The apostle Paul directed the young evangelist Titus in his letter to him, preserved for us through God’s providence. It is apparent from the text that the church was not all it could be on the island of Crete, and so admonition and instruction was needed from Titus.
After his greeting, Paul wrote Titus, “For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set it in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you” (1:5). The rest of the epistle is a discourse on the lacking things, and the efforts Titus needed to make. By noting them, we can know what kind of congregation and individual Christians we need to be! Consider broadly the text.
First, the churches needed elders. Not just older men, but older men who exhibited certain characteristics. In fact, in 1 Timothy 3:1-7, as Paul wrote to another young man describing such characteristics, he began by noting. “A bishop then must be…” While men today refer to such qualifications as suggestions, we know them to qualify or disqualify a man from being eligible to serve as an overseer of God’s people. Put broadly, older men who exhibit leadership abilities including knowledge, wisdom and character, who have proven themselves by their handling their domestic obligations well, are to be given a similar position of authority among God’s people.
Their task is to defend the truth and stop the mouths of false and divisive brethren, as well as protect and feed the flock of God. There seemed to be a special problem with regard to licentious teachers in Crete, and men were needed to “rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith” (1:13).
Chapter 2 reveals certain expectations regarding all who were in the churches, young and old. These instructions were to be clearly taught by the young evangelist. Older men needed to be taught to be “sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience” (2:2). Older women, likewise were to be admonished to reverent behavior, to refrain from slander, to be sober, and to teach by word and example the younger women. What were the younger women to be taught? What was expected of them? They were “to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed” (2:4-5). Finally, the young men were to be taught as well. To be “sober-minded”, “a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say to you” (2:6-8). Addressing these four groups basically gave instructions to every Christian as to how he or she should conduct him or her self as a child of God.
There was another small group that received instructions as well, the bondservants. They were to be obedient to their masters, to seek to be pleasing to them, not to be mouthy, not to steal, but rather be faithful so that even in this difficult position God would receive glory (2:9-10). As we have often noted, employees today have the same types of responsibilities.
Going back to more general and broad instructions, Paul wrote, “For the grace of God that brings salvation had appeared to all men” (2:11). Interestingly, the benefits of such grace, as we consider what it cost our Lord, helps to instruct us in what God expects of us. It teaches us that “denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” (2:12-13). As we contemplate the nature and extent of His sacrifice, and the purpose of His coming, we are called in response to be “zealous for good works” (2:14).
Chapter 3 finishes with other instructions, as again those on Crete (and we as well), needed to respond favorably to the gifts of God. He saved us, showing kindness and love to us, through the “washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life” (3:5-7).
These instructions include subjection to secular governing authorities, kindness, peaceableness, gentility and humility. We should always realize that we came from a lost state, as all of humanity, and that arrogance or malice is misplaced and condemned by God. Since God loves us, we should love one another!
He adds that we should not argue about foolish and irrelevant matters, for they are “unprofitable and useless” (3:9). Interestingly, not only must we not be guilty of these things, we must not tolerate them in any Christian who is. “Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned” (3:10-11).
Every congregation and individual Christian needs to listen to Paul’s instructions to Titus. Crete was influenced by an ungodly culture. Much like we are today! Like the Hebrew writer wrote, “Beware, brethren…” (Hebrew 3:12).
