Titus 1

Titus 1:1-16

THE EPISTLE TO TITUS Titus 1:1-16THE authorship of this Epistle would scarcely seem to be in doubt. To put that past dispute Paul signed his name, not at the end of the Letter, but at its beginning: “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; “In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; “But hath in due times manifested His Word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour; “To Titus, mine own son after the Common Faith” (Titus 1:1-4). The history of Paul is an open book. The Acts tells of his conversion, and reports his consecration; and the multitude of Epistles from his pen gives one a deeper insight into his remarkable character and service.Of Titus we have learned from Paul, whose son in the Gospel he was. From his Letter to the Galatians (Titus 2:3) we know that Titus was a Greek who had been converted to Christianity, and who, with Barnabas, had gone with Paul to Jerusalem fourteen years after the latter’s conversion (Galatians 2:1).The esteem in which the great Apostle held this “son in the Gospel” is expressed more than once by Paul’s pen. Writing to the Corinthians, in the Second Letter (2 Corinthians 7:6), he speaks of the visit to Macedonia, where they encountered unspeakable troubles, and says of Titus,“Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus” (2 Corinthians 7:6), and later remarks:“Therefore we were comforted in your Comfort; yea, and exceedingly the more joyed we for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all” (2 Corinthians 7:13). In the next chapter (2 Corinthians 8:16-23) he writes:“But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you. “For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more forward, of his own accord he went unto you. “And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the Gospel throughout all the Churches; “And not that only, but who was also chosen of the Churches to travel with its with this grace, which is administered by us to the glory of the same Lord, and declaration of your ready mind: “Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us: “Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men. “And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have oftentimes proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, upon the great confidence which I have in you. “Whether any do enquire of Titus, he is my partner and fellowhelper concerning you”. While in the twelfth chapter of the same Epistle (2 Corinthians 12:18) he writes:“I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? walked we not in the same spirit? walked we not in the same steps”? It is not often in a life time that the senior meets a junior who seems identical in spirit with him, and to whom he can confidently commit the most weighty cause. A Moses finds but a single Joshua in all Israel; an Eli but one lad Samuel, and an Elijah but a solitary Elisha.Paul, by his very greatness attracted to himself the world’s noblest souls, and so he discovers a Barnabas, a Timothy, and a Titus; and truly, there was need of three men to succeed this one mammoth soul.A careful study of the Epistle to Titus involves Paul’s Opinions on Administration in the Church, Education for the Church, and Regeneration in Order to the Church.There is no more important feature of spiritual life than a proper administration in the Church of God; and Paul makes bold to say that for this cause he left Titus in Crete, laying upon him some definite and certain injunctions.Permit me to state them under three heads: First, That he should set things in order in the Church of God: Second, That he should select officials for the Church of God: Third, That he should silence the critics in the Church of God.Setting things in order in the Church of God. Paul believed in “order” in the Church of God. In his Epistle to the Corinthians, after having given special command concerning the Lord’s Supper, and other debatable questions, the Apostle concludes: “And the rest will I set in order when I come”.That minister who can organize a church for effective service reveals at once a rare and a needful talent. I believe Dr. R.

S. McArthur declared an important truth when he said: “The success of many pastors is largely due to their ability to organize,” and added: “The great need of today, in the Church of God, as well as in political and mercantile organizations, is inspiring leadership.

God’s greatest work is not carried on by simpletons. Paul, Augustine, Calvin would have been men of great mark in any walk in life. Luther, Wesley, and Whitefield were kings even among the kingly of earth. Mr. Spurgeon would have been Prime Minister of England in another sense than that in which he was Prime Minister, had he given attention to political life.”It cannot be forgotten that each of these knew how to marshall and command the forces of a church; and when Paul urged upon Titus that he “set in order the things that are wanting”, he expressed the highest possible confidence in the junior disciple.In the fulfilment of that first command, he came upon the discharge of the second.He was to select officials for the Church of God.“And ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee” (Titus 1:5)Two or three facts are involved in this statement, with those that follow. The first is, that our exceeding democracy is not always well supported by Scripture.

From this, and kindred statements, it seems fairly clear that the Apostle did not hesitate to exercise the special prerogative of official appointment; and the second is, that in that selection he was moved by no consideration other than the honor of God, and the progress of His Church. He never elevated a man to office on the ground of intimate friendship, such a thing, as selecting for the same on account of social or financial standing was too remote for imagination even.

