Titus 1 KJV
1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;
2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;
3 But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;
4 To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.
5 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:
6 If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.
Titus 1 (New Testament)
7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;
8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;
9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:
11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.
12 One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, the Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.
Tit.1 (New Testament)
13 This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;
14 Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.
15 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.
16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
| Greek Word + Transliteration + Meaning | Verse + Snippet | Scholarly Notes |
|---|---|---|
| δοῦλος — doulos (servant, bond-servant) | Verse 1 — “Paul, a servant of God…” | Doulos denotes complete belonging to a master, emphasizing Paul’s total submission. The term identifies spiritual authority as rooted in servanthood. It reflects OT prophetic self-designation. — Joseph Henry Thayer, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (1889) |
| ἐπίγνωσις — epignōsis (full knowledge, deep recognition) | Verse 1 — “…the acknowledging of the truth…” | Epignōsis conveys experiential, relational knowledge rather than abstract information. Paul ties saving truth to lived transformation. The term stresses doctrinal precision. — Richard Chenevix Trench, Synonyms of the New Testament (1896) |
| ἐλπίς — elpis (hope, confident expectation) | Verse 2 — “…in hope of eternal life…” | Elpis indicates certain expectation grounded in God’s promise. Paul roots Christian endurance in divine reliability. The term highlights eschatological assurance. — Philip Schaff, Commentary on the New Testament (1882) |
| κηρύσσω — kēryssō (proclaim, herald) | Verse 3 — “…through preaching…” | Kēryssō evokes the image of a royal herald delivering authoritative messages. Paul views preaching as divine command, not human creativity. The term underscores apostolic authority. — Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the New Testament (1884) |
| ἐπίσκοπος — episkopos (overseer, supervisor) | Verse 7 — “For a bishop must be blameless…” | Episkopos expresses official oversight and spiritual guardianship. Early church structure reflects continuity with synagogue leadership forms. The term anchors ecclesial order. — J. B. Lightfoot, The Christian Ministry (1890) |
| ἀνέγκλητος — anegklētos (blameless, unaccused) | Verse 7 — “A bishop must be blameless…” | Anegklētos describes one against whom no charge can rightly stand. The qualification stresses moral credibility. It reinforces public trust in ministry. — Joseph Henry Thayer, Lexicon (1889) |
| φιλάγαθος — philagathos (lover of good) | Verse 8 — “…a lover of good men…” | Philagathos denotes deep affection for what is morally good. Elders must embody positive moral attraction. The term shapes pastoral character. — R. C. Trench, Synonyms of the NT (1896) |
| σώφρων — sōphrōn (self-controlled, sound-minded) | Verse 8 — “…sober, just, holy…” | Sōphrōn stresses emotional and moral balance. It denotes rational steadiness in decision-making. The term is essential for leadership stability. — James Hastings, Dictionary of the Bible (1898) |
| ἀντεχόμενος — antechomenos (holding fast, clinging to) | Verse 9 — “…holding fast the faithful word…” | Antechomenos indicates unwavering adherence to doctrine. Paul demands that leaders cling to apostolic teaching. The term guards against doctrinal drift. — Philip Schaff, Church History (1890) |
| ἐλέγχω — elenchō (rebuke, expose, convict) | Verse 9 — “…to convince the gainsayers.” | Elenchō implies corrective exposure of error. The word binds teaching and moral confrontation together. It establishes apologetic responsibility within leadership. — Franz Delitzsch, Commentary (1884) |
Chapter 1
Verse: "To Titus, my true son in our common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior." - Titus 1:4
Lesson: In this chapter, Paul is instructing Titus on how to appoint qualified leaders for the churches in Crete. The verse above highlights the relationship between Paul and Titus, as well as their shared faith in Christ. It reminds us that our faith in Christ is a unifying factor that connects us with other believers, regardless of our differences.
Conclusion: As Christians, we should strive to build relationships with other believers that are grounded in our shared faith in Christ. We should look for ways to support and encourage one another, even when we disagree on other matters. When we prioritize our common faith, we can experience greater unity and a deeper sense of belonging in the body of Christ.
Prayer Points: Lord, help us to prioritize our faith in Christ above all else. Help us to build strong relationships with other believers, based on our shared commitment to you. Give us wisdom and discernment as we seek to appoint leaders in our churches, and help us to always prioritize character and integrity in those who serve you.
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