Titus (written)

Tuesday, 5 June 2018

They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work. Titus 1:16

Paul continues speaking in line with previous verses which highlight those who spread “Jewish fables.” In this, “They profess to know God.” In knowing the Jewish culture, and in teaching from Jewish traditions and writings, these people appear to be sound in their theology. The Christian faith is derived out of the Jewish Scriptures which detail the coming Messiah. Therefore, it seems only natural that those who teach “all things Jewish” must be the most spiritual of all!

As ludicrous as this may sound, it is a theme which continues on 2000 years later. If someone is Jewish, no matter how bad their doctrine is, they are held up as specialists in the church. If they can read and speak Hebrew, they are almost idolized. If they know Jewish traditions, whether biblical or extra-biblical, they are fawned over. This is a dangerous attitude to have, and it is exactly what Paul is warning against. Because of all of these frills, they do profess to know God, but such is not always the case. Each should be carefully checked, as with any other preacher or teacher, for a close adherence to the word of God. For many, “in works they deny Him.”

What this means is that just because someone brings the Jewish culture into a church, it does not mean that they accept the work of Messiah. The easiest and most obvious tenet is that of dietary restrictions. If a person holds to the Jewish law concerning not eating pork, and teaches that to others, together they deny what God has revealed, and thus they deny Him. Christ fulfilled the law, including dietary restrictions. To teach others that we are to adhere to such obsolete laws is to deny God. This is true with Sabbath observance, circumcision, teaching non-biblical traditions and fables as if they were Scriptural, and etc. Paul says that those who teach such things are “abominable.”

The word thus translated is found only here in the Bible. It signifies that which is detestable, especially idolatrous. Paul uses this word because it is exactly what they profess – that which is contrary to God. It exalts something ungodly above what is of God.

He next calls them “disobedient.” The word gives the sense of a person who is “unwilling to be persuaded.” For them, what is correct and obvious concerning what God prefers is rejected. Think of a person (Person A) who is teaching something out of the gospels, and which is based on a proper reading of the Old Testament precepts, and which is clearly laid out in the Gospel accounts as being in line with those Old Testament principles. However, instead of relying on that, another (Person B) inserts Jewish traditions into his doctrine (something Jesus specifically warns against in the Gospels), and the result is a muddy, convoluted theology concerning these precepts which are being taught. Even after being shown that what he (Person B) is espousing is contrary to Scripture, he continues, being unpersuaded. This is what the word signifies.

Paul says such are also “disqualified for every good work.” The word “disqualified” signifies, “not standing the test,” or “unapproved.” If there is a test of theology, it must be in line with the source of that theology. The ultimate source is Scripture. When these false teachers introduce their “Jewish fables,” they cannot stand the test, because their source material is unapproved. Their doctrine is worthless, their teachings are castaway material, and they are reprobate. How unfortunate that so many people are following exactly this strange and already-warned-against theology by following traditions rather than Scripture.

Life application: Why is it so important to study the pastoral epistles, even when not a pastor? It is because one can properly evaluate the pastor, preacher, or teacher by knowing what is allowed, and what is forbidden. Paul is very clear that Scripture is to be our source for doctrine. It is not inappropriate to teach things from Jewish culture, but those things are not suitable to be taught as doctrine unless they are already in accord with Scripture

Heavenly Father, help us to not insert traditions or myths into our theology. You have given us Your word for our doctrine. When we apply cultural traditions or teachings and elevate them to the same status as Your word, we have erred greatly. May we be found approved because of a total adherence to Scripture alone for the basis of our theology. Give us wisdom in this. Amen.

