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TITUS I. BACKGROUND
1. Author
- Paul, the apostle 1:1 2. Date
- Later in Paul's ministry, possibly even after his first imprisonment in
Rome: A.D. 65. 3. Setting
- Paul had left Titus to labor in Crete (an island nation) where he was
supposed to carry out some specific duties.
The Cretans were well known as
immoral people and this added a difficult dimension to Titus' work. See Titus 1:5, 12 II.PURPOSE OF THE
BOOK
1. Key
Verses: 1:5; 2:1;
2:11-14 2. Purpose: Paul's main purpose was to remind Titus to
carry out his duties in Crete: 1:5 1) To set in order the things that were wanting: a. The false teachings: 1:10, 14 b. The immoral lives: 1:10-12; 2:1-10 c. The endless questionings: 3:8-10 d. The lack of good works: 1:15-16;
2:7, 11-14; 3:1, 8, 14 2) To appoint elders in every city:
1:5-9 3. A
secondary purpose may have been to show that Christians who have been
justified by God's grace should: 1) Deny ungodliness and worldly lusts: 2:12 2) Live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world: 2:12 3) Look for the appearing of Jesus Christ: 2:13 4) Remember that we are heirs according to the hope of eternal
life: 3:7 4. Outline
of the book: 1) General instructions for order in the church: 1:1-16 2) Teach these healthy teachings:
2:1-15 3) Remind them of the godly life of a Christian: 3:1-15 III. APPLICATIONS - LESSONS
1. The
need for godly elders with these qualities: 1) Husband of one wife, with obedient, believing children: 1:6 2) Blameless: 1:7 3) Not overbearing, quick-tempered, given to drunkenness, violent
pursuing dishonest gain: 1:7 4) Must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, self-controlled,
upright, holy, disciplined: 1:8 5) Hold to sound teaching in the word to: a. encourage others with healthy teachings: 1:9 b. refute those who oppose the word: 1:9 2. Are
our lives too much like that of the Cretans? 1) Liars: 1:12 2) Lazy gluttons: 1:12 3) Irresponsible lives: 1:12 4) Teaching for the sake of receiving money: 1:11 5) Enjoying arguing over controversial subjects: 1:10 6) Lives that deny that we even know God: 1:16 7) Without any good works:
1:16 3. How
do we overcome this worthless way of life? 1) Live a godly life: 2:11-13 2) Teach confidently the good things of God: 2:1-10 3) Reprove those who are not sound in the faith: 1:13 4) Maintain good works (be zealous): 2:14; 3:14 5) Remember our past and how God saved us: 3:3-7 6) Stay away from foolish questionings: 3:8-10 4. The
Importance of Good works 1) Those who argue all the time about the law are without any good
works: 1:16; 3:9-10 2) Be an example of good works:
2:7 3) A result of God's grace in our lives will be that we will be
zealous of good works: 2:11-14 4) Be ready for every good work:
3:1 5) Those who have believed God should be careful to maintain good
works that they be fruitful: 3:8, 14 TITUS
QUESTIONS
1. "The reason I left you in Crete was that
you might _____ and _____ in every town as I directed you." (Titus 1:5) 2. What purpose do you understand for the
appointing of elders? What purpose do you understand for the qualifications
of elders? 3. Name three (3) bad characteristics of the
Cretans: 1) 2) 3) 4. Do people in India today have some of these
characteristics? Do you? 5. What does it mean to live sensibly,
righteously, and godly in this present world? (Titus 2:12) 6. True or False: _____
1) Paul left Timothy on
Crete. _____
2) Elders must be the husband
of one wife. _____
3) God wants for us to be
zealous of good works. _____
4) People who argue about
foolish thing are very profitable to God. _____
5) The Cretans were well
known as very respectable people. 7. Are we saved by our good deeds or by what
Christ has done for us? 8. What should we do when someone wants to argue
about myths and foolish controversies about law? |