TITUS 2 STUDY AND MORE

Lesson 2: Titus 1:8,9 Titus 1:8.............................................................................................................. 4
Titus 1:9.............................................................................................................. 5
Topical Studies............................................................................................6
Judgment, Justice, and Judging............................................................................... 6
Shepherds of the Flock of God ................................................................................ 9
Titus Lesson 2 Quiz ...................................................................................15
The Titus Curriculum
This is Lesson 2 (of 10) in the Titus course curriculum.
Lessons Topics to Study
Lesson 1: Titus 1:1-7 Godliness; Hope; Preaching, Paul the Apostle
Lesson 2: Titus 1:8,9 Judgement, Justice, and Judging; Shepherds of the
Flock of God
Lesson 3: Titus 1:10-16 Circumcision; Union with Christ; Mental Attitude; Sins of
the Tongue
Lesson 4: Titus 2:1-6 Faith-Rest; Old Age; Authority
Lesson 5: Titus 2:7-10 Servants of God; Servants and Slaves in Palestine
Lesson 6: Titus 2:11,12 Grace; Salvation Doctrines
Lesson 7: Titus 2:13-15 Rapture; Redemption
Lesson 8: Titus 3:1-6 Anger; Forgiveness; Regeneration; Sin Nature; Essence of
God
Lesson 9: Titus 3:7-11 Heresy and Apostasy; Propitiation; Imputation;
Reconciliation
Lesson 10: Titus 3:12-15 Apollos; Aquila and Priscilla
Instructions for Completing Lesson 2
Begin each study session with prayer. It is the Holy Spirit who makes spiritual things discernable to
Christians, so it is essential to be in fellowship with the Lord during Bible study.
Read the whole book of Titus often. It is a short book, and reading it many times will help you understand
the material much better.
Instructions
1. Read the introduction to the study of Titus
2. Study Titus 1:8,9 by reading the verses and studying the notes. Be sure to read any other Bible
passages that are called out in the notes.
3. Study the topics in the same manner. Take particular care to trace all of the discussion through
the Bible passages which are included. The topics are called out in the text at a certain point, but
you can study the topics in any order you wish. Review all of the notes in the Titus study and the
topics
4. Go to the Quiz page and follow the instructions to complete all the questions on the quiz. The
quiz is “open book”. You may refer to all the notes and to the Bible when you take the test. But
you should not get help from another person.
5. When you have completed the Quiz, be sure to SAVE your file.
.
Titus Lesson 2 Page 4
Titus 1:8
But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men,
sober, just, holy, temperate.
“but”: a conjunction of contrast: there is a change
here, from dealing with negative characteristics to
be avoided, to the positive aspects that are
characteristics of the edified believer, and that
must be found in church leadership.
“a lover of hospitality”: (philozenos), literally,
“having a love for strangers”
This word carries the connotation of hospitality, of
doing something for someone who does not earn
or deserve the good treatment, because there has
been no previous acquaintance. This word reflects
a Grace attitude toward people who have not yet
earned your consideration.
This is a word of impersonal love - the type of
attitude that is free of arrogance, envy, hatred, or
even disdain for other people, even if there is
sharp disagreement about doctrine or practice.
This is the type of love that permits a Christian to
love even his enemies or people that he doesn't
like.
This is the type of love that is the fruit of the Holy
Spirit. It does not come from emotion, although it
may cause emotion. This is the “professional” love
of the mature Christian believer, analogous to the
Love of God, the quality of which does not depend
on the behavior or character of the one being
loved, but on the character of the one who loves.
“a lover of good men”: (philagogos), “one who
loves good”.
The idea of “good men” probably derives from the
fact that sometimes adjectives are used by
themselves to indicate a class of people. We say
“the rich” when we mean “the rich people”, or
“the infirm” when we mean “the infirm people”.
Here, the adjective is “good”, which could mean
“good people”, hence, “one who loves good
people”.
But the meaning could well be limited to only the
adjective itself, without regard to a class of people.
In that case, the meaning would change quite a bit.
“Good” then would refer to that which has
intrinsic good, good in itself, and in this context it
would refer to “divine good”, and the translation
would be “one who loves good”.
I've read various discussion on this, and I choose
the latter meaning, probably because the idea of
love towards mankind (strangers) is already
paramount in the previous word.
“sober”: (swphrwn), “prudent, thoughtful,
discrete, self-controlled”.
(To Greek-sters: the “w” in the transliteration is
“omega”.)
When used of women in Titus 2:5, (swphrwn) is
translated “discrete” or “modest”.
This is a mental attitude of care for one's
reputation, one's character, a consideration of
appearances. The verb form, (swphrwneo), means
“to be of a sound mind”, so there is the
connotation of mental stability.
READ Rom. 12:1-3 The transformation leading to
mental stability.
