Henry: Welcome To Immerse: The Daily Bible Reading Experience.
Day 39.
immersed in Titus.
After discovering the issues that were going on in Ephesus, Paul asked Timothy
to remain there and stop those whose teaching is contrary to the truth.
But around the same time, Paul became aware of another
crisis requiring his attention.
False teaching was spreading among the believers in the churches on the island
of Crete in the Eastern Mediterranean.
These churches were most likely young and lacking in strong local leadership.
So Paul sent Titus another of his trusted colleagues to reign in.
The rebellious people who engage in useless talk and deceive others,
though probably young, like Timothy Titus was another dependable coworker.
He had already played an important role in bringing about reconciliation
between Paul and the Corinthians.
And Paul had also sent him to help the Corinthians arrange their offering for
impoverished believers in Jerusalem.
When Paul wrote to the Galatians, he used Titus as an example of a Gentile
believer who was serving Christ faithfully without having to follow the Jewish law.
Now, Paul needed Titus to take on an assignment every bit as
challenging as Timothy's an Ephesus.
On the island of Crete.
False teachers like those in Ephesus were disrupting entire
households with their emphasis on strange myths and speculative ideas.
The fallout from their work included foolish discussions and quarrels
about following the Jewish law, leading to divisions in the churches.
So Paul now writes a letter of instruction to Titus.
Like his first letter to Timothy.
This letter alternates between instructions for the community
of believers on Crete and charges to Titus himself.
Because this letter is shorter and more general, the shifts between
the two are not as pronounced.
Instead, Paul moves briskly back and forth between them.
It's possible that Paul meant for Titus to read this letter only privately.
Paul opens the letter with an emphasis on the nature of the gospel message
and his own clear mandate to spread the good news about Jesus to all people.
Paul then moves immediately to solving the problem of leadership in the
churches of Crete by giving Titus guidance for a appointing elders Titus.
And these appointed elders are called to lead the churches to recommit, to living
by God's grace, as they did when the good news was first preached to them.
Paul is counting on Titus to influence the believers in Crete to live in this
evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God after Titus
has completed his mission in Crete.
Paul hopes Titus can join him for the winter as he prepares for the long and
anticipated trip to bring the good news to the western parts of the Roman Empire.
The letter to Titus.
This letter is from Paul, a slave of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ.
I have been sent to proclaim faith to those God has chosen and to
teach them to know the truth that shows them how to live godly lives.
This truth gives them confidence that they have eternal life, which God who does not
lie, promised them before the world began.
And now at just the right time, he has revealed this message.
Which we announced to everyone.
It is by the command of God, our savior, that I have been
entrusted with this work for him.
I am writing to Titus my true son in the faith that we share may God
the Father, and Christ Jesus our Savior, give you grace and peace.
I left you on the island of Crete so you could complete our work there and appoint
elders in each town as I instructed you.
An elder must live a blameless life.
He must be faithful to his wife and his children must be believers who don't have
a reputation for being wild or rebellious.
A church leader is a manager of God's household, so he
must live a blameless life.
He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered.
He must not be a heavy drinker, violent, or dishonest with money.
Rather, he must enjoy having guests in his home and he must love what is good.
He must live wisely and be just.
He must live a devout and disciplined life.
He must have a strong belief in the trustworthy message he was taught.
Then he will be able to encourage others with wholesome teaching.
And show those who oppose it where they are wrong for.
There are many rebellious people who engage in useless talk and deceive others.
This is especially true of those who insist on circumcision for salvation.
They must be silenced because they are turning whole families away from
the truth by their false teaching.
And they do it only for money.
Even one of their own men, a prophet from Crete, has said about them,
the people of Crete are all liars, cruel animals, and lazy gluttons.
This is true.
So reprimand them sternly to make them strong in the faith.
They must stop listening to Jewish myths and the commands of people
who have turned away from the truth.
Everything is pure to those whose hearts are pure.
But nothing is pure to those who are corrupt and unbelieving because their
minds and consciences are corrupted.
Such people claim they know God, but they deny him by the way they live.
They are detestable and disobedient, worthless for doing anything good.
As for you, Titus, promote the kind of living that reflects wholesome teaching.
Teach the older men to exercise self-control, to be worthy of
respect and to live wisely.
They must have sound, faith, and be filled with love and patience.
Similarly, teach the older women to live in a way that honors God.
They must not slander others or be heavy drinkers.
Instead, they should teach others what is good.
These older women must train the younger women to love their
husbands and their children.
To live wisely and be pure, to work in their homes, to do good, and to be
submissive to their husbands, then they will not bring shame on the word of God.
In the same way, encourage the young men to live wisely, and you
yourself must be an example to them.
By doing good works of every kind, let everything you do reflect the integrity
and seriousness of your teaching.
Teach the truth so that your teaching can't be criticized.
Then those who oppose us will be ashamed and have nothing bad to say about us.
Slaves must always obey their masters and do their best to please them.
They must not talk back or steal, but must show themselves to be
entirely trustworthy and good.
Then they will make the teaching about God our savior, attractive in every way.
For the grace of God has been revealed bringing salvation to all people,
and we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures.
We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness,
and devotion to God.
While we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the
glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ will be revealed.
He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin.
To cleanse us and to make us his very own people.
Totally committed to doing good deeds.
You must teach these things and encourage the believers to do them.
You have the authority to correct them when necessary, so don't let
anyone disregard what you say.
Remind the believers to submit to the government and its officers.
They should be obedient, always ready to do what is good.
They must not slander anyone and must avoid quarreling.
Instead, they should be gentle and show true humility to everyone.
Once we too were foolish and disobedient, we were misled and became
slaves to many lusts and pleasures.
Our lives were full of evil and envy, and we hated each other.
But when God, our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us.
Not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his
mercy, he washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life.
Through the Holy Spirit, he generously poured out the spirit upon us
through Jesus Christ, our savior.
Because of his grace, he made us write in his sight and gave us confidence
that we will inherit eternal life.
This is a trustworthy saying, and I want you to insist on these teachings.
So that all who trust in God will devote themselves to doing good.
These teachings are good and beneficial for everyone.
Do not get involved in foolish discussions about spiritual pedigrees or in quarrels
and fights about obedience to Jewish laws.
These things are useless and a waste of time.
If people are causing divisions among you, give a first and second warning.
After that, have nothing more to do with them.
For people like that have turned away from the truth and
their own sins, condemn them.
I am planning to send either Artemis Ortus to you as soon as one of them arrives.
Do your best to meet me at Nicolos for I have decided to stay there for the winter.
Do everything you can to help Xenos the lawyer and Apollo with their trip.
See that they are given everything they need.
Our people must learn to do good by meeting the urgent needs of others.
Then they will not be un productive.
Everybody here sends greetings.
Please give my greetings to the believers all who love us.
May God's grace be with you all.
This concludes today's immerse reading experience.
Thank you for joining us.