Douglas Jacoby Podcast

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.

Introduction

• Titus was a major figure in Paul’s life, although not mentioned in Acts (which is selective).
• We come across him 13x in NT, 8 times in 2 Cor—also Gal, 2 Tim, Titus.
• Unlike Timothy, he had no Bible background. A true gentile!
• Paul, we notice, was effective at working with people from biblical background as well as with those who had no biblical conditioning—that is, pagans.

Galatians 2:1-3  1 Then after fourteen years, I went up again to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas. I took Titus along also. 2 I went in response to a revelation and, meeting privately with those esteemed as leaders, I presented to them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. I wanted to be sure I was not running and had not been running my race in vain. 3 Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek.

• No 1. first century issue: how much of Judaism must Gentiles observe? Similar confusion today with so-called “Messianic Judaism.” (Do we need to observe the Jewish Law?)
• Timothy and Titus are different cases—the apparent discrepancy is easily resolved with the principle of 1 Cor 9:22.

2 Corinthians 2:12-13 12 Now when I went to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ and found that the Lord had opened a door for me, 13 I still had no peace of mind, because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I said goodbye to them and went on to Macedonia.

• Titus almost certainly carried the “painful letter” referred to in chapter 7.
• Communication took place by letter, envoy, personal visit, or conference.
• It isn't just that Paul misses Titus. Paul wants to know the impact of his “severe letter.”

2 Corinthians 7:5-7    5 For when we came into Macedonia, we had no rest, but we were harassed at every turn—conflicts on the outside, fears within. 6 But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, 7 and not only by his coming but also by the comfort you had given him. He told us about your longing for me, your deep sorrow, your ardent concern for me, so that my joy was greater than ever.

• Titus has relayed the good news.
• Titus wasn’t merely a messenger; he too was affected by the Corinthian response—“comforted.”
• [The famous repentance passage follows.]

2 Corinthians 7:13-16   13  By all this we are encouraged. In addition to our own encouragement, we were especially delighted to see how happy Titus was, because his spirit has been refreshed by all of you. 14 I had boasted to him about you, and you have not embarrassed me. But just as everything we said to you was true, so our boasting about you to Titushas proved to be true as well. 15 And his affection for you is all the greater when he remembers that you were all obedient, receiving him with fear and trembling. 16 I am glad I can have complete confidence in you.

• Titus wasn’t just a mercenary; he loved the Corinthians. The relational bonding is key in a Christian leader. Knowledge of the Bible and personal consistency are not enough, particularly when serving in so broad a circle as Titus did.
• The Corinthians respected Titus as much as they respected Paul.

2 Corinthians 8:6  So we urged Titus, just as he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part.

• He was entrusted with the matter of the famine relief collection—no small task.
• The Corinthians are donating to assist hungry Judean brothers and sisters.
• (The famine was predicted by the prophet Agabus in Acts 11:28.)

2 Corinthians 8:16-17  Thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same concern I have for you. For Titus not only welcomed our appeal, but he is coming to you with much enthusiasm and on his own initiative.

• Titus's initiative reminds me of Onesiphorus in 2 Tim 1:17.
• We also may admire his enthusiasm. One man has enthusiasm for thirty minutes, another for thirty days, but it is the man who has it for thirty years who makes a success of his life.  Samuel Butler (1612-1680)
• These are great characteristics.
• Work on these things in the fellowship!

2 Corinthians 8:23  As for Titus, he is my partner and co-worker among you…

2 Corinthians 12:18  I urged Titus to go to you and I sent our brother with him. Titus did not exploit you, did he? Did we not walk in the same footsteps by the same Spirit?

• Paul can trust Titus.
• He is a true partner in the ministry.

Titus

• 1:4—Close relationship. “Child.”
• 1:5—Entrusted him to appoint elders. It's reasonable to assume that Titus possessed the strength of character indicated in the list of qualities for church leaders
• 1:13—Entrusted also to rebuke those teaching error.
• 2:1—Paul trusted Titus to teach sound doctrine.
• 2:15—"all authority" and “Let no one despise you”– Probably not because of Titus's youth, but because he wasn’t an apostle like Paul, only filling in in his place. Or perhaps because he lacked the intensive biblical background of his mentor.
• 3:10-1—Paul also entrusted him to deal with divisive persons.
• 3:12—"…do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there." This parallels Paul’s request to Timothy in 2 Tim 4. Suggests this is an important relationship to Paul.

