Words of Life Bible Study Notes: The Letters To Titus and Philemon

WORDS OF LIFE SERIES 27 gracious and merciful plan of saving men and women was no afterthought; it was
part of His eternal purpose – look up John 17:24; 2 Timothy 1:9. It is

BIBLE STUDY NOTES THE LETTERS TO TITUS AND
important to remember that the gospel we love, by which we have been saved and
PHILEMON which we preach, is an eternal gospel – look up Revelation 14:6.
by Francis W. Dixon (2) It is a declared gospel. Paul tells us that this great message has been ‘brought to
light’ by ‘preaching’; in other words, the gospel is committed to us, but we must
Study 1 PAUL’S FIRST WORDS TO TITUS preach it. Paul tells us that he had been faithful in this respect. The gospel has
(Scripture Portion: Titus 1:1-4) been committed to us as a solemn trust and our responsibility is to declare it so that
others may be saved – look up 1 Thessalonians 2:4.
It is almost certain that Paul wrote the three Pastoral Letters in this order: Notice that what Paul is saying about the gospel has its application to us as
1 Timothy, Titus, 2 Timothy. After ministering for a period on Crete, he had left well as to those in Crete to whom Paul first wrote.
Titus behind to consolidate the work and organise the churches. Now, Paul
was on his travels, and as two of his companions (Artemas and Tychicus) were 4. HOW PAUL DESCRIBES THE LORD
to visit Crete, he entrusted them with this letter to Titus. In this first study in In verses 2 and 3 he tells us two particular things about the Lord:-
chapter 1:1-4, Paul gives a five-fold description:- (1) He cannot lie. This is only one of the things God cannot do – look up and compare
John 10:35; 2 Timothy 2:13; James 1:13. Our God never lies – look up 1 Samuel
1. HOW PAUL DESCRIBES HIMSELF 15:29; Hebrews 6:18. He is altogether free from falsehood. This means that every
The first word in the letter is ‘Paul’ – the writer’s name, and he describes himself promise He has ever made – in relation to His children, the church, the Jews, the
in two ways:- world and in relation to eternity – He will fulfil.
(1) ‘A servant of God’. This is characteristic of him – compare Romans 1:1; (2) He is our Saviour. Here we need to compare 1 Timothy 1:1. The most precious
Philippians 1:1. He was ‘a bondman of God’, God’s slave, for God owned him and name we give to our Lord is the name ‘Saviour’, which means ‘Deliverer’. Is He
he owned the Lord as his Master. Paul’s life was totally committed to the Lord; he your Saviour? From what does He save you? Christ is able and willing to save us
was not his own – compare Exodus 21:6 with 1 Corinthians 6:19-20. from the guilt, pollution and power of sin, from worry, anxiety and fear, and at His
(2) ‘An apostle of Jesus Christ’. Here Paul gives us his official authority for the coming again He will save us from the very presence of sin – look up and compare
ministry in which he is engaged. He was ‘a sent one’ – sent by the Lord Himself. 2 Kings 13:5; Psalm 106:21; Isaiah 43:3; 45:21; John 4:42; Acts 5:31; Philippians
Sometimes Paul’s enemies questioned his right to call himself an apostle, but there 3:20; Jude 25.
was no valid ground for such questioning; he was the envoy of Jesus Christ, who Are you rejoicing in the God who cannot lie and in the Lord Jesus Christ as
had entrusted him with the gospel – see verse 3. your own personal and all-sufficient Saviour?
We also, by the grace of God, are servants of God, the sent ones of Jesus
5. HOW PAUL DESCRIBES TITUS
Christ. Do we take our place before the Lord as His slaves and recognise that
We are not told very much about Titus, although he is mentioned in
He has sent us into the world to be His representatives?
2 Corinthians 2:13; 7:6,13,14; 8:6,16,23; Galatians 2:3; 2 Timothy 4:10. In
2. HOW PAUL DESCRIBES CHRISTIANS Titus 1:4 we are told that:-
Here again he gives us a two-fold description in verse 1:- (1) Titus was Paul’s child. He refers to him as ‘my son’. Paul was his spiritual father.
(1) ‘God’s elect’. Paul rejoiced in the doctrine of Election – compare Romans 8:33; We do not know where Titus was converted; possibly it was in Iconium, though we
Colossians 3:12; 2 Timothy 2:10; 1 Thessalonians 1:4; 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Peter cannot be sure. Perhaps Titus did not know the time and place of his conversion;
1:10 – a difficult doctrine to understand but very precious to us. It was true of the many Christians do not, but they do know they are the Lord’s – see 2 Timothy 1:12.
Christians in the first century that they were ‘God’s elect’; it is true also today of (2) Titus was Paul’s genuine child. The words ‘my true son’ quite literally mean ‘my
every real Christian. Are you rejoicing in this truth? genuine’ child, or ‘my true’ child. Titus was not a nominal Christian as so many are
(2) Believers. The expression ‘the faith of God’s elect’ indicates that Christians are today – look up 2 Timothy 3:5. Is it possible that you are only a nominal Christian?
believers, men and women of faith. We are saved by believing – look up John 3:16;
All this may and should be true of us. Are we really the children of God? – look
5:24; Acts 16:30-31; Romans 1:6; but faith, believing, trust in God is also the
principle by which we are to live. We are to have faith not only for justification but up John 1:12. Have we been born again? – look up John 3:5.
also for the supply of our needs and for the sufficiency of God’s grace – look up 2 In concluding this study carefully consider the beautiful and prayerful greeting
Corinthians 9:8. Is our faith as comprehensive as this? that Paul sends to his son Titus in the last part of verse 4.
3. HOW PAUL DESCRIBES THE GOSPEL WORDS OF LIFE MINISTRIES
Again he gives us a two-fold description in verses 2 and 3:- PO Box 334, EASTLEIGH, SO53 2UB, UK
(1) It is the eternal gospel. The good news of the gospel is the offer of eternal life, www.wordsoflife.co.uk
and verse 2 tells us that God promised this before the beginning of time. God’s

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WORDS OF LIFE SERIES 27 gracious and merciful plan of saving men and women was no afterthought; it was

part of His eternal purpose – look up John 17:24; 2 Timothy 1:9. It is

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