Inductive Study: Titus 1:9

holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.

Titus 1:9

Dear Heavenly Father, please speak to me today so I can continue to grow in the love and knowledge of You.  Let this passage permeate my heart and help to live by it.  In Jesus's name I pray, Amen.

We are in the body portion of the letter which focuses on doctrine and encouragement.  In verse 9, Paul continues to outline requirements for elders.  To bring deeper understanding to today's text, let's examine some key words and their companion or similar verses.

"Holding fast" in the Greek is antecho which means hold against, hold firmly, cleave to, to keep one directly opposite to anyone, endure, withstand, hold back, devoted.  2 Thessalonians 2:13-15 states "But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle."  1 Timothy1:15 states "This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief." 2 Timothy 1:13 states "Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus."

"Faithful Word" in the Greek is made of two words, pistos which means reliable, trustworthy, believing, worthy of trust, can be relied on and logos which means embodying an idea, statement, speech, expressing the thoughts of the Father through the Spirit, message.  Therefore, "Faithful Word" means the reliable, trustworthy message of Father God told through the Holy Spirit.  Elders must cleave and be devoted to the trustworthy message of the Gospel that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.

"Taught" in the Greek is didache which means doctrine, teaching, reliable time honored teaching, summarized body of respected teaching, instruction.  Elders keep firmly the doctrine taught by respected teachers.

"Able" in the Greek is dunatos which means strong, mighty, powerful, made possible by the power exerted, mighty in wealth and influence, strong in soul, to be able to do something.  By embracing the Gospel, elders are mighty in power, wealth and influence.

"Sound Doctrine" in the Greek is made of two words, hugiano which means healthy, reasonable, pure, uncorrupted, good working order, free from debilitation, true, in corrupt and didaskalia which means instruction, teaching, precepts, rule to regulate behavior or thought.  Therefore, "Sound Doctrine" means reasonable, uncorrupted rules to regulate behavior and thought.  1 Timothy 1:10 states "for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine."

"Exhort" in the Greek is parakaleo which means to call to or for, encourage, admonish, comfort, console, offering up evidence that stands up in God's court, instruct, teach, beseech, ask urgently and fervently.  "Convict" in the Greek is elegcho which means expose, reprove, rebuke, discipline, show to be guilty, to convince with solid compelling evidence, bring light to, expose false teachers.  "Contradict" in the Greek is antilego which means speak against, oppose, resist, voicing opposition in a hostile argumentative way, dispute in order to thwart, deny.  With quality instruction of uncorrupted rules to regulate behavior and thought and the Good News, an elder has the fervent power to present solid, truthful, compelling evidence that thwarts and exposes false teachers.

At the end of each Bible Study blog, I add the Amplified Bible text for the study's Scripture.  The Amplified Bible is based on the American Standard Version (ASV), but references various texts in original languages to deepen the understanding and meaning for the Scripture.  I use the Amplified Bible to compare and confirm the word studies done for the Scripture. 

For today's verse, the Amplified Bible confers to me a different meaning than from the New King James version (NKJV).  From the NKJV as with the Amplified Bible, an elder has been taught the faithful, trustworthy message from God.  However in the NKJV, the text shows by this teaching, the elder can dispute and expose false teachers.  The Amplified relays the same thought, but adds that the elder also gives "accurate instruction in sound [reliable, error-free] doctrine."  An elder is a teacher.

In previous verses, Paul outlines the elder's characteristics both internal and external, but we haven't touched on what an elder does.  In this verse, Paul begins to describe the tasks of an elder.  An elder is a teacher and a lawyer.  He will instruct people in the same Gospel and doctrines that were taught to him.  He will also prosecute the Gospel to uncover, reveal misleading, corrupt teaching that could lead people away from the true message.  To have power to teach and prosecute, an elder must be bathed and immersed in God's Word.  So, no matter how difficult the entrapments and busyness of the world can be, you must diligently study and learn from the Bible, God's Word, everyday.

He must hold firmly to the trustworthy word [of God] as it was taught to him, so that he will be able both to give accurate instruction in sound [reliable, error-free] doctrine and to refute those who contradict [it by explaining their error].

Amplified Bible

W.O.R.D. Worksheet

Inductive Study: Titus 1:8

but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled,

Titus 1:8

Dear Heavenly Father, I praise You and thank You for my forgiveness through Christ.  Please help navigate through all the conflict in my life.  No matter how hard I try to be fair and just and accommodating, some people are never satisfied, thankful, or appreciative.  Help me to stay true to You.  Help me not be discouraged.  In Jesus's name I pray, Amen.

We are in the body portion of the letter which focuses on doctrine and encouragement.  In verse 8, Paul continues to outline requirements for elders.    To bring deeper understanding to today's text, let's examine some key words and their companion or similar verses.

"Hospitable" in the Greek is philoxenos which means loving strangers, generous to guests, fond of guests.  This word is only used three times in the New Testament.  "Lover of what is good" in the Greek is philagathos which means loving that which is good, personal affection for what is intrinsically good.  It is made from the word philos, friend, and agathos, inherently good.  This word only appears in Titus.

"Sober-minded" in the Greek is sophron which means sound mind, temperate, chaste, modest, safe because moderated, a man who doesn't command himself but rather is commanded by God, curbing one's desires and impulses.  This word is used four times in the New Testament only when describing elders and older men in the church.  "Just" in the Greek is dikaios which means correct, righteous, by implication innocent, just in the eyes of God, the elect, approved by God, innocent, observing divine and human laws, faultless, guiltless, passing just judgement on others.

