Twice,
by design, my final sermon series at a church where I was pastor was three
weeks in Titus. But the third time I
confess to being caught up in this little book and we spent thirty-three weeks. These devotionals are based in that final
series on “The Well-Dressed Gospel.” Let’s
consider Paul’s epistle to Titus.
·
The (human) author:
Paul, bondservant of God, apostle of Jesus Christ, 1:1. Paul wrote this either on the way to or from
Nicopolis, a Greek coastal city across the Adriatic from Italy (cf. map).
·
The (original) recipient: Titus, Paul’s true son in
the common faith, 1:4. Paul also called
Titus his brother (2 Cor. 2:13) and
his partner and fellow-worker (2 Cor.
8:23). Paul followed his own
instructions in 2 Tim. 2:2 to commit the truth to faithful men who could teach
others also. Titus was an uncircumcised
Greek (Gal. 2:3) who accompanied Paul and Barnabas with the offering to
Jerusalem (Gal. 2:1-3), twice was sent to minister in Corinth (2 Cor. 7:6-15;
8:6-24), in addition to being sent to Crete (Titus 1:1-4).
·
The date
of writing is believed to be between Paul’s two Roman imprisonments, perhaps
around 65AD, the same general time as 1 Timothy. The letter was likely delivered by the lawyer
Zenas and Apollos (Titus 3:13).
·
The purpose
was to help Titus in ministry as he encouraged believers in Crete which
chapter one says was a difficult and exciting place for a church.
·
The theme
of the letter has to do with the lifestyle or good works that are fitting for
those who have received the gospel. Thus
we have suggested a title, “The Well-Dressed Gospel.” Today’s reading bears out this theme.
·
Here is an outline:
o
Salutation, 1:1-4
o
Examples of the well-dressed
gospel, 1:5-16 (the good-looking, 1:5-9; the bad and the ugly, 1:10-16)
o
Instructions for the well-dressed
gospel, 2:1-3:8 (at home/church, 2:1-8; in public, 2:9-3:8)
o
Conclusion, 3:9-15 (warning,
3:9-11; encouragement, 3:12-15)
We encourage you to read this short letter before
we continue our studies tomorrow. And
let us commit daily to adorning the gospel with our lives.
No comments:
Post a Comment