Titus Chapter 1

Titus was left with the difficult task of setting things in order within the church on the island of Crete and appointing elders to lead the church.  There was a large contingent of Jewish Christian believers here.  Cretan Jews were among those in Jerusalem in Acts chapter 2 who converted to Christianity. 

Titus 1:1-4 “Paul, a bondservant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect and the acknowledgment of the truth which accords with godliness, ² in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began, ³ but has in due time manifested His word through preaching, which was committed to me according to the commandment of God our Savior; ⁴ To Titus, a true son in our common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior.”

Paul, as in many of his epistles, acknowledged that the gospel was committed to him.  The gospel is faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and the free gift of righteousness He gives to us by His grace.  This faith is also the acknowledgment that God has come to dwell in us by the Holy Spirit; as we acknowledge this truth, it leads us into godliness.    

Titus 1:5-9 “For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you— ⁶ if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination. ⁷ For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, ⁸ but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled, ⁹ holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.”

These elders were appointed only if they demonstrated good character.  No one is going to be perfect; but Paul wanted Titus to appoint elders who had demonstrated some level of outward holiness.  The elders were to hold fast the teaching of the gospel and sound doctrine.  Titus appointed faithful men who would be able to teach others also. This is how churches are established and set in order.

Titus 1:10-16 “For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, ¹¹ whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain. ¹² One of them, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” ¹³ This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, ¹⁴ not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn from the truth. ¹⁵ To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled. ¹⁶ They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.”

Paul referred to those of the circumcision.  These were Jews who became Christians but were saying that men still needed to be circumcised to be saved.  These Jewish Christians also taught the commandments and customs from the Old Testament in an attempt to cause the Cretans to live in holiness.   But these ideas were subverting people from the gospel message of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and His free gift of righteousness by grace.  These Jewish Christians were to be rebuked sharply. Circumcision was an Old Testament ritual that was no longer necessary under the New Testament.  Teaching the commandments of the Old Testament would only show people that they were sinners in need of a Savior; it could not lead them to walk in holiness.  The teaching of grace and the acknowledgment of the truth that God is in us leads us into holiness.  

According to verse 12, the Cretans at that time were apparently known for their lack of character, even though some of them had accepted the gospel and were born again.  In verse 16, Paul said they profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.  The phrasing “in works they deny Him” is very similar to 2 Timothy 2:12 and 2 Timothy 3:5.  These Cretans Paul talked about were born again but were denying the power of grace to deliver them from sin.  They did not acknowledge that God lived in them and were not working out their salvation from the inside to the outside. We must walk in holiness so that people can see that God has come to dwell in us.  Notice that verse 16 said they were disqualified from every good work.  Some people try to infer this and similar phrasing in other epistles somehow means losing your salvation; it does not mean that.  It just means they were not demonstrating good works.  

In 1 Corinthians 9:27, Paul said that he disciplined his body brought it under subjection, lest, when he had preached to others, he might have become disqualified.  The KJV says that Paul might have been a castaway.  Paul did not say that God would have cast him away and that he would have lost his salvation and be damned forever.  What Paul said was that if we don’t walk in holiness as we preach the gospel, men will cast us away and reject our testimony about God’s grace.  This is exactly what Jesus meant in Matthew 5:13.  It says we are the salt of the earth.  But if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it (the earth) be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out (by men) and trampled underfoot by men (not God).

Keith Oliver

    

2 Timothy Chapter 4

2 Timothy 4:1-5 “I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: ² Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. ³ For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; ⁴ and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. ⁵ But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”

Paul encouraged Timothy to preach the word of God.  To fully teach the word, Timothy would need to teach with patience and both encourage and exhort people along with rebuking some who were headed off course. The time came then and it is just as relevant today, that people will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, they would look for teachers who would tell them what they wanted to hear.  The phrase “according to their own desires” reveals that this passage was addressing the same issue that Paul had discussed in the previous chapter.  The people heard and received the gospel, that Jesus had paid the penalty for their sins.  But they did not want to hear teaching about holiness; they wanted to walk according to their own desires, even though they were born again.  The truth that they were turning away from was that we are the temple of the Holy Spirit; we were bought with a price and should glorify God in our bodies instead of giving ourselves over to sinful desires. We see this same theme repeated again and again in the epistles of the New Testament.

