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Titus: Setting Things Straight: From Chaos to ChristHow to Protect Yourself from Spiritual Disease (Titus 1:9-16)

July 15, 2007

Commentary notes compiled by

Pastors Scott Thomas (editor), Steve Tompkins and Bill Clem

For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers,especially those of the circumcision party. Titus 1:10

IntroductionHypocrites and insubordinate deceivers were leading entire households astray with false

doctrine and self-focused philosophies. This portrays the church today. Many churches aremisleading their followers with myths, legalism, religious traditions, and teaching devoid of

Jesus. The remedy Paul suggests is to eradicate this false teaching by the qualified elders

sharp rebuke with the authoritative Scriptures and by pointing the church to sound doctrine.

Paul reminds Titus that he left him in Crete to set in order those areas still dangling and inneed of biblical reformation. To do this, he would establish elder plurality in the churches so

that they might model true Christianity and teach sound doctrine, as well as refute thosewho live or teach in contradiction to a sound faith. He has just spoken of solid, gospel-

oriented men being qualified to serve the churches as elders. However, there were otherkinds of men in their churches, men that Paul identifies as "insubordinate men, empty

talkers and deceivers." Evidently, these men had another agenda in the churcheswhether

knowingly or unknowinglyto turn them away from the gospel of grace and the godlybehavior that characterizes believers. Removing the diseased teaching from these young

churches would be critical to their future spiritual growth and sustained viability.

Allow only qualified spiritual leaders to speak into your lifeTitus 1:9-12

The first church had a firmly held, healthy, sound doctrine taught by the Apostles

throughout the first century churches after Jesus resurrection (v. 9). Titus must set in orderthe things, which are lacking by ordaining gifted and qualified elders for the church. Theseelders must be holding fast the trustworthy word which Paul taught them, so as to be able

by the sound doctrine of that reliable word both to exhort, encourage the faithful, and refute

the false teachers.

Spiritual leaders must be submissive to authority (1:9-10). They cannot beinsubordinaterefusing to line up under other authorities, including Scripture. They are not

to be empty talkersflattering communicators without holding firm to the trustworthy word(v. 9). Their talk is to point people to the person of Jesus and His completed work of

redemption for their life. They cannot be deceiving the minds of others with a false gospel.The time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears

they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn awayfrom listening to the truth and wander off into myths(2 Tim. 4:3-4).

The Book of Titus shows how the gospel embodied results in lining up under others(subordination). Paul is a servant of Christ (1:1). Titus lined up under the authority of Paul

(1:4). An elders children are to line up under their fathers leadership (1:6). Older womanare to have reverent behavior for the good of the younger women lining up under them

(2:3). Young women are to line up under the leadership of their husbands (2:5). Employeesare to be submissive to their employers (2:9). The churches in Crete are to line up under


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the authority and corrective teaching of Titus (2:15). Believers are to be submissive to

rulers and authorities (3:1) and are to show perfect courtesy to all (3:2).

It is cool to be insubordinate in Seattle. Many of us like to talk trash about the President,

Corporate America and the ineptness of the local government. All authority must work itsway out from under the doubt initially cast upon it. In many ways, this creeps into the

church as well. Pastors must work themselves out from under the stereotypes of fraud,deceivers, adulterers, and closed-minded conservative bigots. However, members of the

church should be slower to accuse and quicker to see the hearts of their leaders and the

truth they proclaim. We are the church of the disillusioned and rebellious anarchists.

Spiritual leaders must be serving God with authenticity (1:11b). The Cretanshistorically had a bad reputation for itinerate "prophets for profit" (Polybius, Livy, Plutarch).

