Titus 1:5-16 KJV
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: 6 If any be blameless, the husband
of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. 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; 8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober,
just, holy, temperate; 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. 10 For there are many unruly
and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: 11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert
whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's
sake. 12 One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said,
The Cretians are alway liars,
evil beasts, slow bellies. 13 This
witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the
faith; 14 Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn
from the truth. 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. 16 They profess that they know God; but in
works they deny him, being
abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
Paul introduces himself as the
writer of this letter to Titus
He describes himself first as a
slave of Christ defining to Whom he is subjected and how
He also describes himself as an
apostle defining the authority by which he is writing.
God promised eternal life before the
world began even as Christ is the Lamb slain before the foundation of the
world.
God has now spoken to us by His
Son...the Word made manifest Whom Paul preaches!
God now manifests his promise
through preaching of the Word!
The lengthy introduction
also helps reinforce the authority of Titus' work among the Cretans.
Titus was a young convert under Paul
who was left in charge of a work established in Crete during Paul's visit to
the island. Titus was left in charge of the work in Crete after Paul had
to move on. Titus is a young minister with a monumental task. It speaks much
for the confidence Paul had in Titus’ ability to oversight the work but much
more in his integrity as a Christian worker despite his youth. It seems obvious
that Paul mentored Titus and it is also equally important to point out that
mentoring is an essential task of mature Christians towards the younger. It is
the job of the elders to be mentors of the church as it grows, therefore the
qualifications and lifestyle of the elders is of vital concern to Paul.
A tainted unconsecrated life will
soil and contaminate everything it comes into close contact with.
Titus’
task is to:
1. Set things in order the things that are
wanting
When
Paul left there were a lot of things that still needed attention. Paul had been
unable to complete the many things that were needed so Titus’ job was to
continue to train and motivate members; to encourage spiritual growth and
development of leaders. Quite a task for a young man but it appears that Paul
thought he was able to do this. The work encompassed the whole island since he
had to appoint elders in every city.
2. The
qualifications of elders or bishops
Positive traits:
Blameless, for a
bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; (living a lifestyle that is above reproach and with a good measure of
maturity)
The husband of
one wife: (faithful and true to the one
woman who is his wife, not roving)
Have faithful
children not accused of riot or unruly. (YES!
Standards ARE expected of leaders kids!)
A lover of
hospitality (being ready to help the
needy out of Christian love)
A lover of good
men (upholding and supporting good men
and godly principles)
Sober (sane, sensible and thoughtful through
living in the word)
Just(confirming to God’s standards in all
dealings with all men in business, personal and private)
Holy,
Temperate(self control through surrender and
submission to the Spirit and His Word.)
Negative traits:
Not selfwilled, (wanting to have his own way and becoming
negative and subversive when balked)
Not soon angry (a short fuse usually a result of being self
willed)
Not given to
wine
No striker (anger out of control leads to physical
confrontations)
Not given to
filthy lucre (Manipulation of the
ministry and Word for financial gain)
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.
In spite of what
may come against the minister he must cling firmly and not let go of the Word
for it is the Word by which he will be able to shut the mouths of the
gainsayers not must by speech but by conformity of actions to the Word of God.
Let us like Paul
and Titus become mentors of the young, unlearned and untaught. Let us support
those who need it and nurture them in the way of the LORD! May God enable us to
be qualified for this great work HE has called us to engage in!
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