Paul's Epistle to Titus
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Paul’s Epistle to Titus Introduction: Titus 1:1-5 Who was Paul? He was from a Hebrew family in Tarsus. He was unmarried (widowed?) He was probably in his 60’s Acts 22:3 "I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city (Jerusalem), educated at the feet of Gamaliel according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God as all of you are this day. Act 7:58 Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. 1Co 9:5 Do we not have the right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas? 1Co 7:8 To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is good for them to remain as I am. Terms of Marital Status: • Married • Unmarried (man who lost his wife) • Widow (woman who lost her husband) • Virgin (person, male or female, who has not yet married) Gal 1:11-24 For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man's gospel. 12 For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. 3 For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. 14 And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, 16 was pleased to reveal his Son in me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone; 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus. 18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days. 19 But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord's brother. 20 (In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie!) 21 Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22 And I was still unknown in person to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. 23 They only were hearing it said, "He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy." 24 And they glorified God because of me. Titus Timeline* Birth of Paul’s Titus’ Jerusalem Missionary Letter to Crucifixion Christ Conversion Conversion Council Journeys Titus 5 33 34 40-46 48 46 to 64 64 BC AD 18 to 24 years By the time Paul writes his letter to Titus, they had been ministering and travelling together for up to 24 years. *Derived from “New Testament Timeline” ESV.org Paul’s Epistle to Titus Introduction: Titus 1:1-5 Who was Titus? He was a Greek (Gentile) who had been converted through the ministry of Paul, sometime between Paul’s conversion and the counsel in Jerusalem mentioned in Acts 15. (Galations 2:1-10) In contrast to Timothy, whose mother was Jewish and whose father was Greek, it is likely that both of Titus’ parents were Greek. (Acts 16:1-5) Gal 2:1-10 Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me. 2 I went up because of a revelation and set before them (though privately before those who seemed influential) the gospel that I proclaim among the Gentiles, in order to make sure I was not running or had not run in vain. 3 But even Titus, who was with me, was not forced to be circumcised, though he was a Greek. 4 Yet because of false brothers secretly brought in—who slipped in to spy out our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might bring us into slavery—5 to them we did not yield in submission even for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you. 6 And from those who seemed to be influential (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)—those, I say, who seemed influential added nothing to me. 7 On the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised 8 (for he who worked through Peter for his apostolic ministry to the circumcised worked also through me for mine to the Gentiles), 9 and when James and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. 10 Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do. Act 15:1-5 But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved." 2 And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question. 3 So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the brothers. 4 When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they declared all that God had done with them. 5 But some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees rose up and said, "It is necessary to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses. 6 The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter. This included Titus. (Galations 2:3) Titus was a living example of a gentile Christian. His testimony and life showed that he was a genuine follower of Christ without having complied with the Jewish customs. Titus Timeline Acts 15 Corinth Corinth Birth Convert Crete Rome Dalmatia Death Council Letter 3rd Letter 13 40 -46 48 56 57 64 66 67 107 AD 18 to 24 years By the time Paul writes his letter to Titus, they had been ministering and travelling together for up to 24 years. Do you think that Titus needed new instruction in theology or church government? Paul’s Epistle to Titus Introduction: Titus 1:1-5 What was the reason for the letter? To put in order what remained. To appoint elders in every town (town by town). Acts 16:1-5 Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. 2 He was well spoken of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium. 3 Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. 4 As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them for observance the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem. 5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily. Paul had been associated with Titus for several years before he met Timothy. Paul circumcised Timothy, but had refused to circumcise Titus. Why? Titus was an example to believing Jews that salvation, apart from the law, had come to the Gentiles. Paul discussed this in private at the Council Timothy was to assist in ministry to unbelieving Jews and a lack of circumcision could seriously hinder his ability to teach. 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 1Corinthians 9:19-23 For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. 20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. 21 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. 23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings. Tit 1:1 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, (ESV) Tit 1:1 Paul, a man who has replaced his own will with the will of his master who is God, and someone who has been sent as a representative of Christ, that is to result in the faith of the elect of God, bringing about their knowledge of the truth.