TITUS---WORDS ABOUT WORKS

INTRODUCTION

1.    Titus, the man

A.   He was pure Greek. (Gal. 2:3)

B.   He was brought up in heathenism.

C.   He was a convert of Paul’s. (Titus 1:4)

D.   He was used by Paul as the courier for both letters to the Corinthian church. (II Cor. 12:18; II Cor. 7:13)

E.   He was a zealous and loyal co-worker of Paul, and was very close to the apostle. (II Cor. 2:13; 7:6; 8:16, 17)

F.    He was appointed by Paul to organize and oversee the ministries of the local churches on the island of Crete. (1:5)

DATE:  A.D. 65

KEY WORD: works (1:16; 2:7, 14; 3:1, 8, 14)

KEY PHRASE: “maintain good works”

KEY PASSAGES: 2:11-14; 3:4-7

KEY VERSE: 2:14

TO WHOM WRITTEN: Titus

OCCASION OF THE LETTER

1.    Paul had apparently begun to organize the work on the island of Crete, but had to leave before it was completed. (Acts 27:7)

A.   The epistle was written to Titus to tell him how to appoint officers for the churches there, and what qualities to look for in the men to be appointed.

B.   A word about church organization: “It (the epistle to Titus) nowhere even hints at any central board of administration such as those which have since developed and which exist with such wide powers today. The argument of expediency may be used to vindicate these latter, but they certainly have no Scriptural warrant. So far as New Testament indications go, each local church was meant to be autonomous. If it should be said that in the first days there was the authoritative word of apostles in central command, then it must be replied that so is it substantially today; for we have the apostolic directions in our New Testament, and they go no further than prescribing for each local church, leaving each directly responsible thereto. Such an elaborate hierarchical pyramid as the Roman Catholic system is utterly foreign to the New Testament; so also are ALL central executives which exercise a governmental control over combines of churches. There may well be voluntary unions of churches which do not infringe upon local autonomy; but there must be no governing executives, for these, while seeming to accomplish a useful outward unity, almost invariably violate and often destroy that vital inward unity which comes of free and direct loyalty to the apostolic work.”

                                                                                                                            --J. S. Baxter

C.   Notice also, that in the appointment of officers, spiritual character takes precedence over natural gifts. The pastor must have a three-fold blamelessness

1)    Domestically (1:6)

2)    Personally (1:7, 8)

3)    Doctrinally (1:9)

2.    “The appearing of many false teachers, chiefly of the circumcision, stressing Jewish fables and the commandments of man, wasting their time on foolish questions, genealogies, strifes about the Law, called for someone to take a strong stand for the truth.” --Theissen

A.   Cretan churches were being upset by outside teachers who, for the sake of money were working havoc in “whole houses”. (1:11)

B.   This probably meant whole congregations were being subverted by them as the early church met in private homes.

3.    To instruct the various classes of people in the church how they are to conduct themselves (ch. 2)

A.   The aged men (2:2)

B.   The aged women (2: 3, 4)

C.   The younger women (2:4, 5)

D.   The younger men (2:6)

E.   The pastor himself (2:7, 8)

F.    The servant-slaves (2:9, 10)

4.    To instruct the members of the church in general how they are to conduct themselves (3:1-11)

ON GOOD WORKS

1.    “How noticeable it is, through all these epistles, that Christian doctrine comes to us linked with the highest ideals of conduct. High doctrine with low conduct is intolerable to New Testament Christianity.” ---Baxter

2.    We are instructed “to be ready to every good work”. (3:1)

A.   “A pattern of good works” (2:7)

B.   “Zealous of good works” (2:14)

C.   “Ready to every good work” (3:1)

D.   “Careful to maintain good works” (3:8)

E.   “Maintain good works for necessary uses” (3:14)

F.    Not to deny our relationship to the Lord by a lack of good works (1:16)

3.    Paul is quick to add that salvation does not come because of any good work, but by grace through faith. (3:5-8)

MESSAGES OF THE BOOK

1.    God’s ideal for a church: orderly organization, soundness in faith and morals and practical works

2.    God’s ideal for a Christian worker: a love of order and method, a healthy and living faith; a godly life

OUTLINE OF THE BOOK

  I.    LIVING RIGHTEOUSLY IN THE CHURCH (ch. 1)

A.   Characteristics of a true leader (1:1-9)

B.   Characteristics of false leaders (1:10-16)

 II.    LIVING SOBERLY IN THE HOME (ch. 2)

A.    Family relations (2:1-6)

B.   Titus’ example (2:7, 8)

C.   Domestic relations (2:9, 10)

D.   Basic philosophy (2:11-15)

III.   LIVING GODLY IN THE WORLD (ch. 3)

A.   Proper life (3:1-3)

B.   Personal salvation (3:4-7)

C.   Profitable maintenance (3:8-16)