TITUS_PHILEMON

CONCERNING THE CHURCHES OF CRETE

Titus was a Greek, who accompanied Paul to Jerusalem, Whose circumcision Paul steadfastly resisted (Galatians 2: 3-5). He was on of Pauls converts (Titus: 1:4 ~ To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior.)

Some years later he appears with Paul in Ephesus, and is sent to Corinth to look after certain disorders, and to initiate the offering for the poor saints in Jerusalem ) II Corinthians 8: 6, 10). Returning from Corinth, he meets Paul in Macedonia, and after explaing the situation to Paul, he is then sent back to Corinth, ahead of Paul, bearing the Second Epistle to the Corinithians to pave the way for Paul's coming, and to complete the offering. The fact that Titus was chosen to look after the troublous situation in Corinth indicates that Paul must have considered him a very capable wise and tactful Christian leader.

The next we hear of him, some 7 or 8 year later, is in this Epistle to Titus, about A. D. 65. He is in Crete. The expression "left in Crete" (Titus 1:5) shows that Paul had been there with him. Paul's ship, in his voyage to Rome (Acts 27) touched on the south shore of Crete, but it is scarcely likely that it could have been the time when he left. Titus there. The prevailing opinion is that, after Paul's release from his first imprisonment in Rome, about A. D. 63,, he returned east, including Crete in his itinerary. After setting the Cretan churches in order, Titus is to be replaced by Artemas or Tychicus, and is asked to rejoin Paul in Nicopolis, in western Greece (Titus 3:12).

The last notice of Titus is in II Timothy 4:10, where it is said that he had gone from Rome to Dalmatia. Evidently he had rejoined Paul, and was with him when arrested, accompanying him to Rome. Whether he forsook Paul in that dark and lonely hour because of the coast northwest of Greece, we do not know. Let us hope the latter, for he was a good and great man. Tradition says that Titus became bishop of Crete, and died peaceably at an advanced age.

Crete....an island know as Candia, southeast of Greece, on the border between the Aegean and Mediterranean seas, about 150 miles long, and 7 to 30 wide. Mountainous, but its valleys were fertile and populous and rich; the "island of a hundred cities." The seat of an ancient and powerful civilization that had already become lengendary at the dawn of Greek history. The work of Sir Arthur Evans and his successors gave the knowledge of the Cretan civilization to the world early in the last century. The script was deciphered in 1953 by Michael Ventris and found to be in primitive Greek.
The highest mountain in Crete, Mt. Ida, was famous as the legendary birth-place of the Greek god Zeus. Home of the half-mythical lawgiver Minos, son of Zeus, and of the fabulous Minotaur. The people were akin to the Philistines, thought to have been identical with the Cherethites (I Samuel 30:14). Daring sailors and famous bowmen, with a very bad moral reputation.
The nucleus of the Church in Crete, probably, was started by the "Cretans" who were at Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:11). There is no New Testament mention of an Apostolic visit to Crete other than by Paul on his voyage to Rome (Acts 27), and that implied in the Epistle to Titus, Inasmuch as Paul was inclined to avoid building on other men's foundations, it seems likely that the Cretan churches, in the main, were Paul's work. Else he would not have assumed the authority over them indicated in this Epistle. Possibly they may have been the fruit of his work in Corinth or Ephesus, both of which cities were nearby.
Similarity to I Timothy, Titus and I Timothy, it is thought, were written about the same time, around A.D. 65. They deal with the same general subject; the appointment of proper leaders. Titus in Crete, Timothy in Ephesus; the problem in both places very much the same.

CHAPTER 1 - ELDERS

In hope of Eternal Life (verse 2), Paul, like Peter (IPeter 1:3-5), as he neared the end of his earthly road, kept his eyes steadfastly fixed on heaven. It had been the unceasing burden of his preaching and the grand motive of his life: the Glories of Existence when the body shall have been redeemed (Romans 8:18, 23); the Ecstasy of the day when the mortal shall have put on Immoratality (I Corinthians 15: 51-55); his longing for the House not made with hands (II Corinthians (5: 1-2); his Citizenship in Heaven with a body like the Saviour's (Philippians 3:20 -21); his Joy at the thought of beings caught up to be Forever with the Lord ( IThessalonians 4:13-18); the Crown of Righteousness which he would receive in "that day" (II Timothy 4: 6-8).
Qualifications of an Elder (1:5-9) "Elder" (verse 6), and "Bishop" (vs. 7), are here used as identical terms for the same office. Their qualifications as here enumerated, are practically the same as those given in I Timothy 3: 1-7.
The False Teachers (1: 10-16). The Cretan churches were beset with false teachers who, like those spoken of in II Peter 2 and Jude, while professing to be Christian teachers, were "abominable" and "reprobate" (16). The quotation from the Cretan poet (12), is from Epimenides 600 B. C. The "mouths" of the false teachers were to be stopped, not by force, but by vigorous proclamation of the truth (11). "Whole houses" probaably means whole congregations, for churches then met in homes.

