Daily Meditations on the Bible / We stand with Israel
… or to the merely human commands of those who reject the truth.
Summary: Paul has been explaining why churches need an overseer. Today’s passage points us toward another threat that the overseer is to protect against.
Continue reading “Titus 1:14 (b) — Tofu Turkey”
… and will pay no attention to Jewish myths …
Summary: Paul draws our attention to Jewish myths so that we can avoid them. He does not go into detail, but it is clear that he wants us to focus on Jesus.
Continue reading “Titus 1:14 (a) — Myth Understanding”
Therefore rebuke them sharply, so that they will be sound in the faith …
Summary: Some people are more sensitive than others. Some are less sensitive. What we are used to creates an expectation that we often apply to other people. Sometimes this has disastrous results.
Continue reading “Titus 1:13 (b) — My Normal is Your Pain”
One of Crete’s own prophets has said it: “Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons.” This saying is true.
Summary: Looking closely at this passage we find ourselves challenged to look at the meaning of the Greek word, “krino.” Krino means “judge,” and there are many ways of using that word. We need to apply it correctly in this case.
Continue reading “Titus 1:12-13 (a) — Anomaly”
—and that for the sake of dishonest gain.
Summary: What is honest gain? From that we can learn what dishonest gain is. Knowing what to look for, we can avoid entanglements with those who are working against God.
Continue reading “Titus 1:11 (c) — Dishonest Gain”
… because they are disrupting whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach …
Summary: Paul has been describing something he has seen many times. The enemy of God has been working hard to derail Paul’s efforts. Paul is very concerned that new believers will also come under fire from the Enemy.
Continue reading “Titus 1:11 (b) — The Enemy”
They must be silenced …
Summary: The NIV translates “epistomizō” as “must be silenced.” In English, that phrase is open to broad interpretation. Looking to Jesus helps us understand Paul’s intent.
Continue reading “Titus 1:11 (a) — Shush!”
… especially those of the circumcision group.
Summary: The case of the circumcision group offers us an example of disagreements in the early church. Some were resolved by discussion. Others festered and turned into open conflict.
Continue reading “Titus 1:10 (c) — That All May Be One”
… full of meaningless talk and deception …
Summary: Paul points us to a key facet of rebellious people: They are full of meaningless talk and deception. These two things are very real and very dangerous. If we let them, they can steal our lives.
Continue reading “Titus 1:10 (b) — A Waste of Air”
For there are many rebellious people …
Summary: Understanding what Paul means by “rebellious people is difficult. It is probable that his only concern is protecting the purity of the Gospel.
Continue reading “Titus 1:10 (a) — Rebellion Defined”