The reason I left you in Crete …
Summary: Paul’s opening passage to Titus leaves this writer wondering why Paul chose the words he did. We look at four possible reasons and a fifth insight about Paul and his ministry.
So here we have Paul writing a letter to his spiritual son in Christ, and he begins with this opening line. If we were to read between the lines we might imagine Paul is thinking something like this:
“Titus. What have you been doing? What are you thinking? Can’t I trust you to do anything right? I leave you alone in Crete for five minutes and look; everyone is running wild! The reason I left you in Crete…”
Certain things “tickle my funny bone” as they used to say and this scenario makes me smile. I am certain Titus knew why Paul left him there! But there are other possible explanations for Paul’s introduction.
Paul might have started his letter the way he did because this type of letter was not expected to be private. In that case, it would make sense to provide a brief background for his instructions to Titus.
A third possibility is that Paul, being guided by the Holy Spirit, was writing for the church at large. Paul would also have been aware that his letters were being copied, shared, and treasured by the churches. Looking through that lens, it makes total sense to give the detailed introduction he did and then jump abruptly to the matter at hand.
A fourth scenario is that Paul left in a hurry. He instructed Titus to stay in Crete and promised to write soon with instructions on what to do. This letter contains the promised instructions.
Once again, we are confronted by the conundrum that is presented by the limits on what we can know. We can know what Paul’s letter to Titus says, but we cannot know exactly what he was thinking when he wrote it. In this case, my personal choice is a combination of three and four. Paul, being guided by the Holy Spirit, introduced his letter in a way that would make the most sense to generations of future readers. It also happened to fit the need of the situation.
Why did Paul leave Titus in Crete? We will talk more about that tomorrow. For now, it is enough to know that Paul had his reasons.
There is one more insight we might glean from this passage. Paul’s mission has expanded. In the early days of Paul’s ministry, shortly after his conversion, Paul was content to tell people about Jesus. In his letter to Titus, we see a different mission; Paul is setting up churches. Not only that, but Paul is working through others like Titus. The followers of The Way are starting to organize.
Application: Don’t assume what others are thinking. If possible, ask.
Food for Thought: Is there something you would like to ask Titus if you could?
Excellent summation of possible reasons why Paul wrote what he did to Titus. Thank you!
I am not sure if I would have one specific question for Titus, but it would be great to talk with him about his ministry, the situation in Crete and hear his testimony about his faith in Christ.
Thank you, Rich!
I’m sure Titus’ testimony would be very interesting!
Is there something you would like to ask Titus if you could?
Lot’s of questions, would probably ask him what was his greatest challenge other than himself.
Ron,
You bring us back to the the tough challenge of getting out of our own way.
Oh Jeff, he sneaks up on me all the time. Keeps telling me things like I really need a new Tesla model S, or whatever. Sure would make me serve God better, WRONG!!!!
Praise God for our faith which has power over our flesh.
“So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. 22 For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, 23 but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin” Romans 7:21-25
Ron,
That passage from Romans 7 is one of my favorites. Not because I like the message, but because Paul captured our human condition so well with his phrase “body of death.” Thank you for your faithfulness, brother!
What was it like working for or with Paul and was it worth all you put into it?
John,
Working with Paul is an interesting question. I remember a friend from high school I would go on hikes with. He was taller than me and his stride was longer. It was always hard for me to keep up. I kind of wonder if that’s what it would have felt like.