Put Thy House In Order Titus 1:1-4
Context of Paul s Letter to Titus - 66? A.D.
PASTORAL EPISTLE The First and Second Epistles to Timothy, and the Epistle to Titus form a distinct group among the letters written by Paul,
PASTORAL EPISTLE and are now known as the Pastoral Epistles because they were addressed to two Christian ministers. When Timothy and Titus
PASTORAL EPISTLE received these epistles they were not acting, as missionaries or itinerant evangelists, but had been left by Paul in charge of churches
Titus Resume
Titus was a Greek:
Galatians 2:3 But not even Titus, who was with me, though he was a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised.
Titus a close companion to Paul:
Titus 1:4 To Titus, my true child, in a common faith 2 Corinthians 2:13 Titus, my brother
2 Corinthians 8:23 As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you. Galatians 2:1 Titus traveled with Paul to Jerusalem
Titus was to assist with the financial collection from the Corinthians for the poor in Jerusalem: (2 Corinthians 8:6-23)
Titus brought joy to a difficult situation in Corinth: (2 Corinthians 7:2-14)
Titus was named in a rhetorical question about finances (another difficult situation):
2 Corinthians 12:18 I urged Titus to go, and I sent the brother with him. Titus did not take any advantage of you, did he?
2 Corinthians 12:18 Did we not conduct ourselves in the same spirit and walk in the same steps?
Paul Left Titus in Crete:
Titus 1:5 For this reason I left you in Crete
Island of Crete 150 miles long 35 miles wide down to 7.5 miles wide; very mountainous.
Island of Crete Old Testament it is known as Caphtor (Deuteronomy 2:23; Jeremiah 47:4; Amos 9:7) where the Philistines came from.
Island of Crete Cretans were at Pentecost - Acts 2:11 Cretans and Arabs- we hear them speaking in their own tongues
Island of Crete 1 Maccabees 15:15-24 (OT Apocrypha) tells us there were Jews on Crete. 67 A.D. became a Roman province.
Cretans Reputation
Titus 1:12 One of themselves, *a prophet of their own, said, Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons. *Attributed to Epimenides, 6th century B.C. Cretan seer.
Now, with few exceptions, you could find no habits prevailing in private life more steeped in treachery than those in Crete,
and no public policy more inequitable. (Polybius c. 200 c. 118 BC) Greek historian of the Hellenistic period; 6.46-47).
Titus went to Dalmatia
Dalmatia is modern- day Yugoslavia. The tradition passed on down through the centuries is that Titus eventually went back to Crete for the remainder of his life.
Purpose of the Letter
Main Themes of the Epistle
Paul probably answering letter from Titus Paul telling Titus to get things put in order in the churches 1:5
Church Elder qualifications outlined 1:5-9 The need for sound doctrine and sound faith 1:4, 9, 13; 2:6, 8, 10; 3:15
To identify false teaching 1:10-16 Obedient and godly behavior for older and younger men and women 2:1-10
The grace of God which brings about salvation 2:11-14; 3:4-7 The need for good works not for salvation, but because of it 1:16; 2:7, 14; 3:1, 8, 14
Our Focus Order in the churches 1:5
Titus 1:5 For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you,
Why? The church has to in order, because the society all around is in disorder. And that disorder will continue to descend into different forms of paganism.
Paganism: A polytheistic or pantheistic nature- worshipping religion. At the core of paganism, polytheism, and pantheism is idolatry.
Exodus 20:3-4 You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself an idol,
Exodus 20:3-4 or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth.
1 John 5:21 Little children, guard yourselves from idols.
1 Corinthians 10:14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.
Effects of Paganism The temptation to worship false gods is a permanent threat and a constant temptation
Effects of Paganism False gods demand the blood of innocents. Where the innocent and just are slain
Effects of Paganism The god being worshipped is not the God of Israel.False gods masquerade under the names of choice and compromise.
Effects of Paganism A pagan culture is a culture of death. Dr. Robert George,
Snake Story
Action Put Thy House in Order Isaiah 38:1; Ephesians 2:19-22