FROM PAUL, A SERVANT OF GOD. Paul often calls himself a _servant of Christ._ Compare 1 Corinthians 3:5 and note. I was CHOSEN. This is his authority from God. GOD'S CHOSEN PEOPLE. It was always God's plan to save the Gentiles (_see_ Acts 15:14-18). LEAD THEM TO THE TRUTH. Compare 1 Timothy 2:4.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH IS BASED. The hope for eternal life is the basis for faith and truth. Compare 1 Timothy 1:16. BEFORE THE BEGINNING OF TIME. 2 Timothy 1:9. God's ACT in Christ to save us and bless us was decided even before Creation!... [ Continue Reading ]
AND AT THE RIGHT TIME. For centuries, only the Jew had the promise. But the FACT is revealed in Christ! Compare 1 Corinthians 2:7-10. THIS WAS ENTRUSTED TO ME. Paul's _gospel_ was no second-hand thing! God gave it to him!!!... [ Continue Reading ]
I WRITE TO TITUS. This is to show that Titus has Paul's AUTHORIZATION. Titus was one of the _evangelists (see note on_ Ephesians 4:11) whom Paul trained and sent out. Others were: Timothy, Trophemus, John Mark, etc.... [ Continue Reading ]
TO PUT IN ORDER. Some things required _time_ to complete. TO APPOINT CHURCH ELDERS. These were spiritual leaders in the local congregation, and there were always more than one. Compare 1 Timothy 3:1-7. Note that the church at Ephesus had church elders in less than three years time (Acts 20:17). IN E... [ Continue Reading ]
MUST BE WITHOUT FAULT. This means he must be one of the outstanding men of the group. ONLY ONE WIFE. A married man. These qualifications are examined in the notes on 1 Timothy 3:1-7.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR SINCE BE IS IN CHARGE. In the early church, _bishop, overseer, elder, pastor_ all described the same "church board" who were _in charge_ of the local church. See notes on 1 Timothy 3:2-3.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE MUST BE HOSPITABLE. This was especially important in these violent times, when a Christian might have to _run for his life!_ In general, every Christian is to develop these good qualities!!!... [ Continue Reading ]
HE MOST HOLD FIRMLY. Strong in the TRUTH, able to teach the doctrine and show the error of opponents.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO REBEL AND DECEIVE OTHERS. In a sense, only a _Christian_ can rebel or be a hypocrite. Paul points to Christian Jews (the circumcision party) as being the most guilty of things like this. Compare Paul's Letter to the Galatians.... [ Continue Reading ]
IT IS NECESSARY. These people must be stopped, not by persecution or force, but using Truth to expose their error! This is the only safe way to handle such a matter, _but it must be done in love!_ Of making money. Neither money itself, nor the making of money, is a sin! But God did not intend religi... [ Continue Reading ]
IT WAS A CRETAN HIMSELF. Epimenides, writing about 500 B. C. This implies the false teachers said they _were prophets._ Paul quotes one of their own prophets who "tells it like it is" about the character of the people of Crete.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THIS REASON. A healthy faith grows out of a holy life! Titus is to sharply rebuke their rebellion and false teaching (IN LOVE) SO that they will have a healthy faith!... [ Continue Reading ]
AND NO LONGER HOLD ON TO. Many Jewish traditions were harmless (see Acts 21:20 and note). But _these_ Jewish legends and human commandments fooled people into rejecting God's Truth! Compare 1 Timothy 1:4; Mark 7:4; Mark 7:8; Colossians 2:16-23 and notes.... [ Continue Reading ]
EVERYTHING IS PURE. Compare Peter's vision (Acts 10:9-16), and what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 6:12. The meaning is: "The fulfilling of bodily desires is, when lawful, a _pure thing_ in the case of those who are themselves pure; but this is _impure,_ even when lawful, to those who are themselves _im... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THEIR ACTIONS DENY IT. They boasted about God (compare Romans 2:17), but their unholy lives proved they did not know Him! See also 2 Timothy 3:1-9.... [ Continue Reading ]