Titus 3:14 (a) — Believers

Our people…

Summary: What does Paul mean when he writes “our people?” Not all believers are the same. 

Who is Paul talking about when he writes “our people?” Do you know? 

In the course of this short letter to Titus, Paul refers to several groups or kinds of people. He begins by introducing himself as a “servant of God.” (Titus 1:1) Then he moves on to Titus, who along with others, he considers his sons in the faith. He then moves on to discuss believers in general. 

Among believers, Paul instructs Titus how to select servant leaders. He describes the requirements for elders and then for an overseer. One of the character qualities of the overseer is refuting the group of believers who oppose sound doctrine. Paul then goes on to write about a group of people who claim to be believers yet are described by Paul as “rebellious people.” 

In particular, Paul calls out a group of believers called the “circumcision group.” He is very concerned about the message these people spread and the damage it does to the people Paul refers to as “our people.” 

Paul then draws attention to an unflattering proverb about Cretans in general. The proverb refers to all Cretans, but Paul’s attention is focused on those who believe in Jesus. “Rebuke them sharply, so that they will be sound in the faith,” he writes (Titus 1:13).

Then Paul begins to describe the believers he considers to be his people. Older men are temperate, self-controlled, and sound in faith. Older women are reverent and teach what is good. Younger women love their husbands and children. They, too, are self-controlled, as are the young men. 

Paul talks about the requirements for a teacher and a slave. He then instructs his people to be obedient, subject to rulers and authorities. Those that trust in God, says Paul, are “careful to devote themselves to doing what is good” (Titus 3:8). 

Paul then focuses on the traits of believers he calls “divisive.” They distract others with foolish controversies, genealogies, arguments, and quarrels. The rebellious people, and the circumcision group that Paul writes about, are to be refuted (Titus 1:9) or silenced (Titus 1:11). The divisive person is to be warned twice and then “have nothing to do with them” (Titus 3:10). It appears that the difference between the two types of groups is that one is responsive to correction while the other is not. 

So the people Paul calls “our people” are believers who believe correctly. They understand the gospel message given to Paul by Jesus and confirmed by the other apostles in Jerusalem. They demonstrate their faith by being obedient, doing whatever is good, slandering no one, being peaceable and considerate, and they are always gentle towards everyone (Titus 3:2). 

The message of Paul to Titus is that many people claim to believe in Jesus, but not all believe correctly. Many people want to be listened to, but not all teach what is proper. Paul is particular about who he considers “our people.” 

Application: “Test the spirits to see whether they are from God.” (1 John 4:1)

Food for Thought: What is the main characteristic of those who are not one of Paul’s people?