Paul told Timothy to endure any afflictions or persecution that arose because of the gospel.  Even though Timothy was the pastor at Ephesus, he was to do the work of an evangelist and get people saved by preaching the gospel.

    

 2 Timothy 4:6-8 “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. ⁷ I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ⁸ Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.”

Paul was close to the time of his death.  He said he fought the good fight, he finished the race, he had kept the faith.  Paul had held on to the faith that we are made righteous by grace through faith in the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ.  He had held on through all the persecution and trials that he faced.  He did not get caught up in the cares of the world, the deceitfulness of riches, or the desires or lusts of the flesh.  He lived a life that was fruitful and pleasing to God.  There was laid up for him the crown of righteousness.  Even though Paul had been faithful, he wanted to receive the crown of righteousness.  Righteousness is still the free gift of God to us in Jesus Christ.  

2 Timothy 4:9-22 “Be diligent to come to me quickly; ¹⁰ for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica—Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia. ¹¹ Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry. ² And Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. ¹³ Bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas when you come—and the books, especially the parchments. ¹⁴ Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord repay him according to his works. ¹⁵ You also must beware of him, for he has greatly resisted our words. ¹⁶ At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them. ¹⁷ But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. ¹⁸ And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen! ¹⁹ Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus. ²⁰ Erastus stayed in Corinth, but Trophimus I have left in Miletus sick. ²¹ Do your utmost to come before winter. Eubulus greets you, as well as Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brethren. ²² The Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.”

Paul was abandoned by some during his trial.  It is interesting that Paul said to get Mark and bring him, for he was useful to him in ministry.  This was Mark who had abandoned him on his first missionary journey.  Others did Paul much harm.  Ultimately, God stood with Paul and strengthened him and the gospel was fully preached through Paul, so that all the Gentiles might hear.  The bottom line of what we can do to affect the lives of people is to sow the seed of the gospel in their lives, so that it might bear fruit and God can confirm His Word as they believe.

Keith Oliver

2 Timothy Chapter 3

2 Timothy 3:1-9 “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: ² For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, ³ unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, ⁴ traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, ⁵ having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! ⁶ For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, ⁷ always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. ⁸ Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith; ⁹ but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was.”

We have been in the last times since the resurrection of Jesus.  These men that Paul described in chapter 3 are Christians who have received the grace of God.  They have accepted the free gift of righteousness but have rejected walking in holiness.  In verse 5, the form of godliness mentioned is grace, but these people are denying the power of grace to deliver them from sin.  Paul told Timothy to turn away from those who are teaching this error and living this way. We know Paul did not tell Timothy to turn away from ordinary believers who were caught up in this false teaching; he told Timothy to be patient in teaching those people at the end of the last chapter.  Timothy was to turn away from those who were teaching these ideas.  He described these teachers as creeping into households and making people captive to sin.  Paul said these teachers were resisting the truth of the word of God, just as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses in the Old Testament.  He said these teachers were men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith. This did not say that God rejected them and sent them to hell.  It says that they are disapproved concerning the faith.  If we are born again but reject walking in holiness, men will reject us and our testimony of God’s grace.    

  

2 Timothy 3:10-17 “But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, ¹¹ persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra—what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me. ¹² Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. ¹³ But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. ¹⁴ But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, ¹⁵ and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. ¹⁶ All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, ¹⁷ that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

Paul suffered persecution for preaching the gospel.  He mentioned three cities where he suffered persecution in Acts chapters 13 and 14.  He was being persecuted by Jews who were opposed to the gospel and trying to attain righteousness before God by their own works.  Notice what Paul said in verse 12. All who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.  We as Christians are rejoicing and declaring that we are made righteous by grace.  We should also desire to live godly in Christ Jesus.  It is not that our good works make us right with God; Jesus did that for us.  We live godly to express His nature of love through us to others.

In verse 16 and 17, Paul said that all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.  The gospel tells us that we are righteous by grace apart from our works through the death and resurrection of Jesus.  But it also corrects us and teaches us to walk in holiness and love.  The grace of God that forgives us of all our sins is the same grace that teaches us to love.  If all of our sins are forgiven but we reject holiness, we end up hurting ourselves and those around us.    

Keith Oliver

2 Timothy Chapter 2

2 Timothy 2:1-7 “You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. ² And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. ³ You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. ⁴ No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. ⁵ And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. ⁶ The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops. ⁷ Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things.”

