Titus 3:1-3
Titus 3:1
"Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, and to
obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work"
"Put them in mind", (hupomimneiskw) - "to remind someone
about something".
Here, the Cretans are to be reminded - that is, taught - that their obligation
as believers is to be submissive to the authorities in their communities.
The Cretans were implacable and rebellious by nature and culture. They were
a law unto themselves. Many Greek and Roman generals found them ungovernable
as soldiers except by offers of reward and booty in combat.
The Cretan society was not a society of grace, mercy, and peace - when there
were no foreign wars to absorb their energies, there were constant skirmishes
between the cities and fighting among the clans.
Here, the teacher is to stand before the people and "remind them".
"to be subject", (hupotassw) - "to be subordinate; to be
obedient; to submit to authority"
This word had an extensive military usage in the sense of obedience to regimented
command..
Topic: AUTHORITY
"to principalities", (arkei) - "rulers; kings; commanding
generals".
In Greece, this word referred to principal leaders of the Greek city-states,
like Athens or Sparta. On Crete, the cities were rule by the (kosmoi), the
committees.
"and powers", (exousias) - "rulers; people of power"
But this word was used more often of subordinate officials, hence, city
officials, police officers, judges, etc.
"and to obey magistrates", (peitharkew) - "to obey rulers"
The verb here is translated into the English verb and noun "to obey
magistrates". In Acts 5:28,29, only a verb is used in English because
the one to be obeyed is God.
"Did we not straitly command you that you should not teach in this
name? And behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine ... Them
Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey (peitharkew)
God rather than men."
This speaks of respect for the authority of God, followed by obedience to
his commands.
"to be ready to every good work"
"Ready" is (etoimos), "prepared; in readiness". The
preparation of a Christian to produce bona fide good works is outlined in
chapters 1 and 2. The result of being occupied with Christ, growing in Christ,
and becoming a mature believer is "good works".
The production of divine good in the Christian life (gold, silver, and precious
stones) stems in part from the proper response to authority. Therefore,
respect for authority is an essential part of a believer's personal witness
- it has the potential to save individuals and nations.
Titus 3:2
"To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, showing all
meekness unto all men."
"to speak evil of no man", (blasphemew), "to injure someone's
reputation; to slander; to defame; to blaspheme; to malign"
Remember in Titus 2:3 the older woman was to be "not a false accuser".
This is the same word, and the command is directed at all believers.
The Word of God has a lot of teaching about sins of the tongue. He seems
to know us very well.
The concept of sin in the Bible is actually put there for our benefit, not
God's. He is, after all, perfect in His infinite righteousness. And he knows
each of us individually and perfectly.
Because He loves us, God wants us to experience blessing and peace and happiness
in this life, and He knows what it takes to produce this. He knows that
sin interrupts His will for Christians, because it disturbs a person's progress,
growth, and prosperity, and that of others.
For example, sinful pride produces self-centeredness and blinds us to worth
in others. Envy, jealousy, and covetousness rob a Christian of happiness.
Hatred and vindictiveness rule out real love for others. Drunkenness destroys
rapport with God and man. Fornication defrauds, steals, lies because it
does not deliver what it promises.
The slandering of other people is a symptom of deep mental hatred and evidence
of a lack of adjustment to God's will and plan for other people. It is an
act that is the direct opposite of the loving care for others that leads
to personal evangelism and Christian fellowship.
"to be no brawlers", (amaxos) - "peaceable", meaning
"not to fight; not to quarrel, not to wrangle."
This is not the "brawler" of Titus 1:7. There, the Greek word
is (pleikteis), which refers to a bully or one who goes around looking for
fights.
In this verse the term is more general and more indicative of the peaceable
mental attitude of a person who is not looking for trouble, and it could
equally apply to non-physical confrontations.
We see examples of the *lack* of this quality all around us in the world.
In many people envy, hatred, venom is barely hidden behind a very thin facade.
We see it in debates between religious leaders, in confrontations between
politicians - the poorly concealed disdain and hatred people have for each
other.
The Lord expects the Christian to be moving away from this type of life.
This quality of peaceableness is commanded of all Christians.
"but gentle", (epieikeis) - "fair; moderate; kind; forbearing;
forgiving; not insisting on strict justice".
Phil. 4:5, "Let you moderation (epieikeis) be known unto all men. The
Lord is at hand."
James 3:16,17 "For where envying and strife is, there is confusion
and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then
peaceable, gentle (epieikeis), and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and
good fruits, without partiality, and with hypocrisy."
Topic: FORGIVENESS
Some of the benefits of a gentle, forgiving:
A great savings in emotional energy.
Minimum time living carnally, maximum time in divine production.
Relief from an assumed burden - a spin off of the prosperity package.
Protection from divine discipline (chastisement) for mental attitude sin.
Leaves one in position to be of service to offender.
Is a great testimony to those who would have acted differently.
"showing all meekness"
The word "showing" is (endeiknumi), "to demonstrate; to display;
to give proof of (in law)".
