Paul Gives Titus a Description of what People who Turn Away from the Truth will Look Like
Titus 1:14-16 Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth. Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. They profess that they know God; but in works they deny Him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate. KJV
Paul ended the last verse in this first Chapter of the only recorded letter we have of him writing to Brother Titus with the reason for his wanting him and all the Elders that would be appointed to the various Churches in Crete of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus to rebuke sharply those who had displayed evidence of turning around or going backwards in their faith walk and that was so that they would be sound or spritually healthy in the faith. Paul now concludes this Chapter with what happens to those who have made a profession of faith in Jesus Christ, but now their lives exhibit that faith has been eroded or errored or even eradicated all together. First, he declares these words to Brother Titus, "Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth." (Titus 1:14) (KJV). This verse was a reference then to the Judaist who then still wanted to mix the Gospel of Christ with Judaism and keeping the law of Moses. This Paul knew would cause men and women to turn away from the truth of the Gospel to these Jewish myths that had no power to save the souls of sinners, nor to give them power for living everyday life in the flesh on the earth. Jesus Christ is the truth and the truth is found only in Him and in His Gospel of Grace (Ephesians 4:21). Paul wrote to Timothy that some people would indeed turn away from the truth and listen to fables or myths, "For a time will be when they will not endure sound doctrine, but they will heap up teachers to themselves according to their own lusts, tickling the ear. And they will turn away their ears from the truth and will be turned to myths." (2 Timothy 4:3-4) (MKJV). Paul now reminds Titus of the absurdity of the commandments of men that many of the Jewish religious rulers had established during the years and had added hundreds of little rules, regulations, and rituals on top of the law of Moses that must be followed to make oneself pure before going before God. Paul condemns them with these words, "Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled." (Titus 1:15) (KJV).
The English word 'pure' is translated by the Greek word katharos meaning clean (literally or figuratively): - clean, clear, pure. The little English pharse 'that are defiled' is translated by the Greek word miainō meaning to sully or taint, that is, contaminate (ceremonially or morally): - defile. The English word 'unbelieving' is translated by the Greek word apistos meaning (as used here) (actively) disbelieving, that is, without Christian faith. In other words, these Judaizing Christians had brought those rules, regulations, and rituals from Jewish religious rulers into the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ and in so doing they were making the Word of God of no effect to themselves and to those to whom they taught to do and believe likewise. Paul wrote to the Colossian Church these words condemning this practice, "If then you died with Christ from the elements of the world, why, as though living in the world, are you subject to its ordinances: touch not, taste not, handle not; which things are all for corruption in the using, according to the commands and doctrines of men? These things indeed have a reputation of wisdom in self-imposed worship and humility, and unsparing severity of the body, but are not of any value for the satisfying of the flesh." (Colossians 2:20-23) (MKJV). Our Lord Jesus had earlier already condemned these false forms of worshipping God to the Scribes and Pharisees as documented for us by the Apostle Matthew, "Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, Why do your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread. But He answered and said to them, Why do you also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? For God commanded, saying, 'Honor your father and mother'; and, 'He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him die by death.' But you say, Whoever says to his father or mother, Whatever you would gain from me, It is a gift to God; and in no way he honors his father or his mother. And you voided the commandment of God by your tradition. Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying, 'This people draws near to Me with their mouth, and honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. But in vain they worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." (Matthew 15:1-9) (MKJV).
Paul lastly, declares to Brother Titus and to we true Christians today and of every era and generation that those Judaizers then and many in Churches today and of every era and generation since our Lord Jesus' death, buriel, resurrection from the dead and ascension back to heaven claim to know God, but their words, ways, and worship testify that they have never been born again by the Holy Spirit of God as Paul writes to Brother Titus with these words, "They profess that they know God; but in works they deny Him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate." (Titus 1:16) (KJV). Paul did not then deny that these men held a theoretical knowledge of God, but Paul declares that they did not have a practical, purposeful, and personal relationship with God (who is the Lord Jesus Christ). This first statement in the concluding verse of this Chapter 'they profess' is a little English phrase translated by the Greek word homologeō meaning (as used here) to assent or to acknowledge. In other words, those Judaizing teachers back then were full of pretentions (a false or unsupportable quality) to the knowledge of God. They saw themselves of having a special knowledge of God, even though they did not know the true God at all. When Christ was on the earth, these same Scribes, Pharisees, and Saducees had the ONE TRUE GOD right in front of them, yet they were blind to His presence. Today this continues with people in Mormonism and Islam just to name a couple, for these people think they know God, but their worship, their beliefs, and even their practices deny their knowledge of the ONE TRUE GOD. To know God really and truly is as our Lord Jesus declared with these words, "And this is life eternal, that they might know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent." (John 17:3) (MKJV). Paul declares that in deeds they deny Him or contradict their profession of faith. The English word 'abominable' is translated by the Greek word bdeluktos (used this one time only in the New Testament) meaning detestable, that is, (specifically) idolatrous: - abominable. The English word 'disobedient' is translated by the Greek word apeithēs meaning unpersuadable, that is, contumacious (wilfully obstinate; stubbornly disobedient). The English word 'reprobate' is translated by the Greek word adokimos meaning unapproved, that is, rejected; by implication worthless (literally or morally): - castaway, rejected, reprobate. In other words, these professors of faith in Jesus Christ are actually detestible, wilfully obstinate and stubborn rebellious disobedient sinners who have never been born again and who are in God the Father's eyes rejected worthless castaways because they have not truly obeyed the Gospel of Grace.
Here is what Matthew Henry had to say about these last two verses here in Chapter 1, "He gives the reasons of this, from the liberty we have by the Gospel from legal observances, and the evil and mischief of a Jewish spirit under the Christian dispensation in the last two verses. To good Christians that are sound in the faith and thereby purified all things are pure. Meats and drinks, and such things as were forbidden under the law (the observances of which some still maintain), in these there is now no such distinction, all are pure (lawful and free in their use), but to those that are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; things lawful and good they abuse and turn to sin; they suck poison out of that from which others draw sweetness; their mind and conscience, those leading faculties, being defiled, a taint is communicated to all they do. The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, Proverbs 15:8. And Proverbs 21:4, The ploughing of the wicked is sin, not in itself, but as done by him; the carnality of the mind and heart mars all the labour of the hand. But are not these judaizers (as you call them) men who profess religion, and speak well of God, and Christ, and righteousness of life, and should they be so severely taxed? Answer, They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and to every good work reprobate. There are many who in word and tongue profess to know God, and yet in their lives and conversations deny and reject Him; their practice is a contradiction to their profession. They come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: with their mouth they show much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness, Ezekiel 33:31. Being abominable, and disobedient, and to every good work reprobate. The Apostle, instructing Titus to rebuke sharply, does himself rebuke sharply; he gives them very hard words, yet doubtless no harder than their case warranted and their need required. Being abominable - bdeluktoi, deserving that God and good men should turn away their eyes from them as nauseous and offensive. And disobedient - apeitheis, unpersuadable and unbelieving. They might do divers things; but it was not the obedience of faith, nor what was commanded, or short of the command. To every good work reprobate, without skill or judgment to do any thing aright. See the miserable condition of hypocrites, such as have a form of godliness, but without the power; yet let us not be so ready to fix this charge on others as careful that it agree not to ourselves, that there be not in us an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God; but that we be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ unto the glory and praise of God, Philippians 1:10-11."
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…
I am a Christian Writer of non-fiction primarily and a little fiction. My purpose for forming this site is to Edify Christians with my writing and reach the lost with the uncompromising Gospel of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Wednesday, September 4, 2019
Wednesday, August 28, 2019
Paul's Exhortations & Instructions to Brother Titus Volume 9
Paul Gives Titus Examples of bad Cretian Behavior that needed to be Dealt with in the Church
Titus 1:12-13 One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; KJV
The history of the people of Crete during the time of Paul writing this letter to Brother Titus was filled with reverence, regard, and respect for the 'so-called' prophets in their country who were actually poets such as Epimenides who was born in Crete at Cnossos around 659 B.C. and it is documented in their history that it was he who suggested and influenced the Athenians to erect statues to unknown gods which is exactly what the Apostle Paul found when he went to Athens, Greece where we find the encounter documented for us by Dr. Luke with these words, "And standing in the middle of the Areopagus, Paul said, Men, Athenians, I see that you are fearful of gods in everything. For as I passed by and saw the things you worship, I also found an altar with this inscription: TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Not knowing then whom you worship, I make Him known to you. The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of Heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands, nor is served with men's hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives life and breath and all things to all. And He has made all nations of men of one blood to dwell on all the face of the earth, ordaining fore-appointed seasons and boundaries of their dwelling, to seek the Lord, if perhaps they might feel after Him and find Him, though indeed He is not far from each one of us. For in Him we live and move and have our being, as also certain of your own poets have said, For we are also His offspring. Then being offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like gold or silver or stone, engraved by art and man's imagination. Truly, then, God overlooking the times of ignorance, now He strictly commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day in which He is going to judge the world in righteousness by a Man whom He appointed, having given proof to all by raising Him from the dead. And hearing of a resurrection of the dead, some indeed mocked; and others said, We will hear you again concerning this." (Acts 17:22-32) (MKJV).
