Notes on Titus

APPOINTING ELDERS (Titus 1). Like his first letter to Timothy, the Apostle Paul instructs his assistant Titus regarding the church on the island of Crete, to which Titus has been sent as an emissary. One thing that is needed on this island is church elders who are men of integrity and faithfulness. The list for elders here is similar to the one he gives to Timothy in 1 Timothy, chapter 3. Because this is a personal letter involving the care of the early church it is called a pastoral epistle.    

THE GOD WHO NEVER LIES. We should pause and see a great truth packed into a short statement. "God, who never lies..." (v 2). In the original text it is only three words, "the not-lying God". It means that God is free from all deceit and completely truthful and trustworthy. "God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?" (Num 23:19; cf. Heb 6:17-18) Our Lord Jesus, who is the perfect representation of God's nature, said, "I am... the truth" (John 14:6). God is consistent with himself, and more, he is true to reality. We trust his word as infallible and inerrant because he speaks truth and is able (being all-powerful) to preserve the truth spoken. We believe what he has spoken and rest upon his trustworthy character. He says what he means, means what he says, and will do what he promised! 

GOOD WORKS (Titus 2). A common theme in Paul's letter to Titus is the necessity and importance of good works and character (1:16; 2:7, 14; 3:1, 8, 14). Sometimes evangelical Christianity is presented in a way that seems to downplay good works. But the issue is in the manner of, and motive behind, our works. Our works cannot save us or be the basis of God's mercy toward us (3:5; Eph 2:8-9). But good works are the expected fruit of salvation (2:14; cf. Eph 2:10). Good works and Christ-like character are the applications of good doctrine.  

"OUR GREAT GOD AND SAVIOR". Paul says we are "...waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ..." (2:13). This verse is one of those places where Jesus is called God. In Greek this construction, an example of the Granville Sharp rule, means that Jesus Christ is the one referred to as being both "God and Savior". Of course, there are other places where this truth is declared (John 1:1; 20:28; Phil 2:6; 2 Pet 1:1). Jesus had to be fully human to be a true substitute for humans before God. And he had to be fully God so that his death and his righteousness might have infinite and eternal value before our holy God. Only in this way can we be redeemed!  

ABOUT GOOD WORKS (Titus 3). Paul makes it clear that we are not saved BY good works but that we are saved FOR good works (cf. Eph 2:8-10). We are not saved by "deeds done in righteousness" but according to God's goodness, kindness, and mercy (v 4-5). We are justified by his grace (v 7). But the Apostle does not denigrate good works. He says that believers, redeemed and purified from lawlessness, should be zealous to do good (Titus 2:14). We should be ready for every good work (v 1) and devoted to good works (v 8, 14). Meeting the needs of others is part of how we bear fruit for the Lord (v 14b). 

WHAT MAKES A WORK GOOD? The good work which a believer does is not merely giving humanitarian aid. Almost every person will do this to some extent, whether a believer or atheist. Our Lord joined together the commandments to love God and to love our neighbor (Matt 22:36-40). One way we love God is by loving people; and we love people rightly when we love them in the ways (and for the reasons) God tells us. John Frame, in his book The Doctrine of the Christian Life (P&R Pub., 2008), gives three conditions for good works: a right motive, a right standard, and a right goal. 

A) The right motive is faith (Gal 5:6, "working through love"; Rom 14:23). We are his children, and so in faith we seek to do good for his name's sake (Col 3:17). Works done in a legalistic, self-righteous, unbelieving, or begrudging manner are not done in faith. 

B) The right standard is the word of God (1 John 3:4; Ps 119:9-11). Love is not lawless. For example, committing adultery may feel loving, but it is never a good work. God defines what is good, and his will is revealed in his Word.

C) The right goal is the glory of God (1 Cor 10:31, "do all to the glory of God"; Rom 1:21). A good work is done in order that God might be seen as the Author of all that is good. Good works are the fruit of living a God-honoring life.   

So, there are three conditions of good works: right motive, right standard, and right goal, according to Frame. What is good in God's sight is when his children (who trust him) demonstrate their love for him and for their fellow man in ways that God wills, so that God's glory might be seen. Or we might summarize: "doing good" means that we do what God says, by faith, for his glory.