Titus
  1. Background
    1. Author: Paul
    2. Date: 63-63 AD
    3. Titus
      1. Greek
      2. Saved under Paul's ministry (1:4)
      3. Paul took Titus to Jerusalem where Titus was NOT circumcised in order to vividly make the point that circumcision was not necessary in order to be saved.
      4. Mentioned 13 times in the NT
      5. Worked with Paul at Ephesus during the 3rd missionary journey
      6. Paul sent him to Corinth to help (2 Co. 2:12-13; 7:5-6; 8:6)
      7. After Paul's first imprisonment, Paul and Titus worked together in Crete. Paul left Titus there to "set things in order."
    4. Crete
      1. 4th largest island in the Mediterranean
      2. On the day of Pentecost, Cretans were in Jerusalem and heard the message and some were saved
      3. The wickedness of the people was so great that it was proverbial" in nature (1:12)
      4. The Greek verb kretizein (kretizein) meaning "to act like a Cretan" became synonymous with the concept "to play the liar."
    5. Purpose
      1. To give Titus instructions in helping him to "set things in order" in the church at Crete
      2. Deal with false teachers that were mixing law and grace
      3. Deal with false believers who were using the grace of God as a cloak for licentiousness
      4. To stress godly living as well as correct doctrine
      5. Tell Titus of his future plans
    6. Features
      1. Six references to good works
      2. Some have thought Paul and James contradicted each other in the area of the relationship between good works and salvation by faith. But this epistle shows the agreement of the two on the subject.
      3. Classic passage on the grace of God
  2. Outline
    1. Character of the ministry (ch. 1)
      1. "set in order" = medical term referring to setting a broken bone
      2. Qualifications for pastors
        1. Many are identical to those in 1 Timothy
          1. God's standards do not change from place to place, time to time
          2. God demands character both in the city and country
        2. List of characteristics mentioned here, but not in Timothy
          1. "Faithful" children = "believing" children

            2. If a man can't win his own children, then how can one expect him to win others? Both heart and home must be right before entering the ministry

          2. The steward of God

            3. Manages God's gifts, calling well. He recognizes that it is God's work and not his own work.

          3. Not self willed

            4. The idea behind the word is "overbearing." He is a leader, but not a dictator. He does not have to have his way all the time.

          4. Not soon angry
          5. Lover of good men

            6. This could be translated, "lover of what is good." Thus, it probably refers to not only loving good men, but good things, good causes, good music, good literature, etc.

          6. Just

            7. Refers to being morally and ethically "upright." He is a person of integrity.

          7. Holy
          8. Temperate

            9. Refers to being "self-controlled" and "disciplined." It takes more than a good heart, it takes a disciplined body to live the Christian life.

          9. Holding fast the faithful word
      3. Characteristics of false teachers
        1. Note: Paul has nothing good to say about them!
        2. Unruly
        3. Vain talkers
        4. Deceivers
        5. Worldly
        6. "upset whole houses" is easy when a church meets in a house
        7. Motive was filthy lucre
        8. Abominable

      Note: 1:15 is not a license to sin. The context is foods, not behavior. All foods are pure but not all practices. Titus 2:15 reminds us that the "grace of God teaches us to deny ungodliness."

    2. The Character of the Christian
      1. General Christian Character
        1. Old men
          1. Sober = serious minded
          2. Grave
          3. Temperate
          4. Sound in faith
          5. Love
          6. Patience
        2. Old Women
          1. Have the above qualities plus the following
          2. Holiness
          3. Not false accusers
          4. Not given to much wine
          5. Teachers of good things
            1. Sober-minded
            2. Love their husbands
            3. Love their children
            4. Discreet
            5. Chaste
            6. Keepers at home
            7. Good
            8. Obedient to their husbands
        3. Young men: be serious minded
        4. Titus
          1. Example

            2. Wiersbe. "But Paul wrote more about Titus the example than he did about Titus the exhorter! A pastor preaches best by his life...Whatever the pastor wants his church to be, he must first be himself."

            1. "pattern" comes from Gk. tupoV
            2. We get our English word "type" from this
            3. Refers to making an impression with a die
          2. Right doctrine
          3. Grave
          4. Sincere
          5. Sound speech
        5. Slaves
          1. Obedient
          2. Talking back
          3. Stealing
      2. Grace of God and character
        1. Brings salvation
          1. Saved by grace through faith
          2. Works do not save
        2. Appeared to all men
        3. Teaches us to live godly
        4. Causes us to look for the Lord
        5. Redeems us form ALL iniquity
        6. Makes us want to do good works
      3. The changed life
        1. Comparing the new life to the old life
          1. There should be a change
          2. We should be careful of our attitude toward others realizing that we were once in that condition
        2. Change starts on the inside and works its way out
      4. Dealing with "problem people"
        1. Avoid the foolish
        2. Reject the heretic
    3. Closing