Some Vital Instructions Needed for Church Organization Titus 1:1-16
Paul left Titus on the island of Crete in order to set straight “things that are wanting and to ordain elders in every city” (Titus 1:5). This arduous task was appointed to Titus because the organization of the Cretan church and the lives of the members had both fallen into disrepute. Some Christians had abused the grace of God and turned it into licentiousness! In this grand book of Titus, it teaches that Christian doctrine and Christian living are to be sound (Titus 1:9, 13; 2:1-2, 8). God’s grace leads a person to live a godly life (Titus 1:4; 2:11; 3:17, 15). Although we do not know who founded the church at Crete, but we do know that Paul left Titus there to organize it and remedy the weaknesses of the church.
Titus 1:1-16 may be outlined as follows: I. Instructions for Church Organization – Titus 1:1-9; II. Some Characteristics of False Teachers – Titus 1:10-16.
- Instructions for Church Organization – Titus 1:1-9
Paul begins this wonderful epistle by identifying himself as a servant of God (v. 1). The word “servant” means bound slave. Paul viewed himself as a bond slave of Jesus Christ. He also referred to himself as an apostle of Jesus Christ. As a sent representative of Christ, Paul was to communicate the truth of God. As a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, Paul focused on two main concerns: “the faith of God’s elect, and the knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness.” God was using Paul to call out a people for Himself and to teach them the truth that leads to godliness.
In verses 2-3, “the faith and knowledge” referred to in verse 1, are said to be resting on the hope of eternal life. This hope was promised by God back in eternality. In verse 3, God’s wonderful plan of salvation was marked out before the world began, but now it has been revealed through preaching (the proclamation of the gospel).
In verse 4, Paul addresses Titus as his spiritual son. The expression, “after the common faith,” refers to the faith that all believers share. From God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, our Saviour, all believers have been benefited with “grace, mercy and peace” (v.4). As a result of God’s grace, we have been extended “mercy and peace.” According to verse 5, Paul appointed Titus to organize the Cretan church, which was located on an island on the Mediterranean Sea. Titus was to “set in order” and remedy the spiritual weaknesses of the Cretan church. The expression “set in order” is a medical term, meaning “to set a broken bone, or straighten a crooked limb.” The church is a body, and the spiritual leader must remedy the spiritual weaknesses of the body by applying the Word of God!
Beginning in verse 6, Paull will list some seventeen qualifications of elders/bishops. These qualifications are: (1) the elder must be blameless, or live a life above reproach (I Timothy 3:10); (2) husband of one wife, meaning a one-woman man; (3) an elder must have his own household under control; (4) an elder must not be overbearing, not arrogant and self-willed; (5) an elder must not be quick-tempered; (6) not given to much wine; (7) not violent; (8) not desirous of dishonest gain; (9) must be hospitable; (10) one who loves what is good; (11) self-controlled; (12) upright; (13) holy; (14) disciplined; (15) holding firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught; (16) encourage others by teaching the word; (17) refute those who oppose the word.
- Some Characteristics of False Teachers – Titus 1:10-16
In verse 10, Paul described those who oppose or contradict sound teaching by offering three prominent characteristics they possessed; they are rebellious, mere talkers and deceivers. These false teachers must be suppressed because of the ruin they were doing to the families of the congregation. These false teachers were interested in dishonest gain (v. 11).
In verse 12, Paul quotes a famous poet called Epimenides, who described the Cretians as liars, ferocious beasts and “idle gluttons.” In Paul’s day, the people invented a new word out of the name “Cretian” which meant “to lie, to speak like a Cretian.” Paul was not suggesting that all Cretians were lazy gluttons and liars. There were many people, both within and without the churches, who lived descent lives. The forthright quotation by Paul regarding the Cretians was candid (v. 13).
Titus was admonished by Paul to rebuke the false teachers sharply so that they will be sound in the faith. In verse 14, Titus was to severely rebuke the those in error so that they would cease paying attention to Jewish myths and to the commands of those who reject the truth.
In verse 15, Paul set forth a teaching by Christ that stated in essence that purification is a matter of internal rather than the external (Mark 7:15; Luke 11:39-41). Nothing outside can corrupt one who is internally pure; but someone who is internally impure corrupts all he touches. The problem with false teachers was their minds and consciences were impure. Thus, in verse 16, their impure interiors made them externally detestable to God and unfit for doing anything good.
May God Bless!