The Cretians were no worse sinners than any other Gentiles during that time or during any time past or present. They were only like all sinners then and now before hearing the truth of the Gospel of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ blind spiritually and dead spiritually in need of a resurrection from spiritual death that only happens when the true Gospel is preached and God the Holy Spirit reaches into the inner man or inner woman of the sinner and opens their blind spiritual eyes and raises there dead souls to eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. So Paul now declares to Titus what one of the Cretian poets had written about the Cretian people in general as a race of humanity, "One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies." (Titus 1:12) (KJV). It became known during this time a phrase that was 'to speak like a Cretan equals to lie', therefore, it was written concerning them that they always lied about many things, for example they claimed to have the tomb of Zeus who was the supreme god of ancient Greek mythology. The revered poet Epimenides wrote (sarcastically) that because the country was void of wild animals, then the human occupants replaced them as the wild beast of the land in accordance with the normal behavior of most of the people in the land. The phrase 'slow bellies' describing the people of Crete implies that they were lazy, but wanted to always satisfy their bellies with food, that is, they were gluttons. These words were not that of Paul about the people of Crete, but they were from the poets (like Epimenides) speaking of their own people.
Paul, however, was never moved to retreat when confronted by any people (no matter the characterization), for he knew that the Gospel of Grace had no limits or retstrictions as to where and to whom it could convert or awake from spiritual blindness and death, therfore, Paul writes these next words to Brother Titus, "This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;" (Titus 1:13) (KJV). Paul affirms everything the prophet/poet wrote concerning the people of Crete to be true, however, Paul also knows that the Gospel of Christ had made 'new creations' (2 Corinthians 5:17) among some of the people there, so he tells Titus that the Elders in the Churches their are to 'rebuke' 'sharply' those who had fallen back into some of their old ways. The English word 'rebuke' is translated by the Greek word elegchō meaning to confute, admonish: - convict, convince, tell a fault, rebuke, reprove. The English word 'sharply' is translated by the Greek word apotomōs which means (to cut); abruptly, that is, peremptorily, that is, in a commanding manner: - sharpness. In other words, the Elders were to tell the fellow Brother or Sister in Christ their fault admonishing them sharply with the commanding authority of our Lord Jesus Christ being with them. The purpose of this was that they may be sound in the faith, meaning that they (and we today and of every era and generation) might not allow their/our old nature to corrupt their/our walk with our Lord Jesus Christ.
Here is what Matthew Henry said about Paul instructing Titus to rebuke the believers sharply, "When Paul wrote to Timothy he bade him instruct with meekness; but now, when he writes to Titus, he bids him rebuke them sharply. The reason of the difference may be taken from the different temper of Timothy and Titus; the former might have more keenness in his disposition, and be apt to be warm in reproving, whom therefore he bids to rebuke with meekness; and the latter might be one of more mildness, therefore he quickens him, and bids him rebuke sharply. Or rather it was from the difference of the case and people: Timothy had a more polite people to deal with, and therefore he must rebuke them with meekness; and Titus had to do with those who were more rough and uncultivated, and therefore he must rebuke them sharply; their corruptions were many and gross, and committed without shame or modesty, and therefore should be dealt with accordingly. There must in reproving be a distinguishing between sins and sins; some are more gross and heinous in their nature, or in the manner of their commission, with openness and boldness, to the greater dishonour of God and danger and hurt to men: and between sinners and sinners; some are of a more tender and tractable temper, apter to be wrought on by gentleness, and to be sunk and discouraged by too much roughness and severity; others are more hardy and stubborn, and need more cutting language to beget in them remorse and shame. Wisdom therefore is requisite to temper and manage reproofs aright, as may be most likely to do good."
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…
Titus 1:12-13 One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; KJV
The history of the people of Crete during the time of Paul writing this letter to Brother Titus was filled with reverence, regard, and respect for the 'so-called' prophets in their country who were actually poets such as Epimenides who was born in Crete at Cnossos around 659 B.C. and it is documented in their history that it was he who suggested and influenced the Athenians to erect statues to unknown gods which is exactly what the Apostle Paul found when he went to Athens, Greece where we find the encounter documented for us by Dr. Luke with these words, "And standing in the middle of the Areopagus, Paul said, Men, Athenians, I see that you are fearful of gods in everything. For as I passed by and saw the things you worship, I also found an altar with this inscription: TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Not knowing then whom you worship, I make Him known to you. The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of Heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands, nor is served with men's hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives life and breath and all things to all. And He has made all nations of men of one blood to dwell on all the face of the earth, ordaining fore-appointed seasons and boundaries of their dwelling, to seek the Lord, if perhaps they might feel after Him and find Him, though indeed He is not far from each one of us. For in Him we live and move and have our being, as also certain of your own poets have said, For we are also His offspring. Then being offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like gold or silver or stone, engraved by art and man's imagination. Truly, then, God overlooking the times of ignorance, now He strictly commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day in which He is going to judge the world in righteousness by a Man whom He appointed, having given proof to all by raising Him from the dead. And hearing of a resurrection of the dead, some indeed mocked; and others said, We will hear you again concerning this." (Acts 17:22-32) (MKJV).
The Cretians were no worse sinners than any other Gentiles during that time or during any time past or present. They were only like all sinners then and now before hearing the truth of the Gospel of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ blind spiritually and dead spiritually in need of a resurrection from spiritual death that only happens when the true Gospel is preached and God the Holy Spirit reaches into the inner man or inner woman of the sinner and opens their blind spiritual eyes and raises there dead souls to eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. So Paul now declares to Titus what one of the Cretian poets had written about the Cretian people in general as a race of humanity, "One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies." (Titus 1:12) (KJV). It became known during this time a phrase that was 'to speak like a Cretan equals to lie', therefore, it was written concerning them that they always lied about many things, for example they claimed to have the tomb of Zeus who was the supreme god of ancient Greek mythology. The revered poet Epimenides wrote (sarcastically) that because the country was void of wild animals, then the human occupants replaced them as the wild beast of the land in accordance with the normal behavior of most of the people in the land. The phrase 'slow bellies' describing the people of Crete implies that they were lazy, but wanted to always satisfy their bellies with food, that is, they were gluttons. These words were not that of Paul about the people of Crete, but they were from the poets (like Epimenides) speaking of their own people.
Paul, however, was never moved to retreat when confronted by any people (no matter the characterization), for he knew that the Gospel of Grace had no limits or retstrictions as to where and to whom it could convert or awake from spiritual blindness and death, therfore, Paul writes these next words to Brother Titus, "This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;" (Titus 1:13) (KJV). Paul affirms everything the prophet/poet wrote concerning the people of Crete to be true, however, Paul also knows that the Gospel of Christ had made 'new creations' (2 Corinthians 5:17) among some of the people there, so he tells Titus that the Elders in the Churches their are to 'rebuke' 'sharply' those who had fallen back into some of their old ways. The English word 'rebuke' is translated by the Greek word elegchō meaning to confute, admonish: - convict, convince, tell a fault, rebuke, reprove. The English word 'sharply' is translated by the Greek word apotomōs which means (to cut); abruptly, that is, peremptorily, that is, in a commanding manner: - sharpness. In other words, the Elders were to tell the fellow Brother or Sister in Christ their fault admonishing them sharply with the commanding authority of our Lord Jesus Christ being with them. The purpose of this was that they may be sound in the faith, meaning that they (and we today and of every era and generation) might not allow their/our old nature to corrupt their/our walk with our Lord Jesus Christ.
Here is what Matthew Henry said about Paul instructing Titus to rebuke the believers sharply, "When Paul wrote to Timothy he bade him instruct with meekness; but now, when he writes to Titus, he bids him rebuke them sharply. The reason of the difference may be taken from the different temper of Timothy and Titus; the former might have more keenness in his disposition, and be apt to be warm in reproving, whom therefore he bids to rebuke with meekness; and the latter might be one of more mildness, therefore he quickens him, and bids him rebuke sharply. Or rather it was from the difference of the case and people: Timothy had a more polite people to deal with, and therefore he must rebuke them with meekness; and Titus had to do with those who were more rough and uncultivated, and therefore he must rebuke them sharply; their corruptions were many and gross, and committed without shame or modesty, and therefore should be dealt with accordingly. There must in reproving be a distinguishing between sins and sins; some are more gross and heinous in their nature, or in the manner of their commission, with openness and boldness, to the greater dishonour of God and danger and hurt to men: and between sinners and sinners; some are of a more tender and tractable temper, apter to be wrought on by gentleness, and to be sunk and discouraged by too much roughness and severity; others are more hardy and stubborn, and need more cutting language to beget in them remorse and shame. Wisdom therefore is requisite to temper and manage reproofs aright, as may be most likely to do good."