“just”: (dikaios), “righteous; fair; equitable”
The pastor must be fair, even-handed in all his
actions. He must exhibit the righteousness of God
in the human life. He knows that the source of
righteousness is the Lord and is imputed without
merit. Therefore he is relaxed, not judgmental.
Topic: Judgment, Justice, Judging
“holy”: (hosios), “kind, gracious, holy”.
This is NOT (hagios), “set apart, or sanctified”,
which is a result of our union with Christ.
This word for holiness has to do with an
experiential inner result of the work of the Lord in
the life.
The candidate for Christian leadership must have
an observable holiness. He must be known for the
fruit of the Spirit, just as the original seven
deacons were chosen for their obvious spiritual
qualities and fruits.
These qualities are difficult to fake. Many people
can put on a facade of “holiness” or morality; but
Titus is a discerning Christian, and he has the
responsibility to judge men in these matters.
He could tell whether a man loved the Word of
God and was occupied with Christ (viewing
everything in life with Jesus Christ in mind). He
Titus Lesson 2 Page 5
could observe a man who was going through some
testing (minor or major) and determine whether he
knew how to trust God in situations and maintain
peace and joy in the midst of trials. He knew what
to look for, and could size someone up very
quickly.
“temperate”: (egkrateis), “self-restrained”; a
master of the details of life.
You either have control over the details of life, or
they control you.
Examples: Jer. 35:6; Dan. 1:8
Titus 1:9
Holding fast the faith word, as he has been
taught, that he might be able, by sound doctrine,
both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
In this verse there are some operational standards
for the man appointed to the office of pastor
(elder, bishop), the new recruit that Titus will
ordain. This verse shows how rebellious and
unruly Christians are to be handled.
Note that it is not Titus's job to come into town
with a big stick to personally chastise the lying,
rioting, deceiving, subversive believers. In fact,
he's not going to do the job at all, because he will
not stay on the island long enough.
The new recruit is to be the teacher. Month after
month, year after year, the man who has emerged
as a community spiritual leader will patiently
instruct, encourage, exhort, convince -- by using
the Word of God either to convince those with
positive volition or to close the mouths of the
implacable. The principle is that Bible teaching is
the instrument of bringing change into people's
lives. The opposition will either capitulate to
doctrine, or they will be forced to leave.
“holding fast”: (antecomai), “to cling to
something; to hold fast to; to be devoted to”
That which is “held fast” is sound doctrine. The
verb is in the Greek middle voice, which is
reflexive, that is, the subject acts upon itself. Thus,
the believer is holding something fast for himself.
Heb. 4:14 “Seeing then that we have a great
high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus
the Son of God, let us hold fast (antecomai) our
profession.”
Heb. 10:23 “Let us hold fast (antecomai) the
profession of our faith without wavering.”
“the faithful word”: (pistos logos), “the
trustworthy word; the dependable word”, that
which inspires trust, The Word of God.
“as he hath been taught”: (kata tein didachei),
“according to the instruction; teaching; doctrine”.
“that he might be able”: (eimi + dunatos), “might
be capable”.
Strength after the flesh, that is, human strength, is
not enough. The teacher's ability is the result of
clinging to doctrine.
1 Cor. 1:26 “For ye see your calling, brethren,
how that not many wise men after the flesh, not
many mighty, not many noble, are called:”
“by sound doctrine”: (didaskalia + hugiainw), “by
means of uncorrupted doctrine” .
(hugiainw) “uncorrupted” is repeated in 1:13; 2:1;
2:2; with (hugiain) in 2:8. It is used in the physical
sense for good health; in the Gospels and in 3 John
v.2.
The doctrine the new pastor is to teach is
uncorrupted, sharply contrasted with other
comments in this chapter about false teaching,
myths, commandments of men.
“both to exhort”: (parakalew), “to exhort, to push,
to stimulate”.
The Holy Spirit is called the Paraclete, and the
Greek verb here has several meanings in the Bible,
including “to exhort” and “to comfort”.
Exhortation requires authority; Titus 2:15
“These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke
with all authority. Let no man despise thee.”
Exhortation requires great patience. 2 Tim. 4:2
“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of
season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all
longsuffering and doctrine.”
Exhortation requires persistence. Heb. 3:12,13
“Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you
an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the
living God. But exhort one another daily, while
it is called Today; lest any of you be hardened
through the deceitfulness of sin.”
Exhortation takes place in the local church
environment. Heb. 10:23-25
Titus Lesson 2 Page 6
“and to convince”: (elegkw), “to bring to light; to
expose; to demonstrate; to convince; to reprove; to
rebuke. Translated “rebuke” in 1:13 and 2:15; but
even rebuking is by means of convincing
argument from the Scripture.
“the gainsayers”: (antilegw), literally, “those who
speak against; those who contradict”; therefore,
“those who are in opposition”.
Note the use in 2:9, servants are not to contradict
or speak against their masters.
READ Luke 2:34; 20:27
READ Romans 10:21 !!
