This week I
want to take a look at Titus. I know a Titus in real life. He is
adorable, funny, smart, intuitive, and such a people person. He is
just a tiny guy and part of our family, actually. We normally spend
time with him around now in the summer and so maybe that's why I feel
a prodding to study this book that this sweet little boy was named
for.
Titus was
actually a Gentile man (Galatians 2:4) who followed along with Paul
in his mission (Galatians 2:1) to spread the truth of Jesus to the
entire known world. This is no small assignment. In fact, Paul spends
much of this letter calling us away from the ordinary life and into
an extraordinary life serving God. He wants to see us use our
God-given gifts and talents to serve God and introduce others to Him.
Remember
that Paul was the one who wrote much of the New Testament as we know
it today after spending a portion of his life as a Jewish pharisee,
persecuting the new believers. Everything changed when he encountered
Jesus on the road to Damascus. His life was forever changed after
that and Jesus has been using him ever since to change our lives as
well.
Paul is
actually the author of this book, this letter that is written to
Titus. The first verses in this book tell us so. They also explain
why Paul is writing:
"This
letter is from Paul, a slave of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ. I
have been sent to proclaim faith to those God has chosen and to teach
them to know the truth that shows them how to live godly lives. 2
This truth gives them confidence that they have eternal life, which
God—who does not lie—promised them before the world began. 3 And
now at just the right time he has revealed this message, which we
announce to everyone. It is by the command of God our Savior that I
have been entrusted with this work for him.
4 I am
writing to Titus, my true son in the faith that we share.
May God the
Father and Christ Jesus our Savior give you grace and peace."
(Titus 1:1-4)
If we read
on, we can also see when Paul wrote it and what Titus' purpose was
there:
"I left
you on the island of Crete so you could complete our work there and
appoint elders in each town as I instructed you." (Titus 1:5)
Now within
five verses, we know that Paul is writing to Titus just after leaving
him to spread the message of Jesus and appoint elders on the Island
of Crete. There's something else to see in these lines too, though.
Paul actually tells us that he is not only a "slave to Christ (a
master-slave position)" but that he has also chosen this
position (apostle of Jesus Christ). An apostle was chosen and sent by
Christ himself. In this letter to Titus, and in several of his other
letters, Paul identifies himself as someone who willingly serves
Christ.
But what
else do we know about Titus? We know that Paul considered him his
"true son in the faith" that they both shared. Keep in mind
that Paul never had any children of his own nor did he marry. So
calling Titus his son is an expression of father-like love for this
man that he loves as a son. He also references him as a companion
alongside Barnabas in Galatians 2:1. Therefore it's safe to assume
that Titus was a really close friend of Paul's who was also working
to introduce others to Jesus. And more than anything, Paul longed to
see Titus and the people of Crete knowing the real truth that comes
from God not the fake truth that the false prophets were teaching all
around them.
We know
little else about Titus, but the letter that Paul wrote to this man
of the faith serves us in a big way today. From it, we gain a list of
what to look for in church leaders (elders). We see the importance of
right teaching and making good choices. But most importantly, we read
Paul's message of HOPE, Christian Hope which is so much more than
some uncertainty of the future. It's a promise grounded in the words
of God. The Book of Titus is tiny but packs a big message. It'll be
great to dig into this little book of the Bible over the next week.
And as we do
so, we are going to unpack Paul's messages and apply them to family
life. How can we serve our families as a team? What does a strong and
uplifting mentor relationship look like between women? How can we, as
women, lift our husbands up? What are some ways that we can be
bighearted and courteous in our own homes? Join me this week as we
strive to answer these questions.
It's my
prayer that we come through this study of Titus with a different
perspective, a powerful hope, a renewed sense of purpose, and that we
are changed because of what we have learned. I can't wait to see what
Jesus teaches us over the next several days.
* Bible
Gateway Commentary about Titus, "Greeting:"
https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/commentaries/IVP-NT/Titus/Greeting-557
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