faith of some believers (2 Tim. 2:16-18).
Christians should as much as possible dissociate themselves from
every heretic, to be unhindered in their Christian lives.
A "heretic" is someone who does not accept the teachings
of the church and decides to make up his own doctrine. "Admonition"
means rebuke, or warning. This means then, if you have warned him
more than once, then reject him.
Titus 3:11
"Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth,
being condemned of himself."
“Being condemned”: By his own ungodly behavior, a factious
believer brings judgment on himself.
The word translated "subverted" could have meant
perverted. It seems this person has gone so far that it is not
probable he will change. Since he will not repent and change, he has
condemned himself.
Verses 12-14: Paul gives Titus special instructions.
Titus 3:12
"When I shall send Artemas unto thee, or Tychicus, be
diligent to come unto me to Nicopolis: for I have determined there to
winter."
“Artemas”: Nothing is known of this man beyond Paul’s
obvious confidence in him.
“Tychicus”: This “beloved brother and faithful servant”
(Col. 4:7), accompanied Paul from Corinth to Asia Minor (Acts 20:4),
carried the apostle’s letter to the Colossian church (Col. 4:7),
and possibly his letter to Ephesus (see Eph. 6:21).
“Nicopolis”: The name means “city of victory”, and this
was but one of perhaps 9 different cities so named because of
decisive military battles that were won in or near them. This
particular Nicopolis was probably in southern Greece, on the West
cost of Achaia, which was a good place “to spend the winter.”
It seems after Titus finished setting up the church at Crete, Paul
wanted him to return to him. Paul would send Artemas to this church
at Crete and Tychicus to Ephesus to minister in the church. It seems
Paul was concerned that they might not get the proper message in
their sermons, so he sent someone he had trained. This Nicopolis
would have been on the way to Rome.
Titus 3:13
"Bring Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey
diligently, that nothing be wanting unto them."
“Zenas”: Nothing is known of this believer whose expertise was
either in biblical law or Roman law.
“Apollos”: Originally from Alexandria, he was an outstanding
teacher of Scripture who was converted to Christ after being
acquainted only with the teaching of John the Baptist (Acts
18:24-28). Some of his followers apparently formed a faction in the
church at Corinth (1 Cor. 1:11-12; 3:4).
Apollos was well known, he is the same Apollos that Priscilla and
Aquila had ministered to. Paul might need a lawyer when he got to
Rome, but I hardly doubt that is why this is mentioned here.
Titus 3:14
"And let ours also learn to maintain good works for
necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful."
“Good works:” Again, the emphasis is on good deeds as the
platform for witnessing effectively (verse 8; 1:13-16; 2:5, 8, 10,
12, 14).
Ours here, is speaking of the members of the church at Crete. The
good works spoken of probably, is speaking of taking up an offering
for the travelers. They should be willing to help the missionaries
who came by their church.
The main reason a person should give, besides the necessity, is
what it will do for their own feelings knowing they have been of help
in the ministry. They can participate in the missionary endeavor,
even though they do not go on the trip.
The workers, who do make the trip, are just one part of the work
that it takes to get them there. This way they could feel a part of
the work, too.
Titus 3:15
"All that are with me salute thee. Greet them that love us
in the faith. Grace [be] with you all. Amen."
“All that are with me” (1 Cor. 16:20; 2 Cor. 13:12; Phil.
4:22; also Rom. 16:21-23; Col. 4:10-14), where those with Paul are
mentioned by name.
This is a typical salutation from Paul. He includes all who are
with him. Paul knows and feels the love of the people in the churches
he had so much to do with. He knows their love stems from the fact
that directly, or indirectly, he had brought them the message of
faith in Jesus Christ.
