Titus

1Chapter

Greeting

1Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness, 2in the hope of eternal life that God, who cannot lie, promised before time began. 3In his own time he has revealed his word in the preaching with which I was entrusted by the command of God our Savior:
4To Titus, my true son in our common faith. Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.

Titus’s Ministry in Crete

5The reason I left you in Crete was to set right what was left undone and, as I directed you, to appoint elders in every town. 6An elder must be blameless, the husband of one wife, with faithful children who are not accused of wildness or rebellion. 7As an overseer of God’s household, he must be blameless, not arrogant, not hot-tempered, not an excessive drinker, not a bully, not greedy for money, 8but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, righteous, holy, self-controlled, 9holding to the faithful message as taught, so that he will be able both to encourage with sound teaching and to refute those who contradict it.
10For there are many rebellious people, full of empty talk and deception, especially those from the circumcision party. 11It is necessary to silence them; they are ruining entire households by teaching what they shouldn’t in order to get money dishonestly. 12One of their very own prophets said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” 13This testimony is true. For this reason, rebuke them sharply, so that they may be sound in the faith 14and may not pay attention to Jewish myths and the commands of people who reject the truth.
15To the pure, everything is pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; in fact, both their mind and conscience are defiled. 16They claim to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for any good work.
2Chapter

Sound Teaching and Christian Living

1But you are to proclaim things consistent with sound teaching. 2Older men are to be self-controlled, worthy of respect, sensible, and sound in faith, love, and endurance. 3In the same way, older women are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not slaves to excessive drinking. They are to teach what is good, 4so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands and to love their children, 5to be self-controlled, pure, workers at home, kind, and in submission to their husbands, so that God’s word will not be slandered.
6In the same way, encourage the young men to be self-controlled 7in everything. Make yourself an example of good works with integrity and dignity in your teaching. 8Your message is to be sound beyond reproach, so that any opponent will be ashamed, because he doesn’t have anything bad to say about us.
9Slaves are to submit to their masters in everything, and to be well-pleasing, not talking back 10or stealing, but demonstrating utter faithfulness, so that they may adorn the teaching of God our Savior in everything.
11For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lusts and to live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the present age, 13while we wait for the blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. 14He gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for himself a people for his own possession, eager to do good works.
15Proclaim these things; encourage and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.
3Chapter

Christian Living among Outsiders

1Remind them to submit to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, 2to slander no one, to avoid fighting, and to be kind, always showing gentleness to all people. 3For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another.
4But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, 5he saved us —not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy —through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. 6He poured out his Spirit on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior 7so that, having been justified by his grace, we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life. 8This saying is trustworthy. I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed God might be careful to devote themselves to good works. These are good and profitable for everyone. 9But avoid foolish debates, genealogies, quarrels, and disputes about the law, because they are unprofitable and worthless. 10Reject a divisive person after a first and second warning. 11For you know that such a person has gone astray and is sinning; he is self-condemned.

Final Instructions and Closing

12When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, make every effort to come to me in Nicopolis, because I have decided to spend the winter there. 13Diligently help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey, so that they will lack nothing.
14Let our people learn to devote themselves to good works for pressing needs, so that they will not be unfruitful. 15All those who are with me send you greetings. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with all of you.
Study
Chapter 3
CSB

TWISTED SCRIPTURE

Titus 3:5

The “washing of regeneration” in this verse is often thought to imply that baptism qualifies a person for heaven. The immediate context shows that Paul was explaining the importance of good works in the life of a Christian. He began in verses 1-2 by showing how Christians should not fight but should be kind and gentle. In verses 4-5, he said believers are saved “not by works of righteousness . . . but according to his mercy.” He adds in verse 7 that they have “been justified by his grace,” which contradicts the idea that baptism is a work that saves us. The apostle Peter said that the water does not cleanse a person from sin but is a “pledge of a good conscience toward God” (1Pt 3:21). Baptism, then, is a public testimony of the spiritual cleansing that takes place through faith in Jesus (Ac 16:31; Rm 10:9-10; Eph 2:8-10). Every Christian should get baptized since it is commanded, but baptism does not justify us before God.

ESV

Proper Living, Particularly with Respect to Outsiders. Paul returns to describing “gospel living,” this time with reference to interaction with outsiders. In general the qualities encouraged here (vv. 1–2) are in contrast to the description of the false teachers in 1:10–16.