Paul told Timothy to be strong in grace, the grace that is in Christ Jesus.  Timothy and the church at Ephesus were suffering persecution for preaching the gospel.  Persecution comes from people who are self-righteous, who are not trusting in the free gift of righteousness through Christ Jesus. 

The way the church is multiplied is by sharing the gospel with faithful people who will be able to teach others also.  As this process of multiplication grows, the church is strengthened and increased in the earth.  

Paul gave three examples or analogies; a soldier, an athlete and a farmer.  They are all in connection with enduring in the message of the gospel through hardship.  Paul used the word endure in verse 3.  We will see the word endure later in this chapter.  As we endure in the gospel or word of righteousness, it cleanses our conscience from guilt and shame.  We must hold on to the gospel and not fall away from grace back to law or to our own attempts to achieve righteousness with God through our own works.  When we do this, we will always end up in condemnation, for we will never walk perfectly.  

2 Timothy 2:8-10 “Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel, ⁹ for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the word of God is not chained. ¹⁰ Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.”

Paul said that because of the gospel, he was suffering trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains.  Paul had been arrested and put in chains because of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Paul was considered a threat in some ways by the Roman government because He was preaching that Jesus was the Son of God and the only One to be worshiped.  This would have been contrary to the Romans, who said that Caesar was a god and to be worshiped.  Paul was also accused of being an evildoer because of the gospel of grace.  People said that Paul was telling everyone that they could sin so that grace would abound.  Notice again the word endure in verse 10 in reference to the gospel.  It will help explain part of the following saying.

2 Timothy 2:11-13 “This is a faithful saying:

For if we died with Him,
We shall also live with Him.
¹² If we endure,
We shall also reign with Him.
If we deny Him,
He also will deny us.
¹³ If we are faithless,
He remains faithful;
He cannot deny Himself.”

“If we died with Him, we shall also live with Him.”  This means we are born again when we believe in Him.  “If we endure, we shall also reign with Him.”  This means if we endure in the gospel or the word of righteousness, we shall reign with Him in this life.  Romans 5:17 “..much more, those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign if life through the One, Jesus Christ.”  “If we deny Him, He will also deny us.”  This will be explained in the verses of 2 Timothy chapters 2 and 3.  We deny Him through our actions, even though He lives in us.  He will deny us.  This is not losing our salvation, as some have taught.  This means we will not inherit or experience the kingdom of God within us.  We won’t experience the love, joy and peace we are meant to enjoy.  “If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.”  Even if we are faithless in our actions and don’t walk out our faith, He remains faithful.  He cannot deny that He lives in us when we are born again.      

 2 Timothy 2:14-19 “Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. ¹⁵ Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. ¹⁶ But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. ¹⁷ And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, ¹⁸ who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some. ¹⁹ Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”

Paul told Timothy to hold to these truths of the gospel presented in verses 11-13.  We must be diligent to present ourselves approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.  We rightly divide the word of truth, that we are justified before God by grace apart from our works.  We are justified before men by our good works.  If we do this, we will be a worker with God who does not need to be ashamed.  If we try to be justified before God by our own works, we will be ashamed.  If we say that holiness before men is not important because we are under grace, we will end up ashamed also.  Two Christians strayed from this truth by saying that the resurrection was already past.  This overthrew the faith of some in the church.  Paul assures them of the truth.  The Lord knows those who are His; in other words, He won’t leave us behind when He comes.  Also, everyone who is a Christian should depart from iniquity and walk in holiness.

2 Timothy 2:20-26 “But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. ²¹ Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. ²² Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. ²³ But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. ²⁴ And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, ²⁵ in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, ²⁶ and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.”  

Paul said that in a great house, the church, there are those who are walking in holiness and those who are not walking in holiness.  If we walk in holiness, we are a vessel of honor and useful to our Master, prepared for every good work.  If we spend our lives walking in sin and fulfilling the lusts of the flesh, men will reject us and our testimony of grace.  We will not be useful to our Lord in ministering to other people.  We will bring pain and shame upon ourselves.  Paul told Timothy that he must be patient in teaching believers, in humility correcting those who were rejecting holiness, so that they might know the truth.  The truth is that God lives in us when we are born again.  This truth helps us to come to our senses and to escape the captivity that sin brings into our lives.

Keith Oliver