Topical Studies
Judgment, Justice, and Judging
The Bible says that God is just. We know that He
exercises perfect judgment and discernment in His
dealings with mankind. This study discusses the
various Bible passages dealing with the subjects of
judgment and justice and gives the Christian
believer a basis for knowing the difference
between sinful judging and spiritual discernment
in human affairs.
God is the Only Capable Judge of Mankind
Romans 2:1-16
The general purpose of Rom. 1:18 to 3:20 is not to
prove that all men are sinners -- this is taken for
granted. It is, rather, to make starkly clear the
certainty of God's judgment on unrighteousness,
which is the terrible consequence of sin.
In chapter 1, the Gentiles were not actually
referred to, although they were probably in the
picture in the minds of some readers, particularly
the Jews. In fact, some people, including
especially the Jews, would not have regarded
themselves as in the category of immoral persons.
Yet these very people, in their self-righteousness,
were in equal need of conviction of sin.
This conviction of sin is found in chapter 2, with
the individual being addressed as "thou", as
opposed to the "they" of chapter 1.
The self-righteous person does not consider
himself as being subject to condemnation; and it is
not easy to convince him of sin. His selfrighteousness
and moral trends are so strong that
he does not feel the need of the Gospel of Christ.
If the immoral man of chapter 1 is "holding down"
or "hindering" the truth by sinning, the respectable
man of chapter 2 is "proclaiming the truth in
unrighteousness" by judging. Spiritual pride is a
great stumblingblock. Chapter 2, verses 1 to 16, is
arranged as follows:
1. The Rebuke -- (2:1) The Apostle appeals to the
S/R person's conscience. If the man assents to the
condemnation of sinners, he really condemns
himself. The man must have his arrogance
removed; God has one standard for all. Judging
others will not bring escape from God's judgment.
2. The First Principle of Judgment -- (2:2) The
judgment of God is "according to truth", therefore
impartial.
3. The Impossibility of Escape -- (2:3-5) The Jew
will not be able to claim any exemption because of
his national heritage or religion. No human
righteousness provides for escape from judgment.
In human jurisdictions, a guilty person may get
away with a crime if (1) his offence is not known;
(2) he escapes beyond the bounds of the
jurisdiction; (3) there is some failure in the legal
process after his arrest; or, (4) he escapes from
custody and hides from officers of the law. Of
course, none of these will help a person escape
from divine justice.
4. The Second Principle of Judgment -- (2:6)
God's dealings with mankind are based on
absolute justice, whether as to punishment or
reward. "Who will render to every man according
to his deeds." cf. Prov. 24:12
5. The Reality of Meaning -- (2:7-10) There is
no middle ground. Only two sorts of deeds are
allowed. People are either on one side or the
other.
6. The Third Principle of Judgment -- (2:11)
"There is no respect of persons with God." God
has no favorites. The Jews' being chosen did not
mean that they had immunity from judgment.
7. Universal Application of Judgment -- (2:12-15)
Standards of judgment will be different between
Jew and Gentile, the Jews being judged by the
Law of Moses, and the Gentile being judged by
Titus Lesson 2 Page 7
the law of conscience. Thus, character will be the
test in both cases.
8. The Fourth Principle of Judgment -- (2:16)
Both Jews and Gentiles will be brought face to
face with Christ and the Gospel in the ultimate
judgment. "In the day when God shall judge the
secrets of men according to my Gospel by Jesus
Christ."
The Justice of God
God has sovereignty over His creatures by virtue
of His creation. He has the perfect right to dispose
of His works as it may please Him. Psalm 115:3;
135:6
God is a judge. Psalm 50:6. As a judge, He
places a penalty on sin. Rom. 6:23, "The wages
of sin is death." God demands that disobedience
against His laws be punished, Deut. 18:18-19.
God is perfect in Justice.
Isa. 45:20-25; Ps. 89:13-16
God's Justice is impartial.
II Chr. 19:4-11
Rom. 3:26, "To declare, I say, at this time his
righteousness: that he might be just, and the
justifier of him which believeth in Jesus."
God's Justice is satisfied because of God's
provision: Jesus Christ paid the penalty.
Col. 2:13-15
The Person and Work of the Lord Jesus Christ
satisfied the just demands of God's Righteousness
and Justice.
II Cor. 5:21; Isa. 53:10-11
Therefore, God is Just when He forgives the
person who accepts the Work of Jesus Christ.
Rom. 8:1, "There is therefore now no
condemnation..."
I John 5:11,12 "And this is the record, that God
hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in
His Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he
that hath not the Son of God hath not life."
Principle : Grace always precedes judgment. cf.
Mal. 1,2
Judging
There are several words in the Bible referring to
various types of discernment, judgment, and
condemnation. Sometimes we are warned not to
engage in sinful judging of others. At other times
we are told to exercise godly judgment
(discernment) in deciding a matter. In almost
every passage dealing with judging, the context
will enable you decide which type of judging is
being discussed.
