Paul's son Titus and God 's grace and peace
Text Titus 1:4 Time 24/03/10 Place Childs Hill Baptist Church
We have begun to look at Paul's letter to Titus. We have considered 1:1-3 where Paul introduces himself. I want us to look this week at the way he goes on (verse 4) to say who he is writing to and to wish God's blessings on him.
1. The man to whom this letter is addressed
To Titus, my true son in our common faith
1. Titus – who was he and what can we learn from his story?
One of the oddest things about Titus is that like Luke he is never mentioned in the Book of Acts. There has been some conjecture as to why that is. It has been suggested that it is because he was Luke’s brother but there is no reason to suppose that is the case. All that we know of Titus then is found in Paul's letters – here and in 2 Corinthians and Galatians. We only have a few glimpses of Titus but enough to get some idea of the man.
Where was he from? There is no definitive answer to this question but the most likely answer is that he was a Greek from Antioch who was converted under the ministry of Paul in that city. We come to that conclusion in the light of Galatians 2:1 where Paul tells how 14 years later after his first visit to Jerusalem as a Christian he went up again to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas. He says I took Titus along also. As Paul came to Jerusalem from Antioch it is likely that Titus was from there. He was certainly a Greek because Paul says so in Galatians 2:3. In Antioch you remember many Greeks with no Jewish background had become Christians. This was rather a shock to the Jewish Christians as up until then those who had been converted were either Jews or proselytes. Now absolute pagans were coming to faith. From time to time the churches go through periods when they fail to see that the gospel is open to all.
Paul and Barnabas went down to Jerusalem to discuss this problem and no doubt they took Titus as a live example to show that grace was as sufficient for Gentiles as it was for Jews, circumcised or uncircumcised. The question of circumcision arose because there were hypocrites among the brothers who insisted, like the false teachers in Galatia, that all Christians men must be circumcised and follow certain other Jewish laws. However, as Paul says in Galatians 1:3-5 he refused to have Titus circumcised, Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek. Some have read into not … compelled ‘but he was circumcised’. He voluntarily underwent circumcision as in the case of Timothy, who having a Jewish mother and Greek father Paul thought better to circumcise. This cannot be maintained, however. Paul is trying to impress on the Galatians that, despite the false teachers, there is no advantage in circumcision. If Titus was circumcised he would have been wiser not to mention him. Surely his point is that Titus was not circumcised. The only reason the matter arose is because some false brothers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves. But, he says, We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might remain with you.
No doubt Paul’s choice of Titus to accompany him to Jerusalem was not accidental. In this young man he had found a godly companion and fellow worker who he could rely on. We do not know exactly when the visit to Jerusalem that Paul talks about in Galatians was and we can't be sure when Titus began to travel with Paul on his missionary journeys but we know that he was involved in the planting of the church in Corinth and in subsequent dealings with that church. No doubt being from a pagan background himself he was not surprised by the sexual immorality, idolatry, thievery and drunkenness that we know was typical there. What a joy it must have been to see such people turning to the Lord as he had done himself.
As you know, Paul’s relationship with the Corinthians was a difficult one and he had to send them a painful letter (1 Corinthians) written out of great distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to grieve them but to let them know the depth of his love for them. The letter was either taken to Corinth by Titus or he was sent hard on its heels to gather information as to how it was received. Paul was very anxious for news, waiting for Titus. So anxious was he that he went from Ephesus to Troas, hoping to meet Titus there. Although he preached he really could not give himself to that work because of his eagerness to meet Titus and know what the situation was. See 2 Corinthians 2:12, 13 Now when I went to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ and found that the Lord had opened a door for me, I still had no peace of mind, because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I said good-bye to them and went on to Macedonia. No doubt Paul had hoped Titus would be able to come by sea. When it was clear that he would not, Paul went on by road to meet him in the mountains. As soon as he met with Titus he wrote again to the Corinthians (2 Corinthians) to say how glad he was to know that things were alright. 2 Corinthians 7:5-7 For when we came into Macedonia, he says this body of ours had no rest, but we were harassed at every turn - conflicts on the outside, fears within. But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, and not only by his coming but also by the comfort you had given him. He told us about your longing for me, your deep sorrow, your ardent concern for me, so that my joy was greater than ever. Paul’s letter had brought the right response – repentance; and that made all the difference. He goes on (13, 14) By all this we are encouraged. In addition to our own encouragement, we were especially delighted to see how happy Titus was, because his spirit has been refreshed by all of you. I had boasted to him about you, and you have not embarrassed me. But just as everything we said to you was true, so our boasting about you to Titus has proved to be true as well.