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…
Wednesday, August 21, 2019
Paul's Exhortations & Instructions to Brother Titus Volume 8
Paul Gives Titus the Elders Job in the Church Part 2
Titus 1:11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake. KJV
Paul tells Brother Titus in no uncertain terms that the Elders are to put a stop to the error or the erroneousness teaching coming into the Church of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ, for the enemy (the devil) has found that he cannot disconnect, disintegrate, or destroy the faith of true believers in Christ Jesus our Lord, but what he can do is get false believers into the Churches and see them become teachers and leaders in the Churches and then through error prevent those who come into the Church for the truth from hearing it declared or proclaimed. Through this method the enemy has rendered hundreds and thousands of once thriving Churches to become dead spiritually and cold and unaffective in reaching lost sinners in the world with the true Gospel because it has now been compromised. Therefore, these are Pauls next instructions to Brother Titus warning him and us today and of every era and generation of these type of people who have slid, slipped, and slithered into the Church of Jesus Christ, "Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake." (Titus 1:11) (KJV).
The English phrase 'mouths must be stopped' is translated by the Greek word epistomizō (used this one time only in the New Testament) it means to put something over the mouth, that is, (figuratively) to silence: - stop mouths. The Psalmist King David wrote these words declaring this same concept, "But the king shall rejoice in God; everyone who swears by Him shall glory; but the mouth of those who speak lies shall be stopped." (Psalm 63:11) (MKJV). In other words, just like an unruly horse has a bit placed into its mouth to control his unruly behavior, the Elders job is to use the Word of God to refute the heretical teaching of others, so that every soul who is seeking the truth of God will find it. As it has been said by many in the past, we must use the Word of God itself to prove the Word of God, for God has never been unclear or ambiguous or contradictory in what He has declared and He has stated 'The Truth' many times in His Word through many different prophets. Here is what Dr. John Gill had to say about stopping their mouths, "They be silenced, by reasons and arguments fetched out of the Word of God; as were the Sadducees and Pharisees by Christ, so that they durst ask Him no more questions; and as the Jews at Damascus were by Saul, who confounded them, proving in the clearest and strongest manner, that Jesus was the very Christ." Here is what Adam Clarke had to say about stopping their mouths, "Unmask them at once; exhibit them to the people; make manifest their ignorance and hypocrisy; and let them be confounded before the people whom they are endeavoring to seduce."
When Paul writes, 'who subvert whole houses', he means that these false teachers win over the parents with their false gospel and subsequently the children are then ruined as well. The English word 'subvert' is translated by the Greek word anatrepō meaning to overturn (figuratively): - overthrow, subvert; cause the downfall of spiritually. In other words, these false teachers declare a false gospel and in so doing they make the faith of those hearing it and receiving it as false, fake, and fraudulent as the one declaring it to them. These men and women who did this then and continue to do this today are instruments and tools of the devil to draw sinners away from the truth of the Gospel of Grace (that is Jesus plus nothing = salvation) into a gospel where you need to do this or do that outside of Jesus Christ and you will be saved or the false gospel that Jesus wants you to be healthy and wealthy, and saved. Whatever is proclaimed outside of the Cross of Jesus Christ is false and has no power to save souls (none). When Paul writes, 'teaching things which they ought not', he means what we just said and that is adding something to the Cross of Jesus Christ. Then, these false teachers were teaching that people still needed to be circumcised and follow the Jewish law of Moses, even Gentile converts. However, today there are many things being added to Christ death on the Cross, His buriel, and His resurrection from the dead, for example there are some who teach water baptismal regeneration, some teach you need to speak in tongues in order to be truly saved, and there are many more false teachings that must be stopped by simply declaring the simplicity of the Gospel of Christ (2 Corinthians 11:3).
The purpose of these false teachers then and now is exactly the same and that is to make merchandise of the Gospel. Paul wrote this same concept to Brother Titus with these words, 'for filthy lucre's sake', which simply means they wanted to tell people what they wanted to hear so they could get their money from them. Greed is the primary motivation of the false teacher, for he or she is not really and truly concerned about seeing the sinner's soul being saved from sin and hell, but only about living their heaven on earth by gaining wealth from deceiving people. What they are doing and being is just like their father the devil as our Lord Jesus told the Jewish religious rulers when He walked the earth, "Why do you not know My speech? Because you cannot hear My Word. You are of the Devil as father, and the lusts of your father you will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and did not abide in the truth because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks of his own, for he is a liar and the father of it." (John 8:43-44) (MKJV). You see salvation is free to every true seeking sinner and it cost him or her nothing to come to Christ and they have nothing they can bring to Him but their sin. Our Lord Jesus Christ also showed His displeasure, disappointment, and disgust with those who were using God's Temple as a house of merchandise as documented for us by the Apostle John with these words, "And the Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. And He found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the money-changers sitting. And when He had made a scourge of small cords, He drove them all out of the temple, also the sheep and the oxen. And He poured out the money-changers' money and overthrew the tables. And He said to those who sold doves, Take these things away from here. Do not make My Father's house a house of merchandise." (John 2:13-16) (MKJV).
Here is what Albert Barnes had to say about these false teachers doing this for filthy lucre's sake, "For gain. That is, they inculcate such doctrines as will make themselves popular, and as will give them access to the confidence of the people. They make it their first object to acquire influence as ministers of religion, and then abuse that in order to obtain money from the people. This they would doubtless do under many pretences; such as that it was needful for the support of the Gospel, or for the relief of the poor, or perhaps for the assistance of distant Christians in persecution. Religion is the most powerful principle that ever governs the mind; and if a man has the control of that, it is no difficult thing to induce men to give up their worldly possessions. In all ages, there have been impostors who have taken advantage of the powerful principle of religion to obtain money from their deluded followers. No people can be too vigilant in regard to pretended religious teachers; and while it is undoubtedly their duty to contribute liberally for the support of the Gospel, and the promotion of every good cause, it is no less their duty to examine with care every proposed object of benevolence, and to watch with an eagle eye those who have the disbursement of the charities of the Church. It is very rare that ministers ought to have much to do with disposing of the funds given for benevolent purposes; and when they do, they should in all cases be associated with their lay brethren."
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…
Titus 1:11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake. KJV
Paul tells Brother Titus in no uncertain terms that the Elders are to put a stop to the error or the erroneousness teaching coming into the Church of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ, for the enemy (the devil) has found that he cannot disconnect, disintegrate, or destroy the faith of true believers in Christ Jesus our Lord, but what he can do is get false believers into the Churches and see them become teachers and leaders in the Churches and then through error prevent those who come into the Church for the truth from hearing it declared or proclaimed. Through this method the enemy has rendered hundreds and thousands of once thriving Churches to become dead spiritually and cold and unaffective in reaching lost sinners in the world with the true Gospel because it has now been compromised. Therefore, these are Pauls next instructions to Brother Titus warning him and us today and of every era and generation of these type of people who have slid, slipped, and slithered into the Church of Jesus Christ, "Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake." (Titus 1:11) (KJV).
The English phrase 'mouths must be stopped' is translated by the Greek word epistomizō (used this one time only in the New Testament) it means to put something over the mouth, that is, (figuratively) to silence: - stop mouths. The Psalmist King David wrote these words declaring this same concept, "But the king shall rejoice in God; everyone who swears by Him shall glory; but the mouth of those who speak lies shall be stopped." (Psalm 63:11) (MKJV). In other words, just like an unruly horse has a bit placed into its mouth to control his unruly behavior, the Elders job is to use the Word of God to refute the heretical teaching of others, so that every soul who is seeking the truth of God will find it. As it has been said by many in the past, we must use the Word of God itself to prove the Word of God, for God has never been unclear or ambiguous or contradictory in what He has declared and He has stated 'The Truth' many times in His Word through many different prophets. Here is what Dr. John Gill had to say about stopping their mouths, "They be silenced, by reasons and arguments fetched out of the Word of God; as were the Sadducees and Pharisees by Christ, so that they durst ask Him no more questions; and as the Jews at Damascus were by Saul, who confounded them, proving in the clearest and strongest manner, that Jesus was the very Christ." Here is what Adam Clarke had to say about stopping their mouths, "Unmask them at once; exhibit them to the people; make manifest their ignorance and hypocrisy; and let them be confounded before the people whom they are endeavoring to seduce."
