Tag: Titus
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Begin and End with Grace — Titus 3:15
Titus 3:15 All that are with me salute thee. Greet them that love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen. And just like that, Paul brings the letter to a close. There is something simple and personal about the way he ends it. “All that are with me salute thee.” The believers…
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Fruitful Hands — Titus 3:14
Titus 3:14 And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful. Paul ends this section with something very practical. Believers are to maintain good works. The phrase carries the idea of learning to practice useful trades—to have honest work that meets real needs. In other words, the…
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Help Them on the Way — Titus 3:13
Titus 3:13 Bring Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey diligently, that nothing be wanting unto them. Paul now mentions two men almost in passing. Zenas the lawyer. And Apollos. At first glance it feels like a small logistical note, but it reveals something important about the early church. Ministry was never a one…
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Wintering Together — Titus 3:12
Titus 3:12 When I shall send Artemas unto thee, or Tychicus, be diligent to come unto me to Nicopolis: for I have determined there to winter. At first glance this verse feels almost ordinary. After the strong teaching and warnings Paul has been giving, suddenly he is talking about travel plans. Names. Locations. Seasons. But…
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When to Walk Away — Titus 3:10–11
Titus 3:10–11 A man that is an heretic after the first and second admonition reject;Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself. Paul now gives Titus a piece of wisdom that many believers struggle to apply. There are moments when the most spiritual thing you can do is stop…
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Keep the Main Thing — Titus 3:9
Titus 3:9 But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. After reminding Titus about grace and the hope of eternal life, Paul now gives a very practical warning. There are conversations that simply are not worth entering. “Avoid foolish questions, and genealogies.” In Paul’s…
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Truth Worth Repeating — Titus 3:8
Titus 3:8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men. Paul now says something that might surprise people who think spiritual teaching is supposed to be new…
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Heirs of Grace — Titus 3:7
Titus 3:7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Paul now draws everything together with one powerful reminder. “Being justified by his grace.” Justified means declared right with God. Not slowly earning our way there. Not gradually becoming worthy. Declared right because of what…
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Washed by Mercy — Titus 3:4–6
Titus 3:4–6 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour. After describing…
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Remembering What We Once Were — Titus 3:2–3
Titus 3:2–3 To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. Paul now turns to the way believers speak about other people. “Speak…
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Living Well Under Authority — Titus 3:1
Titus 3:1 Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work. As Paul moves into the next chapter, he reminds Titus to keep bringing certain truths back to the minds of the believers. “Put them in mind.” People often assume the greatest need…
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Living in the Light of His Coming — Titus 2:13
Titus 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ. After speaking about grace teaching us how to live in this present world, Paul now lifts our eyes toward the future. He calls it the blessed hope. Not a vague wish. Not a distant possibility.…
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Grace That Teaches — Titus 2:11–12
Titus 2:11–12 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world. Paul now comes to the heart of the whole chapter. Grace. Everything he has said about older men, older women, younger women,…
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Making the Truth Attractive — Titus 2:9–10
Titus 2:9–10 Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again;Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. Paul now speaks to servants. In our day, the closest comparison would be employees.…
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Nothing to Hold Against You — Titus 2:8
Titus 2:8 Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you. Paul continues speaking to young men, and now he narrows the focus even further. Your speech. “Sound speech,” he says. The word sound again carries the idea of…
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A Life Worth Following — Titus 2:6–7
Titus 2:6–7 Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded.In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity. Paul now turns his attention to young men. His instruction is surprisingly simple. “Be sober minded.” Clear thinking. Steady judgment. A young man who is not driven by impulse, ego,…
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A Faith That Shapes a Home — Titus 2:4–5
Titus 2:4–5 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. Paul now paints one of the most practical pictures of discipleship in the New Testament.…
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A Life That Teaches — Titus 2:3
Titus 2:3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness… Paul continues describing what sound doctrine looks like when it shows up in everyday life. Now he turns to the older women in the fellowship. Notice where he begins. “Behavior as becometh holiness.” That phrase speaks about the whole pattern of…
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Men Who See the Big Picture — Titus 2:2
Titus 2:2 That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. Paul now begins to show Titus what sound doctrine actually looks like when it reaches everyday life. He starts with the older men in the fellowship. They are to be sober. That does not simply refer to avoiding…
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What Sound Doctrine Looks Like — Titus 2:1
Titus 2:1 But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine. Paul now moves into the next part of his instruction to Titus. After warning about false teachers and empty talkers, he tells Titus what he must do instead. “Speak the things which become sound doctrine.” That phrase “sound doctrine” literally means healthy teaching. Doctrine…
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Known by Their Fruit — Titus 1:16
Titus 1:16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate. Paul closes this section with a sober observation. There are people who say they know God, but their lives tell a different story. Their profession sounds right. Their language may even…
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A Clean Heart Sees Clearly — Titus 1:15
Titus 1:15 Unto 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. Paul now moves from false teaching to the condition of the heart. He says that to the pure, all things are pure. That statement can easily be…
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Stay With the Truth — Titus 1:14
Titus 1:14 Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth. Paul continues warning Titus about the dangers that were creeping into the churches on Crete. Some people were becoming fascinated with stories, speculations, and man made rules that sounded spiritual but actually pulled people away from the truth.…
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A Sharp Rebuke for a Sick Faith — Titus 1:12–13
Titus 1:12–13 One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith. Paul now quotes a voice the people of Crete would have known well. A poet from their own island,…
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When Error Must Be Silenced — Titus 1:11
Titus 1:11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake. Paul does not soften his words here. Speaking about the false teachers who were troubling the churches, he says their mouths “must be stopped.” The idea is not simply disagreeing with them politely. It…
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Guarding the Truth — Titus 1:10
Titus 1:10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision. Paul now shifts from describing the character of elders to warning Titus about the kind of opposition he would face. “There are many,” Paul says. Not a few voices. Not an occasional troublemaker. Many. They were “unruly,” meaning…
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Holding Fast to the Word — Titus 1:8–9
Titus 1:8–9 But a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;Holding 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. Paul continues describing the kind of man who should lead God’s people. His character is steady. He is…
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Stewards, Not Stars — Titus 1:7–8
Titus 1:7–8 For 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;But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; Paul continues describing the kind of man who should lead in the church,…
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Where Ministry Begins — Titus 1:6
Titus 1:6 If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. When Paul begins describing the qualifications for elders, the very first word he uses is “blameless.” That does not mean perfect. If perfection were the requirement, there would never be a pastor, elder, or leader…
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Setting Things in Order — Titus 1:5
Titus 1:5 For 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. Paul explains here why Titus had been left behind on the island of Crete. His assignment was simple to say but difficult to…
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A Faithful Son — Titus 1:4
Titus 1:4 To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour. Paul begins this verse by addressing the man who would carry the weight of the work in Crete. “Titus.” We do not know as much about Titus as we…
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The Way God Chose — Titus 1:3
Titus 1:3 But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour. Paul says something here that the world has never fully understood. God chose to make His Word known through preaching. Not through spectacle. Not through armies. Not through the machinery…
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Knowing Him Now — Titus 1:2
Titus 1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began. Paul continues his opening thought by pointing to the great promise behind everything he is doing. The work in Crete, the strengthening of believers, the preaching of the gospel, all of it rests on one solid foundation: the…
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Going Farther in the Faith — Titus 1:1
Titus 1:1 Paul, 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; Paul begins this letter by telling Titus who he is. Not a title meant to impress anyone. Just a clear description of his life. A…