Glory to God! The Lord God has been good to us during the past week and, without any doubt, He will immensely bless us in this new week as well as in the weeks ahead. The Lord has enabled us to pick a very specific Scripture passage for our meditation this week, which is taken from the Epistle that is written by Apostle Paul to Titus (1:6-9) while Titus was serving among the believers at Crete. Apostle Paul wrote to Titus that the reason I [Paul] left you [Titus] in Crete was that you might put in order what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you (Titus 1:5).  His guidance included (i) teach sound doctrines to the believers in Crete, (ii) appoint elders and other ministers of the gospel in the church, and (iii) rebuke rebellious and false teachers in the church.

Usually, when Apostle Paul (with the help of the Holy Spirit and his ministry associates) started a church in a new territory during his missionary journey, he appointed spiritual leaders, elders, and other ministers of the gospel to take care of various ministries in those churches before he departed from that particular territory, as it is mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles: Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust (Acts 14:23). For our information, a few such responsibilities are noted below: They are appointed …

• • To take care of the everyday activities in the church
  • To give believers spiritual guidance and directions
  • To bring in new believers and support them spiritually
  • To admonish the believers to remain true to the gospel message they received
  • To encourage and strengthen the believers in their faith in Jesus Christ
  • To teach the believers the apostolic doctrines/teachings (Acts 2:42-47)

However, for some reasons (most probably due to violent resistance against Paul’s ministry in Crete, maybe similar to the plot that occurred in Iconium Acts 14:5-6), Apostle Paul did not appoint elders at the church Crete, so he left Titus in Crete as he moved on to different places and asked Titus to put in order what was left unfinished. Even though we do not have many details about Paul’s ministry in Crete, other than Paul’s writings to Titus that the reason I left you in Crete was that you might put in order what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you (Titus 1:5), evangelist Dr. Luke, the author of Acts of the Apostles, writes about Paul’s voyage through Crete (hoping to reach Phoenix – a harbor in Crete – to winter there) while he was taken as a prisoner to Rome (Acts 27:7-13). Certainly, there must have been previous ministry involvements of Apostle Paul in Crete, and that is what it sounds like when we read the passage that I [Paul] left you [Titus] in Crete was that you might put in order what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you (Titus 1:5), which includes:

• • Appoint trustworthy elders in the church to teach the believers at Crete (Titus 1:5)
  • Rebuke rebellious people, especially those of the circumcision group (Titus 1:10a)
  • Silence people involved in meaningless talk and deception (Titus 1:11a)
  • Resist the false teachers who are disrupting households by teaching things they ought not to teach (Titus 1:11b)
  • Teach appropriate and sound doctrines to older men (Titus 2:1-2)
  • Teach appropriate and sound doctrines to older women and young women (Titus 2:3-5)
  • Teach appropriate and sound doctrines to younger men (Titus 2:6)
  • Special instructions to Titus to set an example by doing what is good before everyone; i.e., before believers as well as non-believers (Titus 2:7-8)
  • Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything (Titus 2:9-10)
  • Instruct the people to be subject to rulers and authorities Titus 3:1a)
  • Instruct the people to be obedient (Titus 1b)
  • Instruct the people to be ready to do whatever is good (Titus 3:1c)
  • In struct the people to slander no one (Titus 3:2a)
  • Instruct the people to be peaceable and considerate (Titus 3:2b)
  • Instruct the people to be always gentle toward everyone (Titus 3:2c)
  • Remind people to avoid foolish controversies regarding genealogies (Titus 3:9a)
  • Remind people not to engage in arguments and quarrels about the law (Titus 3:9b)
  • Remind people not to do anything spiritually unprofitable and useless (Titus 3:9c)
  • Warn a divisive person to escape from the coming judgement for they are warped and sinful (Titus 3:10)
  • Warn self-condemned people to repent and return to God in order to escape from the wrath of God (Titus 3:11)