Can any one imagine Paul as advising that a man be selected to office lest, if he was not, his sensitive feelings would be excited, and the Church would hear from him in the future? Character and spiritual accomplishments were with the great Apostle, the sole consideration:“If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly”. That is a remarkable description, when one stops to reflect upon it: a man without reproach; head of a house; whose daily walk and conversation has been such as to do better than keep his children from contention and disobedience, but to bring them to Christ. Such a man is fit indeed to be an elder.The next sentence holds a twofold suggestion:“For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not self willed, Hot 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; “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” (Titus 1:7-9). The impression with some people is that an elder is necessarily an old man. That is not the Biblical use of the word. In its original employment that may have given meaning to it; but in the New Testament, altogether another significance attaches to it, as suggested by this very Scripture. Here a bishop, or over-seer of the flock, is synonymous with the elder, the man to be appointed by Titus. It is the two sides of an individual’s service! By the use of the first work the office of spiritual counsellor is emphasized; and by the use of the second work, that of oversight of God’s Church is suggested.

We do not believe that the New Testament knows anything of those distinctions as between official brethren, which now sometimes appear in our modern denominations. We do not believe that Peter held any higher office than Thomas.

We do not believe that James was called by any other official title than that which would have equally applied to Bartholomew; and we are fully persuaded that the most of these “Apostles”, “Elders”, or “Bishops”, as one may be pleased to name them, were young men.R. S. McArthur, for forty years pastor of one church, and when already well advanced in life, urged the duty of electing young men to responsible office in the church. He says: “The idea that none but men of advanced age and antiquated ideas should be deacons is an utter mistake. It is not a question of age, but of character, efficiency and consecration. There were in John’s day young men who were strong; young men in whom the Word of God was abiding; young men who had overcome the wicked one. * * Thank God there are still young men in the Church who are strong; young men in whom God’s Word abides; young men who have overcome the wicked one!

Though they are in the world, they are not of the world; they are girded with strength, armed with the shield of faith, wearing the girdle of truth, and the breastplate of righteousness; they are panoplied with the whole armour of God. Their names are unsullied; their business ability is marked; they walk with their heads among the stars.

The Church has room for the enthusiasm, hopefulness, and enterprise of the young, as well as for the ripened wisdom, the matured experience, and mellowed beauty of the old.”Why is not Paul’s advice to Titus with reference to the appointment of officials in the early Church applicable to the present-day Church when it comes to selecting men for kindred office?But, alas for Titus, Paul imposes upon him a yet more important and far more difficult task.He must silence the critics in the Church of God.“For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: “Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucres sake. “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; “Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth. “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. “They profess that they know God; but in works they deny Him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate” (Titus 1:10-16). If one could remove from the membership of his church vain talkers and deceivers; if one could shut the mouths of those who subvert whole houses; if one could still the tongues which teach things that they ought not; if one could successfully rebuke those that are not sound in the Faith; if the Church could be represented by those who are pure themselves, and to whom all things are pure, instead of those who are unbelieving and whose mind and conscience are defiled, by those who practice Godliness rather than those who profess it, while in works denying Him who redeemed them—who can tell what marvelous growth; would mark such a body of believers? The time has come when no preacher is supposed to attempt the ruling of the unruly, or to silence the talk of vain deceivers, or to stop the mouths of subverters, or to resent false testimony, or to excoriate fables foisted in the name of command. The day has dawned when the Prophet’s words have found literal fulfilment:“Which say to the Seers, See not; and to the Prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits: “Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us”. And who is the man who does not obey! And yet, if we hark back to the Book which we hold to be inspired, we find this young pastor Titus absolutely commanded to accomplish all of these things, and by that command, we believe vested with authority in the Name of the Lord Jesus, and in the interest of His Church.In the second chapter we pass directly to the thought ofE This was hinted in the first when Paul demanded among other features of an elder’s life that “he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers”.Here it is thoroughly elaborated:“But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: “That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. “The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; “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. “Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded”. Sound teaching is essential to Christian education. The early Apostles never went awry upon this subject. If they did, it was not while the Holy Ghost was upon them in fulness and power for then “they continued stedfastly in the Apostles’ doctrine”.John Watson, in “The Cure of Souls” makes an extremely sage remark, to which all ministers should give attention! He says: “We are all apt as preachers to be brow-beaten and reduced to silence by the impudent assertion that an average audience has no interest in theology, and will only listen to us upon the astounding condition that we do not give them the one thing we are supposed to have thoroughly learned. They expect from a historian history, from a geologist geology, but from a teacher of theology—and we are the only teachers of theology for the public—anything however remote from the subject, provided it be neither very solid nor thoughtful. May I suggest that the dumb public is often libelled by blatant spokesmen, and means to say something different.

Examine the literature which finds favor with the people and it would not occur to you that the people dislike theology. Within the last few years, for instance, four works of fiction that excited great attention and have been read on every hand—“ then he names four books: “John Inglesant”, “The Story of an African Farm”, “John Ward, Preacher”, and “Robert Elsmere”, everyone of which deals with some phase of theology; the first with the question of Quietism, the second with the unlovely doctrines of the Dutch Boers, the third with Calvinism, and the fourth with New Theology.Is it not strange if the people have ceased to be interested in theology that they should have devoured these books, as the entire public did?