2 Timothy 4:10—Titus had gone to Dalmatia

• 2 Tim is probably written after Titus. This is around 10 years later than 2 Corinthians.
• Titus is still in Paul's circle.

Wrap-up

• As one interpreter neatly observes, “Titus was… a troubleshooter, peacemaker, administrator, and missionary.”
• According to tradition, Titus died around the year 100, on the island of Crete. Skull of Titus is in Heraklion (?).
• What we can do:
  • Be a support to Christian leaders. Respect the older men and women in our lives.
  • Aim for character traits like enthusiasm and initiative.
  • Stop making excuses for small thinking. Even if you weren’t brought up around the Bible—if you’re more of a Titus than a Timothy—God can still use you in powerful and important ways.

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.

Introduction

• Most biblical figures give us few insights into the heart or the personality. Timothy is one of the persons about whom we know much more, mentioned some 30x in the N.T.
• He was in the circle of persons trained by the apostle Paul.

ACTS 161Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was Jewish and a believer but whose father was a Greek. 2 The believers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him. 

• Jewish / Greek. Jewish mother (2 Tim 1—mother Eunice and grandmother Lois)
• “A disciple”—not a bad phrase for one’s epitaph.
• But this is early in Timothy’s life, not late. As we will see, he seems to have continued to grow—to be a disciple, a learner.
• Character is key. That is, we should not chose people as leaders because they are impressive in a worldly way: photogenic, or tall, or powerful, or intellectual.
• He good character was known in more than one location.

3 Paul wanted to take him along on the journey, so he circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.

• Paul averts unnecessary criticism by having Timothy circumcised. This is a strategic decision.
• Titus he did not circumcise, but then Titus came from a fully Gentile background.

4 As they traveled from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey. 5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers.

• Timothy saw Paul at work, not only in Lystra, but in many towns.
• Paul and Timothy were coworkers.
• It’s immensely valuable to work with someone who knows how to share their faith, plant a church, deal with problems, preach the Word, etc. I have benefited from his sort of training.
• He understood unity between Paul & Jerusalem leaders. And he would have understood that this unity, achieved through hard work—sound theology & relational investment—was spiritual & productive

The remainder of Acts

• Involvement with the Thessalonian ministry. Paul’s “companions” (16:6; 17:1)
• 17:14—Berea
• 17:15—Paul wanted him to join him in Athens
• 18:5—Came with Silas from Macedonia to Corinth. (Rom 16:21 – with Paul in Corinth)
• Wrote with Paul: 2 Cor, Phil, Col, 1-2 Thess = 5 letters
• 19:22—Paul dispatched him to Macedonia with Erastus
• 20:4—Joins Paul and others, traveling through Macedonia to Syria

1 CORINTHIANS

4:15 Even if you had ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel.16 Therefore I urge you to imitate me. 17 For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church.

• Timothy to some extent mirrored Paul’s passion & perspective.
• Paul found him to be trustworthy.

PHILIPPIANS

Phil 219 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. 20 I have no one else like him, who will show genuine concern for your welfare. 21 For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel. 

• Timothy was Christlike. In Phil 2 Paul highlights: Jesus, Timothy, and Epaphroditus.
• He had a genuine concern for others It’s not theoretical.
• Paul and Timothy have a father/son type of relationship.

EPHESUS (1-2 Timothy)

• 1 Tim 4:11-16 11 Command and teach these things. 12 Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. 
  • Command—authority
  • Young: Acts 16: young + 13 years later (time elapsed between Acts 16 and 1 Tim 4), so Timothy was likely in the 30-40 age range.
  • How to prevent them from discounting one's age (v.12)?
    • Speech – sobriety, not silly, not coarse, edifying
    • Conduct – exemplary
    • Love – relationships
    • Faith – alive!
    • Purity – keeping clear of the many defilements of the world.

13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. 14 Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you. 15 Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. 16 Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.

• Preaching and teaching based on reading (not an assortment of verses to prop up the preacher’s agenda). Integrity in handling the Word!
• Progress—keep growing
• Life and doctrine: life (v.12) + doctrine (v.12) = impact on others.
• For more on Timothy, watch the iFaith video sermon "Last Will & Testament," on 2 Timothy.

