January 29 - Titus

January 29 - Titus

Titus was another young man that Paul trained to be a successor. Paul left him in Crete (Titus 1:5) to finish his work there and to also take Paul's work out to the churches in the surrounding area.

We meet Titus heading to Jerusalem with Paul and Barnabas (Acts 11:29-30; Galatians 2:1). In Galatians 2:3, we see that Titus was not compelled to be circumcised, even though he was Greek, when he made that trip to Jerusalem. This was obviously a test to ensure the truth of the message that Paul was bringing to the Gentiles. Paul wanted to ensure that he was teaching correctly and when the young man that he trusted (Titus) was able to come through without feeling the need for circumcision, Paul's message to the Gentiles was moved forward. God did not require everyone to become a Jew so that they could enter the kingdom of God!

Titus had a few tasks set before him by Paul. He was to organize the church - appoint (ordain) elders and teach them how to act in that role. (Titus 1:5-9) Titus was told to refute false teachers. The quote in Titus 1:12 is from a famous poet - Epimenides and the creation of the term 'Cretan' comes from this time.

Paul did not ask Titus to deal with these people by being nice to them, he was told to rebuke them sharply, but this was to be done so that they would be sound in the faith, not just to take them out.

The second chapter of Titus deals with three different groups of people within the church: the elderly (Titus 2:2-5), the young (Titus 2:6-8) and the slaves (Titus 2:9-10). Paul wanted everyone to come into a better relationship with each other and with God.

The third chapter takes on two more groups of people in Paul's exhortations to Titus regarding the ministry of the local churches. Civil rulers (Titus 3:1-7). We should all be good citizens. The list seems to be long, but it's nothing that can't be achieved. Heretics (Titus 3:8-11). A heretic is actually someone who is divisive. Someone who causes a church to split apart as they choose who to believe. Titus is told to avoid the controversies and warn the divisive person twice. After that - be done with it! Not so easy sometimes, though.

This is a terrific letter, filled with insight that was to be used in organizing the local churches. It's only three short chapters, take some time to read it.

Titus 1:1-16
Titus 2:1-15
Titus 3:1-15