Hey guys, you are doing great! Keep pressing on! We have only 8 more weeks to go. That means you should be up to 5 verses. I have a few symptoms so I won't be with you all tomorrow at church. So, you all can review together without me.
2/2 Advice on Reading: So as you read, look especially for Paul’s emphasis on doing good. Although found also in 1 Timothy (1 Tim 2:10; 5:10), this theme permeates Titus (Titus 1:16; 2:7, 14; 3:1, 8, 14; cf. 1:8). For Paul there is no tension between grace and doing what is good. The latter is the proper issue of the former. What is at odds with grace is the “religious” use of the law, maintaining purity through observance of regulations, as a way of maintaining God’s favor. But a genuine experience of grace results in a people who are eager to do good (2:14). Thus these two themes merge in two great theological passages (2:11–14; 3:4–7), the latter of which constitutes another of the five trustworthy sayings in these letters.
How does the Gospel 2:11-14 ground our behaviour 2:1-10?
1/2 Advice on Reading: While problems with the false teachers lie behind much of what is said in Titus, they do not seem to be such a dominant factor as in 1 Timothy. They themselves are to be silenced (Titus 1:11), while people who would follow them must be rebuked (1:13). There are enough similarities with 1 Timothy to make one think that the same kind of teaching is in view: They are into Jewish myths (Titus 1:14) and genealogies (3:9), based on the law (3:9); they love controversies (1:10; 3:9); they are deceivers (1:10) and lovers of money (1:11); and they use the law (apparently) to promote ascetic practices (1:15). This final item gets more emphasis in Titus, which Paul responds to with a much greater emphasis both on grace and on doing good.
Overview of Titus: In some ways Titus appears to be a smaller version of 1 Timothy, where false teaching prompted instruction on qualifications for church leadership; at the same time Paul addresses other matters that the false teachers have triggered. Hence, both the qualifications for elders and the indictment of the false teachers have some striking similarities to what is said about them in 1 Timothy. But there are also some significant differences. The most noteworthy is the fact that Timothy was left in a situation where the church had been in existence for nearly twelve years, and he had to deal with elders who were leading the church astray. Titus has been left in Crete to set new churches in order. Thus, in this case, Paul begins with the qualifications for church leaders (1:5–9), before taking on the false teachers (1:10–16). This is followed by general instructions on how to deal with older and younger men and women and with slaves, with emphasis on doing good (2:1–10), which looks like an expansion of 1 Timothy 5:1–2 and 6:1–2. The rest of the letter then emphasizes, in light of the grace of God, their “doing good” in the world (2:11–3:8), which is again set in contrast to the false teachers (3:9–11).
Starting Nov. 22nd, we begin Titus memorization. We plan to memorize 5 verses a week in 9 weeks. That brings us to Jan. 22nd. After which, we will spend a few weeks reviewing it. As a form of accountability and encouragement, we plan to recite these verses to one another on Sundays. Please let me know if you have any questions. I'm really excited for all of us to work together.