When Paul writes, 'who subvert whole houses', he means that these false teachers win over the parents with their false gospel and subsequently the children are then ruined as well. The English word 'subvert' is translated by the Greek word anatrepō meaning to overturn (figuratively): - overthrow, subvert; cause the downfall of spiritually. In other words, these false teachers declare a false gospel and in so doing they make the faith of those hearing it and receiving it as false, fake, and fraudulent as the one declaring it to them. These men and women who did this then and continue to do this today are instruments and tools of the devil to draw sinners away from the truth of the Gospel of Grace (that is Jesus plus nothing = salvation) into a gospel where you need to do this or do that outside of Jesus Christ and you will be saved or the false gospel that Jesus wants you to be healthy and wealthy, and saved. Whatever is proclaimed outside of the Cross of Jesus Christ is false and has no power to save souls (none). When Paul writes, 'teaching things which they ought not', he means what we just said and that is adding something to the Cross of Jesus Christ. Then, these false teachers were teaching that people still needed to be circumcised and follow the Jewish law of Moses, even Gentile converts. However, today there are many things being added to Christ death on the Cross, His buriel, and His resurrection from the dead, for example there are some who teach water baptismal regeneration, some teach you need to speak in tongues in order to be truly saved, and there are many more false teachings that must be stopped by simply declaring the simplicity of the Gospel of Christ (2 Corinthians 11:3).
The purpose of these false teachers then and now is exactly the same and that is to make merchandise of the Gospel. Paul wrote this same concept to Brother Titus with these words, 'for filthy lucre's sake', which simply means they wanted to tell people what they wanted to hear so they could get their money from them. Greed is the primary motivation of the false teacher, for he or she is not really and truly concerned about seeing the sinner's soul being saved from sin and hell, but only about living their heaven on earth by gaining wealth from deceiving people. What they are doing and being is just like their father the devil as our Lord Jesus told the Jewish religious rulers when He walked the earth, "Why do you not know My speech? Because you cannot hear My Word. You are of the Devil as father, and the lusts of your father you will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and did not abide in the truth because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks of his own, for he is a liar and the father of it." (John 8:43-44) (MKJV). You see salvation is free to every true seeking sinner and it cost him or her nothing to come to Christ and they have nothing they can bring to Him but their sin. Our Lord Jesus Christ also showed His displeasure, disappointment, and disgust with those who were using God's Temple as a house of merchandise as documented for us by the Apostle John with these words, "And the Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. And He found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the money-changers sitting. And when He had made a scourge of small cords, He drove them all out of the temple, also the sheep and the oxen. And He poured out the money-changers' money and overthrew the tables. And He said to those who sold doves, Take these things away from here. Do not make My Father's house a house of merchandise." (John 2:13-16) (MKJV).
Here is what Albert Barnes had to say about these false teachers doing this for filthy lucre's sake, "For gain. That is, they inculcate such doctrines as will make themselves popular, and as will give them access to the confidence of the people. They make it their first object to acquire influence as ministers of religion, and then abuse that in order to obtain money from the people. This they would doubtless do under many pretences; such as that it was needful for the support of the Gospel, or for the relief of the poor, or perhaps for the assistance of distant Christians in persecution. Religion is the most powerful principle that ever governs the mind; and if a man has the control of that, it is no difficult thing to induce men to give up their worldly possessions. In all ages, there have been impostors who have taken advantage of the powerful principle of religion to obtain money from their deluded followers. No people can be too vigilant in regard to pretended religious teachers; and while it is undoubtedly their duty to contribute liberally for the support of the Gospel, and the promotion of every good cause, it is no less their duty to examine with care every proposed object of benevolence, and to watch with an eagle eye those who have the disbursement of the charities of the Church. It is very rare that ministers ought to have much to do with disposing of the funds given for benevolent purposes; and when they do, they should in all cases be associated with their lay brethren."
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…
Wednesday, August 14, 2019
Paul's Exhortations & Instructions to Brother Titus Volume 7
Paul Gives Titus the Elders Job in the Church Part 1
Titus 1:10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: KJV
Now that Paul has declared to Brother Titus what the qualifications of the man that would be Elder in the Church of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ, he now begins a declaration to Titus about what the man's responsibility or task in the office should be and that is to serve as a spiritual body guard for the Gospel of Grace and the Word of God. Just as important men and women (in the world) have body guards to protect theirs and their families personal physical safety, so is the job of the Elder in the Church of Jesus Christ to protect the spiritual health of the children of God in Christ Body 'the Church' and in so doing he must first be knowledgeble of the Word of God himself and hold firm and fast to it as we learned in the previous study/commentary in Volume 6. The truth of the Gospel is always and at all times coming under attack from the enemy and it is the job of the Elder to defend the Body of Christ with the truth of the Word of God, so Paul declares this to Brother Titus first to prepare the Elders then to refute error, "For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:" (Titus 1:10) (KJV).
The English word 'unruly' is translated by the Greek word anupotaktos meaning unsubdued, that is, insubordinate (in fact or temper): - disobedient, that is not put under, unruly. The little English phrase 'vain talkers' is translated by the Greek word mataiologos (used this one time only in the New Testament) meaning an idle (that is, senseless or mischievous) talker, that is, a wrangler: - vain talker. The English word 'deceivers' is translated by the Greek word phrenapatēs (used also this one time only in the New Testament) meaning a mind misleader, that is, seducer: - deceiver. When Paul writes, 'specially they of the circumcision', he simply means those from Judaism. In other words, the Elders that Titus appointed were to declare the Gospel and teach the Word of God with such conviction, conciseness, and clarity that all the foolish questions and unprofitable words coming into the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ still relating it to the Law of Moses, that is, old Judaism would be destroyed by the simplicity of the Gospel.
This is what Paul feared for the believers in Corinth who were being bombarded with error from false Apostles and Paul wrote these words to them regarding his concern, "I would that you were bearing with me a little in foolishness; but indeed bear with me. For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy. For I have espoused you to one Man, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ. But I fear lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve in his craftiness, so your thoughts should be corrupted from the simplicity due to Christ. For if, indeed, the one coming proclaims another Jesus, whom we have not proclaimed, or if you receive another spirit, which you did not receive, or another Gospel, which you never accepted, you might well endure these." (2 Corinthians 11:1-4) (MKJV). In like manner today and in every era and generation the Elders job is to protect the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ from those who would come in and preach another jesus or a different gospel from 'The Jesus' and 'The Gopsel' declared by the first Apostles.
Here is what Matthew Henry had to say about this verse, "Those false teachers are described. They were unruly, headstrong and ambitious of power, refractory and untractable (as some render it), and such as would not bear nor submit themselves to the discipline and necessary order in the Church, impatient of good government and of sound doctrine. And vain talkers and deceivers, conceiting themselves to be wise, but really foolish, and thence great talkers, falling into errors and mistakes, and fond of them, and studious and industrious to draw others into the same. Many such there were, especially those of the circumcision, converts as they pretended, at least, from the Jews, who yet were for mingling Judaism and Christianity together, and so making a corrupt medley." Here is what Albert Barnes had to say about this verse, "There are many persons who are indisposed to submit to authority; many who are vain talkers - who are more given to talk than to the duties of practical religion; and many who live to deceive others under the mask of religion. They make great pretensions to piety; they are fluent in argument, and they urge their views in a plausible manner. Jews, spoken of here as 'of the circumcision' particularly, because they urged the necessity of circumcision in order that men might be saved; This proves that there were not a few Jews in the island of Crete."
The Gopsel of Jesus Christ is the complete and final end to the Law of Moses or the religion of Judaism being the only means to a relationship with the One True God, for when our Lord Jesus Christ (God) became a man and died for the sins of the world and was resurrected from the dead and then later ascended back into heaven, the acceptance of His Gospel as the only means of sin forgiveness and reaching God is the now building of a relationship with God that is, apart and seperate of any religion or practice or spirituality, for now Christ through the Holy Spirit is individually plucking out of this old world into His Mystical Body a new people that He will make fit for heaven with Him and therefore, no man or woman need any other to give them anything that is outside of or contrary to the Gospel of Grace, just as Paul wrote to the Galatian believers with these words, "Stand fast therefore in the liberty with which Christ has made us free, and do not again be held with the yoke of bondage. Behold, I, Paul, say to you that if you are circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do all the Law, you who are justified by Law are deprived of all effect from Christ; you fell from grace. For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness out of faith. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any strength, but faith working through love." (Galatians 5:1-6) (MKJV).