CHAPTERS 2 AND 3 --- GOOD WORKS

The grand emphasis of this Epistle is "Good Works." Not that we are saved by good works, but by His Mercy (3:5), and justified by His Grace (3: 7). But because of this we are under strict obligation to be "zealous of good works" (2: 1-14); "an example of good works" (2:7); ready unto every good work" (3:1); "be careful to maintain good works" (3:8); "maintain good works for necessary uses" (3:14). One of the indictments of the false teachers was that they were "unto every good work reprobate" (1:16).
The power of Beautiful Lives (2: 1-14). Aged men, aged women, young women, mothers, young men, and slaves are exhorted to be so faithful to the natural obligations of their own station in life that critics of their religion would be silenced (2:8).
Saves, of whom there were many in the early Church, are exhorted to be so obedient, diligent, and faith that their lives would "adorn" their religious profession (2:10), and their heathen masters would be constrained to think "If that is what the Christian religion does for slaves, there must be something to it."
The Blessed Hope (2: 11-14). The Lord's coming Again supplies the motive to godly living in this present world. It is mentioned in almost every one of the New Testament books.
Obedience to Civil Authorities (3:1-2), is a prime Christian virtue. Citizens of heaven should be good citizens of the earthly government under which they live (Romans 13: 1-7); I Peter 2:13-17.
The Genealogies (3:9), referred to here and in I Timothy 1:4, seem to have figured quite prominently in the doctrine of the false teachers who were at that time infesting the churches of Crete and Ephesus. Possibly they were basing their claims for their teaching on Davidic ancestry and kinship to Jesus, with inside information on the Gospel. Or teaching strange doctrines grounded on abstruse interpretations of passages in genealogies.
"Heretic" (3:10). After a reasonable effort to set a false teacher right, avoid him. "Artemas" (3:12), is nowhere else mentioned. Tradition says he became bishop of Lystra. "Tychicus" (12), was of Asia (Acts 20:4). Either he or Artemas was to take Titus' position in Crete. "Nicopolis" (12), in Greece, about 100 miles northwest of Corinth.
"Zenas" (13), mentioned nowhere else. Either a Jewish scribe or a greek civil lawyer, "Apollos" (13), it seems that he and Zenas, on a journey to some unknown destination, bore this letter to Titus.

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Philemon was a Christian of Colossae, a convert of Paul's, a very well-to-do man. A church met in his house. He and Paul, it seems were intimate friends. It is likely, though not recorded, that Paul visited Colossae during his 3-year stay at Ephesus (Acts 19).
Onesimus was the name of a slave who belonged to Philemon. He may have been a very talented young man. The Roman army, in its excursions, often took the brightest and best young men and women, and brought them home to be sold into slavery.
Occasion of This Letter. Some four or five years after Paul had left that part of the world, and was way to the west in prison in Rome. Onesimus, it seems, stole some money from his master Philemon and ran away to Rome. While there, perhaps the stolen money gone, he managed to find Paul. Possibly he had learned to love him in his master's home years before. It is not likely that he could have just met him by accident in a city of
1,500,000. Paul persuaded him to be a Christian, and sent him back to his master, bearing this beautiful little letter.

The Object of the Letter was to intercede with Philemon, to forgive the runaway slave, and receive him as a Christian brother, Paul himself offering to repay the stolen money.
The Letter is a perfect gem for its Courtesy, Tact, Delicacy and Generosity, climaxing with its tender appeal to Philemon to receive Onesimus "as you would receive me" (17).

The Slaves Reception. The Bible gives no hint as to how the master received his returning slave. But there is a tradition that says his master did receive him and took Paul's veiled hint and gave the slave his liberty. That is the way the Gospel works. Christ in the heart of the slave made the slave recognize the social usages of his day, and go back to his master determined to be a good slave and live out his natural life as a slave. Christ in the heart of the master made the master recognize the slave as a Christian brother and give him his liberty. There is a tradition that Onesimus afterward became a bishop in Berea.

"Apphia" (2), was probably , Philemon's wife. "Archippus" (2), probably pastor of the congregation. "Onesimus" (10), means "profitable". Notice the play on the word, "Forever" (15), is a hint of the persistence into eternity of earthly friendships. "Epaphras" (23), was a Colossian imprisoned in Rome. The saluations (24), indicate personal friends of Philemon.

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TITUS GOES TO CRETE
Tradition says that after Paul was released
from prison In Rome (before his second and
final Roman imprisonment), he and Titus
Traveled together for a while. They
Stopped in Crete, and when it was time
for Paul to go, he left Titus behind to
help the churches there..

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THE FAITHFUL ONES

Paul's time left on earth is short,
So much left to exhort.
Tying up details before his demise,
Taking care of those in disguise.

False teachers were still mixed in,
With the Christians delivered from sin.
His task on earth not quite done,
Still teaching Titus and Philemon.

Your ticket to heaven is insured,
Not by works alone that are pure.
But also by obedience to God,
As upon this trek of life you trod.

*~*~*~*

Teaching love to the master of a slave,
And teaching the slave to be brave.
Philemon was distraught by the thief,
But was taught love, because life is brief.

You have to love even those that provide,
The everyday duties while you stand aside.
God is no respector of man
To every creed and race, he reaches out His hand.

As today we read the Bible stories,
Apply them to life for God's glory.
God sees every deed you perform
But without love, you will be forlorn.

*~*~*~*

Bible Study compiled by Shy
References from Halley's Bible Handbook
Copyrights observed
Poem by Shy
November 7, 2005

MUSIC: 'I'LL TURN TO YOU'
Sequenced and composed by

JESUS LOVES YOU, AND HIS
LOVE FLOWS DOWN LIKE A
MOUNTAIN STREAM.