Remind the people … to be peaceable …
Summary: Like many other words in the Bible, the underlying Greek is richer in meaning than one word in English can express.
Continue reading “Titus 3:2 (b) — Hombre”Titus 3:2 (b) — Hombre
Titus 3:2 (a) — A Weapon of Voice
Remind the people … to slander no one …
Summary: Slander is an untruth that eats at a person’s reputation. Even if the slanderer believes that the lie is true, the damage that follows can never be fully undone.
Continue reading “Titus 3:2 (a) — A Weapon of Voice”Titus 3:1 (a) — Leaky Buckets
Remind the people …
Summary: Paul understands a basic truth about people: Our memories leak! To help, he gives Titus a list of things to remind people about.
Continue reading “Titus 3:1 (a) — Leaky Buckets”Titus 2:15 (c) — Superpower
Do not let anyone despise you.
Summary: The word “despise” sounds like an emotional response. Yet it can also be an expression of disrespect. Paul’s instruction on this matter requires some thought and perspective.
Continue reading “Titus 2:15 (c) — Superpower”Titus 2:15 (b) — All Authority
Encourage and rebuke with all authority.
Summary: The word “encouragement” is often translated as “exhort.” The word rebuke is almost always the same. Both are two sides of the same coin. How and when they are applied depends on the authority in the moment.
Continue reading “Titus 2:15 (b) — All Authority”Titus 2:14 (d) — Doing Good
… eager to do what is good.
Summary: Paul describes what godly living is all about, and the end of his thought is that God’s people are eager to do what is good. The question then becomes, “What is good?” Paul points us to some things that help us define good from God’s perspective instead of our own.
Continue reading “Titus 2:14 (d) — Doing Good”Titus 2:14 (c) — The Keys of Heaven
… and to purify for himself a people that are his very own …
Summary: Learning to live for God is a purifying process. We give up what is ungodly and embrace what is godly. Having paid the price for our redemption, God changes us into people who are his very own.
Continue reading “Titus 2:14 (c) — The Keys of Heaven”Titus 2:14 (a) — The Eyes of God
[Jesus Christ,] who gave himself for us …
Summary: The story of our salvation is amazing. Our part is rather sad and embarrassing. The exciting part is provided by God’s Son, Jesus Christ. He left heaven to become a man, live a good life, and then allowed mankind to take that life away from him. Under the law, he now has the right to take our lives, but instead, he gives us life.
Continue reading “Titus 2:14 (a) — The Eyes of God”Titus 2:9 (c) — Footsteps
… not to talk back to them …
Summary: Authority in others is a difficult thing for us to accept. Whether legitimate or not, we tend to bridle when told what to do. Yet God’s Word teaches us not to talk back to them.
Continue reading “Titus 2:9 (c) — Footsteps”Titus 2:9 (b) — Serving God
… to try to please them …
Summary: Life is full of difficult situations. People are people and without God’s love in their heart they are often unpleasant to be around and serve. Yet it is God’s will that we try to please them.
Continue reading “Titus 2:9 (b) — Serving God”