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Commentary
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 Titus Chapter 1 Paul opens this epistle with the assurance that he is an apostle according to the one faith acknowledging the truth which pursues godliness in the example of Jesus Christ. (v1) That the example is in hope of eternal life that God purposed for all men from before the creation of the world - which is the purpose of our redemption in Christ. (v2) But as now befits the times, has made true His promise through the preached gospel of grace which is given to Paul according to the commandment upon him by Christ. (v3) Paul then greets Titus with an allusion to the trinity. After the common faith, grace (of the Holy Spirit) and mercy (of the Father) and peace (In the truth of the obedience of the Son and His resurrection). (v4) Paul had left Titus in Crete to correct any lack of the ministry towards the edification of the believers there, and to appoint elders in every city as Titus had been himself appointed by Paul. (v5) Paul lists conditions to be fulfilled should any man wish to be appointed an overseer; That they be blameless, without ill repute , married once, kleeping control of their own households. (v6) For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God - Paul makes this mention because the steward is given judgment over the things of the household - the body of Christ. He must be sober in judgment, hearing all sides, not behaving lewdly or base, not given to the pursuit of money. (v7) But to find joy in extending hospitality to the arrival of new believers and apostles etc, from elsewhere - a lover of all obedient men - showing even handedness to all, whether under judgement or blameless insight. (v8) He must be well versed in the faith and scriptures that he might be able to correct as well as lay to rest any contention of those that would seek preeminence amongst the believers there. (v9) For there are many believers that talk vain doctrine decieving the faithful, especially those who are of the jews (v10) who must be reproved - since they lead away backward whole families teaching vain words that are not the true gospel in order to be approved of men concerning their appearance only, and also for the gain of money. (v11) One of their own once was witnessed to say that all cretans are liars, evil beasts and slow bellies - full of contradiction. (perhaps useless eaters?) (v12) So they deserve rebuke (v13) so that those households will remain sound in the faith instead of being led away. That they be not swayed to jewish myth concerning salvation and doctrines made of their false gospel - conformed in the likeness of their own requirements. (v14) To the obedient in the faith all commandments of the law are pure and good, but to them that are defiled with a false faith, nothing of the law is good - as their conscience evidences (v15) It evidences in their minds, because they say they know God, but by their vain flatteries of God under justification by works aside from the gospel they show they know Him not - denying His grace and His true nature towards them, being shown to be outside the bride of Christ, reserved to disobedience and under judgment, that their every proselytising work is reprobate. (v16) We see how the gospel of grace is fulfilled wholly by the person of Jesus Christ - and not by our own imperfect keeping of the law. Jesus has become the intercessor for us before the father - showing that perfect behaviour is possible, and under the grace of God and the ministry of the Holy Spirit we will eventually be conformed into the same obedience, if we are willing. In this way, Christ is become the offered up ransom for our continuing salvation before God - being evidence of debt to the law paid, rather than transfer of guilt. By going backwards and approaching the salvation of God as by works after the manner of the old testament, the diminished work of Christ is made to be an incomplete ransom. By not approaching God with faith, the truth is not acknowledged according to godliness, which was the opening word of Paul's epistle concerning the truth. Likewise, these deceivers do not transfer the apostolic authority that comes with the correct doctrine and edification of the faith of believers in their teaching. They do not posses the principal element of the ultrafilter shown in the "Liberty, Faith and Authority" section of the metaphysics area of the site. They do not have the authority of God to correct each other to a subset of Christ's example of godliness from believer to believer, but fashion their own set without the principal generating element, and leaven the set of the believers in Crete; (as they had almost everywhere back then) so as to bring a snare and a trap upon the faithful. Thus going backward to the law does indeed defile the conscience, for through the relating of leavened doctrine, no apostolic authority is present. |
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