Titus 3:1-15 is generally categorized into 2 sections;
1. Instructions concerning the duties of believers in the word (1-11)
2. Final instructions and greetings (12-15)
There is also possibility to divide into 4 sections;
1. 1-4: first instructions concerning the duties
2. 5-7: This part talks about individual regeneration by the work of God through grace
3. 8-11: second instructions concerning the duties
4. 12-15:Final instructions and greetings
However, this epistle (to Titus) has been called as the ‘Pastoral epistle’. It was originally regarded as mere personal letter and was classified with Timothy and Philemon, but because of their strong bearing on the life of the church, they gained the name the ‘pastoral epistles.
Therefore, though this letter originally addressed to individual. The letter is not limited to personal and private communication, but is somewhat official in character. And this evidence is also found in various writings ( 1Tim 3:14-15; 4:6-15; 2 Tim 2:2), So, Paul addressed Titus (and Timothy) to guide the first community in matters concerning the pastoral care of the church, which is the household of God.
However, the main theme of this chapter (or probably, one may say the main theme of the whole letter) is – to show how the grace of God that has appeared to us in the saving life and death of Christ instruct us to deny ungodliness and to live righteously and soberly as a people full of good work. In short the basis for Christian living in this world.
This summarization of the theme is found in the first part of the chapter – 3:3-10
It says – for we too were once foolish, disobedient, misled, enslaved to various passions and desires, spending our lives in evil and envy, hateful and hating one another. But ‘when the kindness of God our saviors appeared and his love for mankind, He saved us not by works of righteousness that we have done but on the basis of his mercy, through the washing of the new birth and the renewing of the Holy spirit whom he poured out on us in full measure through Jesus Christ our saviors. And so, since we have been justified by his grace, we became heirs with the confident expectation of eternal life.
Therefore, as found in this letter, Paul is writing to Titus, telling – how believers should behave in the church (in chapter 2) and simultaneously in chapter 3 – he talks about how believers should behave in society.
Therefore, Paul calls on all believers through Titus to ‘put them in mind’ about certain things. In other words, he wants the believers to remember who they are in Jesus; what they have in Jesus; what God has done in them through Jesus; and what God expects of them as believers in Jesus.
A part from this point, I would like to point out only another one or two significant point(s) which I considered as 'more important' than the previous points. And it is likely that - These points are put hidden purposely behind the discourses.
1. The first point that capture my mind while reading this chapter is – the way how Paul tried to convince and encourage the believers to do good work through the instructions he has given to Titus.
In v. 3-6: Here he teaches us that God loves us more than we can possibly understand. God’s mercy towards a helpless person which enables and gives strength to do God’s will is prudently mentioned.
In verse 3, we see a vivid picture of what the believer was- before he/she met Jesus
- Foolish – (which denotes…) Ignorant of everything to do with God.
- Disobedient – Rebellious toward any authority instituted by God.
- Deceived – Continually led deeper and deeper into sin by Satan.
- Serving for lusts and pleasures – A slave to our fleshly desires and passions.
- Living in malice – Given over to a lifestyle of evil.
- Envy – Never satisfied with what we have, but always grasping for more.
- Hateful – This is the natural fruit of all the above. This kind of life makes us mean-spirited and hard to get along with.
- Hating one another – Walking without love for our fellow man.
Therefore according to Paul’s teaching, this is what/who we are, who is unable to do good things because of our past - unpleasant nature which is in us. It is a terrible condition to be in, yet that is what the Bible says time and time again, Eph. 2:1-3; 1 Cor. 6:9-10.
But, in contrary, another wonderful work of God that we found from the letter is – even when we were in that condition, God still loved us.
So, in v. 4, 6b The Evidence Of His Love is found by mentioning the phrase - “after that”. And if we put in other words, “in spite of what we were and are, God chose to display His love for us.”
Than how did He do that? The answer is in verse 6. It says “through Jesus Christ”. God gave evidence of His love for fallen man by sending His Son into the world to die for our sins (Rom. 5:6-8; John 3:16; 1 John 4:9-10).
v. 5-6 What did this wonderful love of God do for us? Part of the answer is found in the word “but” in verse 4. God knew what we were. He saw us with all our sins and our baggage, yet He still chose to “butt” into our lives and save us by His grace.
This love and mercy of God which we received through grace is what i want to emphasize here, because the love he has shown to a helpless person, the mercy and grace he has shown to a sinful man has a wonderful power to transform a person to do something good which a person never experience before.
Therefore, let us see how His love and grace did for us in verse 5.
- He extended His grace and mercy to us when we deserved nothing but Hell.
- He saved us from the penalty of our sins (saved).
- He cleansed us from the defilements of our sins (washing). He made a new creature out of us (regeneration).
- And, He placed His Spirit within us to lead us deeper in Him day by day (renewing).
God did all of this with no help from us! Our works, our religion, our efforts cannot save us, they only compound the problem!
God sees us exactly as we really are, but He loves us anyway.
Therefore the motive behind of this showing ‘love of God’ and ‘wonderful work of God’ which is given as a reminder to the hearers of this letter is that – God wants and has a desire to transform a powerless and helpless people who is/are being trapped and enslave by the power of earthly things.
By reminding us our helpless or hopeless condition, his wonderful work upon this helpless people, God empower, give potential, strength, willingness to do something good. God wants to change our perception, perspective, outlook, interest, even our daily life - in order that a person (we) may understand the purpose for which God has created him/her/us.
And moreover, by telling and reminding these wonderful instructions he has shown to us that there is room for improvement in our walk with Him and our work for Him. And if that is so, our responsible is – to get to Him and deal with today in appropriate and responsible manner.
