Miscellaneous

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Christians as Citizens

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The great doctrine of the Christian Church, Justification by Faith, is thrown in here with instructions on citizenship. Lets look at these instructions, one at a time:

1. Be submissive or subject to those in authority. We must remember that all authority is permitted, yes even ordaineded, of God. Even godless rulers are allowed to rule by the permission of God. Therefore, we must obey and be subject to their authority. Jesus instructed his Disciples to "render unto Caesar the things that were Caesar's and unto God the things that were God's. The early Christian religion was thought to be a threat to all civil authority. To put a stop to this belief and shut the mouths of malicious enemies of the church, Paul writers this instruction. Matthew Henry says, "We should be submissive and obedient to all civil rulers, whether supreme or subordinate, that represents the government and law under which we live, being subject and obedient in all things "lawful" and "honest" and belonging to their office." We, as Christians, must set the example. Spiritual privileges do not void our obligation to civil law.
2. Be ready for any honest work. This again refers to civil duties.
   1. Whatever promotes and secures public peace.
   2. Whatever promotes the general welfare.
   3. Whatever helps the most people, promote these things. Be actively working for them, for this example will bring credit to your religion.
3. Be the perfect peacemaker. To do this, Paul suggests the following:
   1. Speak evil of no one.
   2. Avoid quarreling.
   3. Be gentle.
   4. Show perfect courtesy toward all men, inspite of their short comings. This means whether they deserve it or not. Matthew Henry says that if you can't say something good about someone, don't say anything. It is difficult to do this when people are saying unkind things about you, but Paul says elsewhere that two wrongs do not make a right. Vengeance is God's, not ours.

No one deserves our wrath as much as we deserve the wrath of God. Suppose God responded to our short comings as we do to the short comings of others? Where would we be? Paul says in verse 5, "In spite of our short comings, God saved us." He did this not because of our good works, but by virtue of His mercy. We have been "justified" by His Grace and heirs of eternal life and you can believe this, Paul says, because the saying is true.

Problem People

What was the problem? Believe it or not, it was education. Two types were creating problems in Crete, the intellectual Jew and the educated Greek. The Jewish doctors got hung up on controversities about genealogies (family trees). This was a hold over from Judaism. Family trees were religiously kept before Christ as born out by Luke and Matthew with their genealogies of Christ.

Note what Matthew Henry has to say about these genealogies. "Some useful enquires might be made to see the fulfilling of the scriptures, especially in the linage of Christ, the Messiah, but most genealogies were kept tp boast pride and vanity in a long family pedigree." "Sense Christ has come, the distinction of families and tribes have been taken away and Titus was instructed to emphasize that the continuation of this was foolish and vain."

Also the Jewish doctors were attempting to stress Mosaic Rites and Ceremonies which, with the coming of Jesus Christ, were superseded and done away with. Titus was to avoid and oppose them.

The Greek intellectuals, philosophers, realists, agnostics, had problems with creation and the divinity of Jesus. They would tie up many hours with foolish discussions about these beliefs and only succeeded in wasting time that should have been spent on the Gospel. Paul says to Titus, "Avoid these stupid controversies, they are unprofitable and bare no fruit." Paul calls these men, divisive, factious and difficult, depending on your translation.

Matthew Henry calls these men those who had forsaken the truth as it is in Christ Jesus, who taught false doctrines and used them for the corrupting of the faith in weighty and monotonous points which break the peace of the church.

Notice how Titus was to handle these men. "Admonish them once or twice and if they still persist in these disruptive tactics, have nothing more to do with them." Other authorities say, admonish them once that you might regain a brother, but if this fails, admonish them again that they might be brought back into the faith, but if this fails, cast them out of the fellowship and warn all Christians to avoid them. This rendition probably was an outgrowth of the early Catholic Church.

One writer had this bit of advice, "How great an evil is 'real heresy', it should not be lightly taken or lightly upon anyone, though it should be greatly heeded by all." "Real heretics have seldom been recovered to the true faith, not so much because of a defect in their judgement as it is self pride." It sure is hard to admit that we have made a mistake.

Last Minute Instructions

In these verses, four people are mentioned, Artemas, Tychicus, Zenas and Apollos. Zenas and Apollos were with Paul in Corinth. They had planned a journey, probably to Jerusalem, and would go by way of Crete, so Paul had asked them to deliver this letter to Titus. Paul asks Titus to speed them on their way and see to it that they lacked nothing for their journey. Titus, being an evangelist, had not intended to stay very long on Crete. Paul had other places that he wanted to send Titus, therefore, he planned to send Artemas or Tychicus to take his place. Either one of these two men would have been well qualified to minister to the church on Crete. Paul asks Titus to join him at Nicopolis where he planed to spend the winter, when the two arrived to relieve him.

Not much is known about Artemus accept that he was a convert of Psuls and had studied under his leadership and was well versed in the Gospel. Tychicus was mentioned many times on many occasions. Paul calls him a beloved brother, a faithful minister and a fellow servant of the Lord.

Courtesies to travelers was not uncommon amongst the Christians churches in those days. It was a demonstration of love and respect to those who wher engaged in the Lord's work. Notice Zenas is called a "lawyer", weather it was Mosaic Law or Roman Law is not known. Apollos was a faithful minister that followed Paul at Corinth.

Then Paul gives some last minute instructions to the people of the congregation there on Crete. Get to work physically, so they can help those who are in urgent need and get to work spiritually, so they can apply themselves to good deeds and be fruitful.

The Conclusion

Paul closes his letter with greetings to Titus from those who were with him at Corinth and sends his love to those who were with Titus on Crete. Then he closes with this benediction, "Grace be with you all." This benediction was to all those who were members of the Church on Crete. Matthew Henry describes the benediction this way, "The love and favor of God with the fruits and effects there of, according to need."

THUS ENDS THE BOOK OF TITUS

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