Monday, 4 June 2018

To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled. Titus 1:15

Paul now cites his thoughts which are a close match of what he said to those in Rome. Two verses in particular carry the same intent –

“I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean.” Romans 14:14

“Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for the man who eats with offense.” Romans 14:20

It is probably the same major subject which is on Paul’s mind here, that of foods which are acceptable to eat. The fact is that there is no food which is excluded for the Christian. There were dietary laws under the Law of Moses, but these were temporary in nature. After the flood, everything was given to man as food –

“And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be on every beast of the earth, on every bird of the air, on all that move on the earth, and on all the fish of the sea. They are given into your hand. ³ Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. I have given you all things, even as the green herbs.” Genesis 9:2, 3

However, at the time of the giving of the law, certain foods were prohibited. In studying these foods, it becomes clear that the Lord chose these, not because they were inherently unclean, but because they pointed to New Testament truths about the work of Christ. To understand this, here is a link to the first of two sermons which explains it quite well. Click here. 

With the understanding that Paul is most probably speaking of foods, his words certainly extend to other moral and religious issues as well. And so he begins with “To the pure all things are pure.” Considering food alone, one could simply think of a nice big pork chop. A person who is cleansed by Christ understands that this is an acceptable food; it is pure. Jesus even alluded to this before His work was complete –

“When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, ‘Hear and understand: ¹¹ Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.’” Matthew 15:10, 11

Mark 7:19 is equally clear on this issue as well. In the finished work of Christ, the law is set aside. There are no longer dietary restrictions. Paul says that those who are in Christ are pure, and to them all things are pure, “but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure.”

What this means is that a person who does not believe that Christ’s work was effectual for the annulment of the law can’t accept this premise. Instead, these foods remain unclean to him. But even more, he says that “nothing is pure.” To them, everything is a source of defilement. They are clinging onto this worldly life, trying to please God apart from the completed and all-sufficient work of Christ. In such a state, they will always be defiled, and everything they encounter is likewise impure. The is because “even their mind and conscience are defiled.”

Without a complete faith in what Jesus did, the conscience of any person remains defiled. There are all sorts of laws which man fails at daily. And with a violation of the law comes the imputation of sin. However, when one understands that we are no longer under law, but rather grace (Romans 6:14, 15), he then realizes that sin is no longer imputed (Romans 5:13).

In other words, the person who has a defiled conscience is impure, and to him nothing is pure. But a person who has his conscience cleansed from defilement by the work of Christ understands that all foods are acceptable. There is no imputation of sin; God has accepted him.

Life application: Pork chop anyone?

Heavenly Father, thank You that we are freed from the constraints of the law because Jesus fulfilled it in our place. We no longer have to worry about dietary restrictions, observing certain days, performing certain rituals, or any of those other things which are now annulled and obsolete, because He has completed them for us. We now have a new direction and are brought into a close, personal, and wonderful relationship with You because of Him. Such freedom! Such grace! Praise You for Jesus our Lord! Amen.

Sunday, 3 June 2018

…not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn from the truth. Titus 1:14

Paul has just told Titus to rebuke the Cretans sharply in order to keep them sound in the faith. He now explains the necessity for this with the words, “not giving heed to Jewish fables.” The church is established upon the finished work of Christ. That work was to fulfill Scripture. Scripture, at that time, consisted of what we now call the Old Testament. It was, at that time, all of the word of God revealed to man for doctrine.

And so that, along with any teaching or writing from a duly recognized apostle, was what was needed for sound doctrine concerning the Christian faith. However, the Jews had (and still have) a giant body of “fables” that they hold to and which they teach. The word is muthos, and it is the direct ancestor of our word “myth.” It signifies “a false account, yet posing to be the truth; a fabrication (fable) which subverts (replaces) what is actually true” (HELPS Word Studies).

The Jewish society had developed so many of these myths that it completely obscured the simplicity of Scripture. Cultural traditions, written traditions, and etc., were heaped one upon another until Scripture itself simply became a side piece of the whole. Today, a great many of these “fables” are found in the Talmud. In addition to these, Paul adds in the words, “and commandments of men.” These will be further defined in the next verse as things concerning purity.

