Each year I decide how I will read the Bible for the rest of the year. I have usually either used a daily devotional with associated passages or have read through the entire Bible. Some of my favorite devotionals have been Strength for Today by John MacArthur and Truth for Life by Alistair Begg. I have also found chronological one-year Bible reading plans to provide a useful perspective on Old Testament books of prophecy.
In 2023 I learned about the immersion Bible study plan that involves reading each book of the Bible 30 times before moving to a new book, as described by John MacArthur. The book How to Eat Your Bible describes a variation of the immersion Bible study plan. Since the plan in this book varied in intensity from year to year, I decided to alter the immersion plan to be more consistent in intensity month by month, and I am planning to read approximately 8 chapters per day and finishing these chapters after reading them 30 times. Sometimes this will plan involve repeating 4 chapters twice per day.
For the first half of January 2024 I have been reading Titus and Philemon twice daily for the 8 chapters per day. I am writing this post to summarize the key themes that I captured while reading through Titus.
Context. The Apostle Paul addressed this letter to his child in the faith Titus who was serving in Crete. Titus was written between AD 62-64 while Paul was in Macedonia between his two imprisonments [1]. One of Paul’s main motivations for Titus is to direct Titus to appoint elders in all the towns that meet the qualifications Paul provides. He also provides instruction for men and women and believers in general.
Key Themes. Paul begins this letter highlighting how he is writing Titus for the faith of God’s elect and for their knowledge of truth according to godliness. The themes of truth and godliness are consistent themes throughout the book. Paul describes the truth Titus should teach in contrast to deception of rebellious men teaching for gain. Paul describes applications of godliness and emphasizes that believers are saved, not by good works, but unto good works. Paul highlights God’s trustworthy promise of eternal life that provides hope as a repeating theme.
Paul provides several key motivations for modeling the character traits of godliness that he provides. Christians should live in a way that the word of God is not slandered. Those who oppose the gospel should be put to shame have nothing bad to say about Christians’ behavior. We are waiting for the blessed hope of the Second Coming of Christ and also looking forward to being heirs of eternal life.
Titus 1. My pastor has said that Christian men should be preparing themselves to be ready to be elders in a church. The elders whom Titus would appoint would have demonstrated these qualities already prior to Paul’s letter. These qualities include: being above reproach (repeated twice), the husband of one wife, children who are believers not accused of debauchery or rebellion. Paul lists qualities defined by their negatives: not arrogant, not quick-tempered, not a drunk, not violent, and not greedy. Then Paul lists positive qualities: hospitable, loving good, self-controlled, disciplined, righteous, and holy.
Paul then says to silence rebellious men who are teaching and deceiving for dishonest gain. The nature of this teaching involved Jewish myths and commandments of men. These men professed to know God but denied him and were unfit for any good work. Later in Chapter 2, Paul says Titus should speak what accords to sound doctrine in contrast to the rebellious men. We see the theme of teaching truth.
Titus 2. One of the key themes of Titus 2 are the good works believers perform. Paul says to be a model of good works and zealous for good works. Paul also repeats the command to be dignified, self-controlled, and not drunken multiple times.
Paul gives commands for older men, older women, younger women, and younger men. Paul gives commands for older men: to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. Paul’s commands for older women are to be reverent in behavior and not slanderers or addicted to wine. He says older women have a special calling to train younger women: to love their husband and children, be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their husbands that the word of God not be slandered. He urges younger men to be self-controlled. Clearly the theme of self-control is an important one that appears in his commands for all four groups. Many of these qualities like being self-controlled, not drunken, sober-minded and reverent are not gender-specific, apart from the gender roles Paul describes.
Paul also provides commands for slaves in order to adorn the doctrine of God our savior. The commands for slaves applies generally to all employees but directly to slaves in the Roman Empire who were owned by their masters [1]. Scholars estimate 20-30% of the Roman subjects were slaves by the early Empire. Slaves were to be subject to their masters, pleasing, not contradicting, and demonstrating good faith.
Finally Paul shifts from practical application to theology.
- The grace of God brings salvation to people of all nations and instructs us to deny ungodliness and to live self-controlled, righteously, and godly. This grace is meant to make believers a new creation, not easybelievism.
- Believers are to look forward to the second coming of Christ.
- Christ gave up his earthly life to redeem the elect from lawlessness and to purify the elect as His own possession, zealous for good works.
Titus 3. Paul provides more application regarding believer’s behavior to government and factious behavior and dissension in the church. Paul also provides more theology on the nature of man before salvation and the nature of salvation. Despite the emphasis on good works, Paul clarifies that works of righteous (i.e. good works) do not save anyone.
Paul commands believes to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient and ready for every good work, to slander no one, to be peaceable, considerate, demonstrating gentleness to all. Paul’s commands are convicting for the American church when we consider how we approach politics and even political discussions among family and friends. Politics in America is nothing if not pugnacious and stirring up roughness, not gentleness, among neighbors.
Paul also address strife in the church. He says to avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, strife, and conflicts about the Law, which are worthless. He describes the church discipline process of giving two warnings to factious people in the church before rejecting them out of the church.
- Paul reminds Titus the nature of men before Christ: foolish, disobedient, deceived, lustful, malicious, envious, despicable, and hating others.
- Then God’s kindness and affection appeared in Jesus our Savior.
- Jesus saved us according to His mercy and not man’s works of righteousness. We are justified by His grace.
- This salvation occurred through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit.
- Jesus poured out the Holy Spirit richly on believers.
- We can look forward in hope to being heirs of eternal life.
Paul concludes the letter saying that “our people” or believers in their church and ministry should lead in good works to meet pressing needs, and this is characteristic of being a fruitful Christian.
- The MacArthur Bible Commentary