Having told Titus what he was to teach (“speak”) to various groups in the congregation at Crete, Paul now moves into what God’s salvation for us means for all Christians.
How the Christian is to live in the World
Read Titus 3:1-2
“Remind them”: Remind is an imperative verb, a command. This is what Titus must do. The “them” are the Christians on Crete, not unbelievers, for it’s believers who need to be “reminded,” not unbelievers who were never taught such in the first place.
- How are Christians to relate to authorities and rulers?
- Who are these authorities and rulers?
“rulers and authorities”: In Paul’s other letters, he used these two words to refer to angelic beings (Colossians 1:16; 2:10, 15; Ephesians 1:21, 3:10, and 6:12). Jesus used these terms together to refer to human religious authorities (Luke 12:11) or civil authorities (Luke 20:20). Here, Paul does not specify who these “rulers and authorities” are, but context would direct this to be any human authority over the Cretan Christians, whether civil or religious.
“submissive”: Greek, hupatosso, properly ordered.
- How are Christians to relate to those who are not “rulers and authorities,” “others”?
“speak evil”: Greek, blasphemeo, blaspheme, slander.
Read Titus 3:3
- What is Paul saying about how the Cretan Christians used to live and why they are to live out the Faith in such a way?
How God Saves Us
Read Titus 3:4-6
Note: “God our Savior” = Jesus. The “he” that starts Titus 3:5 = God the Father.
- What was the “goodness and kindness of God our Savior” appearing? (vs 4)
- What didn’t save us? (vs. 5a)
- What did save us? (vs. 5b)
- How did God save us? (vs. 5c)
Read Titus 3:7
- What does God do for us through baptism?
“regeneration” in Titus 3:6: Greek, paliggenesia, rebirth, regeneration. What Paul said in verse 6 matches what he says in verse 7. The “washing of regeneration” connects one to “becoming an heir… of eternal life.” The only other place where the Bible uses the word, paliggenesia, is in Matthew 19:28: “Jesus said to them [His disciples], ‘I assure you: In the rebirth/regeneration [ESV, “new world”], when the Son of Man sits on His glorious throne…’”
Jesus used paliggenesia to refer to the new heaven and earth after He returns on the Last Day. So, when Paul used this same word, he was showing the connection between God’s saving work in baptism (the “washing”) and eternal life, the resurrection of the body on the Last Day.
Romans 6:3-5:
Do you not know that all who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore, through baptism we were buried with Him into His death, so that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the Father’s glory, we too can walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with Him in the likeness of His death, we will also be united with Him in the likeness of His resurrection.
Read Titus 3:8a
“this saying is trustworthy”: Literally, “The word is faithful.”
- What word is faithful? (Hint, Paul just described what that “word” was)
- What is Titus to “insist on”? (Hint, Paul just described that in the last few verses)
How Those Whom God has Saved Live
Read Titus 3:8b-9
- How are belief and baptism connected (vs. 3, 8)
- Look at John 3:1-16 (especially vs. 5 and 16) to see how Jesus connects baptism and belief together.
- How do we know that being born of “water and the Spirit” (vs. 5) and God “giving His only Son” (vs. 16) are both future events when Jesus spoke of them?
- Jesus spokes of being born of “water and the Spirit” (vs. 5) and “believing in Him” (vs. 16) as part of the same conversation with Nicodemus. How does this testify to the link between baptism and belief in Christ?
Pastors’ translation:
“The word is faithful, and concerning these things, I want you to insist, so that they [the Cretan Christians] may be concerned about good works, those who believe in God…”
What does this mean? The concern about good works is a result of “these things” that Paul insists that Titus is to teach. And that is even linked to “the word [that] is faithful.”
- What are excellent and profitable for the people?
- What are not?
“controversies… quarrels”: Literally, “argument and genealogies and rivalries and quarrels…” Paul’s repetitive use of “and” implies a numbing variety of useless and futile conflicts are that are not part of the faithful word.
The Pastor’s Role in Excommunication
Read Titus 3:10-11
- Based on everything that Paul has written to Titus, how does someone “stir up division”?
“have nothing more to do”: Greek, paraiteomai, refuse. This is an imperative verb, a command. Paul commands Titus to refuse knowing such a division-causers. This is Paul commanding Titus to excommunicate such a person.
- Why is Titus to excommunicate such a person?
“self-condemned”: Greek, autokatakritos, someone who has condemned himself by refusing to believe “the word that is faithful” (Titus 3:8), which then is lived out in such a way within the congregation. Titus’ refusing to know such a division-causer is the public expression of what is already true. This is the pastor retaining the division-causer’s sins (see John 20:23).
- Discuss: What if someone in the congregation refuses to believe that God saves through baptism, “the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit”?
Paul Final Instructions
Read Titus 3:12-13
- What does Paul want Titus to do
“do your best to come”: Paul commands Titus, not to visit, but to be eager to do so. This allows Titus to visit if conditions allow.
“speed”: Greek, propempo, send. Paul commands Titus to send Zenas and Apollos.
Pastor’s translation:
“Eagerly send Zenas, the lawyer, and Apollos, so that they lack nothing.”
It’s not clear whether Paul is telling Titus to provide Zena and Apollos with provisions for the journey, or Zena and Apollos are to visit to receive something from Paul.
Read Titus 3:14
“learn”: Greek, manthano, an imperative. Titus must teach what Paul next directs, because Paul commanded that the Cretan Christians must learn it.
“devote”: Greek, proistemi, be concerned about. Paul commanded the Cretan Christian to learn to be concerned about good works. The command is to be devoted to good works. Paul is not commanding them to good works; good works are a result of what they have learned.
Read Titus 3:15