Apostle Paul gives these instructions to Titus because, in one way or another, the believers in Crete might have fallen short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23), and are sinful and unrighteous before God (Proverbs 20:9; Ecclesiastes 7:20; Romans 2:1; 1 John 1:8). Paul knew that Spirit-filled teachings will help the believers in Crete to follow the apostolic teachings wholeheartedly and keep their faith in Jesus Christ unwaveringly, which will enable them to come under God’s saving grace (Proverbs 11:19), and, thus, escape from eternal condemnation and death (Genesis 2:17; Matthew 25:46; Romans 6:23). Although, one of Crete’s own prophets said that the people of Crete were always liars, evil brutes, and lazy gluttons (Titus 1:12), Paul had assurance that God will help if they repent and return to Him because he himself experienced God’s forgiveness and His saving grace in his very life, as he mentioned that he was the worst of all sinners (1 Timothy 1:15). It is not just the believers in Crete who cherish sinful desires in their heart and live an unworthy life before God but we too do similar things prior to becoming the followers of Christ, as Paul stated:

At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone (Titus 3:3-8)

The reasons why Paul appointed Titus to take care of the matters that were left unfinished in Crete was that there was a very close spiritual/ministry bond which existed between Apostle Paul and Titus, in a similar way Apostle Paul maintained a spiritual relationship with Timothy (1 Corinthians 4:15-17; 2 Timothy 1:5-7). It is believed that Titus, a Greek speaking Gentile, became a Christian believer through the ministry of Apostle Paul, who addressed him as his true son in the common faith (Titus 1:4). Titus was bold and truthful in teaching/preaching the gospel in any given circumstance and he loved to serve his Master and Lord Jesus Christ in any given capacity (2 Corinthians 8:6, 16-17). We can understand from the Scripture that Titus served two of the most problematic churches in the first century – the church at Corinth (2 Corinthians 8:6, 16-17) and the church at Crete (Titus 1:5). Titus was appointed by Paul to minister and teach the elders and believers in Crete because Apostle Paul trusted Titus with spiritual ministry and believed that he is able to handle the tough situations that existed among the believers in Crete. Below mentioned are some of these points to help us to understand the depth of the spiritual bond that existed between Apostle Paul and Titus; this is in addition to helping us understand his willingness to carryout the ministry responsibilities he was entrusted with, and his ministry potentiality to handle challenging ministry situations that come across spiritual ministry:

• • Titus came to believe in Jesus Christ through the ministry of Apostle Paul (Titus 1:4)
  • Titus was a Greek speaking Gentile Christian believer (Galatians 2:3)
  • Titus, though a Gentile convert to Christian faith, had a born-again Christian experience without being circumcised as per the Jewish custom (Galatians 2:3)
  • Titus demonstrated to the Jewish trouble makers (false brothers or Judaizers) that salvation is feasible without being circumcised (Galatians 2:3-4; also refer Acts 15:1-11; Galatians 5:1-6)
  • Titus also joined Paul and Barnabas during their missionary journey from Antioch to Jerusalem (Acts 15:2)
  • Titus was sent to Corinth by Paul for the collection for the needy saints in Jerusalem (2 Corinthians 8:10-24)
  • Titus was sent by Paul to Corinth with one of his letters to the Corinthian church (2 Corinthians 2:3-4; 7:6-10)
  • Titus ministered in the church at Corinth (2 Corinthians 8:6)
  • Titus was Paul’s partner and co-worker among the Corinthian believers (2 Corinthians 8:23)
  • Titus rejoined Apostle Paul and his team in Philippi and brought a good report about the church at Corinth (2 Corinthians 7:6-7; 13-14)
  • Titus was called to Nicopolis in the province of Achaia in Western Greece by Paul when Artemas and Tychicus arrived in Crete to continue the ministry in Crete (Titus 3:12)
  • Titus was sent to Dalmatia to carryout the ministry over there (2 Timothy 4:10)
  • Titus was sent to Crete (Titus 1:5)
  • Titus was a faithful follower of Jesus Christ
  • Titus was a devoted Christian believer
  • Titus was a dedicated servant of the Lord
  • Titus was a dependable assistant to Paul (2 Corinthians 8:23)
  • Titus was a trustworthy minister of the gospel 
  • Titus was a reliable ministry companion of Paul

Let us briefly analyze and study the passage we chose for our meditation and for our spiritual insight (Titus 1:6-9). According to the instructions given to Titus by Apostle Paul regarding some of the specified requirements needed to qualify being an elder in a Christian Church shows that an elder or a minister of the gospel or a Christian leader must be a man of standing with high standards of spiritual disciplines, as it is mentioned in Titus 1:6-9 …