What this is then saying is that man had added to the commandments of Scripture their own commandments. Jesus spoke about this on several occasions, such as in Mark 7 –

Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?”
⁶ He answered and said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written:
‘This people honors Me with their lips,
But their heart is far from Me.
⁷ And in vain they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’
⁸ For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men—the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do.” Mark 7:5-8

However, Paul’s words certainly go beyond this. Jesus’ words to the Pharisees were spoken to them while they remained under the law. Upon completion of His earthly ministry, the law is annulled through His shed blood (Hebrews 7:18, for example). Therefore, Paul’s warning to Titus is inclusive of any commandment of man which would put us back under that now obsolete law. Any such teachings are from “men who turn from the truth.”

God’s word is truth. When man rejects His revelation, they reject His truth. God revealed the law, and man was bound to that law. However, God continued to reveal that the law was only a temporary stepping stone, leading to the work of Christ. Therefore, when man rejects Christ’s fulfillment of the law, they reject God’s truth. This is what Paul is warning about. As noted, an example of this is coming in the next verse.

Life application: It has become hugely fashionable in Christianity today to add to God’s word. Some churches have a “Book of Discipline,” or the like, which is held in higher esteem than God’s word. Some churches reinsert the law, or add in other Jewish traditions, holding them in as high (or higher) esteem than the word. Both of these are errors, and both are warned against by Paul. God has spoken. His word is recorded, and it is to be taken in context to the times in which man exists. We live in the dispensation of grace and, therefore, we are to adhere to Paul’s writings as our main source of doctrine. From there, other portions of Scripture are to be applied in regards to how Paul explains them to us.

Lord God, help us to take Your word in the proper context intended, and in accord with the times in which we live. The law was given during a certain period and for a certain purpose. It was intended as a temporary tutor to lead us to Christ. Now that He has completed this work, we are under grace. Help us to live in this time with that in mind. Grace is unmerited favor, and we thank You for that which is lavished upon us. Amen.

Saturday, 2 June 2018

This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, Titus 1:13

Here Paul confirms his thought about Epimenides’ words concerning Cretans of the previous verse. They, as a culture of people, were liars, evil beasts, and lazy gluttons. Titus would have his hands full with such a group of people. Because of this, Paul will give Titus words on how to deal with them appropriately.

His words here show us that reading and studying about cultures, including their philosophical and religious texts, is a smart plan of action. Paul cites Greek philosophers in Acts 17 as well. In knowing the writings, and in using them properly, he was able to effectively communicate to the people on the same level as they were, and with an understanding of what they already believed, or how they acted as a people. His example is one worthy of emulation. For example, to talk to a Roman Catholic is helpful when one understands what Roman Catholicism teaches.

Having agreed about the disposition of Cretans, confirming what one of their own says about them, he then says, “Therefore, rebuke them sharply.” The word translated as “sharply” is a rare one, being found only here and in 2 Corinthians 13:10. It gives the sense of severely, curtly, or abruptly. In other words, because of the general attitude of those in Crete, Titus would have to be short with his congregation. He would tell them something once, and then he was to be abrupt in his second address to them. It sounds like a rather unhappy way to deal with people, but we are shown here that we are to handle each encounter according to the makeup of those being addressed. This can be seen in Paul’s other use of this word in 2 Corinthians 13 –

“Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the authority which the Lord has given me for edification and not for destruction.” 2 Corinthians 13:10

The reason for Paul’s words there, and his words to Titus here, are for a specific purpose. It is so “that they may be sound in their faith.” As evidenced by Paul’s letters, there are many who are easily swayed by the winds of various doctrines. They are not well-grounded and they keep coming back with the same question based on having heard the next new and exciting thing, no matter how goofy it is. Nothing has changed today, and his words clearly show that being abrupt with people who are prone to laziness in their theology is a definite need. They are to be sharply corrected. If not, they will continuously be corrupted by bad influences.

Life application: Kid gloves in teaching theology may be appropriate for the soul who truly struggles with difficult issues, but they are not appropriate for those who continuously listen to crazy things, absorbing whatever nonsense tickles their ears. Paul’s approach to such people is to be curt with them. If you are considering being a teacher of the word, are you ready to handle such things appropriately? Be assured, they will come, and you must be ready.

