Here excerpts from an article by Chad Mansbridge:
Titus: Stress These Things
by Chad Mansbridge
"The reason I left you in Crete was that you might put in order what was left unfinished and appoint elders…(who) hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught." Titus 1:5,9
At some point in their travels, Paul asked Titus to remain on the island of Crete for an undisclosed period of time, that he may 'put in order' certain areas of church-life that required further apostolic attention and adjustment.
This infamous island community was known for its greed, deceit and brutality. A sentiment noted by pagan poets of the day, and echoed here by Paul himself.
However, Paul's criticism is not essentially directed at the Cretan community or culture as a whole, but is specifically targeted at particular religious people (of Jewish persuasion) within the Cretan community. Experience had taught Paul that such men and their trouble-making, Gospel-distorting antics, were to be taken very seriously, and strongly guarded against.
In this opening chapter, Paul's main directive is for his colleague to ensure that the local church in Crete is led well.
Of particular note, is that these leaders were to hold fast and firm to something Paul describes as "the trustworthy message". A unique term, repeated in Chapter Three, referring specifically to the message of God's grace.
For a [physical] body to be healthy, it requires a well-balanced intake of a variety of foods and beverages. To have a well-balanced diet does not mean we treat all food types with equal importance, but rather that we understand our bodies require more of certain food than others, and that we need to emphasize and prioritize accordingly.
In order to turn the Christian community of Crete right-side-up; to establish her as a shining beacon of God's life, love and light in that community, fit and focused on devoting themselves to "doing what is good" and being increasingly productive in their Christian witness, Paul presses upon Titus to give his time, effort and energy to "stress" the Gospel (Titus 3:8, 14).
Ultimately and most importantly, Titus' task was to constantly and consistently affirm the true and trustworthy message of God's grace to those who had already received it!
(The term "to stress" is the Greek word diabebaimoomai, meaning to asseverate; to assert and affirm a thing confidently and constantly. Interestingly, it appears only twice in the New Testament. Here, where Titus is instructed to stress the Gospel; and, in direct contrast, once more in 1 Timothy 1:7, as a warning against those who confidently affirm the law.)
Writes Paul:
At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things…" Titus 3:3-8 (NIV)
"And it is on these subjects that I desire you to lay special stress…" – Titus 3:8 (TCNT)
"…and concerning these things I want you to insist steadfastly…" – Titus 3:8 (AMP)
"…and these things I want you to affirm constantly…" – Titus 3:8 (KJV)
In the opening verse of this epistle, Paul says that it is "the knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness". By constantly acknowledging the simple and scandalous truth of the Gospel and all of its glorious implications, we are empowered to look and live more and more like Jesus on the earth—to live out in our bodies who we already are in the spirit!
This is why Paul was so committed to visiting churches in foreign cities, like those in Rome, as he was "eager to preach the Gospel" to them (Rom. 1:15). The Good News of Jesus and of His great salvation is something that Christians themselves need to constantly hear!
When writing his first epistle to the Corinthian believers, Paul spends fourteen whole chapters dealing with all the issues and concerns they had raised with him, and one-by-one he graciously addressed them all. Then finally, he begins to draw his letter to a close by sharing what was heavily on his heart for them to hear, when he says:
"Now brothers, I want to remind you of the Gospel I preached to you…for what I received, I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins…" 1 Cor. 15:1,3
While all their issues certainly mattered to Paul, the critical issue of his concern was that these believers stay grounded in the Gospel of Grace!
Jesus made the point that those who understand they are forgiven much will demonstrate great acts of love and worship in return. Similarly, Peter tells us that those who fail to constantly grow in qualities of Christian maturity, do so because they have lost sight of the wonder of their great salvation and the forgiveness therein (Luke 7:36-50; 2 Peter 1:5-9).
Feed on those truths which God Himself deems to be of greatest value for a healthy spiritual life. After all, while all Scripture is equally true, not all truths are equally important to the overall health of the Christian or his community. Certain truths demand greater emphasis than others. It's as simple as that.
"However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God's grace." – Acts 20:24
Love you all!
