Day 349 Reading Schedule: Titus 1~3

Titus 1: Warning Against False Teachers 

[Summary]
This book is a letter written by Paul to teach Titus how to govern the church. This chapter deals with the conditions for the appointment of elders and the warning against false teachers in the Cretan region, following Paul’s long greeting that declares his apostolic authority. The church that Titus was sent to lead was the church in Crete. However, there were many families among the members of this church who were not right in their faith, and the false teaching that one must be circumcised to be saved was prevalent. In addition, the false religious view that faith and actions were unrelated to each other was prevalent, and all of the Cretans, men, women, and children, were indolent and indulgent. In this way, Paul wrote this letter to Titus to provide pastoral guidelines and to encourage and exhort him for the church in Crete, which was in a situation where it was urgent to establish order and a correct religious view within the church. The content can be divided into greetings (verses 1-4), appointment of elders (verses 5-9), and warnings against false teachers (verses 10-16).

In this chapter, the Apostle Paul explained to Titus about the appointment of elders in the church in Crete and the qualifications of an overseer. He also advised him on the actions he should take toward the unrighteous who cause the saints to stumble. Titus was a Gentile who converted to Christianity and was greatly acknowledged by Paul as an evangelist. Throughout this letter, Paul provides Titus with pastoral guidelines.

Titus 2: Teach sound doctrine 

[Summary]
In the previous chapter, Paul commanded believers to protect themselves from the teachings of false teachers. Now, in this chapter, he gives advice on how to nurture various types of believers in the church in an active way. This very short letter uses very important doctrinal terms that form the framework of the Christian faith. For example, terms such as election, eternal life, the deity of Christ, the grace of God, the universality of salvation, the work of the Holy Spirit, justification, and inheritance rights stand out in this letter. By using these doctrinally important terms, Paul tried to instill sound Christian truth in the Cretans who were experiencing religious confusion, even if only for a short time. The content of this chapter is divided into two parts. The first paragraph is about the nurturing of believers by pastors, and suggests that leaders set an example themselves (verses 1-10). The second paragraph emphasizes the fact that the fundamental driving force that matures the saints to live a practical life of faith is God who nurtures the soul (verses 11-15).

This chapter deals with the content that the apostle Paul teaches to apply more specifically to the various saints in the church in Crete based on the teachings mentioned in chapter 1. Looking at the teachings that Paul gives to Titus, first, it is an exhortation to the older saints. Second, it is an exhortation to the younger saints. Third, it is an exhortation to the slaves to serve their masters well and be faithful.

Titus 3: The Christian Attitude Toward Society 

[Summary]
In the previous chapter, Paul presented virtues to be taught to people in all walks of life in the church, emphasizing that the basis for nurturing believers lies in God. This chapter expands on the previous chapter and explains the attitude believers should take toward the state, unbelievers, and heretics. In this chapter, Paul teaches about the duties of Christians as citizens. In this way, the teachings of the early church were not limited to the path to salvation, but included the practical application of salvation. The truth and actions of Christianity are inevitably related. Therefore, in this chapter, Paul emphasizes that the motive that makes Christ’s pious actions possible is precisely God’s work of salvation that changes humans. The content of this chapter is largely divided into two parts. The first paragraph discusses the correct attitude of Christians toward the state and the attitude of tolerance toward unbelievers (verses 1-8), and the second paragraph records the attitude Christians should take toward false teachers and their final greetings (verses 9-15).

In this chapter, Paul explained the attitude that Christians should take toward the state and unbelievers, and the attitude that Titus, the leader of the Cretan church, should take toward heresy. In dealing with the rulers, Paul exhorted Christians to submit to and obey the government and the authorities in power. He also exhorted them to stay away from those who belong to heresy.