SCRIPTURE: TITUS 1
INTRODUCTION:
Titus was a Greek whom Paul won to Christ. He was one of Paul’s traveling companions and closest friend. He became Paul’s special ambassador and eventually the overseer of the churches in Crete. The church in Crete was an unorganized church and made up of people who needed much instruction in being a Christian. Paul told Titus to teach people the truth of God and instructed him on how to organize and lead the church. He gave the qualifications and duties of elders and urged Titus to be a responsible leader in dealing with the false teachers. Paul emphasized the important of good deeds in the life of the Christian. He urged Titus to be a good example of a mature believer and to teach with courage and conviction. He told Titus to remind the people of the general responsibilities of Christians in society and avoid divisive arguments.
Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ had been entrusted by the command of God to preach His Word. The faith of God’s elect and the knowledge of the truth will lead to godliness – a faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life which God had promised before the beginning of time and to bring His word to light.at his appointed season.
TITUS’ TASK ON CRETE (vs. 5-16)
The reason that Paul left Titus in Crete was for him to straighten out what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town.
QUALIFICATIONS OF AN ELDER
- He must be blameless, the husband of one wife, with children who believe in God and are obedient. (v. 6)
- He must be not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. (v. 7)
- He must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. (v. 8)
- He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message being taught so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it. (v. 9)
- He must silence rebellious people who are mere talkers and deceivers from the circumcision group. (v. 10-12)
- He must rebuke the liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons and those who believe in Jewish myths and reject the truth. (vs. 13-14)
THOUGHTS:
God is truth and He is the source of all truth. God keeps his promise to give us eternal life if we believe in Him. Build your faith on the foundation of a trustworthy God who never lies.
Crete is a small island in the Mediterranean Sea which had a large population of Jews. The churches there were probably founded by Cretan Jews who had been in Jerusalem at Pentecost. The work that needed to do was to establish correct teaching and appoint elders who have strong spiritual leadership. So Paul described some of the qualifications of the elders or overseer so that they can live out God’s Word and be examples for others to follows.