For clarity in our teaching, we often use the word
judging to refer to improper, destructive criticism,
either by a believer out of fellowship, or by an
unbeliever under certain conditions. We use the
word discernment for the proper evaluation of
people, events, or problems, by believers under the
control of the Holy Spirit.
USES OF (krino)
The basic Greek word for the verb "to judge" is
krino. This word is used for both legitimate
discernment and for sinful judging. This word has
the following uses :
"To select, to prefer":
Rom. 14:5 "One man esteems (krino) one day
above another: another esteems every day alike.
Let everyman be fully persuaded in his own
mind."
This is legitimate discernment.
"To judge": "I speak as to wise men; judge ye
what I say." I Cor. 10:15 Used in the right sense of
discernment.
"To reach a decision": "...hath so decreed..." I
Cor. 7:37. The right sense.
"To hold court" (used as a legal term)
I Cor. 5:12, "For what have I to do to judge thee
also that are without? (the unbelievers) Do not
ye judge them that are within (believers in local
church)?" Paul or a congregation have the
right to hold court. In regard to believers this is
legitimate.
Acts 25:10, "...where I ought to be judged."
Paul is before the Roman Court where it is
legitimate for cases to be judged.
"Settling a dispute or quarrel":
Titus Lesson 2 Page 8
1 Cor. 6:6, "But brother goeth to law with
brother, and that before the unbelievers..."
Here, krino is translated "to go to law", which, in
itself, is legitimate. But between two church
members it is not right in these circumstances.
Divine Court :
2 Tim. 4:1, "...Christ, who shall judge the quick
and the dead at His appearing and His
kingdom."
"To pass judgment upon, thus to express an
opinion":
Matt. 7:1,2, "Judge not, that ye be not judged.
For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be
judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall
be measured to you again." This kind of
judgment is sinful judging carried on by a
believer out of fellowship.
John 7:24, "Judge not according to the
appearance, but judge righteous judgement."
This is an excellent illustration of the Lord
teaching that sinful judging is to be replaced by
discernment based on spiritual information.
"To pass unfavorable judgment upon, to criticize,
to find fault with, to condemn":
Romans 2:1, "Therefore, thou art inexcusable,
O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for
wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest
thyself, for thou that judgest doest the same
things." This is either a mental attitude sin, a sin
of the tongue, or both.
Romans 14:3, "Let not him that eateth despise
him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth
not judge him that eateth: for God hath received
him." In other words, mind your own business.
Romans 14:10, "But why dost thou judge thy
brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy
brother? for we shall all stand before the
judgment seat of Christ." Delegate all judging
to the Lord.
Romans 14:13, "Let us not therefore judge one
another any more: but judge this rather, that no
man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall
in his brother's way." Here krinw is used both in
the bad sense and in the good sense.
I Cor. 4:5, "Therefore judge nothing before the
time until the Lord comes, who both will bring
to light the hidden things of darkness, and will
make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and
then shall every man have praise of God."
1 Cor. 10:29, "Conscience, I say, not thine own
but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of
another man's conscience?" Live and let live.
Live your life as unto the Lord, not unto people..
Col. 2:16, "Let no man therefore judge you in
meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or
of the new moon, or of the sabbath days..." That
is, let the other believer live his life as unto the
Lord.
James 4:11,12, "Speak not evil one of another,
brethren. He that speaks evil of his brother, and
judges his brother ... there is one lawgiver, who
is able to have and to destroy: who are you that
keeps on judging another?" This person sets
himself up as God when judging in this manner.
USES OF (anakrino)
"To examine for answers" ... "to pass judgment
upon", which comes to mean "to examine". This
is a legitimate activity, especially concerning our
attitude toward the scriptures. Acts 17:11, "These
were more noble (open-minded) than those in
Thessalonica, in that they received the Word with
all readiness (eagerness) of mind, and searched
(anakrino) the Scriptures (daily), whether those
things were so."
1 Cor. 10:25-27, "...eat, asking no question, for
conscience sake...whatsoever is set before you,
eat, asking no question for conscience sake."
The idea is that we are not to make an issue out
of food set before us by passing judgment on it.
"To discern" (while in fellowship) ...
The proof that anakrino takes on a good
connotation is found in the following passage,
among others. The term "spiritual" indicates that
the believer in fellowship can be discerning
without condemnation from God.
1 Cor. 2:14,15, "But the natural man
(unbeliever) receiveth not the things of the Spirit
of God: for they are foolishness unto him;
neither can he know them, because they are
spiritually discerned (anakrino ). But he that is
Titus Lesson 2 Page 9
spiritual (in fellowship) judgeth (discerns) all
things, yet he himself is judged of no man."
USES OF (diakrino)
"To be at odds with oneself, to doubt, to waver":
Rom. 4:20, "He (Abraham) staggered (diakrino)
not at the promise of God..."
Rom. 14:23, "And he that doubteth (diakrino) is
damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith:
for whatsover is not of faith is sin." This is an
introspective judging which proceeds out a guilt
complex.
