Titus
Greetings
Paul has left Titus in Crete to help in the churches on the island, and he hopes to see him again in Nicopolis in the winter, see Titus 3:12.
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and apostle (messenger, ambassador) of Jesus the Anointed One (Messiah, Christ),
sent to bring God's chosen ones [the believers] to faith and understanding
of the truth that belongs to godliness 2and gives hope for eternal life.
This eternal life has been promised by God, who cannot lie, from eternity (before chronological time began), 3and when the time (a special time beginning at a specific event) was right, he revealed his word through the proclamation entrusted to me by the command of God, our Savior. 4
Crete is one of the larger islands in the Mediterranean, 260 km long and 60 km wide.
[The Greek word for child used here is not huios, an adult son, but teknon. The word literally means "to be born of someone" and emphasizes the relationship between the parent and the child, a beloved family member. The same phrase is also used about Timothy, who, like Titus, was also a spiritual son of Paul, see ; . Titus was a non-Jude who was probably converted during Paul's first missionary journey, see . He was with Paul during his three years in Ephesus and was sent to Corinth on several occasions, see 2 Cor. 7:6; 7:13-14; 2 Cor. 8:16-9:5. He was probably also present at the end of Paul's two-year imprisonment in Rom, since he traveled with Paul to Crete, see .] Grace (power, divine favor) and peace (harmony, freedom from fear, well-being)
from God the Father and the Anointed One (Messiah, Christ) Jesus, our Savior.Church leadership
5The reason I [Paul] left you [Titus] in Crete was so that you might complete what was left undone and appoint elders (Gk. presbyteros) [to lead the churches] in every town as I directed you. [Crete was a central trading center where many different philosophies, religions, and influences converged. The capital was Gortyn. Other cities where Paul and Titus probably started churches were Phaistos, Salmone, and others. Two cities mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles are Lasea and Phoinix, see , .]Qualifications for church leaders
A chapel in the small fishing village of Kolimbari, northwestern Crete.
©Annika Bergström
blameless, [The leader must have a good reputation both inside and outside the congregation. This does not mean that he is sinless. It is about an attitude where the leader is quick to ask God and people for forgiveness. It is about a life that is not marred by scandals and unresolved disputes. A tree is known by its fruit, see .]
the husband of one wife, [It is likely that the concept of “the husband of one wife” refers to fidelity to his spouse and someone who does not flirt with other women. The corresponding term “one man's wife” is used in about women. In the same passage, Paul urges younger widows to remarry after their husband's death, see ; ; . Paul himself was unmarried, see , and his recommendations, see ; , seem to suggest that an unmarried man is also qualified.]
have believing (faithful) children
who cannot be accused of being wild [literally: “unrighteousness” – Gk. asotia wild living; a destructive and dissolute life without salvation and protection] or rebellious (rebellious, defiant). 7The church leader (Gk. episkopos) should be blameless as God's steward (a servant responsible for his master's house). [The three points in the list above have to do with a leader's family life and how he has managed it, see . Paul continues and now gives five negative and six positive characteristics.] He should not be conceited (literally "one who enjoys and takes pleasure in himself," a self-centered person without the ability to empathize with other people's situations),
not be violent (impulsive, hot-tempered),
not be a drunkard (literally "not one who sits long at wine"),
not be violent (combative),
not be greedy for money (literally "shameless greed"),
[he should instead:]
8be hospitable,
kind-hearted,
sensible,
honest,
godly,
self-controlled,
9hold fast to the reliable words of the teaching,
so that he can both encourage with sound (healthy, right) teaching
and rebuke opponents. Characteristics of false teachers
10For there are many rebellious talkers and deceivers, especially among the circumcised. 11They must be silenced, for they turn whole families upside down by teaching things they should not for their own gain. 12One of their own, a prophet, has said: "Cretans are always liars, they are wild beasts, greedy and lazy." [Paul quotes a verse from the poem Cretica, by the Greek poet Epimenides, who lived in the city of Phaistos on Crete in 600 BC. The full context reads: "They made a grave for you, the holy and exalted one. The Cretans are liars and beasts, greedy and lazy. But you are not dead, you live forever. For in you we live and move and have our being." Paul quotes the last verse in his speech at the Areopagus, see . The poem was addressed to Zeus, the greatest Greek god. Paul was not afraid to quote well-known works to point to the God unknown to the Greeks who created the world, see . Here he takes another verse where Epimenides speaks about the Cretans.] 13That judgment is true. Therefore, rebuke them sternly, so that they may be sound (healthy) in the faith 14and do not devote themselves to Jewish myths and commandments from people who turn away from the truth. 15For to the pure, all things are pure, but to the impure and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and consciences are impure. 16They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for any good deed. 21But as for you [Titus, in contrast to the false teachers], you must constantly speak (communicate) what belongs to sound (healthy, correct) doctrine.What should be taught?
