4:8; Titus 3:8), Regarding our future reign with Christ (2 Tim. He was then dispatched to Corinth, Greece, where he successfully reconciled the Christian community there with Paul, its founder. From the form of the whole sentence, it seems probable that this disciple had been with St. Paul in Rome during his final imprisonment; but this cannot be asserted confidently. However, Paul also understood that when a body of believers embraces sound doctrine, the result is changed and purified lives that produce good deeds (mentioned in Titus 2:7, 14; 3:8, 14). And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. Proud member They are to teach what is good. Although the data regarding Titus in the NT is scanty, nevertheless much can be learned from his pastoral activities and the letter addressed to him as a model and manual for a pastor. Do not give your strength to women, your ways to those who destroy kings. He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it. No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. Right living was essential because Christ gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, saving us by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit (Titus 2:14; 3:5). 1. Such were Paul's plans; whether they were carried out is unknown. (For Titus 1:5-9, see 1 Timothy 3:1-13 above. They must not only teach sound teaching but also oppose false teaching and show the mistakes being made. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Find out more about his work here. therefore thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, 'Behold, I am bringing such calamity on Jerusalem and Judah, that whoever hears of it, both his ears will tingle. 2:1). And on the third day, behold, a man came from Saul's camp, with his clothes torn and dirt on his head. And night will be no more. This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father. Assuming this information is correct, and given the fact that many early Christians were martyred (John was the only one of the apostles to die of old age), its possible that Titus died by martyrdom. But this at least is certain, that Titus did rejoin Paul, if not at Nicopolis, then at some other spot; and he was with him in Rome on the occasion of his 2nd imprisonment there, for he is mentioned once again (2Timothy 4:10) as having gone to Dalmatia, evidently on an evangelistic errand, as the apostle was in the habit of sending his trusted friends to do such work, when he himself was no longer able to do this, owing to his imprisonment. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. The other man is Timothy, and the second letter to the Corinthians is addressed as from Paul and Timothy to the church in Corinth (2 Corinthians 1:1). John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. However, his letter from Paul gives us some valuable insights, both about the early church and about following Christ today. This testimony is true. After that he must be released for a little while. There is also one more "rule" mentioned by the Apostle Paul with regard to teaching. Paul's action therefore in regard to Titus was justified. His earnestness is mentioned as a challenge to the Corinthians. We find him, at a later period, with Paul and Timothy at Ephesus, whence he was sent by Paul to Corinth for the purpose of getting the contributions of the church there in behalf of the poor saints at Jerusalem sent forward ( 2Corinthians 8:6 ; 12:18 ). When Artemas and Tychicus arrived in Crete to direct the ministry, Paul summoned Titus to join him in Nicopolis, a city in the province of Achaia in western Greece ( Titus 3:12 ). V [4N a2_<>~ E Titus was also again entrusted with the work of overseeing the weekly collection in the Corinthian church (2Corinthians 8:10,24). Many churches today focus more on the form of their worshipmusic styles, lighting, and building designsthan they do on the content of the faith they mean to proclaim. ; the house of a certain man for a certain man's house, A.V. 35 Bible Verses about Destruction Of Jerusalem. Paul identified himself as the author of the letter to Titus, calling himself a bond-servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ (Titus 1:1). After the departure of Titus from Corinth, difficulty had again arisen in the church there, and Titus seems to have been sent by Paul a second time to that city, as the apostle's messenger, carrying a letter from him--referred to in 2Corinthians 2:3; 7:8. Three summaries of the incarnation dot the pages of Titus, providing a framework within which the Christian can view the work of God in the world and in individual lives (Titus 1:14; 2:1114; 3:47). The Life of Ruth - 5 Essential Faith Lessons, The Greatest Villain - King Nebuchadnezzar. Titus, A letter of fundraising, was sent by Paul to Corinth to solicit donations for the needy in Jerusalem. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. Y Paul substantiates his devotion to the Corinthians by arguing that he was of the same mind and attitude as Titus (12:18). Titus would seem on the occasion of the council to have been specially a representative of the church of the uncircumcision. Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. The origin of the church there is unknown, but may have been started by the same returning Cretans who were present at Pentecost (see Acts 2:11). OpenBible.info Recently on our podcast, Charlotte Clay, our director of Marketing and Communications, and Dr. Jeff Kloha, our chief curatorial officer, interviewed Dr. Steven Fine, director of the Center for Israel Studies at Yeshiva University, an expert in the history of Judaism and the lead curator for The Samaritans: A Biblical People, an exhibition featured at Museum of the Bible from September 16, 2022 . The title in the Greek NT literally reads "To Titus.". The highest mountain, Mount Ida, was the traditional birthplace of the Greek god Zeus. General Editor. Even though Paul spends a lot of time describing just how foolish heretics are, he holds out hope that they can change. Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary - Titus, International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Titus. "He that comforteth the lowly, even God, comforted us by the coming of Titus . while he told us your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me; so that I rejoiced yet more" (2Corinthians 7:6,7). In the days when the judges ruled there was a famine in the land, and a man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons. Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. 11, the restless and mischievous Judaizers. He restores my soul. It appears that Titus was dealing with a difficult and somewhat unruly congregation in Crete. On three different occasion Paul sent Titus to Corinth. The Judaistic party in the church at Jerusalem desired to have Titus circumcised, but Paul gave no subjection to these persons and to their wishes, "no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you" (Galatians 2:5). The three pastoral epistles may be favorably compared. As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker for your benefit. Write up a list of well-known New Testament figures, and you probably wont find Titus on it. Paul advises Titus to handle these people by rebuking them to make them strong in the faith (Titus 1:13), and to give a first and second warning (Titus 3:10). at the time of the Jewish revolt. Publisher: OpenBible.info. But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.. Titus was a Gentile Christian (Galatians 2:3), possibly a convert of Paul (Titus 1:4). Start for FREE. In the interval between the two, he and Titus were together in Crete. Titus records the final of four instances, in the pastoral epistles where we read the little phrase, this is a faithful saying. These are: Referring to Jesus saving ministry (1 Tim. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. From this letter we gather the following biographical details. The decision was in favor of the free promulgation of the gospel, as preached by Paul, and unrestricted by Jewish ordinances. The matter in dispute was decided as recorded in Acts 15:13-29. <> 6. A Psalm of David. Make doctrine a priority in your own life, as well as encouraging it in your churches. In the unrest and fightings and fears which the troubles at Corinth had caused Paul to experience, his spirit was refreshed when Titus reached him. The all-too-common phenomenon of pastors kids not following their parents faith and its becoming clear that their parents were emotionally absent proves this in a very sad way. These took Moabite wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. God bless Chuck, God bless Insight For Living. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach. Unless otherwise indicated, all content is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License. Sometimes shock-value is whats necessary. Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught. 1. Who? Does the Bible Condemn Using Tarot Cards? Other scholars, while conceding a degree of validity to the positions mentioned above, suggest that the . Even the women in the church may have had problems with alcohol (see 2:3). For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says. For Sheol does not thank you; death does not praise you; those who go down to the pit do not hope for your faithfulness. BEST VALUE in digital Bible study. Only when God the Son took on human flesh in the person of Jesus was the believers faith in God made sure. These things can come from internal or external influences, and they can cause a Christian to backslide. The brief reign of Titus was noteworthy mainly for two disasters by which it was visited. II, 11). Lastly, the name of Titus was the watchword of the Cretans when they were invaded by the Venetians. ( 2Corinthians 8:6 ) Thus we are prepared for what the apostle now proceeds to do after his encouraging conversations with Titus regarding the Corinthian church. And not only by his coming but also by the comfort with which he was comforted by you, as he told us of your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced still more. First passage: For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works (2:11-14). To overview the duties of leaders and laity in a local church. On another level, this shows that