"To make a distinction":
1 Cor. 4:7, "For who maketh thee to differ from
another" This is describing the sin of partiality,
exalting one person over another; it is failure to
recognize that a person is what he is because of
the Grace of God.
"To judge oneself":
1 Cor. 11:31, "For if we would judge (diakrino)
ourselves, we should not be judged (krino).
"To render a decision":
1 Cor. 6:5, "I speak to your shame. Is it so, that
there is not a wise man among you? No, not one
that shall be able to judge between his
brethren?"
USE OF (kritikos)
Used only once in the Word of God, to describe
the quality of the Word of God as an absolute
criterion of judgment.
Heb. 4:12, "For the Word of God is living and
powerful, and sharper than any two-edged
sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of
soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow,
and is a discerner (kritikos) of the thoughts and
intents of the heart."
USE OF (diakrisis)
Heb. 5:14, "But strong meat belongs to them
that are of full age (mature believers) even those
who by reason of use have their senses exercised
to discern (diakrisis) both good and evil." The
believer who uses the Word of God in
fellowship will be able to discern a great deal.
Shepherds of the Flock of God
1 Peter 5:1,2 "The elders which are among you
I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of
the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of
the glory that shall be revealed: FEED THE
FLOCK of God which is among you, taking the
oversight thereof, not by constraint, but
willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready
mind:"
Deuteronomy 8:3, "And he humbled thee, and
suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with
manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy
fathers know; that he might make thee know that
man doth not live by bread only, but by every
word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the
Lord doth man live."
We live by God's Word, that which proceeds out
of the mouth of the Lord. "Let this mind be in you
which was also in Christ Jesus".
And it is our shepherds who have the duty to
provide us with this nourishment, lest we waste
away in spiritual malnutrition!
My aim in this article is to provide a thorough
introduction to the Bible concept of shepherding,
from Jehovah and the Lord Jesus Christ as
Shepherd, to the Christian believer who feeds and
cares for the "sheep of His pasture."
Pastors and elders are shepherds. The Greek word
(poimeinos), used a single time in the New
Testament in Ephesians 4:11, is translated
"pastor". On other occasions, such as in 1 Peter
5:2, the verb form (poimeinw) is translated "to
feed". So pastors and elders are "feeders", and
Christians are the "flock" which are to be fed.
I intend in this article to develop a full description
of what a Christian spiritual shepherd is, including
a shepherd's qualifications and duties. This
description will be derived from a study of what
the whole Bible says about shepherds, by
examining the following:
* Jehovah as Shepherd
* The Lord Jesus Christ as the Good Shepherd
* King David as shepherd of his people. He was
both a shepherd-boy and the shepherd of the
kingdom of Israel
Titus Lesson 2 Page 10
* Pastors and elders, including all those who
"feed the flock of God"
I think that the Bible passages I cite in this study
will demonstrate that there are well laid out Bible
standards for the function of shepherd, and that
when one is known a true shepherd of the sheep,
certain objective criteria have been met.
Titus was given the task of choosing shepherds
(elders) for the local congregations on the island of
Crete. When choosing a shepherd, it's important to
have a good idea of what God intends a shepherd
to be.
To illustrate:
* A good shepherd puts the needs of the sheep
first, and has an abiding sense of obligation toward
them. One who does not know how to care for
sheep, or who neglects sheep, is not a good
shepherd.
* A good shepherd leads sheep to good pasture
and water. A person who does not provide food
and water for sheep is not a good shepherd.
* A good shepherd protects the sheep and sets up
defenses against those who would harm the sheep.
An individual who deliberately harms or frightens
sheep is not a good shepherd.
Jehovah as Shepherd
There is a chain of command in Christian affairs.
In a chain of command, such as in a military
organization, when one level of command fails to
function properly, the responsibility is taken over
by the next higher level of command.
God the Father, Jehovah, is always watching His
sheep; and He is always ready to take over when
the sheep are not being well handled by their
appointed shepherds..
Jeremiah 10:19-22
[ I will show scripture passages to illustrate these
ideas, but it's up to you to examine the whole
context of the discussion in any passage I cite. Be
aware that the verses I indicate are only pointers to
broader portions of the Bible that need to be
reviewed in context. ]
Suggestion: read the whole book of Jeremiah from
the standpoint of shepherds, good and bad, and
their duties toward their "sheep."
Jeremiah 23:1-6
Jeremiah 50:4-19
Psalm 23
Isaiah 44:24-28
Even a heathen king, Cyrus, was named shepherd,
to fulfill a specific function, to contribute to the
rebuilding of Jerusalem.
Read Ezekiel 34.
From C. F. Keil, Commentary on Ezekiel
The shepherds of Israel, namely, the political and
religious leaders, have been feeding themselves
and neglecting the flock. The flock has been
scattered and has become a prey to wild beasts.
The Lord will remove the bad shepherds from
their office.