And does it not justify Watson’s remark: “People will lie becalmed in morals, and even in physical science, weary unto death, but if any one dares to deal with questions of faith after an understanding fashion, he has the wind with him.” Then, in my judgment, he proceeds immediately to give a better illustration of the interest that men have in theology, by reminding us of the popularity of Balfour’s “Foundations of Belief”, Pierson’s “National Life and Character”, Draper’s “History of the Conflict Between Religion and Science”, and winds up by saying, “It would be interesting to know how ‘Lux Mundi’ compares in sale with any book on politics of the last ten years.”I do not regard myself a fool, and yet if my observation has the least ground for foundation, it is this, that with rare exceptions, the only men in the world who are holding the crowds to the churches they serve, or are advancing the cause they are supposed to represent, are the very men whose theology is as sound as was that of Joseph Parker, Charles Spurgeon, Alex. MacLaren, the greatest trio of Old Country names; as sound as were A. J. Gordon, Reuben Torrey, or A. C. Dixon, America’s best pulpit representatives. If Paul were alive today and were writing another Epistle to the young ministers, he would not change the point of emphasis, but put it upon “sound doctrine”, in the interest of the old men and old women, the young men and young women, yea, even in the interest of servants and children.But teaching is most effective when illustrated by example.“In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, “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, “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, “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” (Titus 2:7-12). The man who combines precept and practice brings to the world “the power of God, and the wisdom of God”. Precept apart from example discredits Christianity! Unless one can bring his life into line with the language of his lips, silence were the better part of valor. The young minister who deserted his family in order to gratify the lusts of the flesh and the desire of the heart, marrying another, cannot imagine why his ministry should be brought to an end. Paul’s injunction to Titus would be a sufficient explanation!Charles Spurgeon says: “We have heard men talk of their experience who can give us whole yards of Godliness, if that consists in the tongue; but when they come to practice, ah, their religion is not made to bear every-day pressure. It is a kind of confectionary religion, an ornament for their drawing-room; a coat for Sundays to be carried to a place of worship, but not intended for business.

Religion in their shop! Religion in their ordinary dealings!

They never thought of such a thing; they thought religion was intended for the closet, though that had its door listed over. Do such men know Christ? Alas, no! Those who live near Jesus will become like Him. There is no such thing as having an interest in the Blood of Jesus and holding fellowship with Him, and yet living in sin. Have you heard the fable told by the Persian Saadi moralist?

He took up in his hand a piece of scented clay and said to it, ‘Oh, clay, whence hast thou thy perfume?’ And the clay said, ‘I was once a piece of common clay but they laid me for a time in company with a rose, and I drank in its fragrance and have now become scented clay.’“Believer, thou art nothing but a piece of common clay, but if thou liest with the Rose of Sharon, if thou hast Jesus in thy company, thou wilt be a piece of scented clay, and where’er thou goest, the fragrance from the Man of Nazareth will be with thee.” In that company sound speech will be suggested; servants will readily submit to their own masters, purloiners will be put to shame, ungodly and unruly lusts will stand aside, and men will be impressed with the necessity of living purely and righteously and Godly in this present world.And then the Apostle urges the climax of educational accomplishments, namely,The second appearance of Jesus, the soul’s sufficient inspiration. For, adds he,“Looking for that Blessed Hope, and the Glorious Appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; “Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. “These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee” (Titus 2:13-15). There are those who object when a young man is a premillennialist. One does not take pleasure in growing old. At middle life we would fain stop, with our powers at their full, and there abide, not on selfish grounds, but for the sake of exerting the widest possible influence for good and for God; and yet there is no denying that age has its advantages. How advantageous for Paul, the man who had seen his threescore summers, to stand beside Titus the young man, and say: “Dare to talk of ‘the Second Coming’, and dare to look Tor that Blessed Hope’ of ‘the Glorious Appearing of the great God, and our Saviour Jesus Christ’,” for that is the foundation stone to the temple of one’s faith, and the cap-stone of Christian doctrine. Dare it then! “These things speak”!Once more let me remark, if Paul came back to the world and addressed himself to young preachers, he would emphasize that point. Those who do not know God’s Word on the subject of “the Second Coming”, face at this very moment the peril of all the centuries.