Precious Lord God, we live in a world which finds offense at every little thing. It is a world where political correctness has taken deep roots, and so it is hard to have any conversation without bruising someone’s feelings. This has transferred to the church, and simply teaching Your word, as it is written, is found too difficult for many to stand. Even so, may we never fail to teach it accurately, faithfully, and in its proper context. If offense comes, so be it. Help us never to waffle on its precepts, or in our convictions. Amen.

Friday, 1 June 2018

One of them, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” Titus 1:12

Here we have an interesting verse. Paul has been speaking to Titus on the island of Crete about those who teach things contrary to the truth. Now, speaking specifically of those on Crete, he cites a hexameter line by a Cretan poet – whom he calls “a prophet” – Epimenides, of Knossus. As he was from Crete, Paul rightly notes that he was “One of them, a prophet of their own.”

Epimenides lived around 600BC and was considered by Plato to be a divine man. The reason for calling him a prophet here is because the word “prophet” was quite often applied to poets. Poets were considered to have a breath of inspiration in them that elevated their thoughts to oracles, or prophecies. In this case, Epimenides said that “Cretans are always liars.”

This is known as the Epimenides Paradox. It is a problem of logic. Epimenides was from Crete. The problem, or paradox, then rests on what he said. If what he says is true, then he is also describing himself, as he is from Crete. Thus, he is a liar. But if he is describing himself (being a liar), then his statement must be false because he says that Cretans are “always” liars. It is therefore false. But if the statement is false, then it must be true because he is from Crete and he is a liar. This may seem trivial, but all our words must square with logic or we are not really making sense. Paul understood this, and so he included the words of Epimenides this verse.

The state of man is confusion. We don’t normally think clearly. We attribute design to evolution, but then we confirm that we believe the laws of logic, physics, and the other such principles and laws which deny order can come from chaos. So even in our attempt to deny God, we think in a confused way. Paul is carefully warning Titus (and thus us!) that man must rely on the word of God and the absolute truth which stems from it. This verse then, which describes those Paul has been warning against in verses 10 & 11, is given in contrast to verses 1 & 2 which spoke of “the truth which accords with godliness,” and which stem from “God, who cannot lie.”

Along with being liars, Paul then continues the quote concerning those in Crete by saying they are “evil beasts.” Crete is an island that was without wild beasts, and so Epimenides, in a most sarcastic way, says that what is lacking in Crete, in reality, is made up for by the human occupants of the island. Instead of being civilized, they ran amok and lived in a ferocious, animal-like way.

Finally, he finishes the line with, “lazy gluttons.” Here, two vices are combined into one description. Despite being evil beasts, they were slothful in their work. A beast that will not work for its food will perish. But being gluttons they were “all stomach” in their motivation. Again, it is almost a paradoxical thought for an evil beast to be a lazy glutton. The two ideas contradict. A lazy evil beast cannot survive, even though he lives for his stomach.

Paul will explain the reason for quoting Epimenides in the next verse, but it is already obvious that there was a moral lack in those on Crete which necessitated Titus being all the more ready to refute those who came against the truth of the gospel.

Life application: The world is full of contradictions, and man can devise words which produce confusion in logic and order. As this is so, it will naturally be man’s desire to produce confusion in the thoughts and minds of those who pursue God by calling God’s word into question. They can do this by attempting to find contradictions in the Bible, or they can do this by proclaiming doctrines which are contrary to the Bible while calling them correct. Either way, we must be on guard against such attacks. In God, there is no contradiction, and thus in His word there is no contradiction. The people of God are to be logical, think rationally, and rightly divide the word at all times.

Lord God, you have created man to be a logical being who thinks rationally, and who is to pursue that which is morally correct. And yet we certainly fail in this. Our thoughts are often illogical, we do not think in a rational manner, and our morals fail. However, the cure is found in a careful study and right application of Your word. Help us to emulate You by applying this precious gift to our lives. Help us to emulate You as we walk this path of life. Amen.