Church leaders can receive a respectable wage for their services but are not to takeadvantage of others. Additionally, their teaching is not to be gospel-plus anything. It is to

be the good news of Jesus as our Savior through faith in His death, burial and resurrection

(1 Cor. 15:3-6). They taught what they ought not to teach." This is translated, "teachingthat which is unnecessary." This conveys something of the content of their teaching. They

taught "unnecessary" additions to the gospel. They added to what Christ had done; not

being satisfied that Jesus' death was enough to effectively atone for our sins and propitiatethe just wrath of God. More was needed in their estimation, such as following dietary laws,observing particular feast days, circumcision, and strict Sabbath regulations.

Spiritual leaders are to live gospel-centered lifestyles (1:12; 2:12). Paul quotes a

seventh century B.C. prophet by the name of Epimenides. Plato and Aristotle lauded him for

being a divine prophet. His assessment of the Cretans, applied especially in this case to the"insubordinate men"that were deceiving the churches, Paul considered right on target.

"One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, 'Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazygluttons.' This testimony is true."The message of the first church was the message of Jesus

as taught to them and as commanded to teach to others.LIARS (1:12)

EVIL BEASTS (1:12)LAZY GLUTTONS (1:12)

GRACE OF GOD BRINGING SALVATION (2:11)

SELF-CONTROLLED (2:12)UPRIGHT (2:12)

GODLY (2:12)

The Gospel changes the character of man. God never lies (1:2). An elder with gospel-

centered character will be above reproach (1:6) and will hold firmly to the trustworthy word(1:9). False teachers turn from the truth (1:14). Older women will not to be slanderous

(2:3). Younger men will demonstrate honest, fruit-bearing character (2:7). Employees willno longer to steal (2:10).

Spiritual leaders are to teach a gospel a gospel-centered message (1:14-15). Paulsummed up their teaching: "Jewish myths and commands of people who turn away from the

truth."This is very evident by the implication in verse 15, that unclean foods and neglectingreligious rituals and associating with anything unclean nullifies the merit of Christ for the

believer; that Christ is not enough. "Jewish myths and commands of people" weresuperstitions and ascetic practices passed along as truth, and legalistic commands

supposedly to gain righteousness. However, the fact is that these things cause a person to"turn away from the truth," with "truth" being a technical term for the gospel. Here is the


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crux of the issue. When someone teaches that there something other than Christ or in

addition to Christ, necessary for salvation, that person is a false teacher.

To protect yourself from spiritual disease, accept pastoral correction to

your lifeTitus 1:13-14

The Cretan distortion of truth upset whole families. Submitting to pastoral correctionsilences our unorthodox teaching. False teaching must be rebuked by the testimony of the

Scriptures (1:13) and not the man-made commands (1:14). The trustworthy word instructs

us (if we allow it) in sound (healthy) doctrine and rebukes us when we our thinking iscontradictory (1:9).

In a familial, loving relationship (1:4; 2:1-10) we receive the corrective, order-causing

teaching into our lives so that we may be sound in the faith (1:13). If continual falseteaching and wrongful living exists, rebuke is both necessary and commanded to the

pastors. Rebuke means to bring to the light (to reveal hidden things). This is done by"Preach[ing] the word; be[ing] ready in season and out of season; reprove[ing], rebuk[ing],

exhort[ing], with complete patience and instruction" (2 Timothy 4:2).

We have fretted over the abuse of authority over the centuries. In spite of occasional

abuses, authority rests in the qualified elders to lead God's people in following after Christand modeling the gospel and disciplining believers. Too much is at stake to neglect the wise,

humble, and Christ-honoring use of authority to help the church maintain its testimony ofthe gospel in the world. For those rebuked and who remain insubordinate, sharp rebuke

(1:13) is necessary and misunderstood by casual attendees. To rebuke sharply is a termmeaning to cut as with a knife. Rebuke with authority. Rebuke with scripture. Rebuke for

repentance.

Therefore, as we regularly attend to the proclamation of God's Word, as that Word is

opened and applied to our lives; the Word lays those areas needing correction bare.Preaching instructs us in the ways of God and the gospel-centered focus of Christian living.