Conclusion: 3 of Timothy’s qualities we can learn from

• Wisdom in the scriptures (2 Tim 3:14-16): 14Continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it,15 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful …
  • Qualified to teach and preach
  • Is our thinking saturated in Scripture? How much time are we investing on a regular basis?
• Concern for others. Phil 2 is high praise indeed.
•  Character
  • It’s what attracted Paul to him in the first place.
  • Humble enough to learn from Paul—such that he mirrors Paul—proven worth.
  • The last piece of news in Hebrews, before short exchange of greetings, is v.23.
    • 23 I want you to know that our brother Timothyhas been released. If he arrives soon, I will come with him to see you.
    • Like Paul, he was willing to go the distance, run the race, fight the good fight
  • Do we focus more on external matter, or the heart, the inner life, character?

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.

Major text: Rom 16:1-2
Supporting texts: Acts 15:22-23; 30-32; Rom 12:3-8; 1 Tim 3:4; 1 Thess 5:12

Rom 16:1 Now I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea, 2 so that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints and provide her with whatever help she may need from you, for she has been a great help to [a patron of] many, including me.

Observations

• Phoebe means bright—connection with Phoebus Apollo, the sun god.
• Cenchrea is one of Corinth's two seaports.
• Phoebe is the first person named in Romans 16—where Paul greets at least 9 or 10 female colleagues, besides his male coworkers.
• Most likely it was she who delivered the letter.
  • See the parallel in Acts 15:22-23, 30-32 (the commendation of Judas and Silas).
  • Romans is one of most important letters of Paul, dealing with a potentiality sensitive topic (the Jew-Gentile controversy, not unlike the racial issues of our own day).
  • If she bore the letter to the various house churches of Rome, she may also have been the one who read the letter aloud.
  • Even if others read Romans aloud, Phoebe would have been the one who clarified things if there were questions.

Female leadership?

• Does this sound like too much responsibility for a first-century woman?
  • She is called diakonos (v.1). See Phil 1:1.
  • Diakonos = servant, minister.
  • See Acts 6 and 1 Tim 3.
• She is also prostatis.
  • In classical times, prostatis (the feminine form of the noun) = leader, chief; guardian, protector.
  • In Roman times, the word could mean patron.
  • This is one of the gifts mentioned in Romans 12 (see v.8). In the NT, there were women prophets, servants, teachers, leaders, etc….
  • Forms of the word also show up in 1 Tim 3:4 and 1 Thess 5:12.
• Female teachers, prophets, and leaders in the Bible, Miriam (Exod 15:20; Mic 6:4), Deborah (Judg 4-5), Huldah (2 Kings 22:14-20; 2 Chron 34:11-33), Noahdiah (Neh 6:14), Isaiah's wife (Isa 8:3), Anna (Luke 2:36), Priscilla (Acts 18:24-26; Rom 16:3-5, 1 Cor 16:19), Philip's daughters (Acts 21:8-9), Phoebe (Rom 16:1-2), and Junia (Rom 16:7).

Conclusion

• Let’s be aware of our presuppositions when it comes to leadership in the ancient church.
• Respect and honor Phoebe—and all who are like her!
• As we read the New Testament, let's try to re-imagine their world, including those occasions when fresh letters or gospels were first read aloud!

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.

Scripture: Luke 2:36-38

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Bio:

• Hannah (Hebrew) = Anna (Greek & Latin).
• In some ways she reminds us of her OT namesake (faith, presence at the house of God, deep spirituality).
• Luke supplies her father’s name, Phanuel, but not her husband’s. (She is more integral to the biblical story than he is.)
• Luke mentions her tribe, Asher. She numbers among the very few NT characters identified by tribe: Jesus,—Judah (Luke 2:4; Matt 1:1-16); Saul—Benjamin (Phil 3:5); and Barnabas—Levi (Acts 4:36).
• Implication of the numbers: she was over 100 years old when she met Joseph, Mary, and Jesus.
• She is a prophet.
  • Both Simeon (NT character podcast 43) and Anna are advanced in years, people of faith, and meet Mary, Joseph & Jesus. And the account of Simeon is longer than the account of Anna. Yet Anna "outranks" Simeon, a man praised as righteous and devout (Luke 2:25). Simeon is not explicitly called a prophet. Rather, the Spirit moved him to speak.
  • Simeon came to the Temple courts; Anna was there nearly always.
  • She is the New Testament’s only named female prophetess. She reminds me of Huldah the prophetess (earlier podcast)
• Her life is marked by fasting, prayer, speaking, and prophesying.
• She does not remarry—in a culture when remarriage was the norm after the death of a spouse, and especially for one who became a widow at such a young age (20?).
• "Luke’s description shows her as well adjusted, engaged in Israel’s life and useful to the Lord. She may well have become the model for the righteous church widows Paul describes in 1 Timothy 5:5.” — Robin Gallaher Branch, “Anna in the Bible” in Bible History Daily
• “Anna shows one model of aging in the Biblical text. Luke presents her positively, as a woman without the bitterness that may come with age and as one full of hope. As she moves throughout the Temple, no doubt she seeks to do good to those whom she encounters." — Robin Gallaher Branch (same source).