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…
Titus 1:10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: KJV
Now that Paul has declared to Brother Titus what the qualifications of the man that would be Elder in the Church of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ, he now begins a declaration to Titus about what the man's responsibility or task in the office should be and that is to serve as a spiritual body guard for the Gospel of Grace and the Word of God. Just as important men and women (in the world) have body guards to protect theirs and their families personal physical safety, so is the job of the Elder in the Church of Jesus Christ to protect the spiritual health of the children of God in Christ Body 'the Church' and in so doing he must first be knowledgeble of the Word of God himself and hold firm and fast to it as we learned in the previous study/commentary in Volume 6. The truth of the Gospel is always and at all times coming under attack from the enemy and it is the job of the Elder to defend the Body of Christ with the truth of the Word of God, so Paul declares this to Brother Titus first to prepare the Elders then to refute error, "For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:" (Titus 1:10) (KJV).
The English word 'unruly' is translated by the Greek word anupotaktos meaning unsubdued, that is, insubordinate (in fact or temper): - disobedient, that is not put under, unruly. The little English phrase 'vain talkers' is translated by the Greek word mataiologos (used this one time only in the New Testament) meaning an idle (that is, senseless or mischievous) talker, that is, a wrangler: - vain talker. The English word 'deceivers' is translated by the Greek word phrenapatēs (used also this one time only in the New Testament) meaning a mind misleader, that is, seducer: - deceiver. When Paul writes, 'specially they of the circumcision', he simply means those from Judaism. In other words, the Elders that Titus appointed were to declare the Gospel and teach the Word of God with such conviction, conciseness, and clarity that all the foolish questions and unprofitable words coming into the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ still relating it to the Law of Moses, that is, old Judaism would be destroyed by the simplicity of the Gospel.
This is what Paul feared for the believers in Corinth who were being bombarded with error from false Apostles and Paul wrote these words to them regarding his concern, "I would that you were bearing with me a little in foolishness; but indeed bear with me. For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy. For I have espoused you to one Man, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ. But I fear lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve in his craftiness, so your thoughts should be corrupted from the simplicity due to Christ. For if, indeed, the one coming proclaims another Jesus, whom we have not proclaimed, or if you receive another spirit, which you did not receive, or another Gospel, which you never accepted, you might well endure these." (2 Corinthians 11:1-4) (MKJV). In like manner today and in every era and generation the Elders job is to protect the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ from those who would come in and preach another jesus or a different gospel from 'The Jesus' and 'The Gopsel' declared by the first Apostles.
Here is what Matthew Henry had to say about this verse, "Those false teachers are described. They were unruly, headstrong and ambitious of power, refractory and untractable (as some render it), and such as would not bear nor submit themselves to the discipline and necessary order in the Church, impatient of good government and of sound doctrine. And vain talkers and deceivers, conceiting themselves to be wise, but really foolish, and thence great talkers, falling into errors and mistakes, and fond of them, and studious and industrious to draw others into the same. Many such there were, especially those of the circumcision, converts as they pretended, at least, from the Jews, who yet were for mingling Judaism and Christianity together, and so making a corrupt medley." Here is what Albert Barnes had to say about this verse, "There are many persons who are indisposed to submit to authority; many who are vain talkers - who are more given to talk than to the duties of practical religion; and many who live to deceive others under the mask of religion. They make great pretensions to piety; they are fluent in argument, and they urge their views in a plausible manner. Jews, spoken of here as 'of the circumcision' particularly, because they urged the necessity of circumcision in order that men might be saved; This proves that there were not a few Jews in the island of Crete."
The Gopsel of Jesus Christ is the complete and final end to the Law of Moses or the religion of Judaism being the only means to a relationship with the One True God, for when our Lord Jesus Christ (God) became a man and died for the sins of the world and was resurrected from the dead and then later ascended back into heaven, the acceptance of His Gospel as the only means of sin forgiveness and reaching God is the now building of a relationship with God that is, apart and seperate of any religion or practice or spirituality, for now Christ through the Holy Spirit is individually plucking out of this old world into His Mystical Body a new people that He will make fit for heaven with Him and therefore, no man or woman need any other to give them anything that is outside of or contrary to the Gospel of Grace, just as Paul wrote to the Galatian believers with these words, "Stand fast therefore in the liberty with which Christ has made us free, and do not again be held with the yoke of bondage. Behold, I, Paul, say to you that if you are circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do all the Law, you who are justified by Law are deprived of all effect from Christ; you fell from grace. For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness out of faith. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any strength, but faith working through love." (Galatians 5:1-6) (MKJV).
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…
Wednesday, August 7, 2019
Paul's Exhortations & Instructions to Brother Titus Volume 6
Paul Gives the Qualifications for Elders to Brother Titus Part 3
Titus 1:9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. KJV
Paul concludes his narrative to Brother Titus about the specific qualifications required by any man to hold the office of bishop or elder in the Church of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ with these words, "Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers." (Titus 1:9) (KJV). The first of the final qualifications for the man who would be appointed to the office of bishop or elder in the Church of the Lord Jesus would be that he would be a man 'holding fast' to that which was handed down from our Lord Jesus Christ Himself to the first Apostles James, John, Peter, etc. So then, this English phrase 'holding fast' is translated by the Greek word antechomai meaning to adhere to; by extension to care for: - hold fast, hold to, support. When Paul writes, 'the faithful word', he means the words handed down from the Apostles to Titus and The Word who became flesh and walked among us, that is, the living Word our Lord Jesus Christ. Jude wrote to all of us brothers and sisters in Christ with these words, "Having made all haste to write to you about the common salvation, beloved, I had need to write to you to exhort you to contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints." (Jude 1:3) (MKJV). In other words, the bishop or elder of any Church of Jesus Christ must be a man who believes the Bible is the inerrant, irrefutable, and infallible Word of Almighty God and not be a man wavering and being tossed to and fro with every other wind of doctrine or teaching that questions the infallibility of God's Holy Word (Ephesians 4:14).
Here is what Dr. John Gill had to say about the elder holding fast to the faithful word, "The doctrine of the Gospel, so called because it is true, and to be believed; it is the word of truth, and truth itself, and contains nothing but truth; and because it never deceived any, that gave credit to its doctrines, and its promises; and because it is pure, unmixed, and unadulterated, and is the sincere milk of the word; and because in it is a glorious display of the faithfulness of God to His perfections, to His holiness and justice, to His law, and to His covenant, word, and oath; and of the faithfulness of Christ, to Him that appointed Him and to His covenant engagements, and which has appeared in the discharge of His various offices: and this is not only to be held forth by the elder, but to be held fast, and tenaciously abode by; in opposition to all wavering about it, departure from it, dropping or concealing any part of it, and pusillanimity (contemptible fearfulness) concerning it; whatever temptations there may be to the contrary, through popular applause on the one hand, and reproaches and persecutions on the other; and though there may be many that may endeavour to wring it out of his hands." This holding fast to the faithful word should be as the elder has been taught the Word by faithful men or women who whole heartedly believe God.
This is exactly what Paul wrote to Brother Timothy in both the epistles written to him and in the first epistle Paul said these words to Timothy concerning this matter of adhering to the doctrine he had been taught, "Having suggested these things to the brothers, you shall be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the Words of Faith and by the good doctrine which you have followed." (1 Timothy 4:6) (MKJV), and then he wrote again to him this same concept with these words in the 2nd epistle to him, "But continue in the things that you have learned and have been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from a babe you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus." (2 Timothy 3:14-15) (MKJV). Here is what Albert Barnes had to say about as he hath been taught, "The sense is, according to that doctrine as taught by the inspired teachers of religion. It does not mean as he had individually been taught; but he was to hold the faith as it was delivered by those whom the Saviour had appointed to make it known to mankind. The phrase 'the doctrine,' or 'the teaching,' had a sort of technical meaning, denoting the Gospel as that which had been communicated to mankind, not by human reason, but by teaching."
When Paul writes, 'that he may be able by sound doctrine', he means that which was the truth handed down once and for all to the saints as declared by Jude above in the epistle he wrote. The English word 'sound' is translated by the Greek word hugiainō meaning (as used here) figuratively to be uncorrupt (true in doctrine): The English word 'doctrine' is translated by the Greek word didaskalia meaning instruction (the function or the information): - doctrine, learning, teaching. In other words, the teaching of the bishop or elder must be uncorrupt and holding true to what was handed down from the Apostles (Acts 2:42). The result of this true doctrinal teaching would be that it would positively exhort and comfort every true believer while at the same time it would serve to confute, convict, and convince those who disputed and spoke against the truth of God and the truth of the Gospel. Here is what Matthew Henry had to say on this matter of exhorting by sound doctrine and convincing gainsayers by that same sound doctrine, "To persuade and draw others to the true faith, and to convince the contrary-minded. How should he do this if he himself were uncertain or unsteady, not holding fast that faithful word and sound doctrine which should be the matter of this teaching, and the means and ground of convincing those that oppose the truth? We see here summarily the great work of the ministry - to exhort those who are willing to know and do their duty, and to convince those that contradict, both which are to be done by sound doctrine, that is, in a rational instructive way, by scripture-arguments and testimonies, which are the infallible words of truth, what all may and should rest and be satisfied in and determined by. And thus of the qualifications of the elders whom Titus was to ordain."
