Paul's Exhortations & Instructions to Brother Titus Volume 3

Paul's Greeting to Brother Titus Part 3

Titus 1:4-5 To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour. For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: KJV

The Apostle Paul looked upon himself as being a spiritual father to many who had heard his preaching of the Gospel of Christ/Gospel of Grace and had then believed and been baptized by God the Holy Spirit into the Spiritual Body of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ. Therefore, he refers to Brother Titus as such with these next words of his greeting to him in this letter, "To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour." (Titus 1:4) (KJV). The English phrase 'mine own' is translated by the Greek word gnēsios which means legitimate (of birth), that is, genuine: - own, sincerity, true. When Paul writes 'after the common faith', he simply means that like himself Titus had believed the true Gospel of Christ and was born again by God the Holy Spirit and he was a true son of God the Father through faith given to him by our Lord Jesus Christ as he did with Paul and every one of us today and of every era and generation the Gospel of Grace has been preached. Paul prays for grace, mercy, and peace to be upon and with Brother Titus, that is, that grace, mercy, and peace that comes directly from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. Grace here being God's Divine influence upon the heart of Titus and it reflecting itself in Titus's life right where he was living and serving at the time. Mercy to Titus being God's tenderness to him and in His daily dealing with Titus constantly showing and giving to him Divine compassion. Peace being the quietness of his soul and the state of rest in his soul being assured of his redemption, rebirth, and resurrection from spiritual death, that is, that peace which passes all human understanding as Paul wrote to the Philippian believers with these words, "And the peace of God which passes all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:7) (MKJV).

Here is what Matthew Henry said about this verse, "My own (or my genuine) son, not by natural generation, but by supernatural regeneration. I have begotten you through the Gospel, said he to the Corinthians, 1 Corinthians 4:15. Ministers are spiritual fathers to those whom they are the means of converting, and will tenderly affect and care for them, and must be answerably regarded by them. 'My own son after the common faith, that faith which is common to all the regenerate, and which thou hast in truth, and expressest to the life.' This might be said to distinguish Titus from hypocrites and false teachers, and to recommend him to the regard of the Cretans, as being among them a lively image of the Apostle himself, in faith, and life, and heavenly doctrine. To this Titus, deservedly so dear to the Apostle, is, the salutation and prayer, wishing all blessings to him: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour. Here are, 1. The blessings wished: Grace, mercy, and peace. Grace, the free favour of God, and acceptance with Him. Mercy, the fruits of that favour, in pardon of sins, and freedom from all miseries by it, both here and hereafter. And peace, the positive effect and fruit of mercy. Peace with God through Christ who is our peace, and with the creatures and ourselves; outward and inward peace, comprehending all good whatsoever, that makes for our happiness in time and to eternity. Observe, Grace is the fountain of all blessings. Mercy, and peace, and all good, spring out of this. Get into God's favour, and all must be well; for, 2. These are the persons from whom blessings are wished: From God the Father, the fountain of all good. Every blessing, every comfort, comes to us from God as a Father; He is the Father of all by creation, but of the good by adoption and regeneration. And the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour, as the way and means of procurement and conveyance. All is from the Father by the Son, who is Lord by nature, Heir of all things, and our Lord, Redeemer, and Head, ordering and ruling His members. All are put under Him; we hold of Him, and owe subjection and obedience to Him, who is also Jesus and Christ, the anointed Saviour, and especially our Saviour, who believe in Him, delivering us from sin and hell, and bringing us to heaven and happiness."

Paul now tells him directly what he wants him to do where he had commanded him to be with these words, "For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:" (Titus 1:5) (KJV). The little English phrase 'for this cause' is translated by the Greek word charin meaning through favor of, that is, on account of this thing. The little English phrase 'thou shouldest set in order' is translated by the Greek word epidiorthoō (used this one time only in ther New Testament) meaning to straighten further, that is, (figuratively) arrange additionally: - set in order. The little English phrase 'the things that are wanting' is translated by the Greek word leipō a primary verb meaning to leave, that is, (intransitive, that is, a verb that does not require a direct object or passive, that is, expressing that the subject of the sentence is the patient of the action denoted by the verb) to fail or be absent: - be destitute (wanting), lack. The English word 'ordain' is translated by the Greek word kathistēmi meaning to place down permanently or to designate or to appoint. The English word 'elders' is translated by the Greek word presbuteros meaning men of approved Christian reputation, certain ones to be overseers of the Churches in the several cities. In other words, Paul had left Titus in the city of Crete in order that he would straighten out what was in disorder in the Church there and set it in order by designating or appointing men in the Church there and in other cities to be overseers making sure the doctrine and teaching remained pure to the truth of God and the Word of God and that these men should have a good testimony or reputation in the Churches before they are given these permanent and very important positions of office. Here is what Adam Clarke had to say about this verse, "It appears from this that the Apostle did not spend much time in Crete, and that he was obliged to leave it before he had got the Church properly organized. The supplying of this defect, he tells Titus, he had confided to him as one whose spiritual views coincided entirely with his own. That thou mightest appoint, elders - persons well instructed in Divine things, who should be able to instruct others, and observe and enforce the discipline of the Church. It appears that those who are called elders in this place are the same as those termed bishops in Titus 1:7. We have many proofs that bishops and elders were of the same order in the apostolic Church, though afterwards they became distinct. In every city, this seems to intimate that the Apostle had gone over the whole of the hundred cities for which this island was celebrated. Indeed it is not likely that he would leave one in which he had not preached Christ crucified."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Sincerely in Christ,

Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…