Anns's insight:

• She foresees the redemption of Jerusalem (Simeon had foreseen the restoration of Israel). Perhaps she was aware of and distressed by the corruption and politics of the Temple.
• The prophecies of Zion (Jerusalem and its center of worship) and Israel were going to be fulfilled, but not in the way most people would have expected. (The true Jerusalem is "above," as Paul explains in Gal 4.)
• She speaks about the Lord to all who are interested. That is, she does not confine her verbal witness to a handful of "special people" (like Joseph & Mary). This shows both generosity and wisdom.

Application:

• Men: Do we have a positive attitude towards women? In the Bible, they are prophets. They can serve as national leaders (Miriam, Deborah). They are often portrayed as wiser and more spiritual than men.
• Older people feature prominently in Luke, as well as in the rest of Scripture. Yet our culture worships youth. This is destructive of self-image, hinders morality, impedes wisdom, reduces respect for others, etc.
• Are fasting and praying part of our daily and weekly lives?
• Do we speak about Jesus to all who are interested?
• Remember, we are men and women of faith for the long haul. Decades and decades and decades…

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.

Scripture: Luke 2:25-35

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Bio:

• Simeon is righteous and devout.
• He takes the infant Jesus in his arms—suggesting he may have been a priest at the temple. (Jesus was taken there on his 40th day and his parents made the required offering—see Lev 12:1-8.)
• Having recognized the Messiah, Simeon is now ready to die. (This implies that he is advanced in years.)
• He served the Lord faithfully, even though he had grown old.

Simeon's insight:

• He realized that the good news was not for Israel only, but for the entire world. This was no narrow nationalism, but a universal vision. (Recall that in early Christianity, it was a struggle for many Jewish Christians to welcome Gentile Christians as full partners in the gospel.)
• Simeon's perspective is deeply scriptural.
• Although one might have expected everything about the message of the Messiah to be positive (happy news), Simeon realizes there is a dark, doleful aspect to the dawning Messianic age. Not everyone will happy accept the Messiah and his message.
• He foresaw that a sword would pierce Mary's soul, tool (probably referring to the agony of watching her son's crucifixion, when she's approximately 50 years old).
• He rejoiced in and was content with God’s will

Application:

• Are we like Simeon? If we are older Christians, do we still have passion for the Lord?
• Do we have a truly scriptural perspective, or is it only a patchwork of loosely connected ideas?
• Are we content in accepting God’s will for my life, for his people, and for the world?

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.

Orchestrated execution of Jesus Christ. How could the holy priesthood established by Moses and Aaron become the mortal enemy of Jesus, the Messiah?

Unrighteous priesthood
How does the 1st century priesthood violates the original Levitical plan? It was supposed to be:

• High priesthood a lifetime appointment (Heb 7:23).
• Holy — not assimilating to the dominant regional culture, but a shining beacon for all Israel and the watching world.
• Separate from the monarchy. Priests (from the tribe of Levi) could not serve as kings (tribe of Judah). It's not good when religious leaders have political power, or when political leaders have spiritual power! The temptations to corruption are just too great.
• Precedent: Hasmonean times (140-37 BC), with appointment of Aristobolus.