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…
Titus 1:9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. KJV
Paul concludes his narrative to Brother Titus about the specific qualifications required by any man to hold the office of bishop or elder in the Church of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ with these words, "Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers." (Titus 1:9) (KJV). The first of the final qualifications for the man who would be appointed to the office of bishop or elder in the Church of the Lord Jesus would be that he would be a man 'holding fast' to that which was handed down from our Lord Jesus Christ Himself to the first Apostles James, John, Peter, etc. So then, this English phrase 'holding fast' is translated by the Greek word antechomai meaning to adhere to; by extension to care for: - hold fast, hold to, support. When Paul writes, 'the faithful word', he means the words handed down from the Apostles to Titus and The Word who became flesh and walked among us, that is, the living Word our Lord Jesus Christ. Jude wrote to all of us brothers and sisters in Christ with these words, "Having made all haste to write to you about the common salvation, beloved, I had need to write to you to exhort you to contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints." (Jude 1:3) (MKJV). In other words, the bishop or elder of any Church of Jesus Christ must be a man who believes the Bible is the inerrant, irrefutable, and infallible Word of Almighty God and not be a man wavering and being tossed to and fro with every other wind of doctrine or teaching that questions the infallibility of God's Holy Word (Ephesians 4:14).
Here is what Dr. John Gill had to say about the elder holding fast to the faithful word, "The doctrine of the Gospel, so called because it is true, and to be believed; it is the word of truth, and truth itself, and contains nothing but truth; and because it never deceived any, that gave credit to its doctrines, and its promises; and because it is pure, unmixed, and unadulterated, and is the sincere milk of the word; and because in it is a glorious display of the faithfulness of God to His perfections, to His holiness and justice, to His law, and to His covenant, word, and oath; and of the faithfulness of Christ, to Him that appointed Him and to His covenant engagements, and which has appeared in the discharge of His various offices: and this is not only to be held forth by the elder, but to be held fast, and tenaciously abode by; in opposition to all wavering about it, departure from it, dropping or concealing any part of it, and pusillanimity (contemptible fearfulness) concerning it; whatever temptations there may be to the contrary, through popular applause on the one hand, and reproaches and persecutions on the other; and though there may be many that may endeavour to wring it out of his hands." This holding fast to the faithful word should be as the elder has been taught the Word by faithful men or women who whole heartedly believe God.
This is exactly what Paul wrote to Brother Timothy in both the epistles written to him and in the first epistle Paul said these words to Timothy concerning this matter of adhering to the doctrine he had been taught, "Having suggested these things to the brothers, you shall be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the Words of Faith and by the good doctrine which you have followed." (1 Timothy 4:6) (MKJV), and then he wrote again to him this same concept with these words in the 2nd epistle to him, "But continue in the things that you have learned and have been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from a babe you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus." (2 Timothy 3:14-15) (MKJV). Here is what Albert Barnes had to say about as he hath been taught, "The sense is, according to that doctrine as taught by the inspired teachers of religion. It does not mean as he had individually been taught; but he was to hold the faith as it was delivered by those whom the Saviour had appointed to make it known to mankind. The phrase 'the doctrine,' or 'the teaching,' had a sort of technical meaning, denoting the Gospel as that which had been communicated to mankind, not by human reason, but by teaching."
When Paul writes, 'that he may be able by sound doctrine', he means that which was the truth handed down once and for all to the saints as declared by Jude above in the epistle he wrote. The English word 'sound' is translated by the Greek word hugiainō meaning (as used here) figuratively to be uncorrupt (true in doctrine): The English word 'doctrine' is translated by the Greek word didaskalia meaning instruction (the function or the information): - doctrine, learning, teaching. In other words, the teaching of the bishop or elder must be uncorrupt and holding true to what was handed down from the Apostles (Acts 2:42). The result of this true doctrinal teaching would be that it would positively exhort and comfort every true believer while at the same time it would serve to confute, convict, and convince those who disputed and spoke against the truth of God and the truth of the Gospel. Here is what Matthew Henry had to say on this matter of exhorting by sound doctrine and convincing gainsayers by that same sound doctrine, "To persuade and draw others to the true faith, and to convince the contrary-minded. How should he do this if he himself were uncertain or unsteady, not holding fast that faithful word and sound doctrine which should be the matter of this teaching, and the means and ground of convincing those that oppose the truth? We see here summarily the great work of the ministry - to exhort those who are willing to know and do their duty, and to convince those that contradict, both which are to be done by sound doctrine, that is, in a rational instructive way, by scripture-arguments and testimonies, which are the infallible words of truth, what all may and should rest and be satisfied in and determined by. And thus of the qualifications of the elders whom Titus was to ordain."
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…
Wednesday, July 31, 2019
Paul's Exhortations & Instructions to Brother Titus Volume 5
Paul Gives the Qualifications for Elders to Brother Titus Part 2
Titus 1:8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; KJV
Paul continues his detailed description to Brother Titus of the qualifications required for any man to hold the office of bishop/elder in the Church of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ beginning with these words, "But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;" (Titus 1:8) (KJV). The English phrase 'a lover of hospitality' is translated by the Greek word philoxenos meaning fond of guests, that is, hospitable: In those days of Christianity, those who served as missionaries and evangelist did not have the convenience of having places like the Holiday Inn or Ramada Inn at their disposal, so instead they relied on the hospitality of other fellow believers in our Lord Jesus Christ to open their homes up to them for accommodations as they traveled about doing the will of God by declaring the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. This did not mean that back then they were to open their homes up for anyone, even if they did not believe the truth of God, for the Apostle John spoke to this matter when he wrote these words to the saints then, and to we saints today and of every era and generation, "If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house, nor speak a greeting to him. For he who speaks a greeting to him is partaker of his evil deeds." (2 John 10-11) (MKJV).
You see the devil can wear camouflage disguising his true nature and his true intentions of hurt and harm with a cloak of sweetness and even kindness, so it behooves the Christian elder to be discerning in this matter of hospitality. Paul was here speaking to Titus about the elders being willing to receive the brethren into their homes even though they were strangers to them that they had never met before. Here is what Matthew Henry had to say concerning this matter of the bishop/elder being a lover of hospitality, "A great and necessary office of love, especially in those times of affliction and distress, when Christians were made to fly and wander for safety from persecution and enemies, or in travelling to and fro where there were not such public houses for reception as in our days, nor, it may be, had many poor saints sufficiency of their own for such uses - then to receive and entertain them was good and pleasing to God. And such a spirit and practice, according to ability and occasion, are very becoming such as should be examples of good works."
The English phrase 'a lover of good men' is translated by the Greek word philagathos (used this one time only in the New Testament) meaning fond of good, that is, a promoter of virtue: - love of good men. In other words, the bishop/elder being a lover of that which is good will naturally want to be in the presence of men who likewise love that which is good. In contrast, he would not want to go to the home of some man who says he belongs to God, but then suggest that they get together with others and conduct a seance or pull out a weji board or go to a fortune teller, etc., for all these things the One True God declares to be abominations to Him (Deuteronomy 18:9-14). The Prophet Amos said this to the people of God, "Seek good and not evil, that you may live; and so Jehovah, the God of Hosts, shall be with you, as you have spoken. Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate. It may be that the Lord Jehovah of Hosts will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph." (Amos 5:14-15) (MKJV). Here is what Albert Barnes had to say about the elder being a lover of good men, "The Greek (philagathos) means, a lover of good, and may apply to any thing that is good. It may refer to good men, as included under the general term good; and there is no more essential qualification of a bishop than this. A man who sustains the office of a minister of the Gospel, should love every good object, and be ever ready to promote it; and he should love every good man, no matter in what denomination or country he may be found - no matter what his complexion, and no matter what his rank in life."
The English word 'sober' is translated by the Greek word sōphrōn which means safe (sound) in mind, that is, self controlled (moderate as to opinion or passion). In other words, the bishop/elder will be required to interact with many different personalities within people in the Church of God and outside the Church of God, therefore, he must be a man with self-restraint and not overcome by angry passion and having the ability to listen to every viewpoint on subject matters (whether he agrees or disagrees) giving people room to voice their opinions. The bishop/elder should be able to think quickly on his feet and be always sound and decisive in his decisions. The English word 'just' is translated by the Greek word dikaios which means equitable (in character or act); by implication innocent. Here is what Dr. John Gill had to say about the elder being just, "Righteous in his dealings with men, giving to everyone their due; upright and sincere in his conversation with the saints; and faithful in his counsel, admonitions, and reproofs."
