Titus 3

Paul instructs Titus to remind believers to be subject to authorities, practice gentleness, and avoid evil speech. He emphasizes that salvation comes not from works, but from God's mercy through regeneration by the Holy Ghost, leading to justification by grace and the hope of eternal life. Believers are then to maintain good works, while avoiding unprofitable disputes and rejecting divisive individuals.

Paul charges Titus to instruct the believers in Crete to be submissive to civil rulers and to exhibit a gentle and meek disposition towards all people, refraining from speaking evil. He reminds them of their former state of sinfulness, characterized by disobedience and various lusts, before God's kindness and love appeared. Salvation, Paul clarifies, was granted not through human works of righteousness, but solely by God's mercy, through the washing of regeneration and the renewing work of the Holy Ghost, shed abundantly through Jesus Christ. This divine act justifies believers by grace, making them heirs of eternal life. Consequently, while salvation is by grace, believers are to be diligent in maintaining good works, which are profitable. Titus is also admonished to avoid vain disputes and to admonish, then reject, a heretical person who is self-condemned.

Paul begins by instructing Titus to continually remind the believers under his charge to be subject to governing authorities and magistrates, to obey them, and to be prepared for every good work. Furthermore, they are to speak evil of no one, avoid quarreling, and instead demonstrate gentleness and meekness towards all individuals. This admonition is grounded in the remembrance of their own past condition, where they were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, and lived in malice and envy, hating one another. However, this changed when the kindness and love of God their Saviour appeared to mankind. Paul explicitly states that this salvation was not achieved by any works of righteousness performed by them, but purely according to God's mercy. This divine intervention saved them through the washing of regeneration and the renewing power of the Holy Ghost, which God poured out richly through Jesus Christ their Saviour. The purpose of this salvation is that, being justified by His grace, they might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. This teaching is declared a faithful saying, and Titus is urged to constantly affirm these truths, so that those who have believed in God might be diligent in maintaining good works, which are beneficial and profitable to men. Conversely, Titus is warned to avoid foolish questions, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law, as these are unprofitable and vain. Regarding a divisive individual, Paul instructs that a heretic should be admonished once or twice, and then rejected, for such a person is subverted, sins, and is self-condemned. Paul then provides practical instructions concerning his travel plans, indicating he will send Artemas or Tychicus, and desires Titus to join him in Nicopolis for the winter. He also requests that Zenas the lawyer and Apollos be diligently assisted on their journey, ensuring they lack nothing. Finally, Paul reiterates the importance for believers to learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, so that their lives are not unfruitful, concluding with greetings from his companions and a blessing of grace.