Annas, the father-in-law
 

• Annas (or Ananus or Ananias) son of Seth, born before 20 BC, died around around AD 40.
• Appointed by the Roman legate Quirinius as the first High Priest of the newly formed Roman province of Iudaea in AD 6.
• High priest AD 6-15, then deposed by procurator Gratus. Yet remained highly influential through his son-in-law and his 5 sons.
• Putting it all together, here are the terms of Annas, Caiaphas, and the five brothers:
  • Ananus (or Annas) the son of Seth (6–15)
  • Eleazar the son of Ananus (16–17)
  • Caiaphas, properly Joseph son of Caiaphas (18–36), married the daughter of Annas (John 18:13)
  • Jonathan the son of Ananus (36–37 and 44)
  • Theophilus the son of Ananus (37–41)
  • Matthias the son of Ananus (43)
  • Ananus the son of Ananus (63)
• Scriptures:
  • Luke 3:2 — During the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness.
  • John 18:12 -- So the band of soldiers and their captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound him. 13 First they led him to Annas, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. 14 It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it would be expedient that one man should die for the people... 19 The high priest then questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. 20 Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world. I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret. 21 Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them; they know what I said.” 22 When he had said these things, one of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand, saying, “Is that how you answer the high priest?” 23 Jesus answered him, “If what I said is wrong, bear witness about the wrong; but if what I said is right, why do you strike me?” 24 Annas then sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest... 28 Then they led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the governor's headquarters. It was early morning. They themselves did not enter the governor's headquarters, so that they would not be defiled, but could eat the Passover.

Caiaphas, the son-in-law
 

• Caiaphas was the major antagonist of Jesus.
• According to Josephus, Caiaphas was appointed in AD 18 by the prefect before Pontius Pilate, Valerius Gratus. He served for 18 years -- a long term.
• Scriptures
  • Matt 26:3 -- Then the chief priests and the elders of the people gathered in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, 4 and plotted together in order to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him.
  • 26:57 Then those who had seized Jesus led him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered.
  • John 11:45 -- Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him, 46 but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47 So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council and said, “What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. 48 If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.” 49 But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all. 50 Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.” 51 He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that
    Jesus would die for the nation, 52 and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. 53 So from that day on they made plans to put him to death.
  • John 18:13 -- And they led Him away to Annas first, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas who was high priest that year.
  • Acts 4:5 -- On the next day their rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem, 6 with Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. 7 And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?”
  • Caiaphas is also the "high priest" of Acts 5:17-21, 27; 7:1; 9:1. His persecution of Christ naturally continued through a bitter persecution of Christ's followers. (And to think that Saul of Tarsus was commissioned by Caiaphas to hunt down our brothers and sisters in Christ!)
• Dante places Caiaphas in the 6th realm of the 8th circle of the Inferno, with the hypocrites. His torture: eternal crucifixion on the hypocrites' path, who step on him for ever.
• 1990 Ossuary discovery
  • Inscription: "Joseph son of Caiaphas"
  • Luxurious ossuary. See image above.
  • Dated to second half of 1st C.
  • Contained the bones of an old man.

Observations and suggestions:

• Don't be surprised at institutional injustice, especially in powerful religious structures.
• When Jesus cleanses the temple courts he is telegraphing a message to Annas and Caiaphas. The Talmud calls some of these first century priests "great hoarders of money."
• These men lived in the lap of luxury. Visit the priestly home in pre-70 Jerusalem!
• There's no priesthood or high priest today -- at least not on earth. Our great high priest serves in heaven. And we serve him, as a "kingdom of priests" (1 Pet 2:9; Exod 19:6).
• God can work even through corrupt leaders. This was Jesus' attitude in Matt 23:3.
• At a deeper level of providence, since Annas and Caiaphas engineered the execution of Christ, they unwittingly accomplished God's purpose through the ages: to provide forgiveness and reconciliation through the true sacrifice offered by the true priest, who even now mediates for us in the true temple in heaven! Caiaphas was right (John 11:50).

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.

Here is the sixth and final lesson (19 minutes) in our special Mary series.
We hope you have enjoyed Vicki's lessons on Mary -- which is her favourite biblical character.

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.

Mary ponders what God is doing, treasuring what he has revealed to her. Her expectations, heart, and thinking are an upward call to us all.

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.

Here you can listen to the fourth lesson in the series (38 minutes). Mary interacts with many other women in the circle of Jesus -- yielding rich insights for us all.

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.

The lesson is based on Luke 1. Listen to Vicki Jacoby as the series continues...