The English word 'holy' is translated by the Greek word hosios meaning (as used here) properly right (by intrinsic or divine character. The bishop/elder is not holy in his human state or condition, but he is made holy by the cleansing Blood of Christ Jesus our Lord and should therefore then seek to walk in the ways of our Lord Jesus Christ by submitting to the leading of God the Holy Spirit, as the Apostle John wrote with these words which speak to the condition of our walk/fellowship with God the Father, "If we say that we have fellowship with Him and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the Blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His Word is not in us." (1 John 1:6-10) (MKJV). Here is what Matthew Henry says about being holy, "Holy, in what concerns religion; one who reverences and worships God, and is of a spiritual and heavenly conversation."
The English word 'temperate' is translated by the Greek word egkratēs which means (as used here) self controlled (in appetite, etc.). It is a needful thing that a bishop/elder be self-controlled in his appetites concerning material things because he will have opportunity to be in control of a large portion or maybe all of the Churches money which may tempt him to take for his own personal use and gratification. Likewise, he will be in the company of many fine and attractive women in the Church (many who will be the wives of other men) and he will be tempted (by the devil and his corrupt nature) to entice these women into bed, which will require him to show self-control and remove himself from these situations that may lead to adultery and cause damage to an entire family, including children.
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…
Titus 1:8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; KJV
Paul continues his detailed description to Brother Titus of the qualifications required for any man to hold the office of bishop/elder in the Church of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ beginning with these words, "But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;" (Titus 1:8) (KJV). The English phrase 'a lover of hospitality' is translated by the Greek word philoxenos meaning fond of guests, that is, hospitable: In those days of Christianity, those who served as missionaries and evangelist did not have the convenience of having places like the Holiday Inn or Ramada Inn at their disposal, so instead they relied on the hospitality of other fellow believers in our Lord Jesus Christ to open their homes up to them for accommodations as they traveled about doing the will of God by declaring the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. This did not mean that back then they were to open their homes up for anyone, even if they did not believe the truth of God, for the Apostle John spoke to this matter when he wrote these words to the saints then, and to we saints today and of every era and generation, "If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house, nor speak a greeting to him. For he who speaks a greeting to him is partaker of his evil deeds." (2 John 10-11) (MKJV).
You see the devil can wear camouflage disguising his true nature and his true intentions of hurt and harm with a cloak of sweetness and even kindness, so it behooves the Christian elder to be discerning in this matter of hospitality. Paul was here speaking to Titus about the elders being willing to receive the brethren into their homes even though they were strangers to them that they had never met before. Here is what Matthew Henry had to say concerning this matter of the bishop/elder being a lover of hospitality, "A great and necessary office of love, especially in those times of affliction and distress, when Christians were made to fly and wander for safety from persecution and enemies, or in travelling to and fro where there were not such public houses for reception as in our days, nor, it may be, had many poor saints sufficiency of their own for such uses - then to receive and entertain them was good and pleasing to God. And such a spirit and practice, according to ability and occasion, are very becoming such as should be examples of good works."
The English phrase 'a lover of good men' is translated by the Greek word philagathos (used this one time only in the New Testament) meaning fond of good, that is, a promoter of virtue: - love of good men. In other words, the bishop/elder being a lover of that which is good will naturally want to be in the presence of men who likewise love that which is good. In contrast, he would not want to go to the home of some man who says he belongs to God, but then suggest that they get together with others and conduct a seance or pull out a weji board or go to a fortune teller, etc., for all these things the One True God declares to be abominations to Him (Deuteronomy 18:9-14). The Prophet Amos said this to the people of God, "Seek good and not evil, that you may live; and so Jehovah, the God of Hosts, shall be with you, as you have spoken. Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate. It may be that the Lord Jehovah of Hosts will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph." (Amos 5:14-15) (MKJV). Here is what Albert Barnes had to say about the elder being a lover of good men, "The Greek (philagathos) means, a lover of good, and may apply to any thing that is good. It may refer to good men, as included under the general term good; and there is no more essential qualification of a bishop than this. A man who sustains the office of a minister of the Gospel, should love every good object, and be ever ready to promote it; and he should love every good man, no matter in what denomination or country he may be found - no matter what his complexion, and no matter what his rank in life."
The English word 'sober' is translated by the Greek word sōphrōn which means safe (sound) in mind, that is, self controlled (moderate as to opinion or passion). In other words, the bishop/elder will be required to interact with many different personalities within people in the Church of God and outside the Church of God, therefore, he must be a man with self-restraint and not overcome by angry passion and having the ability to listen to every viewpoint on subject matters (whether he agrees or disagrees) giving people room to voice their opinions. The bishop/elder should be able to think quickly on his feet and be always sound and decisive in his decisions. The English word 'just' is translated by the Greek word dikaios which means equitable (in character or act); by implication innocent. Here is what Dr. John Gill had to say about the elder being just, "Righteous in his dealings with men, giving to everyone their due; upright and sincere in his conversation with the saints; and faithful in his counsel, admonitions, and reproofs."
The English word 'holy' is translated by the Greek word hosios meaning (as used here) properly right (by intrinsic or divine character. The bishop/elder is not holy in his human state or condition, but he is made holy by the cleansing Blood of Christ Jesus our Lord and should therefore then seek to walk in the ways of our Lord Jesus Christ by submitting to the leading of God the Holy Spirit, as the Apostle John wrote with these words which speak to the condition of our walk/fellowship with God the Father, "If we say that we have fellowship with Him and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the Blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His Word is not in us." (1 John 1:6-10) (MKJV). Here is what Matthew Henry says about being holy, "Holy, in what concerns religion; one who reverences and worships God, and is of a spiritual and heavenly conversation."
The English word 'temperate' is translated by the Greek word egkratēs which means (as used here) self controlled (in appetite, etc.). It is a needful thing that a bishop/elder be self-controlled in his appetites concerning material things because he will have opportunity to be in control of a large portion or maybe all of the Churches money which may tempt him to take for his own personal use and gratification. Likewise, he will be in the company of many fine and attractive women in the Church (many who will be the wives of other men) and he will be tempted (by the devil and his corrupt nature) to entice these women into bed, which will require him to show self-control and remove himself from these situations that may lead to adultery and cause damage to an entire family, including children.
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…
Wednesday, July 24, 2019
Paul's Exhortations & Instructions to Brother Titus Volume 4
Paul Gives the Qualifications for Elders to Brother Titus Part 1
Titus 1:6-7 If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; KJV
As we finished up with the Apostle Paul's greeting to Brother Titus in the last study/commentary (Volume 3) we declared, determined, and defined the English word 'elders' as being translated by the Greek word presbuteros meaning men of approved Christian reputation, certain ones to be overseers of the Churches in the several cities. Now Paul wants to instruct Brother Titus on what qualifications these men must have in order to serve in our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ Church, therefore, Paul begins with these words, "If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly." (Titus 1:6) (KJV). The declaration by Paul that the man be 'blameless' is his first requirement for an elder and this English word is translated by the Greek word anegklētos meaning unaccused, that is, (by implication) irreproachable: - blameless. In other words, Paul means a man who is not accused of any infamous crimes out in the world in his outward life, for Paul does not mean a sinless Christian man because there is not one anywhere to be found, but he does mean a man that is not known to be of a bad charcter and is even respected by those who are not Christian, even though they might not like him. Here is what Matthew Henry had to say concerning the elder being blameless, "If any be blameless; not absolutely without fault, so none are, for there is none that liveth and sinneth not; nor altogether unblamed, this is rare and difficult. Christ Himself and His Apostles were blamed, though not worthy of it. In Christ there was certainly nothing blamable; and His Apostles were not such as their enemies charged them to be. But the meaning is, he must be one who lies not under an ill character; but rather must have good report, even from those that are without; not grossly or scandalously guilty, so as would bring reproach upon the holy function; he must not be such a one."
When Paul writes here that the elder must be the husband of one wife, he means simply that the Christian man must be married to one woman only and it does not mean that a man who has been divorced could not also be approved as an elder. When Paul writes, 'having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly', he means that his children should be brought up in the faith and that they should show evidence of believing the Gospel of Christ and be children that love, obey, and respect their parents by not being accused of riot or be unruly. The English word 'accused' is translated by the Greek word katēgoria meaning a complaint that is, criminal charge: - accusation. The English word 'riot' is translated by the Greek word asōtia meaning properly unsavedness, that is, (by implication) profligacy, that is, the trait of spending extravagantly and dissolute indulgence in sensual pleasure: - excess, riot. The English word 'unruly' is translated by the Greek word anupotaktos meaning unsubdued, that is, insubordinate (in fact or temper): - disobedient, that is not put under, unruly. Here is what Matthew Henry had to say concerning the elder's children, "And, as to his children, having faithful children, obedient and good, brought up in the true Christian faith, and living according to it, at least as far as the endeavours of the parents can avail. It is for the honour of ministers that their children be faithful and pious, and such as become their religion. Not accused of riot, nor unruly, not justly so accused, as having given ground and occasion for it, for otherwise the most innocent may be falsely so charged; they must look to it therefore that there be no colour for such censure. Children so faithful, and obedient, and temperate, will be a good sign of faithfulness and diligence in the parent who has so educated and instructed them; and, from his faithfulness in the less, there may be encouragement to commit to him the greater, the rule and government of the Church of God."
