Teaching Notes TITUS 2 and 3

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Teaching Notes TITUS 2 and 3

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Traveling Companion of Paul

Assisted Building Churches on

the Island of Crete

Birth Unknown 1st Century.

Died. 96AD to 107AD on

Crete according to Eusebius

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It is Day 21 of the COVID-19 Quarantine.  This has not happened since 1918 in Georgia.

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Titus 2 and 3

Chapters 2 and 3. Good Works

The grand emphasis of this Book is “Good Works”. Not that

we are saved by good works, but by His Mercy, 3:5, and justified

by His Grace, 3:7. But because of this we are under strict obliga-

tion to be “zealous of good works", 2:14; “an example of good

works", 2:7; “ready unto every good work, 3:1; “be careful to

maintain good works”, 3:8; “maintain good works for necessary

uses", 3:14. One of the indictments of the false teachers was that

they were ”unto every good work reprobate", 1:16.

The Power of Beautiful Lives, 2: 1-14. Aged men, aged women,

young women, mothers, young men, and slaves are exhorted to

be so faithful to the natural obligations of their own station in

life that critics of their religion would be silenced, 2:8.

Slaves, of whom there were many in the early Church, are

exhorted to be so obedient, diligent, and faithful that their lives

would “adorn” their religious profession 2:10, and their heathen

masters would be constrained to think, “If that is what the Christ

ian religion does for slaves, there must be something to it”.

The Blessed Hope, 2:11-14. The Lord’s Coming Again supplies

the motive to godly living in this present world. It is mentioned

ìn almost “everyone of the NT books.

Obedience to Civil Authorities, 3:1-2, is a prime Christian virtue.

Citizens of heaven should be good citizens of the earthly govern—

ment under which they live. Rom 18:1-7; I Pet 2:13-17.

The Genealogies, 3:9, referred to here and in I Tim 1:4, seem to

quite prominently  in  the  doctrine of the false have figured

teachers who were at that time infesting ‘the churches of Crete

and Ephesus. Possibly they were basing their claims for their

teaching on Davidic ancestry and kinship to Jesus, with inside

information on  the  Gospel.  Or teaching  strange  doctrines.

grounded on abstruse interpretations of passages in genealogies.

 “Heretic”, 3:10, . After a reasonable effort to set a false  teacher 

right,  avoid  him.  “Artemas”,  3:12, is nowhere else mentioned. 

Tradition says he became bishop of Lystra. “Tychicus”, 12, 

was  of Asia, Acts 20:4. Either he  or Artemas was to take Titus'

position in Crete. “Nicopolis”, 12, in Greece, about 100 miles

NW of  Corinth. See note on Paul's Later Movements under

Acts 28:31. “Zenas”, (the lawyer) 13, mentioned nowhere

else. He was either a Jewish scribe or a Greek civil lawyer.

“Apollos”, 13, see on Acts 18. It seems that he and Zenas,

on a journey to some unknown destination,

bore this letter to Titus.

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Overview of the Book of Titus
From The Bible Project


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Titus 2 New International Version (NIV)

Doing Good for the Sake of the Gospel

2 You, however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine. 2 Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance.

3 Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. 4 Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.

6 Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. 7 In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness 8 and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.

9 Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, 10 and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.

11 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

15 These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.

Titus 3 New International Version (NIV)

Saved in Order to Do Good

3 Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, 2 to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.

3 At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. 4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared,

5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. 8 This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.

9 But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless. 10 Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them. 11 You may be sure that such people are warped and sinful; they are self-condemned.

Final Remarks

12 As soon as I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, because I have decided to winter there. 13 Do everything you can to help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way and see that they have everything they need. 14 Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order to provide for urgent needs and not live unproductive lives.

15 Everyone with me sends you greetings. Greet those who love us in the faith.

Grace be with you all.

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New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Some content adapted from Halley, Henry H., Bible Handbook, Grayson Publishing, Minneapolis, MN.  © 1927 - 1959, 1964

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Hugh C. Wood, Atlanta, Georgia

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