In the light of this restoration of good relations Paul decided to come back to the matter of giving – there was great financial need in Jerusalem. The Corinthians had shown eagerness at the beginning but had waned in enthusiasm. Now while things were good he (2 Corinthians 8:6) had urged Titus, since he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. As they excelled in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in … love for us – he wanted them now to excel in this grace of giving. Paul’s plan was that Titus should come to them again with two other unnamed brothers - the brother who is praised by all the churches for his service to the gospel who had been chosen by the churches and our brother who has often proved to us in many ways that he is zealous, and now even more so because of his great confidence in you. He says Titus (16, 17) has the same concern I have for you. He not only welcomed our appeal, but he is coming to you with much enthusiasm and on his own initiative. Paul calls him (23) my partner and fellow-worker among you.
Paul makes another reference to Titus at the end of 2 Corinthians, in 12:18 I urged Titus to go to you and I sent our brother with him. Titus did not exploit you, did he? Did we not act in the same spirit and follow the same course?
There is a passing reference to him in 2 Timothy 4:10 for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia ie the coast of the former Yugoslavia. Presumably Paul is writing from Rome. The next thing we know is that Titus is on the island of Crete, where many traditions about him have been preserved. It is while he was in Crete that Titus received this letter from Paul. In 3:12 Paul says 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. He obviously appreciated Titus’s fellowship. Whether he ever arrived there we do not know.
There are some obvious lessons here then.
1. Despite his unbelieving background Titus became a true believer.
Again and again this has happened in church history. Think of George Whitefield - born in a pub, John Newton – a slave trader. Isn't it true too of people in the Bible like the dying thief or the Philippian jailer or Abraham for that matter. We should be encouraged by the fact that God often chooses to save complete outsiders.
2. He was a man who became competent at straightening things out in church life and taking a work forward. Titus 1:5 The reason I left you in Crete was that you might straighten out what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you. He was not only good at sorting out problems but dealing with young churches too. One gets the impression that although not necessarily a great evangelist Titus was a great pastor. How we need great pastors – not just regular pastors but those who can pastor others in the church as set out in Titus 2:4.
3. He was a man who despite opposition continued to serve the Lord. Are you of the same spirit?
Titus 2:7,8 In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness 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.
2. How did Paul describe him - my true son in our common faith
Paul claims Titus as his true son – not an illegitimate one. He uses the same description at the beginning of his two letters to Timothy. Paul uses a similar expression in at least two other places
1 Corinthians 4:15 Even though you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel.
Galatians 4:19 My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you,
This way of looking at conversion is full of insight. We are told by Jesus to call no man father but the person through whom you hear the gospel is in some ways a father figure to you – someone a little like your own father. This is at least so when it is through one particular person, especially an older man. That's certainly how I always felt about the man through whom I was converted.
This is a reminder of the way the church is to be structured a little like the family. We are the family of believers. We are brothers and sisters in Christ. In some senses we are also fathers and mothers and children – in respect of age and authority.
There is also some instruction here perhaps about conversion. The picture is of begetting and bearing children. This is something very delicate, very intimate. When you speak to someone unconverted about the gospel there is a sense in which you are saying “be my child” “let me be your father”. It can't be entered into lightly then.
That phrase common faith is telling too. Paul was a Jew and Titus a Gentile but ti was a common faith they shared. Faith is for sharing then – with all sorts of people. To see someone converted is something that surpasses the joy even of having children.
2. Paul's Greeting Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Saviour
1. What Paul wishes for Titus
Grace and peace In Paul's day,as you know, letters usually began with a greeting. Paul speaks here, as usual, of
Grace – which originally meant a kindness done to a friend, a favour but came to refer to a spontaneous and generous gesture. It was taken up by the New Testament writers to refer to God's favour – not to friends but to those who by nature are his enemies. Undeserved love. It was grace that had converted Titus – it is the only way to be converted. He stands in continued need of God's grace in order to reach heaven. All believers continue to stand in need of God's grace.
Peace – Whereas grace was the natural greeting for a Greek speaker, Jews, of course, greet one another with the word peace. The word Paul uses seems to have its roots in the idea of binding together what was separated. It is justification that leads to peace with God, reconciliation with him. It is God's grace that leads to perfect peace and we should expect to know more and more of it.
This is one good way to pray for one another – for grace and for peace.
2. Where he expects it to come from from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Saviour
There are some things you can buy from various shops but some things can only be got at one particular shop. When it comes to grace and peace, they cannot be got just anywhere but we need to look to God for such things. He alone has them to give.
Paul served God (the Father) and was an apostle of Jesus Christ. He knew that the source of all grace and peace is in them. Their origin is in God the Father and they come to sinners only through Jesus Christ. By his death he purchased grace and peace for all his people.
He calls Jesus our Saviour. Paul uses the word saviour no less than six times in this short letter. He also uses it in his letter to Timothy written around the same time. It was obviously a favourite word at this time. The Greek would use the word for their gods and heroes. It was also used for the Emperor for example. Paul seems to have taken it up an used it as an appropriate title for the Lord Jesus Christ – what a Saviour he is for all who come under his protection. This is who we preach – Jesus the Saviour of the world, the one who saved Paul, the one who saved Titus, the one who can save all who call on him.