• • An elder must be blameless (1:6a)
  • An elder must be faithful to his wife (1:6b)
  • An elder must be a man whose children believe in Jesus Christ (1:6c)
  • An elder must be a man whose children are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient (1:6d)
  • An overseer must manage God’s household (1:7a)
  • An overseer must be blameless (1:7b)
  • An overseer must not be overbearing (1:7c)
  • An overseer must not be quick-tempered (1:7d)
  • An overseer must not be given to drunkenness (1:7e)
  • An overseer must not be violent (1:7f)
  • An overseer must not pursue dishonest gain (1:7g)
  • An overseer must be one who practices hospitality (1:8a)
  • An overseer must be one who loves what is good (1:8b)
  • An overseer must be one who is self-controlled (1:8c)
  • An overseer must be upright (1:8d)
  • An overseer must be holy (1:8e)
  • An overseer must be disciplined in every area of their life (1:8f)
  • An overseer must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught (1:9a)
  • An overseer must be able to encourage others by sound doctrine (1:9b)
  • An overseer must be able to refute those who oppose the sound doctrine (1:9c)

Apostle Paul specified that the above-mentioned spiritual qualities must be integral for the elders because, in the absence of Paul and other ministers of the gospel, many false teachers who did not have such spiritual qualities emerged in the church at Crete and taught false doctrines, which caused spiritual chaos among the believers and even faithful followers of Jesus Christ were led astray. Apostle Paul talked about these false teachers saying: They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good (Titus 1:16), which indicates that these false teachers were selfish, rebellious, quarrelsome, empty talkers, deceivers, trouble makers in the families, unprofitable, worthless, and so on (Titus 1:10-11, 16; 3:9-10). As a result, many people in the church, including so-called faithful believers, were rebelling and causing troubles for each other. In the light of this, Paul reminded Titus that he should not fear anyone or anything, rather, as a strong and faithful spiritual leader, he must teach sound doctrine to everyone in the church including the elders, older men, older women, younger women, younger men, slaves, and so on, because these teachings are good and excellent and profitable for everyone (Titus 3:8). Paul gave these instructions to Titus to teach sound doctrines to the believers in Crete because he doesn’t want them to lose their salvation by living a life that is based on the pattern of this world, which indicates that these believers are no longer struggling sinners, but are saved saints and a new creation in the Lord (Deuteronomy 7:6; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Titus 2:14; 1 Peter 2:9). When Apostle Paul instructed Titus to teach sound doctrines and appoint spiritually qualified elders and other ministers of the gospel in the church at Crete, it was not intended to be limited to a one-time practice or as a temporary practice, rather it was intended as a recurring practice and in perpetuity (Titus 2:1; Colossians 3:16; 2 Timothy 4:1-4). These newly appointed elders and other ministers of the gospel could teach sound doctrines to the believers in Crete as well as train some of the trustworthy believers and appoint them as elders and other ministers of the gospel to succeed them, and this cycle will continue up until the return of the Lord. We can certainly believe that (with the help of the Holy Spirit and the support of Apostle Paul and the spiritual community in Crete) Titus was able to appoint spiritually qualified elders in the church/es at Crete, particularly men who are anointed and approved by the Holy Spirit and accepted by the believing community, as per the specified qualifications that are set forth by Apostle Paul, which are mentioned in Titus 1:6-9.

Dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, as we have read, studied, and meditated upon the given Scripture passage (Titus 1:6-9), we are encouraged within ourselves and strengthened in the Lord; and, now, let us dedicate ourselves to carryout the ministry we are called for. As a devout believer in the Lord and a dedicated minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ, let us examine ourselves in the light of our meditation and see if our spiritual life is in the right direction and aligned with the purpose of God in our life. If not, let us pray to God the way king David prayed: Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting (Psalm 139:23-24) and plead with Him to keep us away from every kind of willful sin, so that they will not rule over us, as king David pleaded with the Lord: Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me (Psalm 19:13a). Believe that any one who takes refuge in the Lord will not be condemned, rather they will be rescued by the Lord (Psalm 34:22). May the Lord God Almighty bless us all! Amen!