The Lord will take charge of His own flock, gather
it together from where it is scattered, and feed and
tend it on good pasture in the land of Israel. He
will sift the flock by getting rid of the "fat" and
"violent" ones.
He will appoint His servant David shepherd over
His flock, make a covenant of peace with His
people, and bless the land with fruitfulness, so that
Israel may dwell there in security, and no more
suffer by internal strife and famine or be carried
off by their enemies.
This chapter (Eze. 34) is a repetition and
expansion of the prophecy of Jeremiah 23:1-8.
Both prophecies deal with the salvation of Israel
and the fact that the sheep will be gathered and
tended by the Lord and His servant David.
Rev. 7:17, "For the Lamb which is in the midst
of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead
them unto living fountains of water: and God
shall wipe away all tears from their eyes."
Rev. 12:6, "And the woman fled into the
wilderness, where she has a place prepared of
God, that they should feed her there a thousand,
two hundred, and threescore days."
The Lord Jesus Christ as the Good Shepherd
Jesus Christ is presented as the "Good Shepherd"
in that He lays down His life for His sheep. This
refers to Christ's saving work on the cross, the
atonement.
Titus Lesson 2 Page 11
In Hebrews 13:20,21, He is called the "great
shepherd," a title that refers to divine blessing to
advanced believers.
In 1 Peter 5:4, the title "Chief Shepherd" is the
title for Christ as we face Him after death.
The Lord Jesus provides for His sheep in many
ways.
* The believer, like a sheep, is helpless and has no
sense of direction; a sheep must be guided by a
shepherd. We need Bible truth as our guide in life.
* A sheep cannot clean itself; this a reminder of
our Lord's provision of cleansing, as shown in 1
John 1:9.
* A sheep is helpless when injured. So, when we
are injured by the various problems in life, only
the Lord can provide the necessary therapy.
* A sheep is defenseless; he depends on the
shepherd for protection. The Lord provide the
armor of God for protection.
* A sheep can't find food or water for itself. A
sheep must depend on the shepherd to lead it to
water.
* A sheep is easily frightened or panicked. The
shepherd calms the sheep with songs in the night;
i.e. Bible truth in the soul.
* When the sheep produces wool, it belong to the
owner of the flock. It does not belong to the sheep.
Every Christian is supposed to be "like Christ."
Pastors and elders, in particular, must have the
qualities of good shepherd that the Lord Jesus
embodies.
An elder must have the "mind of Christ." This
means that, as he grows into his job as elder, he
will become more like Christ in his thinking and
shepherding. If he does not, he will be a bad
shepherd.
Matthew 9:35-38
Matthew 25:31-34
Luke 15:4-7
John 10:1-18
John 21:15-17
Keep in mind as we study - the sheep belong to the
Lord Jesus Christ. All through the scriptures that
we are studying, the flocks belong to God. They
do not belong to the human shepherd. By
illustration, David was the shepherd for sheep that
belonged to his father, Jesse.
In Heb. 13:20, Christ is called "the great Shepherd
of the sheep."
1 Peter 2:21-25, "For even hereunto were ye
called: because Christ also suffered for us,
leaving us an example, that ye should follow his
steps: who did no sin, neither was guile found in
his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled
not again; when he suffered, he threatened not;
but committed himself to him that judgeth
righteously. Who his own self bare our sins in
his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to
sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose
stripes ye were healed. For ye were as sheep
going astray, but are now returned unto the
Shepherd and Bishop of your souls."
Matthew 18:10-24
Psalm 78:51-54, "He smote all the firstborn in
Egypt; the chief of their strength in the
tabernacles of Ham: But made his own people to
go forth like sheep, and guided them in the
wilderness like a flock. And he led them on
safely, so that they feared not: but the sea
overwhelmed their enemies. And he brought
them to the border of his sanctuary, even to this
mountain, which his right hand had purchased."
Psalm 79:13, "So we thy people and sheep of
thy pasture will give thee thanks forever: we
will show forth thy praise to all generations."
Isaiah 40:10,11, "Behold, the Lord God will
come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule
for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his
work before him. He shall feed his flock like a
shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm,
and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently
lead those that are with young."
If an elder has the mind of Christ, he will have the
attitude of Christ toward his flock and toward his
job as shepherd. This is the attitude and motivation
to look for in anyone who aspires to the office of
pastor or elder.
David as the Shepherd of Israel
1 Chronicles 17:3-9
1 Chronicles 21:16,17
Titus Lesson 2 Page 12
In this passage, David takes the responsibility for
the poor handling of his human flock when he
numbered the people.
Spiritual Qualifications for an Elder (Shepherd)
The most important function in a church - and the
most important activity that a Christian can engage
in - is the study and teaching of the Word of God.
Bible truth is the theoretical and practical support
for every other feature of Christian life, including
worship, prayer, evangelism, missionary service,
discipling, and fellowship. Without a solid
foundation in Bible principle and doctrine, a
Christian can spend his life flailing around trying
to serve the Lord while never understanding the
basic plan of God for his life and ministry.
