Reflections on Titus 3

Titus 03 (Contemporary English Version)


1. Remind your people to obey the rulers and authorities and not to be rebellious. They must always be ready to do something helpful
2. and not say cruel things or argue. They should be gentle and kind to everyone.
3. We used to be stupid, disobedient, and foolish, as well as slaves of all sorts of desires and pleasures. We were evil and jealous. Everyone hated us, and we hated everyone.
4. God our Savior showed us how good and kind he is.
5. He saved us because of his mercy, and not because of any good things that we have done. God washed us by the power of the Holy Spirit. He gave us new birth and a fresh beginning.
6. God sent Jesus Christ our Savior to give us his Spirit.
7. Jesus treated us much better than we deserve. He made us acceptable to God and gave us the hope of eternal life.
8. This message is certainly true. These teachings are useful and helpful for everyone. I want you to insist that the people follow them, so that all who have faith in God will be sure to do good deeds.
9. But don't have anything to do with stupid arguments about ancestors. And stay away from disagreements and quarrels about the Law of Moses. Such arguments are useless and senseless.
10. Warn troublemakers once or twice. Then don't have anything else to do with them.
11. You know that their minds are twisted, and their own sins show how guilty they are.
12. I plan to send Artemas or Tychicus to you. After he arrives, please try your best to meet me at Nicopolis. I have decided to spend the winter there.
13. When Zenas the lawyer and Apollos get ready to leave, help them as much as you can, so they won't have need of anything.
14. Our people should learn to spend their time doing something useful and worthwhile.
15. Greetings to you from everyone here. Greet all of our friends who share in our faith. I pray that the Lord will be kind to all of you.
    
    

    ---

    
    Paul was concerned that the Cretian Christians have sound teaching, particularly to offset the exposure they had to the false teachers in their midst. But he was as concerned that sound teaching result in sound living. Teaching that does not result in sound living is useless whether the teaching is sound or not. Thus, in both of the last two chapters of his letter to Titus, Paul instructs Titus to remind the Cretians of living that is consistent with sound teaching. This would not only distinguish them from their countrymen and make the gospel more appealing, but would distinguish them from the false teachers who spoke of lofty spiritual things but did not live lives of good works. Their motives were for personal gain.
    
    So chapter three continues what was begun in chapter two. Titus is to remind the Cretian Christians to "be submissive to rulers and authorities," and "to be ready for every good work." (3:1) Furthermore, they were "to slander no one, to avoid fighting, and to be kind, always showing gentleness to all people." (3:2) These practices are distinctly different than the practices of their former lifestyles. Such a change in lifestyle does not come about through their own efforts but "through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit." (3:5) This is a result of God's "goodness and love" towards us, not of their own "works of righteousness." (3:4, 5) Not only were they made new people through this regeneration and renewal, but they had become "heirs with the hope of eternal life." (3:7)
    
    This instruction, Paul says, is trustworthy and so Titus should insist on these things so the Cretian Christians will "devote themselves to good works" which are "profitable for everyone." (3:8) In the former lifestyles of the Cretian Christians they had been "foolish, disobedient, deceived, captives of various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another." (3:3) Many who live such lifestyles will argue the validity of such a life by saying, "but I'm not hurting anyone." Besides the fact that this statement is usually untrue, does simply not hurting others validate a particular lifestyle? Is it not better for all if one "devotes themselves to good works" which are "profitable for everyone?"
    
    Besides instructing Titus to insist that the Cretians "devote themselves to good works," he wants Titus to also instruct them to "avoid foolish debates, genealogies, quarrels, and disputes about the law." Such activities, he says, "are unprofitable and worthless." (3:9) Getting one's doctrine correct is of little good is that doctrine does not result in a devotion to good works and an avoidance of foolish debates and quarrels which are unprofitable and divisive.