< Titus 1 >

Titus was the apostle’s “son in the faith”,v.4Titus 1:4XWaiting for response who had the “faith of God’s elect and the truth which is after godliness”.v.1Titus 1:1XWaiting for response He also had the “hope of eternal life which God promised before the world began”.v.2Titus 1:2XWaiting for response Different Greek words are translated “world” and this one means “age”, and the age referred to is the Mosaic era which began with the Exodus, B.C.1492. Long before this, God had promised eternal life to the faithful, e.g. in the promises to Abraham four hundred years earlier. Titus, like all disciples, received this hope as a result of the preaching of the gospel.v.3Titus 1:3XWaiting for response

Titus was left in Crete v.5Titus 1:5XWaiting for response to ordain elders, overseers of the congregations, and he was able to do this by the power of God. None has this power today, so that there are no overseers now as in the first century, but we can note the required qualifications so that we all can manifest them in our lives, for they are characteristics which are acceptable to God. The overseers were to be blameless,vs.6-7Titus 1:6-7XWaiting for response not to be motivated by money,v.7Titus 1:7XWaiting for response to manifest love,v.8Titus 1:8XWaiting for response and to be sound in doctrine. v.9Titus 1:9XWaiting for response

This last requirement to being ordained an elder was particularly important because some were corrupting the truth and turning to fables and the commandments of men.vs.10-14Titus 1:10-14XWaiting for response Paul also exhorted the disciples to be pure,v.15Titus 1:15XWaiting for response warning them that having the knowledge of God, while of vital importance, would not save anyone whose works denied him.v.16Titus 1:16XWaiting for response