In a local church, someone has to teach, to
organize things, to arrange for the activities of the
organization, no matter how small. If no hierarchy
is imposed on a community of people, leaders will
emerge anyway, either chosen by the group to take
charge, or, by default, to move into a leadership
void.
In the Bible, Christian leaders are not chosen
politically, or by seniority, or by submitting a
résumé. An "eldership" is a battlefield
commission; a person tested and proved in battle is
seen to be the natural choice for a position as a
bishop or elder.
The most highly decorated American soldier of
World War II, Audie Murphy, received a
battlefield commission to 2nd Lieutenant, after he
had proved himself in battle. His leaders had seen
in him the qualities of leadership and proven
ability that made him eligible for that honor. (He
was prevented by his physical disability from
wounds from attending the U. S. Military
Academy after the war.)
In the Epistle to Titus, the task given to Titus was
to observe which individuals were qualified to be
appointed, according to the criteria Paul outlined.
Chief among these qualifications was that the elder
was to "hold to the faithful word as he had been
taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine to
refute and to convince the gainsayers." An elder is
primarily a teacher of the Word of God. If he does
not teach his flock what the Bible says, his sheep
will perish of malnourishment!
The qualifications of elders (pastors, bishops,
overseers, presbyters, deacons) are given in such
passages as 1 Peter 5, Titus 1 and 2, 1 Timothy,
and Acts 7.
Think about Titus's job of selecting elders on
Crete.
He had to observe men in the communities on
Crete and decide whom to appoint as elder. Maybe
he interviewed likely candidates. Maybe he asked
other believers to describe the qualities they say in
various people.
It's possible to fake many things in the Christian
life. A person can smile, talk the language of the
church he attends, refrain from certain taboos, and
generally fool most of the people most of the time.
After all, we don't go around questioning people to
their face about the genuineness of their profession
or claims. If a person claims to love the Lord and
be devoted to Christian service, how can you tell if
the claim is genuine?
Well, there are two things in which it is extremely
difficult to fool an experienced person like Titus.
First, it is hard to give the appearance of having a
great love for the Word of God. And second, it is
hard to fool a discerning Christian into believing
that one has the fruit of the Holy Spirit.
Love for the Word of God
When a person genuinely loves the Lord, a love
for the Word of God is naturally accompanies that
love. That person will give evidence every day of
immersion in the Bible. After all, the Bible is the
communication of the Lord Jesus, the One loved,
and a desire to know the Word, to meditate in it,
and to talk about it, will be just as natural as a
young person's total captivation with romance.
In fact, this characteristic can be used to discern
the true merits of any candidate for Christian
office. A person can attend church, engage in
worship and Christian service, and use Christian
vocabulary. But there may be some ulterior motive
in this.
A young man who is interested in a young woman
can readily adapt himself to her surroundings and
seem to be something that he is not. People are
chameleons when trying to impress others. But it
is very difficult over a period of time for a person
Titus Lesson 2 Page 13
to establish a reputation as one who is absorbed by
the Word of God, unless the Bible is the center of
attention and devotion.
A Christian who is motivated by a desire for
recognition, a lust for power, or an ambition to
have a religious career, can adopt almost any
appearance or conform to any program or set of
standards. One of the most difficult things to fake,
however, is an occupation with the Lord Jesus
Christ and His Word.
THE FRUIT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
The other thing that is hard to cover up is a lack of
the fruit of the Holy Spirit. But how can you tell
when a person is filled with the Holy Spirit?
The people in Acts 7 were expected to do just that
when they selected the first seven deacons. They
were expected to select men to handle this job,
based on just this one qualification. If you had
been in that church, how would you have known
whom to vote for?
Would you believe that a man is Spirit-filled
because he tells you he is, or because he says he
has had a spiritual experience? Would you be
impressed by a person who is sweet, smiles, and
uses spiritual vocabulary? The outward
appearance is easy to counterfeit. When one
person exhibits some genuine spiritual power or
ability, it's quite natural that others will envy that
and want to fake it, or buy it (Simon the Sorcerer)!
But Titus was looking for some very objective
evidence of genuine Christian character in the men
he was considering for positions of responsibility
on Crete.
LOVE - The first fruit of the Holy Spirit
mentioned in Galatians 5 is Love.
Titus 1:8 states that an elder is to be "a lover of
hospitality": (philozenos); he is to have a love for
strangers. This word carries the connotation of
hospitality, of doing something for someone who
does not earn or deserve the good treatment,
because there has been no previous acquaintance.
This word reflects a Grace attitude toward people
who have not yet earned one's consideration.
This is a word of impersonal love - the type of
attitude that is free of arrogance, envy, hatred, or
even disdain for other people, even if there is
sharp disagreement about doctrine or practice.
This is the type of love that permits a Christian to
love even his enemies or people that he doesn't
like.
