Titus was another of Paul’s traveling companions who would sometimes remain behind to finish teaching the people and help identify and install pastors (overseers) and deacons (elders) after Paul had moved on. Indeed, that is what Paul is instructing Titus about in this letter, giving him encouragement and direction as Titus worked on Crete.
Epimenedes, a Cretan philosopher who was revered as a prophet, made the comment some 600 years before Paul’s letter, that “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, and lazy gluttons.” (Indeed, to be called a Cretan today is no compliment!) The original context of the passage was a rebuke for the Cretans’ disregard for the oracles and prophecies of the gods. Paul seems to be using it in a similar way as the pagan people on the island often disregarded God’s true Word which he and Titus proclaimed. It was also a warning to the Christians there that they should not be drawn away the false teachings of their neighbors.
As I read through this first chapter, the number of times Paul points out that he and Titus are under another authority and that they are charged with a duty to perform stood out to me.
As usual, Paul begins by describing himself as a “servant of God and apostle of Jesus Christ.” The word “servant” can also mean “slave.” (Most people didn’t have servants in the modern sense of that word.) He is also an “apostle” which means, one who has been sent. In other words, he belongs to God and is sent by Him for His purpose, which in Paul’s case is to proclaim the truth of the gospel to build up God’s people.
In v. 5, Paul tells Titus, “This why I left you in Crete . . . .” Titus was not in Crete on holiday. He was there to do a job. He was there to appoint elders and overseers – that is native leaders in the church. He was also to confront and teach the Cretans so they could be “sound in the faith.” They were to be well grounded, and correct, in what they taught because it wasn’t their teaching. Titus was to instruct them to teach what he had taught them, as he was to teach what Paul had taught him, as Paul was to teach what Jesus Himself had taught him.
In v. 7, Paul speaks of the overseer as God’s “steward.” That’s a word we don’t use very often outside of the church context (and then usually in regard to Time, Talents and Treasures a.k.a. money). The word Paul used was oikonomon which comes from putting two words together – house and law. The oikonomon was one who was responsible to see that the rules and order of the house was maintained. He did not make up the rules, nor did he decide what was to be done, but he too was a servant who was to see to it that the master’s will was done.
In the same way today pastors are to see themselves as stewards and servants. We are to work in faithfulness to God’s Word and command, making sure that the order and wellbeing of God’s people is maintained by proclaiming the truth of the scriptures. There are times that this service requires rebuking and times when it requires gentleness, and a good steward knows when to use which. Yet a steward is a servant among servants. We are all to serve the Lord – who has purchased each of us with His precious blood – together. And we experience unity and peace as we live in God’s loving gracious will and forgiveness together.
Father in Heaven, thank you for pastors and teachers who proclaim your truth. Help us all to hold on to your true Word and live our lives according to it as your redeemed people. Amen.
Epimenedes, a Cretan philosopher who was revered as a prophet, made the comment some 600 years before Paul’s letter, that “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, and lazy gluttons.” (Indeed, to be called a Cretan today is no compliment!) The original context of the passage was a rebuke for the Cretans’ disregard for the oracles and prophecies of the gods. Paul seems to be using it in a similar way as the pagan people on the island often disregarded God’s true Word which he and Titus proclaimed. It was also a warning to the Christians there that they should not be drawn away the false teachings of their neighbors.
As I read through this first chapter, the number of times Paul points out that he and Titus are under another authority and that they are charged with a duty to perform stood out to me.
As usual, Paul begins by describing himself as a “servant of God and apostle of Jesus Christ.” The word “servant” can also mean “slave.” (Most people didn’t have servants in the modern sense of that word.) He is also an “apostle” which means, one who has been sent. In other words, he belongs to God and is sent by Him for His purpose, which in Paul’s case is to proclaim the truth of the gospel to build up God’s people.
In v. 5, Paul tells Titus, “This why I left you in Crete . . . .” Titus was not in Crete on holiday. He was there to do a job. He was there to appoint elders and overseers – that is native leaders in the church. He was also to confront and teach the Cretans so they could be “sound in the faith.” They were to be well grounded, and correct, in what they taught because it wasn’t their teaching. Titus was to instruct them to teach what he had taught them, as he was to teach what Paul had taught him, as Paul was to teach what Jesus Himself had taught him.
In v. 7, Paul speaks of the overseer as God’s “steward.” That’s a word we don’t use very often outside of the church context (and then usually in regard to Time, Talents and Treasures a.k.a. money). The word Paul used was oikonomon which comes from putting two words together – house and law. The oikonomon was one who was responsible to see that the rules and order of the house was maintained. He did not make up the rules, nor did he decide what was to be done, but he too was a servant who was to see to it that the master’s will was done.
In the same way today pastors are to see themselves as stewards and servants. We are to work in faithfulness to God’s Word and command, making sure that the order and wellbeing of God’s people is maintained by proclaiming the truth of the scriptures. There are times that this service requires rebuking and times when it requires gentleness, and a good steward knows when to use which. Yet a steward is a servant among servants. We are all to serve the Lord – who has purchased each of us with His precious blood – together. And we experience unity and peace as we live in God’s loving gracious will and forgiveness together.
Father in Heaven, thank you for pastors and teachers who proclaim your truth. Help us all to hold on to your true Word and live our lives according to it as your redeemed people. Amen.
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