Titus Chapter 1 – Marianne Manley

Titus is how to do the work of the ministry in apostasy. After Paul was released from house arrest in Rome, he and Titus ministered together on the large Mediterranean Island of Crete. Paul wrote down “the faith” or instructions for God’s elect (the body of Christ) which he received by inspiration from Christ in Romans to Philemon. Understanding that our truth from Paul must be separated or divided from the doctrine to God’s earthly group in the rest of the Bible, results in godliness. God who cannot lie, decided to also offer eternal life to a heavenly group before the world began. The body of Christ are saved “by” the cross, not “at” the cross (Eph. 2:16).

After the cross, Israel received a one-year extension of mercy to believe the Jesus Christ was their Messiah (Luke 13:6-9, 23:34). It was not due time to save the body of Christ until after Israel fell in Acts 7 with the stoning of Stephen, the blasphemy of the Holy Ghost (Matt. 12:31, 32).

Paul had other churches to check on so he left Titus in charge of setting the churches on Crete in order until he can send a replacement. Titus is to ordain qualified bishops who hold fast to the faithful word that he has been taught by Christ through Paul, “the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began” (Rom. 16:25). The bishops should be able to encourage and convince those who speak against the truth.

There was on Crete those of the “circumcision” who had heard Peter speak on Pentecost (Acts 2:11) who refused to acknowledge that God had put Peter’s ministry on hold at the Jerusalem Conference (Acts 15:1-34; Gal. 2:7-9) and begun a new ministry through Paul. They taught “Jewish fables” that Christ’s earthly ministry (Rom. 15:8) pertained to the body of Christ deceiving entire households for the sake of dishonest money. These “vain talkers” mouths must be stopped!
Paul said the poet’s estimation of the Cretians’ low character was true, so correct them sharply so they may be sound in the faith and not listen to the Jewish fables that turn men from the truth. The true believers are purely Pauline, but those who will not commit to following Paul have a defiled mind and impure conscience.
They pretend to know God; but preach falsehood which is repugnant, disobedient, and lacking the truth of what God is doing in the dispensation of grace.