The word "meekness" is (prauteis), meaning "courtesy; considerateness
accompanied by humility".
Here, the Christian is commanded to "demonstrate consideration for
others in the frame of mind of true humility."
The word "meekness" does not carry this meaning in modern American
speech. A Christian man or woman can have great self-confidence, can walk
erect, can be well organized and forceful, yet can manifest great courtesy
and consideration based on a Grace attitude in all things.
True humility is not in giving an appearance of humiliation. True humility
is the realization of God's gracious provision of everything that we have,
and that we have not earned or deserved even one good thing.
"unto all men" - the evangelical imperative.
In order for us to have respectful listeners when we witness or teach requires
that we have these personal characteristics shown in our outlook toward
other people and in our responses to others.
Titus 3:3
"For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived,
serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful,
and hating one another."
"For we ourselves also"
Here is Paul's description of his own life before salvation (and perhaps
he is reminding Titus of the same things). These comments are a description
of relying on the pseudo-provision that the world offers.
Read Romans 6:1-23
The plea in the first two verses of this chapter, that Christians be forbearing,
merciful, considerate of others, is *reinforced* here by pointing out that
all of us are products of Grace, and recipients of mercy, so we ought to
remember where we came from and what God has brought us out of.
St. Paul never forgets Grace and his own total dependency on the Lord.
Read Romans 7:19-25; 8:1-13 for a contrast of the old life with the new
life in Christ. These two chapters in Romans are a blueprint for exalted
living on this earth.
There is the paramount consideration of personal volition in all of this;
we choose every day whom we will serve, whether God or mammon.
Matt. 6:24, "No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate
the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise
the other. You cannot serve God and mammon."
Joshua 24:14 ff, "Now, therefore, fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity
and truth [volition plus doctrine]: and put away the gods which your fathers
served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the Lord.
And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom
you will serve; whether the gods which you fathers served that were on the
other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you
dwell; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."
"were sometimes foolish", (anoetos), "were once unwise".
To be wise, a person must experience salvation through belief in Christ.
Wisdom is part of the salvation package.
Read Ephesians 1:7-12
But wisdom must be obtained. " ... let him ask of God."
Read Col. 1:9-13
"disobedient", (apeitheis), "disobedient".
Not obedient to authority, in this case, not responsive to God's authority.
"deceived", the *passive* voice of (planow) - "to be led
astray; to be deluded"
This is characteristic of the naive, the immature, the child. This is great
gullibility.
Ephesians 4:11-15 shows the antidote for gullibility. The mechanism to counter
deception, and to remove spiritual ignorance, is set up. Those with spiritual
gifts of communications teach believers so that they "grow up into
Christ" and so that the church operates as a mature organization.
It takes great effort to become discerning, wise, "sophisticated"
in life. Satan is a great con man, a carnival barker, offering something
for nothing, but loading the dice "the sleight of men and cunning craftiness
whereby they lie in wait to deceive."
"serving diverse lusts and pleasures"
Reference to slavery to the details of life, which may include quite legitimate
things which we desire, as well as the sinful things of the world.
"living", (diagw) - "to spend one's life doing something"
...
in this case, wallowing in patterns of sinful mental activity, described
in the following words.
"in malice", (kakia) - "ill-will; malignity; maliciousness"
This is from a word which, in the moral sense, means "badness; depravity;
wickedness." Believers need to be warned about this, it is not restricted
to non-believers.
Read 1 Peter 2:15,16
"and envy", (phthnos) - "jealousy"
A result of covetousness. This sin occurs in many of the catalogues of vices
in the New Testament, notably in Romans 1:29.
Comment: how easy it is to place great emphasis on the homosexuality described
in Romans 1, and ignore all of the other areas of weakness to which we all
are subject. The warnings of Romans 2 regarding self-righteous judging are
directed at this tendency to focus on the sins of other people.
"hateful", (stugetos), "filled with hate"
This could be considered a "spin-off" sin, or a sin resulting from
a chain of sinning. For example: pride leads to envy; envy leads to bitterness;
bitterness leads to hatred. A person can commit a lot of sins in a brief
period of time.
"and hating one another", (misew) - "active pursuit of hatred
towards another; detestation; abhorrence"
This word carries the connotation of venom toward others. This Greek root
is found in the English "misanthrope; misogamist; misogynist".
This is the end of Lesson 11. In order to lift our eyes out of Satan's world
and the depressing sight of our own weaknesses, let us now read Titus 3:4-7
as an uplifting exercise. :-)
Summarizing the passage:
Titus 3:1, "Remind them to be subject to rulers, to civil leadership,
to be obedient to authorities, to be ready for every good deed."
Titus 3:2, "To malign no one, to be uncontentious, forbearing, showing
every consideration for all men."
Titus 3:3, "For we ourselves were once unwise, disobedient, led astray;
serving various lusts and pleasure, living in ill-will and jealousy, filled
with hate and hating others."
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