Titus
{Paul and Titus travel to Crete, which is an island filled with Christians. However, they are ascended from Dorian Greeks - same as the Spartans. They are a fighting breed and prone to tell whoppers. Paul leaves Titus to find men with the gift of Pastor-teacher to bring true Bible doctrine teachings to the island. Titus was Paul's best trouble shooter his 'most reliable son' in the faith. Titus also straightened out the Corinthians after Apollos and Timothy could not.}
Chapter
1
1~~
Paul, a servant of God, and
an
apostle of Jesus Christ,
for
the purpose of the faith of the elect of God, and
the
epignosis knowledge of doctrine {metabolized doctrine}
which
is for the purpose of godliness.
2~~
In the confidence of eternal life,
which
the 'non-lying God' promised to underwrite you,
before
the world began {in eternity past}.
3~~
But has manifested {made known through repetitive teaching} by means
of His own dispensations,
His
word through preaching,
with
which I was entrusted according to the strict authority, and
responsibility to that authority . . . of God our Savior.
{Note: God did not make known the Church Age Mysteries until the Church Age. The Cretans are being caught up in Jewish Legalism.}
4~~
To Titus, my most reliable son after the common faith:
grace,
mercy,
and
peace,
from
the ultimate source of God the Father and
the
Lord Jesus Christ our Savior.
5~~
Because of this grace,
I
left you flat in Crete(!)
that
you should set in order
the
things that are deficient {which is a lot!}, and
ordain
elders {synonym for pastors}
according
to the standard of every city, as I had appointed you . . .
{Note: Titus is to train Pastors in each city in Crete according to Paul's plan they had earlier agreed to - now Titus was to carry out the plan}.
{Qualities
to look for in the Pastor Teacher- verses 6- 9}
6~~if
any one keeps on being:
irreproachable,
a
one-woman man,
having
children who are believers . . .
not
in the sphere of accusation of riot, or
unruly
{not a hell raiser, rebellious}.
7~~
For it is necessary for a bishop to be irreproachable - as God's
administrative manager:
not
self-willed {literally means not to allow stubbornness to make the
pastor unfair -grace orientation},
not
prone to easily anger {relaxed mental attitude},
not
prone to drunkenness,
not
a brawler {not a fist-fighter},
not
eager for dishonorable profit.
{Note: 'Bishop' means an 'administrative overseer with authority'. This is another title for the pastor-teacher with an emphasis on his administrative responsibilities.}
8~~
But:
a
lover of divine good,
a
lover of good men,
sober
{absent of mental attitude sins},
fair
and equitable,
holy
{capacity for love, occupation with Christ},
temperate
{self-control - mastery of the details of life}.
9~~
Constantly clinging to the dependable word
according
to the standard of doctrine
that
he might be capable
by
means of pure doctrinal teaching
to
keep on exhorting and
to
keep on reproving {chewing them out}
those
in opposition {believers in opposition to true doctrinal teaching}.
10~~
For there are many
unruly
{undisciplined/ rebellious} and
vain
talkers and
mind
deceivers . . .
especially
they of the circumcision {legalistic Jews}.
11~~
Whose mouths it is necessary to silence.
Who
keep on corrupting entire churches,
teaching
things which they ought not,
for
filthy lucre's sake {dishonorable profit}.
12~~
One of themselves {a Cretan}, a poet of their own, said,
"The
Cretans:
always
liars,
evil
beasts {mental attitude sins result in loss of use of frontal lobe},
slow bellies."
13~~
This witness keeps on being truth {Cretan's ARE this way}.
Because
of this, therefore, rebuke them
in
a rude manner
that
they may be accurate and sound
in
the whole realm of doctrine. . . 14~~
not
giving heed to Jewish fables, and
commandments
of men {human viewpoint},
that
turn from the Truth/doctrine.
{Note: Principal is that a pastor is not always to be 'sweetness and light'. The delivery has to change with the audience. The constant is in the 'accurate and sound' teaching of the Word!}
15~~
All things are pure to those that are pure.
But
unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure . . . but
their mind and conscience are defiled.
16~~
They profess that they know God;
but
in production they contradict Him -
being
abominable, and
disobedient,
and,
face
to face with every good work, reprobate/depraved/unprincipled/
'in a theology rejected by God'}.
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