elders must be people who dont just do Gods work in public, but also preach it at home. In the year 80 there was a plague and disastrous fire at Rome. TITUS t ts (, G5519). He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. Paul wasn't messing around when he wrote this letter to Titus, a Greek follower of Jesus who helped Paul navigate tight situations (see Galatians 2:1-3 and 2 Corinthians 7-8). H Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. Our materials for the biography of this companion of St. Paul must be drawn entirely from the notices of him in the Second Epistle to the Corinthians, the Galatians, and to Titus himself, combined with the Second Epistle to Timothy. This grace of God instructs us to live upright and godly lives in this present age (2:113:8). Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, Now in the days of Ahasuerus, the Ahasuerus who reigned from India to Ethiopia over 127 provinces, in those days when King Ahasuerus sat on his royal throne in Susa, the citadel, in the third year of his reign he gave a feast for all his officials and servants. Its certainly wrong to talk in a malicious way (1 Peter 2:1) and Paul warns elsewhere about avoiding filthy jokes (Ephesians 5:4). F There is no further notice of Titus for some years afterward, when he is again mentioned in 2 Corinthians. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. The probability is that Titus, who had long been associated with Paul (Galatians 2:3), who, as his commissioner, had executed difficult offices in Corinth (2Corinthians 7-9), and who, not very long before 2 Timothy was written, had completed some missionary work in Crete that had been begun by others, had gone as a missionary and as Paul's representative and helper to Dalmatia. From the notices in this Epistle it appears that Titus had been sent by Paul, along with an unnamed "brother," to Corinth as the apostle's delegate to the church there (2Corinthians 12:18). Titus was the only Gentile individual to receive a New Testament epistle. Therefore we are comforted. The child of God is to protect the gospel in 1 Timothy. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church? If it is the visit of Acts 15 (preferable identification in the light of Pauline chronology), Titus contact with Paul was at least before the second missionary journey. But hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. Paul now wrote to the Corinthians again--our Second Epistle to the Corinthians--and dispatched it to its destination by the hand of Titus, into whose heart `God had put the same earnest care for them' (2Corinthians 8:16-18). Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Sometimes saying something shocking is whats needed to get the point across. They had a notorious reputation of being always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons (Titus 1:12, NASB). I Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light, and there was light. @o5/?)wPyfs9m 7o_~wO}q4d. He then meets Paul in Macedonia and is sent back to Corinth carrying the epistle of 2 Corinthians to pave the way for Pauls coming and to complete their offering (2 Cor. Whether Titus accompanied Paul during all these journeys cannot be ascertained. 5 0 obj A summary of the person and ministry of Titus would include: He was a Gentile (Greek, see Gal. Cite this page: Editor: Stephen Smith. Did we not take the same steps? ti'-tus (Titos (2Corinthians 2:13; 7:6,13; 8:6,16,23; 12:18; Galatians 1:2:1,3; 2Timothy 4:10; Titus 1:4)): A Greek Christian, one of Paul's intimate friends, his companion in some of his apostolic journeys, and one of his assistants in Christian work. See 1Corinthians 16:1,2 compared with 2Corinthians 8:6: "We exhorted Titus, that as he had made a beginning before, so he would also complete in you this grace also.". Hes one of those figures who doesnt play a huge part in the main story, mostly getting mentioned in the letter Paul wrote to him and a few times in Pauls other letters. He did not require his disciples to be circumcised, but if the situation called for working among Jews and it made things easier, he would concede to it. The army of Persia and Media and the nobles and governors of the provinces were before him, while he showed the riches of his royal glory and the splendor and pomp of his greatness for many days, 180 days. Advice to the people in the pews and the pastor in the pulpit, 3. Freedom and glory in Christ (Titus 2:11-15, 3:3-8). Both emphasize good works as the visible proof of saving faith. This island, southeast of Greece, was about 150 miles long and 35 miles wide, thus making it the largest of the Mediterranean islands. Apparently, Titus was successful in this mission (Rom 15:26) and the following spring Paul went to Jerusalem with this offering (Rom 15:25). And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. Paul highlights how some foolish people at the Cretan church fool others with useless talk (Titus 1:10) about circumcision, spiritual genealogies, and following Jewish laws that Christians dont have to follow. Conduct for the congregants (Titus 2:1-10, 3:1-11). O/0jp^wEa(mD=_LuJrJ2GI xoodb;ZCRgIjF+_}f}5/?