Older men
2Older men should be sober, dignified, and sensible, sound in faith, love, and endurance (steadfastness, patience).Older women
3Older women should behave in a manner befitting saints, not spreading gossip or abusing wine (literally: "being slaves to much wine"). They should be teachers of what is good, 4so that they may train the young women to love their husbands and children, 5to live decently and purely, to be domestic and good, and to be submissive to their husbands so that the word of God may not be reviled.Young men
6In the same way, exhort the younger men to show good judgment in everything, 7and be an example in good (honorable) deeds. Your teaching should convey genuine truth and dignity. 8It should be sound and blameless, so that your opponent will be ashamed when he has nothing bad to say about us.Slaves
9Admonish servants to be submissive to their masters (Gk. despotes) in everything, to serve them wholeheartedly and not to talk back, 10not to steal, but to show true faithfulness in everything, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.God's grace gives us the power to live righteously
11
Cemetery in Crete. The Christian faith offers hope for a future with Jesus that also affects life here on earth.
©Annika Bergström
Don't let anyone look down on you. 31Remind them [constantly – again and again] to submit to authorities, to those in power – to obey the government – to be ready for every good deed. [As far as possible, a Christian should follow the ordinances of society, but in cases where they go against God's commandments, it is more important to obey God than men, see ; .]
2They should
not insult (speak ill of) anyone [all people are created in God's image, see ],
but be peaceful,
friendly
and always show kindness (be gentle) to all people. 3For we ourselves were once
unreasonable,
rebellious,
lost,
slaves to various desires
and pleasures,
living in malice
and envy,
detestable (we were hated and despised in the eyes of others)
and hating one another. [Our evil lifestyle made people hate us, and we hated them. A vicious cycle of hatred.]
4
The cross is a reminder of God's goodness towards humanity. On a hill in northern Crete, a cross still bears witness to this today.
©Annika Bergström
False teachers
[This teaching about false teachers is related to the introduction in the first chapter, see .] 9But avoid foolish disputes and questions about genealogies and quarrels and fights about the law [Gk. nomos – Torah, the Books of Moses]. Such things are harmful and pointless. 10A false teacher (who causes divisions) should be given a first and second warning and then rejected, 11because you know that such a person is on the wrong path. He sins and has condemned himself. [Paul follows the same principle that Jesus taught, with two initial conversations in conflict management, see .]Conclusion
12When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, hurry to join me in Nicopolis. I have decided to stay there for the winter. 13Equip the lawyer (attorney/legal expert) Zenas and Apollos [, ; ; ] properly so that they lack nothing on their journey. 14Even our people must learn to do good (honorable) deeds and meet necessary needs, so that they are not without fruit. [Paul often gives titles, such as the physician Luke, see . Zenas is only mentioned here in the entire New Testament. The title, Gk. nomikon, may refer to him being a Roman lawyer or knowledgeable in the Torah, see ; . Given the reputation of the Cretans for laziness, which Paul agrees with, it was a necessary exhortation even to the Christians on the island to do good works, see .] 15All who are with me send their greetings to you. Greet those who love us in the faith.
Grace (God's rich favor) be with you all.
