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Summary

Titus 1:1–4 – Greeting and Purpose

What happens: Paul greets Titus, calling himself a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ for the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth. He highlights the hope of eternal life promised by the God who never lies. He entrusted the preaching of this hope by command of God our Savior.

What it means: God is truthful and faithful, and His promise of eternal life anchors ministry. The gospel is aimed at faith and knowledge that lead to godliness. Leaders serve under God’s authority, not their own.

Titus 1:5–9 – Appoint Qualified Elders

What happens: Paul left Titus in Crete to put things in order and appoint elders in every town. Elders must be above reproach, faithful in marriage, with believing children, not arrogant, quick-tempered, drunk, violent, or greedy. They must be hospitable, self-controlled, upright, holy, disciplined, and able to exhort with sound teaching and refute those who contradict it.

What it means: God values character and conviction in shepherds. The church reflects God’s holiness when leaders model integrity and handle Scripture well. Sound doctrine protects and nourishes God’s people.

Titus 1:10–16 – Silence the False Teachers

What happens: Many insubordinate teachers deceive, especially those of the circumcision party, upsetting households for shameful gain. Paul urges sharp rebuke so they may be sound in the faith. He cites the Cretan saying about lying and laziness and declares the pure are pure, but the defiled deny God by their works.

What it means: False teaching harms families and dishonors God, so strong correction is loving. God is holy and calls for purity that matches confession. Truth must produce clean hearts and obedient lives.

Application

  • Measure leaders by Scripture-shaped character and teaching.
  • Guard the church by confronting error that harms people.
  • Let your works match your confession before a truthful God.
  • Organize ministry so that what remains is set in order.

Bible

1Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;

2In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

3But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;

4To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.

5For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:

6If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.

7For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;

8But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;

9Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.

10For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:

11Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.

12One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.

13This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;

14Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.

15Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.

16They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

← 2 Timothy 4Titus 2 →

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