Inductive Study: Titus 1:3

but has in due time manifested His word through preaching, which was committed to me according to the commandment of God our Savior;

Titus 1:3

Dear Heavenly Father, as I close out the last full week of Bible study in 2018, help me to stay focused on Your Word and let It instruct and encourage me.  Help me to stay consistent in 2019.  Help me to manage my time wisely and not get distracted by the trappings of the world.  Lord, you are awesome.  Thank you for a wonderful family and an incredible Savior!  In Jesus's name I pray, Amen.

This verse is still in the "Sender" part of the letter.  Paul briefly describes his calling. To bring deeper understanding to today's text, let's examine some key words and their companion or similar verses.

"Due time" in the Greek is kairos which means time, season, opportunity, occasion, time as an opportunity, the suitable time, the right moment, favorable moment, the time when things are brought to a crisis, decisive epoch waited for.  1 Timothy 2:5-6 states "For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time."  "Manifested" in the Greek is phaneroo which means to make visible, make clear, make plain, graspable, known what is hidden or unknown, God giving instructions through preachers of the Gospel.  The root word is phos which means light.  When the opportunity arrived at the determined moment of time, God revealed what was hidden or unknown.

"Word" in the Greek is logos which means embodying an idea, statement, divine utterance, analogy, comparison of two things for the purpose of explanation, expressing the thoughts of the Father through the Spirit, sharing a message, doctrine concerning attainment through Christ of salvation in the kingdom of God.  It is from the word, lego, which means speaking to conclusion.  "Preaching" in the Greek is kerugma which means proclamation, heralding the Gospel - especially the fundamentals (life, death, resurrection), the announcement of salvation procured by Christ and to be had through Him.  Romans 10:14 states "How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?"  God revealed his thoughts through the Holy Spirit by the heralding of the fundamentals of life; Christ's life, death, and resurrection.

"Committed" in the Greek is pisteuo which means believe, entrust, have faith in, trust in, persuading oneself to affirm God, have confidence, to think to be true.  "According" in the Greek is kata which means down, against, throughout, day-by-day, by the way of, bring down exactly, complete, righteousness proceeding from faith.  "Commandment" in the Greek is epitage which means instruction, order, authority, an order that arranges things so they build on each other to achieve the needed goal, stresses the authoritativeness of the command, injunction, authoritative warning or order, mandate.  Commandment is made up of the words epi (suitably on) and tasso (arrange).  1 Timothy 1:1 states "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the commandment of God our Savior and the Lord Jesus Christ, our hope."  This preaching persuaded Paul to acknowledge and affirm God by faith by the authoritative order of God our Savior.

Let's examine how Paul started his ministry.  At first, as Saul, he persecuted and jailed the believers.  It was when he was traveling Damascus that Jesus appeared to him.  Paul became blind.  Acts 9:10-15 states:

Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, “Ananias.”

And he said, “Here I am, Lord.”

So the Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.”

Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.”

But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”

Paul was chosen, commanded to spread the story of Jesus Christ to the whole world, "which was committed to me according to the commandment of God our Savior."  What are we called to do?  What is our purpose in life?  Do other people know what we believe in?  Do they know what drives us?  Life isn’t supposed to be watching but doing.  Our culture drives us to watch. We first watched live performances, then listened to the radio, then watched TV’s, then used our computers, and now we are attached to our phones.  There is more entertainment content in the world today than ever.  There is not enough time in one's life to watch all the shows on networks or streaming services alone.  We are watching our lives pass by. We need to be doing. We need to aspire. 

People often struggle with their life objective. The carnal boils it down to procreation. The sinful world places it on happiness.  This leaves us empty and unfulfilled. That is by design, God’s design. We will forever long for direction and be unsatisfied chasing the next distraction (e.g. all the entertainment we have now) or high (e.g. legalize marijuana). This emptiness is a life without God. 