^':lay78K[f7? Whether Titus ever ministered to Jewish believers is not stated, and both he and Titus worked at churches in Gentile areas (Timothy in Ephesus, Titus in Crete, and Corinth and Dalmatia). In fact Titus was a representative or test case. This epistle is named for its recipient, Titus, who is mentioned by name 13 times in the NT ( 1:4; Gal. Paul's many journeys are well documented and show that he wrote to Titus from Nicopolis in Epirus. He died of fever on September 13, a few years later. It can be safely assumed that all these references refer to the same individual. Both Timothy and Titus served as Pauls messengers and traveling companions, and they both went on to lead churches. Church leaders may put on a good face at work, but their behavior at home and how their children respond to them speaks volumes. And Peter said to them, Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The island of Crete, located in the Mediterranean Sea: Was 156 miles long. And sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us. The most prominent cities in the early Roman period were Gortyn (the administrative capital, known for its celebrated "Gortyn Code," a set of classical codified laws), Knossos (a Roman colony most likely established by Augustus famous for its Bronze Age palace), and the less-explored Eleutherna, Hierapytna, and Kydonia. Nicopolis: a city where Paul proposed to spend the winter and where he invited Titus to join him. If anyone sins in that he hears a public adjuration to testify, and though he is a witness, whether he has seen or come to know the matter, yet does not speak, he shall bear his iniquity; or if anyone touches an unclean thing, whether a carcass of an unclean wild animal or a carcass of unclean livestock or a carcass of unclean swarming things, and it is hidden from him and he has become unclean, and he realizes his guilt; or if he touches human uncleanness, of whatever sort the uncleanness may be with which one becomes unclean, and it is hidden from him, when he comes to know it, and realizes his guilt; or if anyone utters with his lips a rash oath to do evil or to do good, any sort of rash oath that people swear, and it is hidden from him, when he comes to know it, and he realizes his guilt in any of these; when he realizes his guilt in any of these and confesses the sin he has committed, Now Jacob heard that the sons of Laban were saying, Jacob has taken all that was our father's, and from what was our father's he has gained all this wealth. And Jacob saw that Laban did not regard him with favor as before. Jewish history. In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. These scattered allusions to the character of Titus indicate his close relationship to Paul and his stellar qualifications as a pastor. He says that Crescens has gone to Thessalonica, Titus to Dalmatia. Asthe letter goes on, it transitions through several subjects: Character requirements for being an elder (Titus 1:1-9). Although there were promising opportunities for mission work in Troas, Pauls concern about Corinth and Titus led him to proceed to Macedonia (obviously there was a pre-arranged travel routeeither by sea or landto obviate the possibility of by-passing one another). 3. And not only that, but he has been appointed by the churches to travel with us as we carry out this act of grace that is being ministered by us, for the glory of the Lord himself and to show our good will. Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our beloved fellow worker and Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier, and the church in your house: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring. Visit the Bible online to search for words if you dont know the specific passage yourre looking for. New International Version (NIV). There are three terms used interchangeably in the New Testament to refer the highest office in a church: elder, overseer, and pastor (which means "shepherd") all refer to the same office. Titus thus may have had the most challenging congregation in all the Bible! Now therefore thus says the Lord, You shall not come down from the bed to which you have gone up, but you shall surely die. So Elijah went. 8:16-23); he is the recipient of this letter. It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to take strong drink, lest they drink and forget what has been decreed and pervert the rights of all the afflicted. In fact Titus was a representative or test case. The first notice of Titus is in Acts 15:2, where we read that after the conclusion of Paul's 1st missionary journey, when he had returned to Antioch, a discussion arose in the church there, in regard to the question whether it was necessary that Gentile Christians should be circumcised and should keep the Jewish Law. Crete: a large island south of Greece where Paul had assigned Titus as pastor of the local church there, 2. According to Titus 1:5, Paul had left Titus at Crete to appoint elders for the church there. He said to have been permanent bishop in the island, and to have died there at an advanced age. 1 Timothy 6:11-16 (NASB) 11 But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue . what happened to angela bellios on wnir,