"Holy" in the Greek is hosios which means righteous, pious, beloved by God, accords with divine truth and hence deserves respect.  "Self-controlled" in the Greek is egkrates which means strong, master of, mastered from within, temperance, controlling, curbing, restraining.  1 Corinthians 9:25 states "And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown."  Temperate in this verse is the same as self-control used in Titus.

An elder must be fond and generous to guests, love strangers, have personal affection for what is inherently and intrinsically good, curb one’s desires and impulses, observe divine and human laws, accord with divine truth hence deserves respect, and be master of temperance  and restraint. An elder must be one with God’s moral code which can only happen if indwelled by the Holy Spirit.

Galatians 5:22-23 states “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.”  John 16:7-8 states "Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment."  God's Helper, the Holy Spirit, enables a believer to be this hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled man.  An elder must be a believer in Jesus Christ.

And he must be hospitable [to believers, as well as strangers], a lover of what is good, sensible (upright), fair, devout, self-disciplined [above reproach—whether in public or in private].

Amplified Bible

W.O.R.D. Worksheet

Inductive Study: Titus 1:7

For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money,

Titus 1:7

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for an awesome men's conference this weekend.  I know that I've learned a lot.  I hope the rest of the men did as well.  Please Lord work in those men's lives that are feeling the conviction of the Holy Spirit.  Please continue to be with my family.  Lord, thank you for Your grace, I'm so unworthy.  Please be with me on my study.  In Jesus's name I pray, Amen.

We are in the body portion of the letter which focuses on doctrine and encouragement.  In verse 7, Paul continues to outline requirements for elders.  To bring deeper understanding to today's text, let's examine some key words and their companion or similar verses.

"Bishop" in the Greek is episkopos which means superintendent, overseer, supervisor, ruler, a man called by God to keep his eye on the church, care and protection, responsible to care for others, curator, guardian.  It is made of the word epi which means on or fitting contact which is intensified by the word skopos which means look intently.  A bishop passionately watches over the church.  A bishop is a guardian, protector, defender, champion, keeper of the faith.

"Blameless" in the Greek is anegkletos which means not to be called in account, unreproveable, irreproachable, not convictable when a person is properly scrutinized.  When all the eyes of the world attempt to tear apart the life of a bishop, the world cannot find a shred of sensational gossip or crime.

"Steward" in the Greek is oikonomos which means manager of a household, guardian, head and master of Christian theocracy.  It is made up of the word oikos which means household and nemo which means to allot or apportion.  Luke 12:42 states "And the Lord said, “Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season?"  1 Corinthians 4:1 states "Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God." 1 Peter 4:10 states "As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God." A bishop is a custodian of the mysteries of God (God's plan) and the many different ways that God shows us His grace and mercy.  His responsibility and duty is to manage God's household.

"Self-willed" in the Greek is authades which means self pleasing, self satisfied, arrogant, exaggerated sense of one's importance or abilities, stubborn, fixed in self pleasure, self interest.  It is made of the word auto which means self and hedomai which is to gratify self or be indulgent.  Hedomai is where we get the word hedonism which means a school of thought that argues that the pursuit of pleasure and intrinsic goods are the primary or most important goals of human life.  2 Peter 2:10 states "and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. They are presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries."  A bishop cannot be consumed in the pursuit and lust of pleasure which is an empty promise of fulfillment.

"Quick-tempered" in the Greek is orgilos which means inclined to anger, passionate, prone to anger, harbor resentment, prejudice, bitterness, nurturing long standing anger.  This word only appears in Titus.  A bishop cannot be bitter, resentful, inclined to anger.  A bishop cannot be easily baited by the world. 

"Given to wine" in the Greek is paroinos which means drunken, quarrelsome, addicted to wine, one who sits long at his wine, quarrelsome over wine, brawling, abusive, staying near wine.  This gives a picture of not only displacing the Holy Spirit with alcohol but someone whose alcoholic trip turns them abusive, angry, and confrontational.

"Violent" in the Greek is plektes which means a striker, contentious person, brawler, pugnacious, eager or quick to argue/quarrel/fight, causing or likely to cause an argument, bruiser, ready with a blow.  This is a person whose first inclination when the world attacks them is to attack back physically immediately without thought.

"Greedy for money" in the Greek is aischrokerdes which means greedy for base gain, fond of base gain, sordid gain, distaste and contemptable gain, eager for base gain, greedy for filthy lucre (money gained in a dishonorable way).  1 Timothy 3:8 states " Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money."  1 Peter 5:2 states "Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly."  This person not only loves money but is willing to get money any way possible even if it is dishonorably.

Based on this verse, you may think being  bishop is unattainable.  Let's look at the requirements at a different angle.  Fathers think of the man your daughter will marry.  Think of minimum requirements that you expect for the man who will be taking your little girl away.  You would want this man to not be a criminal, not be lustful for pleasure any way he can get it, not abusive, not an alcoholic, and not have money as his god.  You'd want him to be your daughter's guardian and protector of her heart.  As father, this doesn't seem unreasonable.  God is no different.  A bishop is the caretaker of the church, the bride of Christ.  These requirements should be expected.  The church must demand nothing less.

For the overseer, as God’s steward, must be blameless, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not violent, not greedy for dishonest gain [but financially ethical].

Amplified Bible

W.O.R.D. Worksheet