1. Instructions concerning the duties of believers in the word (1-11)
2. Final instructions and greetings (12-15)
There is also possibility to divide into 4 sections;
1. 1-4: first instructions concerning the duties
2. 5-7: This part talks about individual regeneration by the work of God through grace
3. 8-11: second instructions concerning the duties
4. 12-15:Final instructions and greetings
However, this epistle (to Titus) has been called as the ‘Pastoral epistle’. It was originally regarded as mere personal letter and was classified with Timothy and Philemon, but because of their strong bearing on the life of the church, they gained the name the ‘pastoral epistles.
Therefore, though this letter originally addressed to individual. The letter is not limited to personal and private communication, but is somewhat official in character. And this evidence is also found in various writings ( 1Tim 3:14-15; 4:6-15; 2 Tim 2:2), So, Paul addressed Titus (and Timothy) to guide the first community in matters concerning the pastoral care of the church, which is the household of God.
However, the main theme of this chapter (or probably, one may say the main theme of the whole letter) is – to show how the grace of God that has appeared to us in the saving life and death of Christ instruct us to deny ungodliness and to live righteously and soberly as a people full of good work. In short the basis for Christian living in this world.
This summarization of the theme is found in the first part of the chapter – 3:3-10
It says – for we too were once foolish, disobedient, misled, enslaved to various passions and desires, spending our lives in evil and envy, hateful and hating one another. But ‘when the kindness of God our saviors appeared and his love for mankind, He saved us not by works of righteousness that we have done but on the basis of his mercy, through the washing of the new birth and the renewing of the Holy spirit whom he poured out on us in full measure through Jesus Christ our saviors. And so, since we have been justified by his grace, we became heirs with the confident expectation of eternal life.
Therefore, as found in this letter, Paul is writing to Titus, telling – how believers should behave in the church (in chapter 2) and simultaneously in chapter 3 – he talks about how believers should behave in society.
Therefore, Paul calls on all believers through Titus to ‘put them in mind’ about certain things. In other words, he wants the believers to remember who they are in Jesus; what they have in Jesus; what God has done in them through Jesus; and what God expects of them as believers in Jesus.
A part from this point, I would like to point out only another one or two significant point(s) which I considered as 'more important' than the previous points. And it is likely that - These points are put hidden purposely behind the discourses.
1. The first point that capture my mind while reading this chapter is – the way how Paul tried to convince and encourage the believers to do good work through the instructions he has given to Titus.
In v. 3-6: Here he teaches us that God loves us more than we can possibly understand. God’s mercy towards a helpless person which enables and gives strength to do God’s will is prudently mentioned.
In verse 3, we see a vivid picture of what the believer was- before he/she met Jesus
- Foolish – (which denotes…) Ignorant of everything to do with God.
- Disobedient – Rebellious toward any authority instituted by God.
- Deceived – Continually led deeper and deeper into sin by Satan.
- Serving for lusts and pleasures – A slave to our fleshly desires and passions.
- Living in malice – Given over to a lifestyle of evil.
- Envy – Never satisfied with what we have, but always grasping for more.
- Hateful – This is the natural fruit of all the above. This kind of life makes us mean-spirited and hard to get along with.
- Hating one another – Walking without love for our fellow man.
Therefore according to Paul’s teaching, this is what/who we are, who is unable to do good things because of our past - unpleasant nature which is in us. It is a terrible condition to be in, yet that is what the Bible says time and time again, Eph. 2:1-3; 1 Cor. 6:9-10.
But, in contrary, another wonderful work of God that we found from the letter is – even when we were in that condition, God still loved us.
So, in v. 4, 6b The Evidence Of His Love is found by mentioning the phrase - “after that”. And if we put in other words, “in spite of what we were and are, God chose to display His love for us.”
Than how did He do that? The answer is in verse 6. It says “through Jesus Christ”. God gave evidence of His love for fallen man by sending His Son into the world to die for our sins (Rom. 5:6-8; John 3:16; 1 John 4:9-10).
v. 5-6 What did this wonderful love of God do for us? Part of the answer is found in the word “but” in verse 4. God knew what we were. He saw us with all our sins and our baggage, yet He still chose to “butt” into our lives and save us by His grace.
This love and mercy of God which we received through grace is what i want to emphasize here, because the love he has shown to a helpless person, the mercy and grace he has shown to a sinful man has a wonderful power to transform a person to do something good which a person never experience before.
Therefore, let us see how His love and grace did for us in verse 5.
- He extended His grace and mercy to us when we deserved nothing but Hell.
- He saved us from the penalty of our sins (saved).
- He cleansed us from the defilements of our sins (washing). He made a new creature out of us (regeneration).
- And, He placed His Spirit within us to lead us deeper in Him day by day (renewing).
God did all of this with no help from us! Our works, our religion, our efforts cannot save us, they only compound the problem!
God sees us exactly as we really are, but He loves us anyway.
Therefore the motive behind of this showing ‘love of God’ and ‘wonderful work of God’ which is given as a reminder to the hearers of this letter is that – God wants and has a desire to transform a powerless and helpless people who is/are being trapped and enslave by the power of earthly things.
By reminding us our helpless or hopeless condition, his wonderful work upon this helpless people, God empower, give potential, strength, willingness to do something good. God wants to change our perception, perspective, outlook, interest, even our daily life - in order that a person (we) may understand the purpose for which God has created him/her/us.
And moreover, by telling and reminding these wonderful instructions he has shown to us that there is room for improvement in our walk with Him and our work for Him. And if that is so, our responsible is – to get to Him and deal with today in appropriate and responsible manner.
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