Grace=Peace,
Jeremy
Titus: Stress These Things
by Chad Mansbridge
"The reason I left you in Crete was that you might put in order what was left unfinished and appoint elders…(who) hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught." Titus 1:5,9
At some point in their travels, Paul asked Titus to remain on the island of Crete for an undisclosed period of time, that he may 'put in order' certain areas of church-life that required further apostolic attention and adjustment.
This infamous island community was known for its greed, deceit and brutality. A sentiment noted by pagan poets of the day, and echoed here by Paul himself.
However, Paul's criticism is not essentially directed at the Cretan community or culture as a whole, but is specifically targeted at particular religious people (of Jewish persuasion) within the Cretan community. Experience had taught Paul that such men and their trouble-making, Gospel-distorting antics, were to be taken very seriously, and strongly guarded against.
In this opening chapter, Paul's main directive is for his colleague to ensure that the local church in Crete is led well.
Of particular note, is that these leaders were to hold fast and firm to something Paul describes as "the trustworthy message". A unique term, repeated in Chapter Three, referring specifically to the message of God's grace.
For a [physical] body to be healthy, it requires a well-balanced intake of a variety of foods and beverages. To have a well-balanced diet does not mean we treat all food types with equal importance, but rather that we understand our bodies require more of certain food than others, and that we need to emphasize and prioritize accordingly.
In order to turn the Christian community of Crete right-side-up; to establish her as a shining beacon of God's life, love and light in that community, fit and focused on devoting themselves to "doing what is good" and being increasingly productive in their Christian witness, Paul presses upon Titus to give his time, effort and energy to "stress" the Gospel (Titus 3:8, 14).
Ultimately and most importantly, Titus' task was to constantly and consistently affirm the true and trustworthy message of God's grace to those who had already received it!
(The term "to stress" is the Greek word diabebaimoomai, meaning to asseverate; to assert and affirm a thing confidently and constantly. Interestingly, it appears only twice in the New Testament. Here, where Titus is instructed to stress the Gospel; and, in direct contrast, once more in 1 Timothy 1:7, as a warning against those who confidently affirm the law.)
Writes Paul:
At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things…" Titus 3:3-8 (NIV)
"And it is on these subjects that I desire you to lay special stress…" – Titus 3:8 (TCNT)
"…and concerning these things I want you to insist steadfastly…" – Titus 3:8 (AMP)
"…and these things I want you to affirm constantly…" – Titus 3:8 (KJV)
In the opening verse of this epistle, Paul says that it is "the knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness". By constantly acknowledging the simple and scandalous truth of the Gospel and all of its glorious implications, we are empowered to look and live more and more like Jesus on the earth—to live out in our bodies who we already are in the spirit!
This is why Paul was so committed to visiting churches in foreign cities, like those in Rome, as he was "eager to preach the Gospel" to them (Rom. 1:15). The Good News of Jesus and of His great salvation is something that Christians themselves need to constantly hear!
When writing his first epistle to the Corinthian believers, Paul spends fourteen whole chapters dealing with all the issues and concerns they had raised with him, and one-by-one he graciously addressed them all. Then finally, he begins to draw his letter to a close by sharing what was heavily on his heart for them to hear, when he says:
"Now brothers, I want to remind you of the Gospel I preached to you…for what I received, I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins…" 1 Cor. 15:1,3
While all their issues certainly mattered to Paul, the critical issue of his concern was that these believers stay grounded in the Gospel of Grace!
Jesus made the point that those who understand they are forgiven much will demonstrate great acts of love and worship in return. Similarly, Peter tells us that those who fail to constantly grow in qualities of Christian maturity, do so because they have lost sight of the wonder of their great salvation and the forgiveness therein (Luke 7:36-50; 2 Peter 1:5-9).
Feed on those truths which God Himself deems to be of greatest value for a healthy spiritual life. After all, while all Scripture is equally true, not all truths are equally important to the overall health of the Christian or his community. Certain truths demand greater emphasis than others. It's as simple as that.
"However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God's grace." – Acts 20:24
Love you all!
Grace=Peace,
Jeremy
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