Paul directed his life to remove a “false” religion to attain higher political position.  God brings him to his knees to show his need for a Savior. God called Paul to spread the Gospel.  Our purpose is no different. Tell the story:  the fundamentals (Christ’s life, death, and resurrection). Live the life: Like Christ, devoted to God, humble, loving people.  You don’t need to be driven to your knees. Have purpose, believe Christ.

and at the appointed time has made known His word and revealed it as His message, through preaching, which was entrusted to me according to the command of God our Savior—

Amplified Bible

W.O.R.D. Worksheet

Inductive Study: Titus 1:2

in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began,

Titus 1:1

Dear Heavenly Father,  this is the week before we celebrate God coming down to earth, wrapping himself in flesh to do what was planned before time began.  The humility of Christ is so overwhelming.  I can get so wrapped up in myself and my circumstances.  I pray that you remind me everyday my need for you.  I pray  that reminding won't have to be the "hard way."  Please keep me humble and hungry for your Word.  Thank you.  You are so wonderful.  In Jesus's name I pray, Amen.

This verse is still in the "Sender" part of the letter.  Paul continues to describe his belief and commitment to Christ.  To bring deeper understanding to today's text, let's examine some key words and their companion or similar verses.

"Hope" in the Greek is elpis which means expectation, trust, confidence, expectation of what is sure, certain, joyful and confident expectation of eternal salvation.  It is from the root word, elpo, which means to anticipate, welcome. 

"Eternal" in the Greek is aionios which means age long, unending, partaking of a character of that which lasts for an age - as contrast with that which is brief and fleeting, operates simultaneously outside of time/inside of time/beyond time,  without beginning or end, never ceasing, infinity.  "Life" in the Greek is zoe which means both physical and spiritual existence, the vital life, living soul, life real and genuine.  2 Timothy 1:1 states "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus."  Hebrews 9:15 states "And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance."  In hope, we welcome certain, joyful, confident expectation of unending, never ceasing genuine salvation, an eternal inheritance of the redemption of our sins.

"Cannot lie" in the Greek is apseudes which means free from falsehood, not guilty of falsehood, truthful, without lie.  The root word is pseudos with means falsehood, untruth, lie.  Pseudos is where we get psuedo in the English which means not genuine; spurious or sham.  By placing the negative participle "a,"  the word is changed to "not lie."  This word is only used in Titus.  Numbers 23:19 states "God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?"  2 Timothy 2:13 states "If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself."  Hebrews 6:18 states "that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us."

"Promised" in the Greek is epaggelllomai which means to proclaim, profess, declare a promise that is fitting (apt), making a claim, to announce, to promise of one's own accord, to voluntarily engage.  Romans 1:2 states "which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures."

"Before" in the Greek is pro which means in front of, of time, earlier than, prior.  "Time" in the Greek is chronos which means a particular time, season, succession of moments, duration in the physical space world, time in sequence, long ages, before times, eternal times during something that occurs.  2 Timothy 1:9 states "who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began."  God, who is forever truthful, proclaims His promise of life before time began.  This is accomplished by God not by anything that we do.

"I promise."  That phrase is so easy for us to say.  We start using it nearly at the beginning of life, "I promise mommy, I didn't do it."  "Promise" in English means assure someone that one will definitely do, give, or arrange something; undertake or declare that something will happen.  Synonyms of the word are give one's word, swear, pledge, vow, undertake, guarantee, assure, swear/take an oath, covenant. 

While we may not always take a promise seriously or just use the word to placate someone, God keeps His promises.  He is always faithful to His Word.  There are many promises in the Bible, but let's just examine a few that might match our text.  2 Chronicles 7:14 states "if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land."  This promise is clarified and reinforced in the New Testament as well.  Acts 17:30 (New Living Translation) states "God did not remember these times when people did not know better. But now He tells all men everywhere to be sorry for their sins and to turn from them."  Luke 13:3 states "I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish." 1 John 1:9 states "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Paul bases his hope for salvation on what God promised before time existed.   If we aren't sorry about our wrong doings, our crimes against God, we will die.  It all starts with faith.  The belief that Christ is God, lived the perfect life, took the punishment for our crimes on the cross, and rose to life.  There is no one good, no not one.  We need a lawyer to mediate for our crimes before God.  Jesus is that savior.  Believe on Him and live, else you will perish.  You will suffer death, typically in a violent, sudden, or untimely way.  Choose life, choose Christ.