There is no envy, self-righteousness, or sinful
judging accompanying this love. There will be no
hatred, maligning, or malicious gossip involved in
this love.
This is the type of love that is the fruit of the Holy
Spirit. It does not come from emotion, although it
may cause emotion. This is the "professional" love
of the mature Christian believer, analogous to the
Love of God, the quality of which does not depend
on the behavior or character of the one being
loved, but on the character of the one who loves.
Some examples:
JOY - Joy is the happiness which God provides, a
happiness that does not depend on people,
circumstances, or things to maintain it. Joy is the
relaxed mental attitude that comes from casting
one's cares on Christ, knowing that He cares for
us. A person who does not possess spiritual joy
will chase after the world's attractions and
provisions because there is no satisfaction in the
things of the Lord.
PEACE - Peace is the result of exercising Faith-
Rest. Faith-Rest is the process of trusting God the
Father to keep his promises, to make provision for
every contingency and trial, and then enjoying the
tranquillity that abiding in Christ provides. A
person without godly peace will fret and stew, try
to solve problems in flesh, and will generally
exhibit the same anxieties as the unbeliever in the
same position.
PATIENCE - the long view; the quality that
results from having eternity's value in view, of
being occupied with Christ, of living in the Word
of God, and of knowing what God's plan is and
how it is working out in the life. The impatient
person wants things now and will avidly pursue
"things", not being willing to wait for the Lord to
provide or promote.
The Elder's Professional Qualifications
An elder must be an accomplished instructor of the
Word of God. There are many other duties of
elders, especially of those who are overseers, such
as priests, pastors, bishops; but the underlying
Titus Lesson 2 Page 14
basic responsibility is that of teaching - feeding the
flock.
To the spiritual character and personal integrity
described above must be added the training and
growth in "knowledge of our Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ" that allows the elder, as the chief
among edified believers, to serve as an effective
shepherd.
A local church needs at least one person who
teaches the Bible with sufficient quality, and in
sufficient quantity, to provide nourishing spiritual
food for the congregation. The teacher needs to
have a thorough knowledge of the Word and the
ability to correlate the facts and doctrines of
scripture and make application of those principles
to Christian living.
A Christian needs to know what the Bible says and
what it means. A Christian is supposed to live "by
every word that proceeds out of the mouth of
God." There is no substitute in any believers' life
for a thorough overall knowledge of the facts, the
doctrines, and the spiritual principles of the Word.
A pastor must be willing and able to spend the
hours studying and teaching that are required.
If there is no shepherd to teach these things, the
1. Literally speaking, a hospitable man has a love for __________________.
Answer:
2. The love of God does not depend on the _____________________ or
__________________ of the one loved.
Answer:
3. In Titus, the word “sober” refers to a person who is [ A. joyous; B. prudent; C. full of
good works; D. kind to strangers].
Answer:
4. What does a pastor do to protect the congregation from false teaching caused by unruly
Christians?
Answer:
5. The pastor is to hold fast to _______________.
Answer:
6. Exhortation requires _____________, _________________, and _________________.
Answer:
7. What does the pastor use to try to convince or reprove those who speak against
Christianity (the gainsayers)?
Answers: sound doctrine
Judgment, Justice, Judging
8. In Romans 2, the first principle of judgment is that it is [ A. carried out in a court of law;
B. according to truth; C. different for Christians and non-Christians; D. administered by a
pastor].
Answer:
9. The just demands of God’s righteousness and justice were satisfied by the
____________ and _________ of Jesus Christ.
Answer:
10. When a person accepts the Work of Christ on the Cross, God can still not forgive the
person until he gets completely right with God. [ True/False ]
Answer:
Titus Lesson 2 Page 17
11. A Christian may never judge other people in any way. [ True / False ]
Answer:
12. In your opinion, what is self-righteousness?
Answer:
13. The Word of God is a discerner of the ____________ and _____________ of the heart.
Answer:
Shepherds of the Flock of God
14. The main responsibility of an elder (pastor, bishop, leader of a church) is to
______________.
Answer:
15. In the Christian life, we live by [ A. regular church attendance; B. frequent
conversations with other Christians; C. the Word of God; D. being productive in good
works]
Answer:
16. The religious leaders in Israel (in the times of Jeremiah and Ezekiel) were poor
shepherds because they [ A. lived far away from Jerusalem, B. were on the king’s payroll;
C. were lazy and greedy; D. were feeding themselves and neglecting the flock].
Answer:
17. Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd, ___________________ for His sheep.
Answer:
18: List three of an elder’s professional qualifications.
Answer:
19. What happens in a local church when there is not enough quality Bible teaching?
Answer:
20. ESSAY: Write a description of what you think the Bible teaching in a local church should
contain. That is, what types of classes should be held, who should be in charge of the
teaching program, and what should be done to train teachers. I realize this is an extensive
topic, but you can be brief with your answer; two or three paragraphs are enough.
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