Day 196: NT Titus C1-3 (END); Simple yet All-Encompassing; Paul’s Short Letter to Titus!

Short but sweet would be the modern translation of the short epistle of Saint Paul to Titus—only 3 chapters!

“For we ourselves also were once unwise, unbelieving, going astray, slaves to various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. But when the Goodness and Kindness of God our Savior appeared, then not by reason of Good Works that we did ourselves, but according to His Mercy, He saved us through the Bath of Regeneration and Renewal by The Holy Spirit’ Whom He has abundantly poured out upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior, in order that, justified by His Grace, we may be Heirs in the Hope of Life Everlasting. This saying is True, and concerning these things I desire thee to insist, that they who believe in God may be careful to excel in Good Works. These things are good and useful to men.”—Titus 3:3-8

Salvation by the Goodness, Kindness, and Mercy of God Our Father, Our Savior; through Jesus Christ Our Savior, by the Power of The Spirit of Holiness! Justified by His Grace, the Kingdom of Heaven, Life Everlasting is ours in Truth!

“For the clean all things are clean, but for the defiled and unbelieving nothing is clean; for both their mind and their conscience are defiled. They profess to know God, but by their works they disown Him, being abominable and unbelieving and worthless for any good work.”—Titus 1:15-16

“Grace, Peace, and Power from God the Father, The Spirit of Holiness, and from Christ Jesus our Savior.”—Titus 1:4

TROML Baby (an Exclamation of Gratitude and Joy)! Amen, Alleluia! That says it all!

But let’s not be silly; Good Works are essential to our well-being and carrying out the Will of God:

“Let our people also learn to excel in Good Works, in order to meet cases of necessity, that they may not be unfruitful.”—Titus 3:14

This Book of the Bible sets expectations for the conduct of many—the elderly man, the elderly woman, the younger man, and by omission the younger woman too—all of us in the various Seasons of our Lives for the Grace of God has appeared to all people!

A perfect message with one exception…

Exhort slaves to obey their masters… NOT!

An “inspired correction”, rather “an inspired rewrite” based on overlaying the predominate Salvation and Freedom of the New Testament:

“Slavery is an abomination of human civilization. While an evil present in the past there is no place for it in any society today or in the future. Let no Christian hold another human being under yoke otherwise the Name of the Lord and His Teachings will be blasphemed. All men and women are created equal by God their Creator with the innate right of Liberty. Discrimination or segregation of any kind on the ground of race or color is also an abomination of human civilization. May all human beings be believers and beloved. Teach and exhort these things.”—1 Timothy 6:1-2

“Avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and quarrels and disputes about the Law; for they are useless and futile.”—Titus 3:9

“Greet those who love us in the faith. The Grace of God be with you all. Amen.”—Titus 3:15

***Read and inspired by the New Testament, The Epistle of Saint Paul to* Titus, Chapters 1-3 (END); Simple yet *All-Encompassing; Paul’s Short Letter to Titus!***

Bible Notes:

Titus was the Bishop of Crete. In this letter Saint Paul reminds him of some of his duties, e.g., to choose only worthy candidates for the priest-hood, and to preach to all Christians about their obligations.

Titus Chapter 1: Greeting; Titus’Mission; Special Needs in Crete.

Greeting:

Paul, a Servant of God and Apostle of Jesus Christ, in accordance with the Faith of God’s Elect and the full knowledge of the Truth which is according to Piety…

God’s Elect—God unconditionally elects certain people even though they are sinful as an act of His Saving Grace apart from the Shortcomings or Will of Man. Those chosen have done nothing to deserve this Grace.

Piety—Reverence for God or Devout Fulfillment of Religious Obligations

CORRECTION for The Last Testament: The Spirit of Holiness:

“Grace, Peace, and Power from God the Father, The Spirit of Holiness, and from Christ Jesus our Savior.”—Titus 1:4

Titus’ Mission:

Presbyters must be blameless, married but once, having believing children who are not accused of impunity or disobedience.

“For a bishop must be blameless as being the Steward of God, not proud, or ill-tempered, or a drinker, or a brawler, or greedy for base gain; but hospitable, gentle, reserved, just, holy, continent; holding fast the Faithful Word which is accordance with the Teaching, that he may be able both to exhort in sound Doctrine and to confute opponents.”—Titus 7-9

Special Needs in Crete:

…for the sake of base gain.

Base Gain—which means base or sordid—implying the motivation for monetary profit is an inappropriate, greedy one

a prophet of their own…

Titus Chapter 2: Duties of Various Classes; Life Changed by the Grace of Christ.

Duties of Various Classes:

That elderly men be reserved, honorable, prudent, sound in faith, in love, in patience; that elderly women, in like manner, be marked by holiness of behavior, not slanderers, nor enslaved to much wine; teaching what is right, that they may train the younger women to be wise, to love their husbands and their children, to be discreet, chaste, domestic, gentle, obedient to their husbands, so that the Word of God be not reviled.

Exhort the younger men, in like manner, to be self-controlled. Show thyself in all things an example of good works, in teaching, in integrity and dignity; let thy speech be sound and blameless, so that anyone opposing may be put to shame, having nothing bad to say of us.

Exhort slaves to obey their masters, pleasing them in all things and not opposing them; not pilfering, but showing faithfulness in all things, so as to adorn in all things the Teaching of God our Savior.

CORRECTION for The Last Testament: The Spirit of Holiness:

Life Changed by the Grace of Christ:

For the Grace of God our Savior has appeared to all men, instructing us, in order that, rejecting ungodliness and worldly lusts, we may live temperately and justly and piously in this world; looking for the Blessed Hope and Glorious Coming of our Great God and Savior Jesus Christ, Who gave Himself for us that He might redeem us from all iniquity and cleanse for Himself an acceptable people, pursuing good works. Thus speak, and exhort, and rebuke, with all authority. Let no one despise thee.

Titus Chapter 3: Summary Exhortations; Good Works and Truth; Closing Messages; Greeting.

Summary Exhortations:

“For we ourselves also were once unwise, unbelieving, going astray, slaves to various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. But when the Goodness and Kindness of God our Savior appeared, then not by reason of Good Works that we did ourselves, but according to His Mercy, He saved us through the Bath of Regeneration and Renewal by The Holy Spirit’ Whom He has abundantly poured out upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior, in order that, justified by His Grace, we may be Heirs in the Hope of Life Everlasting. This saying is True, and concerning these things I desire thee to insist, that they who believe in God may be careful to excel in Good Works. These things are good and useful to men.”—Titus 3:3-8

Good Works and Truth:

“Avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and quarrels and disputes about the Law; for they are useless and futile.”—Titus 3:9

Closing Messages:

“Let our people also learn to excel in Good Works, in order to meet cases of necessity, that they may not be unfruitful.”—Titus 3:14

Greeting:

“Greet those who love us in the faith. The Grace of God be with you all. Amen.”—Titus 3:15

Day 196: NT Titus C1-3 (END); Simple yet All-Encompassing; Paul’s Short Letter to Titus!

Day 196: NT Titus C1-3 (END); Simple yet All-Encompassing; Paul’s Short Letter to Titus!

Short but sweet would be the modern translation of the short epistle of Saint Paul to Titus—only 3 chapters!