1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;

2In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

3But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;

4To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.

5For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:

6If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.

7For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;

8But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;

9Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.

10For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:

11Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.

12One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, the Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.

13This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;

14Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.

15Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.

16They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

COMMENTARY by Dr. Dave Burnette

Written By: God through Inspiration

Penned By: Paul

Date Penned: (64 AD)

Overview: Paul's Instruction to Titus on Crete (c 1-3)

Theme: Leadership in the Church (c 1)

Message: Qualifications for Church Leadership (v 1-16)

Titus 1 Commentary

(1:1-4) Greetings from Paul - Christian tradition suggests a missionary visit by Paul and Titus shortly after the first trial. Paul planted the church and left Titus to look after the early organizational phase and to oversee the new congregations. Because the gospel had only recently been preached on the island, believers were susceptible to a number of strong influences. So Titus needed to be on guard. Also, the church in Crete needed strong Christian leaders; Titus was responsible to choose and prepare them.

(1:5-16) Titus's Work in Crete - Unlike the pressing matter of the false teachers that was on Paul’s mind when he wrote to Timothy in Ephesus, Paul’s letter to Titus focused on establishing healthy churches on Crete. In both cases, identifying good leaders was a priority. But in Ephesus leaders were needed to get the church back on track, while on Crete effective leaders were needed to get the church moving in the right direction. Paul wanted Titus to choose the right people to lead the growing church in Crete.

LIFE APPLICATION by Dr. Dave Burnette

Each day we walk through the Bible chapter by chapter making an application of our text to help us grow in the Lord. Many applications can be made from each day's text. Today we start in the book of Titus with Chapter 1 and in our text we see Paul writing to Titus on the Isle of Crete, instructing Him about Leadership in the Church with the qualifications for Church leadership and warning of false teachers. In making application we see the pattern for leadership the warning of false teachers who have other motivations than to preach the Gospel. Today, many false teachers fill our pulpits and preach for personal gain but true leadership will be in accordance to scripture and will be known buy the lifting up of Christ which will produce fruit in the lives of others. How about you? Do you see the guidelines for true Church Leadership? Let us learn from our text today and the reminder of Paul who gives us guidelines for those who are going into the Ministry and those who serve that the Bibles gives us guidelines for our Church leaders to measure themselves and for the Church to recognize false teachers in our Churches.