Distinguished Producer

Paul of Seattle.

Podcast Introduction

It’s Epistle Sunday, and the epistle we’ll be from today is Paul’s epistle to  Titus. We’ll read all three chapters, after which I’ll have some comments for you. And of course I’ll have an “On This Date In Church History” segment for you, too. I’m calling today’s episode “Respect.”

Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Jeremy Wong Weddings on Unsplash

Comments on Titus

After Paul’s salutation in the first chapter, he tells Titus what he should be looking for in men who would be leaders in the church there in Crete. It was important to get men of integrity who were above reproach because there were some in their midst who were causing trouble. Especially (in Paul’s words) “those of the circumcision”. 

What he meant by that was old-school Jewish men. The reason that was a problem is that they were trying to teach that the people should follow the old Jewish laws of doing the various sacrifices and dietary restrictions and a host of other things that are no longer necessary, because the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus did away with those things. 

The message of the Gospel, which means Good News, is that Jesus was the final and perfect sacrifice once and for all those who believe in Him. The Law put people under bondage, but Jesus brought grace, which makes us free. 

In chapter two, Paul talked about how believers should behave so as to not bring dishonor to God. Some of the language sounds politically incorrect to our 21st century ears, especially in regards to how women should act, so I would like to briefly address those things. In regards to young women, Paul says that they should “love their husbands, love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.”

There’s a lot there, but let me focus on the last part. “workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands,” What Paul was saying was that young wives who had children should not be going about, leaving their children at home, and partying. But they should nurture their children at home in a loving way, and they should be subject to *their own* (not others’) husbands. 

Remember, the men had already been told to be sound in love, and when there is love on both side, the matter of being subject to one another is not a problem. In the book of Ephesians, chapter 5, Paul used similar language. He said that wives should be subject to their own husbands, as they would to the Lord. And he tells husbands to love their wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave His life for her.

In my almost 33 year marriage to the lovely Lady LeeAnn, LeeAnn is subject to me, and I would do anything in the world for her. As Jesus does not rule over the church with an iron fist, I do not do that to LeeAnn. Jesus sacrificed his very life for the church, and I would do the same for my wife. We have respect and love for one another. She does everything possible to make me happy, and I do the same for her. She doesn’t gallivant around town causing embarrassment to me or God, and I don’t don’t go carousing around, either. 

And while I’m on the subject, let me say that LeeAnn supports what I’m doing here one hundred percent. When you’re hearing my voice, in a way, you’re hearing her. I would not be able to do this show seven days a week without her support. She sacrifices a lot so that I can do this. It takes time away from the things she would like me to do for her, but because she loves God first and then me, she never complains. I just thought you should know.

Back to Titus:

This is what Paul was saying. When both husband and wife love God and then love each other, that home honors God.

In verse 9 Paul talks about bondslaves. This is not the kind of slavery that we think of that happened here in the United States in our early history and happens even still in various other parts of t...