Set in Order – Titus 1:1-9
When you pick up a book of the Bible, where do you start? You should first start by reading the whole letter at one time (It took me less than five minutes to read the whole letter). You would really want to read it four or five times in order to get the flow of the book or letter and get a feel for the discussion.
Let us take the letter of Paul to Titus as an example, as we begin a study on Fridays from that letter. In the process of reading, ask yourself these questions:
What type of literature is it? From the beginning of the book (1:1-4) and the end of the book (3:12-15), we can observe that it is a letter. Secondly, who is speaking? The apostle Paul (1:1) is the author of the letter. At this point, we are simply observing what the text says. Paul also identifies himself as a “bond-servant” (NASV) of God and an “apostle” of Jesus Christ. When we ask the question, why does he call himself a bond-servant and an apostle, then we move into the area of interpretation.
When you read the whole letter, you see two emphases: sound doctrine and godly living. So, why does Paul identify himself as a bond-servant in God and an apostle of Jesus Christ in the context of the content of Titus? It seems to me that with the emphasis in Titus on how one should live, Paul is pointing out that when we declare Him to be our Savior, we also make Him our Lord, our Master. We are not our own and we do not make our own spiritual and moral choices. We follow Him as His bond-servants. As an apostle, Paul has the authority to command Titus to teach sound doctrine, with authority from the Holy Spirit.
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Finally, why was this letter written? Not all books or letters are as explicit as Titus is, but Paul writes in 1:5 why he is giving these instructions to Titus: “This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you.” That is, perhaps, a two-fold purpose (although some scholars suggest they are actually one purpose): to put what remained in order and to appoint elders in every town.
One last point: key words in a book or letter also give you an idea of what the author thinks is important so I present the key words of the letter of Titus for you to note as you read this letter. The verb “it is” (16); God (13); Work (8); Faith/trust (6); Savior (6); Word (5); Mankind (5); Christ (4); Teaching (4); Grace (4); Jesus (4); Sound (4); It is necessary (3); Exhort (3); Reprove (3); Hope (3); Arrange (3); Blaspheme (2).
God bless you in your study of Paul’s letter to Titus to set in order things that remained to be done in the churches of Christ on the island of Crete. Perhaps there are similar things that remain to be done in our own assemblies.
–Paul Holland