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ready for every good work. Whereas the false teachers are “unfit for any good work” (1:16), one of the purposes of the cross is to create a people “zealous for good works” (2:14).

ESV

The list closes with a call to take the initiative to show all manner of good to all sorts of people. Perfect courtesy (Gk. prautēta) is a good translation of an often misunderstood word literally meaning “meekness/gentleness.”

ESV

Gospel Basis. As in 2:11–14, Paul explains how his exhortations to godly living (3:1–2) are based on the gospel. This gospel statement is presented in a traditional “conversion” formula—“formerly … but now”—highlighting the ethical and practical change effected by grace.

ESV

Goodness and loving kindness stand in stark contrast to the description of lost humanity in v. 3. The difference is due to the appearance of God our Savior (see note on 2 Tim. 1:8–10).

CSB

This verse is consistent with texts affirming the importance of good works. The NT uniformly teaches that although good works are not a requirement for salvation, they are an inevitable result of salvation. The same gospel that saved sinners like Paul transformed them morally and ethically (v. 3). Verse 8 further insists on the importance of good works as true faith’s necessary expression.

ESV

The transformation described in vv. 3–7 (formerly … but now) is not based on human effort. “We … were once enslaved” (v. 3) but he saved us. God must act before salvation occurs. Salvation comes not because of works but by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit. Some have understood this as saying that baptism (“the washing”) causes salvation. However, in this context human deeds are clearly downplayed (“not because of works”) and the emphasis is on divine action and initiative (“he saved us”). The “washing” described here is the spiritual cleansing, which is outwardly symbolized in baptism.

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Summary Command. The command to insist on these things is similar to 2:15, both statements carrying a significant tone of authority. Again note the emphasis on good works as a mark of believers (see 1:16; 2:14; 3:1).

CSB

See note on 1Tm 1:4.

ESV

The Problem Restated: False Teachers. Paul returns to the problem of false teachers. Thus, the discussion of gospel living (2:1–3:8) is flanked by discussion of those who claim to believe this gospel but fail to live it out.

ESV

But. The reference to the usefulness of correct doctrine in v. 8 sets up the contrast with the worthless nature of the false teaching. As elsewhere in the letters to Timothy and Titus, the exact content of the false teaching is not clear. The point is that it is foolish, unprofitable, and worthless.

ESV

Have nothing more to do with him describes the final stage of church discipline (see also 1 Corinthians 5). A divisive person who refuses to repent and change after being confronted (see Matt. 18:15–20) shows himself to be twisted by sin (warped); thus, he is self-condemned. The NT is clear about seeking the repentance of such people, but it is equally clear that refusal to receive rebuke eventually shows that one is not in Christ and must be excluded from the Christian community.

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Closing Exhortation. In typical fashion for first-century letters, Paul closes with reference to travel plans and greetings. As is also typical of Paul, even these items echo the main thrust of the letter.

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do your best to come to me. Although Paul had left Titus in Crete in order to get the churches there properly established, he was not expected to stay there indefinitely. Artemas is not mentioned elsewhere in the NT. Tychicus is mentioned as an Asian who accompanied Paul on his third journey (Acts 20:4). In Eph. 6:21 and Col. 4:7 he is referred to as a “beloved brother and faithful minister” (see also 2 Tim. 4:12). Nicopolis was a port city in Epirus, on the west coast of the Greek peninsula and about 200 miles (322 km) northwest of Athens.

ESV

Speed … on their way; see that they lack nothing shows Paul’s concern for the support of fellow missionaries and thus speaks to the church’s role in supporting missions—and addressing cases of urgent need—today. Zenas is not mentioned elsewhere in the NT. Apollos is undoubtedly the popular speaker mentioned in Acts and 1 Corinthians (Acts 18:24; 19:1; 1 Cor. 3:6; etc.).

ESV

Having stressed good works throughout the letter, and having just called for assistance of fellow laborers (v. 13), Paul addresses this theme once more. This opportunity to assist Zenas and Apollos is one more example of how Christians can be involved in good works, relieving needs and furthering the gospel.

ESV

Grace be with you all. Paul’s letter, though written primarily to Titus, will be read to the entire congregation.