"THE EPISTLE TO TITUS"
Chapter One
OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER
1) To review the qualifications for elders in the church
2) To examine the work of elders related to the Word of God
SUMMARY
Paul begins by identifying himself as a servant and an apostle whose
service is according to the faith of God's chosen people and the truth
which is according to godliness. It is also in hope of the eternal
life promised by God before time began, and whose word is now being
manifested through preaching. He then greets Titus as his "true son in
the common faith", bestowing upon him grace, mercy and peace from God
the Father and Jesus our Savior (1-4).
Paul quickly addresses the reason he left Titus in Crete, to set in
order what things were lacking and to appoint elders in every city. To
assist him in that task, Paul reviews the qualifications necessary for
those who would be appointed as elders (5-9).
The last qualification for elders (being able to convict those who
contradict) leads right into the final section of this chapter, in
which Titus is told to sharply rebuke those of the circumcision who
through insubordination and deceit had been subverting entire
households, acting just like the characterization made by one of the
ancient Cretan prophets. Motivated by dishonest gain, giving heed to
Jewish fables and commandments of men, they became defiled even in
their mind and conscience. These false teachers may have professed to
know God, but by their works they denied Him and proved themselves
unfit for every good work (10-16)
OUTLINE
I. INTRODUCTION (1-4)
A. FROM PAUL (1-3)
1. A servant of God and apostle of Jesus Christ (1a)
2. According to... (1b)
a. The faith of God's elect
b. The acknowledgment of the truth which is according to
godliness
3. In hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie... (2-3)
a. Promised before time began
b. In due time has manifested His Word
1) Through preaching
2) Which was committed to him according to the commandment
of God
B. TO TITUS (4)
1. His true son in their common faith (4a)
2. Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Jesus Christ
our Savior (4b)
II. CONCERNING ELDERS (5-9)
A. THE REASON TITUS WAS LEFT IN CRETE (5)
1. To set in order the things that are lacking (5a)
2. To appoint elders in every city as Paul commanded him (5b)
B. QUALIFICATIONS OF ELDERS (6-9)
1. Positive qualifications
a. Blameless
b. The husband of one wife
c. Having faithful children not accused of dissipation or
insubordination
d. Blameless as a steward of God
e. Hospitable
f. A lover of what is good
g. Sober-minded
h. Just
i. Holy
j. Self-controlled
k. Holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught
l. Able by sound doctrine to exhort and convict those who
contradict
2. Negative qualifications
a. Not self-willed
b. Not quick-tempered
c. Not given to wine
d. Not violent
e. Not greedy for money
III. CONCERNING FALSE TEACHERS (10-16)
A. THEIR CHARACTER (10-13a)
1. Insubordinate (10a)
2. Idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the
circumcision (10b-11)
a. Whose mouths must be stopped
b. For they subvert whole households
c. For they teach things which they ought not, for the sake of
dishonest gain
3. They live up to the estimation of one of Crete's own prophets:
"Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons." (12-
13a)
B. THEIR CONDEMNATION (13b-16)
1. They are to be rebuked sharply (13b-14)
a. That they may be sound in the faith
b. That they not give heed to Jewish fables and commandments
of men
2. To the pure all things are pure... (15)
a. But to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is
pure
b. But even their mind and conscience are defiled
3. They profess to know God... (16)
a. But in works they deny Him
b. Being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every
good work
REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE CHAPTER
1) What are the main points of this chapter?
- Introduction (1-4)
- Concerning elders (5-9)
- Concerning false teachers (10-16)
2) In keeping with what two things was Paul a servant of God and an
apostle of Jesus Christ? (1)
- The faith of God's elect
- The acknowledgment of the truth which is according to godliness
3) What is said about eternal life and God's Word? (2-3)
- Eternal life was promised before time began
- His Word was manifested in due time through preaching
4) How does Paul describe Titus? (4)
- My true son in our common faith
5) What were the two reasons Titus had been left in Crete? (5)
- To set in order the things that are lacking
- To appoint elders in every city
6) What are the positive qualifications for elders? (6-9)
- Blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not
accused of dissipation or insubordination, blameless as a steward
of God, hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just,
holy, self-controlled, holding fast the faithful word as he has
been taught, able by sound doctrine to exhort and convict those
who contradict
7) What are the negative qualifications for elders? (6-9)
- Not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not
violent, not greedy for money
8) Who especially in Crete were insubordinate, idle talkers, and
deceivers? (10)
- Those of the circumcision
9) Why must their mouths be stopped? (11)
- They were subverting whole households, teaching things they ought
not, for dishonest gain
10) What had one of the Cretan prophets said? (12)
- "Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons."
11) What was Titus to do with these false teachers? (13)
- Rebuke them sharply
12) What two reasons are given for extending such rebuke? (13-14)
- That they may be sound in the faith
- That they not give heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men
13) What is said of the pure? Of those who are defiled and
unbelieving? (15)
- All things are pure
- Nothing is pure; even their mind and conscience is defiled
14) How did some who professed to know God actually deny Him? Why? (16)
- In their works
- They were abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good
work
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