Paul declares to Titus that this blamelessness must be the case for God's steward as he writes with these words, "For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;" (Titus 1:7) (KJV). The steward or overseer or manager or preacher or governor of God in His Church must not be 'selfwilled' and this English word is translated by the Greek word authadēs meaning self pleasing, that is, arrogant: - self-willed. In other words, the elder or bishop must not want to be named to such an office in the Church of God in order to make a name for himself or to bring pleasure to himself by arrogance, that is, to show himself in a superior manner toward inferiors or to make himself seem important. The Apostle Peter had this to say about those who were selfwilled, "The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptation, and to reserve the unjust for a day of judgment, to be punished, and especially those who walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise dominion. They are darers, self-pleasing; not trembling at glories, speaking evil." (2 Peter 2:9-10) (MKJV). The elder or bishop must also not be 'soon angry' and this little English phrase is translated by the Greek word orgilos (used this one time only in the New Testament) meaning irascible, that is, quickly aroused to anger, hot tempered or short-tempered. Here is what the Proverbs has to say about one who is 'soon angry', "He who is soon angry acts foolishly, and a man of wicked plots is hated." (Proverbs 14:17) (MKJV).
The elder or bishop must not be 'given to wine' and this little English phrase is translated by the Greek word paroinos meaning staying near wine, that is, tippling (a toper, that is, a person who drinks alcoholic beverages (especially to excess)): - given to wine. Here is what the Proverbs warn about wine, "It is not for kings, O Lemuel, not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes to lust for strong drink; lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted." (Proverbs 31:4-5) (MKJV). The elder or bishop must not be a 'striker' and this English word is translated by the Greek word plēktēs meaning a smiter, that is, pugnacious (quarrelsome): that is, he must not be one driven with anger to the point of getting into fights of his own making. It does not mean he should not defend himself if attacked physically. The elder or bishop must not be 'given to filthy lucre' and this little English phrase is translated by the Greek word aischrokerdēs meaning (gain); sordid: - given to (greedy of) filthy lucre, that is, Not greedy of shameful or illegal gain of money. In other words, he should not want the office in order to make the Gospel of Christ a means of making money in excess or shadily or in a manner to trick or swindle people with lies or falsehood. The Apostle Peter said this to the elder or bishop, "I exhort the elders who are among you, I being also an elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed. Feed the flock of God among you, taking the oversight, not by compulsion, but willingly; nor for base gain, but readily; nor as lording it over those allotted to you by God, but becoming examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd shall appear, you shall receive a never-fading crown of glory." (1 Peter 5:1-4) (MKJV).
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…
Titus 1:6-7 If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; KJV
As we finished up with the Apostle Paul's greeting to Brother Titus in the last study/commentary (Volume 3) we declared, determined, and defined the English word 'elders' as being translated by the Greek word presbuteros meaning men of approved Christian reputation, certain ones to be overseers of the Churches in the several cities. Now Paul wants to instruct Brother Titus on what qualifications these men must have in order to serve in our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ Church, therefore, Paul begins with these words, "If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly." (Titus 1:6) (KJV). The declaration by Paul that the man be 'blameless' is his first requirement for an elder and this English word is translated by the Greek word anegklētos meaning unaccused, that is, (by implication) irreproachable: - blameless. In other words, Paul means a man who is not accused of any infamous crimes out in the world in his outward life, for Paul does not mean a sinless Christian man because there is not one anywhere to be found, but he does mean a man that is not known to be of a bad charcter and is even respected by those who are not Christian, even though they might not like him. Here is what Matthew Henry had to say concerning the elder being blameless, "If any be blameless; not absolutely without fault, so none are, for there is none that liveth and sinneth not; nor altogether unblamed, this is rare and difficult. Christ Himself and His Apostles were blamed, though not worthy of it. In Christ there was certainly nothing blamable; and His Apostles were not such as their enemies charged them to be. But the meaning is, he must be one who lies not under an ill character; but rather must have good report, even from those that are without; not grossly or scandalously guilty, so as would bring reproach upon the holy function; he must not be such a one."
When Paul writes here that the elder must be the husband of one wife, he means simply that the Christian man must be married to one woman only and it does not mean that a man who has been divorced could not also be approved as an elder. When Paul writes, 'having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly', he means that his children should be brought up in the faith and that they should show evidence of believing the Gospel of Christ and be children that love, obey, and respect their parents by not being accused of riot or be unruly. The English word 'accused' is translated by the Greek word katēgoria meaning a complaint that is, criminal charge: - accusation. The English word 'riot' is translated by the Greek word asōtia meaning properly unsavedness, that is, (by implication) profligacy, that is, the trait of spending extravagantly and dissolute indulgence in sensual pleasure: - excess, riot. The English word 'unruly' is translated by the Greek word anupotaktos meaning unsubdued, that is, insubordinate (in fact or temper): - disobedient, that is not put under, unruly. Here is what Matthew Henry had to say concerning the elder's children, "And, as to his children, having faithful children, obedient and good, brought up in the true Christian faith, and living according to it, at least as far as the endeavours of the parents can avail. It is for the honour of ministers that their children be faithful and pious, and such as become their religion. Not accused of riot, nor unruly, not justly so accused, as having given ground and occasion for it, for otherwise the most innocent may be falsely so charged; they must look to it therefore that there be no colour for such censure. Children so faithful, and obedient, and temperate, will be a good sign of faithfulness and diligence in the parent who has so educated and instructed them; and, from his faithfulness in the less, there may be encouragement to commit to him the greater, the rule and government of the Church of God."
Paul declares to Titus that this blamelessness must be the case for God's steward as he writes with these words, "For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;" (Titus 1:7) (KJV). The steward or overseer or manager or preacher or governor of God in His Church must not be 'selfwilled' and this English word is translated by the Greek word authadēs meaning self pleasing, that is, arrogant: - self-willed. In other words, the elder or bishop must not want to be named to such an office in the Church of God in order to make a name for himself or to bring pleasure to himself by arrogance, that is, to show himself in a superior manner toward inferiors or to make himself seem important. The Apostle Peter had this to say about those who were selfwilled, "The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptation, and to reserve the unjust for a day of judgment, to be punished, and especially those who walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise dominion. They are darers, self-pleasing; not trembling at glories, speaking evil." (2 Peter 2:9-10) (MKJV). The elder or bishop must also not be 'soon angry' and this little English phrase is translated by the Greek word orgilos (used this one time only in the New Testament) meaning irascible, that is, quickly aroused to anger, hot tempered or short-tempered. Here is what the Proverbs has to say about one who is 'soon angry', "He who is soon angry acts foolishly, and a man of wicked plots is hated." (Proverbs 14:17) (MKJV).
The elder or bishop must not be 'given to wine' and this little English phrase is translated by the Greek word paroinos meaning staying near wine, that is, tippling (a toper, that is, a person who drinks alcoholic beverages (especially to excess)): - given to wine. Here is what the Proverbs warn about wine, "It is not for kings, O Lemuel, not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes to lust for strong drink; lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted." (Proverbs 31:4-5) (MKJV). The elder or bishop must not be a 'striker' and this English word is translated by the Greek word plēktēs meaning a smiter, that is, pugnacious (quarrelsome): that is, he must not be one driven with anger to the point of getting into fights of his own making. It does not mean he should not defend himself if attacked physically. The elder or bishop must not be 'given to filthy lucre' and this little English phrase is translated by the Greek word aischrokerdēs meaning (gain); sordid: - given to (greedy of) filthy lucre, that is, Not greedy of shameful or illegal gain of money. In other words, he should not want the office in order to make the Gospel of Christ a means of making money in excess or shadily or in a manner to trick or swindle people with lies or falsehood. The Apostle Peter said this to the elder or bishop, "I exhort the elders who are among you, I being also an elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed. Feed the flock of God among you, taking the oversight, not by compulsion, but willingly; nor for base gain, but readily; nor as lording it over those allotted to you by God, but becoming examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd shall appear, you shall receive a never-fading crown of glory." (1 Peter 5:1-4) (MKJV).
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…
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)