Transcript

Today's Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today's episode: Ch. 1-3 NASB

Podcast Introduction

It’s Epistles Sunday, and we’ll read the book of Titus. Yes, all three chapters. I’ll give you a brief introduction to Titus before we read them, and I’m calling this episode “Trustworthy.”

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Comments on Titus 1-3

Introduction to Titus

Titus was a man who travelled with Paul and helped him in his work. In other parts of Scripture Paul calls him “his brother”, “his partner and fellow helper”, and in this book you heard Paul refer to him as “his true child”. So we see Paul thought highly of him. Titus was a Greek, and was with Paul in Rome when Paul was put on trial before Caesar. 

Before they were in Rome however, the two of them had been in Crete, introducing the people there to the message of Jesus, but Paul was unable to stay very long, and he left Titus there to continue the work. Titus had some difficulties in Crete, and Paul sent this letter to encourage and help him and the new believers there. 

Comments on Titus 1

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. 

Comments on Titus 2

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.

The lovely Lady LeeAnn have been married for over 33 years. 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,