It is sometimes difficult to hear (as well as often difficult to declare!). It sometimes causespain. Nevertheless, it is a necessary part of our sanctification so that we "may be sound in

the faith."

Our reception of the corrective teaching is helpful so that as we profess to know God, we do

not deny Him by our works nor are we unfit for any good work (1:16). A major themerunning through the Book of Titus is the dichotomy between our beliefs and our behavior.

Our belief is Jesusredemption, forgiveness, love, mercy, truth, eternity, salvation, justiceand our behavior is often pride, self-centeredness and unbelief. This affects our marriage,

our joy, our families, our work, our relationships, and our entire lives.

To protect yourself from spiritual disease, receive the true gospelTitus

1:10, 15-16

Simply, the Gospel is the 'good news' of God's redemption of humankind. It is a story

that has been unfolding since humankinds rebellious, defiant decision in the Garden ofEden. Adam and Eve deliberately disobeyed God, and as a result, suffered the

consequences. This is what we call 'The Fall.' It was humankinds fall from a place of closecommunion with God. It was and is the fall into darkness, misery, and ultimately eternal


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death. Every cause has an effect, and the result of disobedience is death. The Gospel is the

story of God redeeming His creation from The Fall.

God took Christ, who knew no sin, to represent our sin and to receive the punishment due

for our sinfulness through His death on the cross. We were alienated from God by our sinsand through Christs death, we became the righteousness of God (2 Cor. 5:21).

Humankind continues to attempt to span that gap between man and God. He may

convince himself that he has done enough to earn that right to get to God. However, no

matter how hard he tries, he falls short of reaching the perfect standard God hasdemanded. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23).

We must be born again. We cannot rid ourselves of sins penalty unless we exercise faith

in Christ alone. Grace alone provides salvation. Salvation is ALL of God and NONE of us(1 Cor. 1:30).

Judaizers in Crete

The churches in Crete were pushing a different message that was poisonous and unhealthy.They were insubordinate to the accepted message of the gospel. Sharp rebuke is the onlyremedy for teachers of Legalism. It is evident from Acts 2:11, that there were Jews residing

in Crete; and it is probable that it was by those who had gone from that island to Jerusalem

to attend the feast of the Pentecost, and who had been converted on that occasion, that thegospel was first introduced there. From this epistle, also, it is clear that one of the great

dangers to the gospel in the churches of Crete, arose from the efforts of such teachers, andfrom the plausible arguments which they would use in favor of the Mosaic law (Titus 1:10,

14-16; 3:9). To counteract the effect of their teaching, it was necessary to have ministers ofthe gospel appointed in every important place, who should be qualified for their work. To

make these arrangements, was the great design for which Titus was left there; and to give

him full information as to the kind of ministers which was needed this epistle was written."

Paul identifies the circumcision party as those most responsible for this false teaching.These were former Jews who joined the Christian church. Their message was that a non-

circumcised man could come to Jesus for faith if he was also circumcised as a completed actof faith.

This initial act of circumcision was the seal of Abraham's faith in God's promise ofpossessing the land. It was the indication that Abraham believed God's word. Abraham

separated himself unto the Lord and to the Lord's promise. Circumcision is, therefore, a signof regeneration for the Jews. It was to the born again Jew what water baptism is to the

born-again believer in the Church Age, a sign (Genesis 17:6-11; Col. 2:11-13 ; Joshua 5:1-9; Romans 4:9-13).

The Jew is very proud to be a Jew, and rightly so in many respects. However, he may alsofeel superior to Gentile believers, possibly because Jews were among the earliest believers

on Crete, some of them having been in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost. Jews generallyconsidered themselves better than the Gentiles, and the name The Circumcision was

borne proudly.

Christ has joined the Jew and Gentile; but the Jewish elitists want no part of this. They arenot a Grace believer, and they cling to traditions with a grip of steel (Eph. 2:11-22).

Religious Jews tried to make the seal valuable in itself. They attached spiritual value to the


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