Titus 3:15

All that are with me salute thee. Greet them that love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen.

The letter proper has been concluded. Paul merely adds a few words, directing Titus to take care of certain matters. He informs him, first of all, that he intends to send either Artemas (or Artemidorus) or Tychicus, the latter being mentioned often in his letters, 2 Timothy 4:12; Ephesians 6:21; Colossians 4:7, to relieve Titus in Crete. Either one of these two men Paul wanted to send to Crete as quickly as possible, for he wanted Titus to come as soon as he could possibly make it, to Nicopolis, a city of Epirus, on the Ambracian Gulf, a branch of the Ionian Sea, now the Gulf of Arat, on the southern boundary of Albania. It was not only the nearness of winter and the uncertainty of traveling which caused the apostle to write in such urgent terms, but also the fact that he longed for his younger companion and had need of his ministrations.

The men named in the nest sentence. Zenas and Apollo, were most probably the bearers of this letter. The first man, Zenas, was a lawyer, not according to the Jewish manner of speaking, but the Roman: he was practicing law in the Roman Empire, a fact which shows that the practice of law does not intrinsically interfere with sound Christianity. Apollos is probably the man whom we know from other New Testament writings. Acts 18:24; Acts 19:1: 1 Corinthians 1:12; 1 Corinthians 16:12. Both of these men could be of great value to Titus in his work. Paul writes concerning them; Help them forward on their journey with all diligence, in order that they may want nothing. The word used by the apostle describes the manner of receiving and taking care of travelers in a truly hospitable manner. They should not only be provided with all they were in need of while visiting on the island, but should also be given provisions and clothing for the continuation of their journey. Since this hospitality might easily exceed the slender means of Titus alone. Paul adds: But let also our people learn to practice good works for all real wants, that they be not unfruitful. Christians are always willing to learn and to make progress in all good works, in every form of charity, also that of true hospitality. Whenever and wherever a brother or sister is in need of help, this assistance should be forthcoming with all cheerfulness, as fruits of the faith which is active in love.

Paul is careful to mention that the brethren with him send their cordial salutations to the distant brother. The faith which unites the hearts of the Christians may well find expression also in such little formalities as show the tenderness of the love that lives in them. Titus, in turn, is to be the bearer of greetings to all that n-ere united with the apostle and with all other Christians in the faith. With the apostolic greeting, not only to Titus, but to all that might read or hear this letter, the apostle closes. The grace of God in Christ Jesus, with all the rights, privileges, blessings, and gifts that are connected therewith, is the most precious and most highly prized possession of the Christians, giving them true happiness here and eternal salvation yonder.

Summary

The apostle gives directions as to the manner in which the Christians should be admonished to practice obedience to the government in the true spirit of meekness, on the basis of the washing of regeneration and its renewing power; the Judaizing teachers and the heretics are to be avoided; he concludes with a few directions concerning several brethren and with the apostolic greeting.