 Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, 2 in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began 3 and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior;
4 To Titus, my true child in a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior. Qualifications for Elders5 This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you— 6 if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. 7 For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, 8 but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. 9 He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it. 10 For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party. 11 They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach. 12 One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”[j] 13 This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, 14 not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth. 15 To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. 16 They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work. Meditation In a world of disorder God reveals His pleasure for an ordered church. Jesus’ Church should have an ordered life together (1 Corinthians 14:40). The whole body is joined together in Christ and, when equipped and working properly, the body grows so that it builds itself up in love (Ephesians 4:11-16). Paul leaves Titus in Crete to “put what remained into order, and appoint elders…” (1). The elders are “God’s stewards” of the Church, overseers of God’s house, whose life should be ordered under the authority of God’s design and following the authority of God’s word (6-10). Those who do not know God’s grace and reject God’s word, who “profess to know God but deny Him by their works,” (16) have no place to bring leadership to God’s people. God’s people re-ordered by His grace and word lead to bring order to His Church. Paul briefly stopped in Crete on his way to Rome (Acts 27:4-5). Paul’s planting and passing on leaves Titus to water and cultivate the church in Crete and surrounding area. Much of Paul’s direction echoes what he wrote Timothy. All of Paul’s direction reminds us the church is led not by personality but in a faithful group of elders. Knowing and following Jesus is essential for the collective overseers appointed to bring order to God’s house and equip Christ’s Body. Richly Dwelling -Why is it significant that God designs His house and His Body to have order? -Who are elders you need to pray for to have collective wisdom, unity, and faithfulness to follow God as they bring order to the house of God? -Where can you grow in celebrating the leadership and authority of the elders God has placed over you? Key Verse 5 This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you— Comments are closed.
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