based on the hope and divine guarantee of eternal life, [the life] which God, who is ever truthful and without deceit, promised before the ages of time began,

Amplified Bible

W.O.R.D. Worksheet

Inductive Study: Titus 1:1

Paul, a bondservant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect and the acknowledgment of the truth which accords with godliness,

Titus 1:1

Dear Heavenly Father, please help me to study Your Word.  Help me to remove the distractions and concentrate on Your message.  Please be with me and my family as we gather together to celebrate Your birth.  Thank You for everything You have given us.  In Jesus's name I pray, Amen.

As we have discussed before, most letters written in the New Testament are written in the Epistle style.  This style is structured in the following format:

• Sender
• Recipient
• Opening
• Body (focuses on doctrine, encouragement)
• Conclusion/Farewell

Not all letters have every part of this format, but it is a good guide on how they created their letters.  These epistles were personal correspondence between the writer and his audience.  They were an opportunity to educate the audience, convey information, answer a problem, and/or provide encouragement.  This verse details the sender of the letter.  To bring deeper understanding to today's text, let's examine some key words and their companion or similar verses.

"Bondservant" in the Greek is doulos which means slave, someone who belongs to another without any ownership rights of their own, bondslave, willingly living under Christ's authority as His devoted followers, one who gives himself up wholly to another's will.

"Apostle" in the Greek is apostolos which means messenger, personally chosen representative, one sent on mission, envoy, delegate, one commissioned by another to represent him in some way, sent by Jesus Himself to preach the Gospel, the 12 disciples that Christ selected.  2 Corinthians 1:1 states "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother."

"According" in the Greek is kata which means down, against, throughout, day by day, from a higher to a lower plane, with regard to. 

"Faith" in the Greek is pistis which means belief, trust, confidence, fidelity, be persuaded, gift from God, involves belief but goes beyond believing because it involves the in-working of God.  James 2:19 states "You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!"

"Elect" in the Greek is eklektos which means chose out, choice, those chosen by God for the rending of special services to Him, selected especially as a deeply personal choice, people who follow the Lord, chosen by God to receive salvation through Christ.

"Acknowledgement" in the Greek is epignosis which means recognition, knowledge of a particular point, perception, discernment, intuition, first hand experiential knowledge, precise and correct knowledge.  1 Timothy 2:4 states "who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth."

"Godliness" in the Greek is eusebeia which means piety, devotion, reverent, inner response to God showing reverence, respect.  It is from the words eu which means well and sebomai which means venerate, pay homage.  1 Timothy 6:3 states "If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness."

Paul describes himself as belonging to God with no ownership rights to his own life or existence.  Further, he states that he was personally chosen by Christ to preach the Gospel, salvation through Jesus.  Paul has the confidence in the fact and reality of God with his whole life.  Paul is "all in."  His passion, his desire, his belonging is all focused on Christ and doing his work.  Paul shows his humility by declaring himself as a slave of Christ.  In this first verse, Paul describes his life.  He exists to serve humanity by sharing Christ and demonstrating the Christ-like life.

What is our purpose?  Do our actions reflect who we aspire to be?  We are not perfect.  We will fail, but we need to continuously strive to be better, better than we were, and better than we are.  The first step in that journey is to realize it's not all about you.  Everything is about Christ.  Once you learn that, your direction will become clear and simple.  Be better, live for Christ.

Paul, a bond-servant of God and an apostle (special messenger, personally chosen representative) of Jesus Christ, for the faith of God’s chosen ones and [to lead and encourage them to recognize and pursue] the knowledge of the truth which leads to godliness,

Amplified Bible

W.O.R.D. Worksheet