In the opening verses (Titus 1:1-4), Paul makes two subtle points that we see him pick up again in this section. First, that he's writing for the sake of their faith and knowledge of the truth. Second, that God never lies.
Following his introduction, Paul commisions Titus to appoint elders (Titus 1:5-9). In these verses it becomes clear as to the importance of elders in the life of a church, as well as the challenges they face.
Meaning of Titus 1:10
In the previous verse, Paul wrote that an elder must be rooted in sound doctrine and refute those who contradicted it. Here he explains the reason: a number of Jewish members within the Cretan church are insubordinate, empty talkers, and deceiving others.
Pay attention to the fact that the number of people who hold these traits are 'many', adding scale to the challenge of an overseer and thereby justifying Paul's requirements to be well-equipped for refuting them.
It is clear then that an overseer must confront false teachers within the church, which entails brief disjointment, yet aims for long-lasting unity in the body of Christ. Paul goes on to write that an overseer's rebuke should be apotomós: an adjective that we translate as sharp, severe, or curt (Titus 1:13). To do so is not to abandon our calling to gentleness and courtesy (Titus 3:2), rather like Paul an overseer must moderate their use of severity to build the church up (2 Corinthians 13:10).
Another important point is that Paul's use of especially in this verse indicates those of the circumcision party are of a particular importance to this specific church, but he leaves open the need to challenge any false teachers.
In the following verses Paul goes on to explain the challenge these overseers face, and false doctrines which the circumcision party are accused of teaching.
Meaning of Titus 1:11
Overseers must silence false teachers because they upset the church and diminish the truth about Christ. However, the methods for silencing false teachers necessarily excludes any disqualifications from becoming an overseer such as violence, outbursts of anger, bullying, or misusing scriptures.
There are many practical ways for overseers to silence false teachers, but Paul's primary guidance to Titus falls into two categories:
Godly Living is a significant theme throughout the letter of Titus. Overseers are to lead by example with their lives (Titus 1:7-8).
Sound Doctrine preached directly from the word of God is a means of refuting false teaching (Titus 1:9).
When we consider these two points, it is clear that nothing short of striving to be like Christ is sufficient. He must be the model for every believer, and yet obedience to Christ is of an even greater priority for those who God entrusts his flock. As James writes: not many should become teachers (James 3:1).
Meaning of Titus 1:12-14
Paul illustrates the scale of Titus' challenge by quoting from pagan literature traditionally attributed to Epimenides. Highly regarded among the Cretans, Epimenides was a native to the island and his statement that Cretans are always liars would have included himself.
It is a curious statement that has become known as Epimenides paradox, or sometimes known as the paradox of a liar. If he is a Cretan and telling the truth that Cretans are always liars, then his statement becomes false because he is a Cretan telling the truth.
Paul utilises this clever proverb to say in few words that Cretans are notorious for lying by their own admission, and in doing so, draws a contrast between themselves and a God who never lies (Titus 1:2). For the new overseers in Crete, obedience to God means being honest and standing out against their culture.
How glorious and wonderful is our God that a nation so wicked and evil should be among the earliest to receive his grace, and by faith they readily accepted the truth. It is no easy feat for sinful mankind to tell the truth, but our holy God is the truth. He never lies.
Meaning of Titus 1:15-16
In these verses, Paul picks up what is meant by "Jewish myths" and "commands of people who turn away from the truth" found in the previous verse (Titus 1:14).
God's standard is nothing short of holiness. Entering his presence requires purification from our sins. The gospel news of Jesus Christ is that he is the once-and-for-all sacrifice that takes away sin and cleanses us (1 John 1:7-9). However, under the old covenant, many things made the Jews unclean and they had to partake in many purification rituals, which evidently they had not ceased to teach.
Paul addresses the concern that whole families felt (Titus 1:11): to the pure all things are pure. He also challenges the Jewish Christians that only the defiled and unbelieving need purification, neither is true for believers cleansed by Christ. This truth is profound and easier for the Gentiles to accept than the Jews.
Final Thoughts
Our takeaway from these verses must be the dramatic distance between impurity of sinners and God's holiness.
While we were unbelieving sinners, no better than the lying, glutinous, evil beasts in Crete - nothing was pure. Our every decision came from defiled minds and consciences. Yet, the purity of Jesus is so incredible that he washes away our sin and shame, making us heirs to a new and glorious body that is pure in mind and conscience to the level that we can stand in the presence of God.
How spectacular is the mystery of salvation? How glorious is our God to save the Cretans? How worthy is the lamb who was slain? Worthy, worthy, worthy.
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