Paul is going to address slaves and how they are to be obedient to their masters and not talk back. You may be asking, “I’m not a slave so how does this affect me?” I would argue there are still slaves today, we just get paychecks and get to go home at the end of the workday. We all have bosses, many of them, we have to do what they say or we get fired, and we are making someone very rich! So what Paul says to slaves can be said of us! Work hard, be obedient, take pride in your work, and don’t talk back to your bosses. In other words, let your work stand out so people see Jesus in you!

Paul tells Titus who to teach and what to teach. He tells him to teach the older men to do certain things and live a certain way. He tells him to teach women the same thing...why? So they can take what they learn and pass it on to the younger men and women. They are to lead by example! When you break down the Greek, it is some very challenging thoughts, especially for the men because Titus is in Crete to appoint elders, leaders in the church so he will be examining the lives of the older men to see if they are living for Jesus, righteous and holy!

Titus has the difficult task of finding leaders, elders, for the churches on the island of Crete. The people of Crete are described as “liars, cruel animals, and lazy gluttons.” However, for those who had died to their old selves and are filled with the Holy Spirit, they have crucified that old man and have become a new creation in Christ, are those whose hearts the Father prunes and they produce good fruit. They will be easy top spot because they will look like Jesus! Paul says these people who claim to know God but do not look like Him are worthless and good for nothing. I want to be valuable for the kingdom of God, used by Him to bring glory to His name!

MC Hammer had a song in the late 80s, early 90s called Too Legit To Quit. Paul calls Titus his “true son in the faith.” What we don’t see in English is that Paul is saying, “Titus is a legitimate born son in the faith.” Paul had established his authority and credibility in the beginning of his letter and now he is establishing Titus’ authority. Paul says, “Titus has the same faith as I have. He serves the same God, Jesus is his master, and he is filled with the same Holy Spirit as me; therefore, he is a credible source and you, you Cretans who are used to being deceived, you can trust Titus.” Can people trust you?

No, we are not talking about your ex in this podcast! Paul is writing to Titus who has been left behind to establish some leadership in the church at Crete. The people of Crete are known as deceitful and not very well liked by their own. Interesting fact, the Greek god, Zeus, was born on the island of Crete and hidden in a cave there. He starts off by establishing his authority as an apostle and what his intentions of writing is, “To establish truth to help them live righteous and grow in their faith.” It’s a similar message in his letters to Timothy. The word in the Greek Paul uses is epignosis and it means a precise and exact truth. It’s exactly what the disciples in Crete need in order to know they are not being deceived by Paul.

Paul had many people who helped him with his ministry and his missionary journeys and one of those helpers is a man named, Titus. Titus traveled to several places with Paul preaching the gospel and teaching the new disciples to be faithful and in this letter, Titus will be acting as a leader in the church at Crete to establish elders in that congregation. In this podcast we talk about the background to the letter and dig into this man we know as Titus.

This is the last epistle Paul would write and he has encouraged Timothy to take the baton and keep going. He has warned him of the challenges he faces and he has exhorted him to continue even in the face of persecution. He gives some final thoughts and gives some greetings to some coworkers including Priscilla and Aquila. These two people started the church at Ephesus which is where Timothy is when he receives this letter. But as he closes his letter, Paul has one request for Timothy...he tells him to get there before Winter. Why? Because he had just told him to bring his coat that he had left behind with Carpus at Troas. The man needs his coat because it will be cold soon! Paul is ready to go and he sees death as a ride into eternity to be with his Savior.

Paul tells Timothy his life has been poured out as an offering to God. What is he talking about? In the Old Testament, Jacob made an offering to God and with it, he poured out a drink with his offering. In Exodus, God commanded the priests to offer a drink offering along with the sacrifices that they make in the morning and the evening. Jesus was partaking the Passover with his disciples when he tells them, “This is the blood of the new covenant that is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive many people of their sins.” Paul gave everything to Jesus and to spread the gospel. He knew his life was coming to an end and he tells Timothy, “It’s your turn...give it all you got!”