The mails are heavy with literature from Anna Besant, Ghandi, and their sort, telling the world that a great spiritual teacher is just about ready to appear and, asking them to subscribe to that expectation, to begin now doing deeds in his name, to devote a portion of each day to some work in preparation of his coming, to make devotion, steadfastness and gentleness prominent characteristics of conduct; and to recognize and reverence greatness in whom so ever seen, to strive to co-operate in so far as we can with those who appear to be our superiors as teachers.They do not know the name of the one even “for whom they look”. This movement, founded in Benares, India; Bahia and his followers; peace conferences; corporate politics—looking to the federation of the kingdoms of the earth; the Inter-Church World-Movement, are all indeed destined to pave the path for the feet of that “man” to come, “after whom the whole world will wonder”; and that system and organization which is to compel obedience and put “the mark of the beast” upon the inheritance of the earth; and whose name is “Anti-Christ”; but more biblically described “son of perdition”.As Paul said to the ignorant people of Athens, who were worshiping a god whose name they knew not, “I come to tell you a better way.” As it is expressed in the language of that layman Philip Mauro: “Believers are not taught to look for a system to rise out of the earth, but to look for the Saviour, to come out of heaven” (Philippians 3:20). They have turned to God from idols, not to wait for “that man of sin * *, the son of perdition” (2 Thessalonians 2:3), but “to serve the Living and True God; and to wait for His Son from Heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come” (1 Thessalonians 1:9-10).Oh, beloved, join with me! “These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee”.Finally, the third chapter of this Epistle is devoted toR “Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, “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. “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” (Titus 3:1-6). Works of righteousness are to be accomplished in the political realm, as suggested in the first verse, in the social realm, as suggested by the second, in the domestic realm, as suggested in the third, and in the religious realm, as suggested by the fourth verse.But let us not be deceived! Our salvation is “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us”, and the process of it is clearly by “the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost: which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour”.For that spiritual experience there is no possible substitute! One may be baptized in water and yet remain in the paths of iniquity; one may take the blessed bread, symbol of the broken Body, and yet enter not with Christ into His sufferings; one may sip the sacrificial cup, and yet while he is in the act, by unbelief, “crucify [Christ] afresh, and put Him to an open shame”; one may join the church without having Christ formed in him the hope of glory. Truly, as Charles Spurgeon said, “It is an astonishing thing how near the painter can go to the expression of life, and yet the canvas is dead and motionless; and it is equally astonishing how near a man may go to a Christian, and yet not be born again, and with all his profession, with all the gorgeous plumes of experience, yet must be turned away from Heaven’s gate.” And then Spurgeon adds: “If you charge me with uncharitableness, I answer, I do not care to be more charitable than Christ. If you have a quarrel, settle it with Him. I am not the maker of truth; simply the speaker of it.

If a man be not ‘born again’ he cannot see the Kingdom of God.” “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit”. It is His Word!

Our salvation is “by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost”.That regeneration insures an inheritance through the grace of God. For the Apostle proceeds: “That being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life”. “Heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ”. “To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in Heaven for you. Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time”. What a revelation! Who can imagine it?In 1906 Patrick Kern, an Irish day-laborer, Was faithfully polishing windows of the Belvue Stratford Hotel, Philadelphia. He did not look like an heir to a fortune; but as he wrought, an attorney appeared at the foot of the ladder and said, “Are you Patrick Kern?” “Yes,” answered the young man. “Well, your uncle Patrick, of the county of Galway, has died and left you $100,000.00 in his will.”It was said that Patrick spilled a few drops of water as he scrambled down the ladder to learn the details of the good news.

A newspaper reporter, to whom the information leaked, went after Patrick and asked him, “When will you quit your work here?” To which the sensible man answered, “When I see the coin,” and went on scrubbing windows as though no great fortune had befallen him. But down in his heart, the sense of his riches was singing all the time.Hear me, beloved, in a dusty world like this, where the ways are difficult and the experiences are hard, and the services exhausting, the saved ought never to forget the fact that because they have been justified by the grace of God, they are heirs to the “hope of eternal life”, and all service will be lightened, and sweetened in memory of that blessed assurance.And the Apostle’s final injunction will be made palatable, yea, positively easy—namely, that those who have believed God may be diligent to maintain good works.The regenerate man offers “good works” to the glory of God.

They are not the ground of his salvation; and he knows it, for “by the deeds of the Law there shall no flesh be justified”. It is not by deeds of righteousness that men are justified; it is the expression of God’s mercy. That is why it is written: “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord” “that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them”.If I could only get one thing straight with men, the Gospel of my God would at least be better understood, and more perfectly practiced; and that is, that regeneration by the Holy Spirit must be made the basis of good works. Some writer has said: “There is no novelty about early Christian methods. People think today that in order to influence men you must start a polytechnic like Quentin Hogg, or a Salvation Army like Booth, or a social settlement like Arnold Toynbee. The originality of the early Christians was the originality of holiness, the power of Christian character.

They were like their Father. They were good and they did good as the simple consequence.

Like Christ they were anointed ‘with the Holy Ghost and with power’, and they ‘went about doing good’ as the logical result. We have committees and organizations, and homes and clubs and schemes without end; but the net result is less than we desire; it is even poor in comparison with the effort thrown out. We want to get Christian character to the point where, by its mere presence in the community, it operates. It must act directly by presence, and without means!”