Tit 3 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Titus 3:1-11: 3:1-11 The emphasis on wholesome teaching (1:9 ; 2:1 ) continues; Paul turns now to the relationship of the Christian community with society at large (cp. 1 Tim 2:2-4 ). As in Titus 2:1-15 , God’s instructions for his people (3:1-2 ) are based on his dealings with them (3:3-7 ; cp. study note on 2:11-15). Paul then instructs Titus to avoid fruitless disputes and to insist on beneficial teaching (3:8-11 ). 3:1 Paul might be telling the believers to make a clear distinction between themselves and the unruly common masses. Alternatively, the troublemakers (1:10-15 ; 3:10 ) might have adopted unruly behaviors that stemmed from their erroneous teachings (as is likely the case in 1 Tim 2:1-7 ). • On relations to government ... officers , see 1 Tim 2:2 ; Rom 13:1-7 .

Summary for Titus 3:1-11: 3:1-11 ^a The emphasis on wholesome teaching (1:9 ^b; 2:1 ^c) continues; Paul turns now to the relationship of the Christian community with society at large (cp. 1 Tim 2:2-4 ^d). As in Titus 2:1-15 ^e, God’s instructions for his people (3:1-2 ^f) are based on his dealings with them (3:3-7 ^g; cp. study note on 2:11-15). Paul then instructs Titus to avoid fruitless disputes and to insist on beneficial teaching (3:8-11 ^h). 3:1 ⁱ Paul might be telling the believers to make a clear distinction between themselves and the unruly common masses. Alternatively, the troublemakers (1:10-15 ^j; 3:10 ^k) might have adopted unruly behaviors that stemmed from their erroneous teachings (as is likely the case in 1 Tim 2:1-7 ^l).

• On relations to government ... officers, see 1 Tim 2:2 ^m; Rom 13:1-7 ⁿ.
3:3 ^o Humility (3:2 ^p) is fitting, considering our state when God’s kindness and love came to us (3:4 ^q; see Eph 2:1-4 ^r; 5:8 ^s; Col 3:7 ^t; 1 Pet 4:3 ^u).
Summary for Titus 3:4-7: 3:4-7 ^v This passage might be a summary or quote from traditional teaching (see 1 Tim 1:15 ^w; 2:5-6 ^x). 3:4 ^y We should behave toward our compatriots as God acted toward us—in kindness and love. God’s salvation makes this possible.

• revealed (literally appeared): The Greek word relates to the coming of Christ (also in 2:11 ^z, 13 ^aa; see study note on 1 Tim 6:14).
3:5 ^ab not because ... but because: The contrast is between human actions that might be thought to merit salvation and God’s grace (see Gal 2:16 ^ac). Salvation is through faith in God’s mercy alone (Eph 2:8 ^ad).

• He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth: See Ezek 16:9 ^ae; John 3:1-15 ^af; Eph 5:26 ^ag; Heb 10:22 ^ah; 2 Pet 1:9 ^ai.

• and new life through the Holy Spirit: This signifies a complete departure from the life of sin and death and a transfer into the realm of life and purity (see also Rom 12:2 ^aj; 2 Cor 5:17 ^ak; Col 3:10 ^al).
3:7 ^am The first half of this verse sums up 3:4-6 ^an. The second half supplies the purpose for what God did.

• made us right in his sight: See Rom 3:20-28 ^ao; Gal 2:16-17 ^ap.

• inherit eternal life: The Spirit (Titus 3:5 ^aq) is often linked with our status as heirs (see Rom 8:15-17 ^ar; 1 Cor 6:9-11 ^as; Gal 4:6-7 ^at; Eph 1:13-14 ^au).
3:8 ^av The trustworthy saying is 3:4-7 ^aw (cp. 1 Tim 1:15 ^ax).
Summary for Titus 3:10-11: 3:10-11 ^ay have nothing more to do with ... people like that: This refers to incorrigibly quarrelsome and divisive people (see 1:11 ^az, 13 ^ba).
Summary for Titus 3:12-15: 3:12-15 ^bb The letter closes with news (3:12 ^bc), a final exhortation (3:13-14 ^bd), greetings, and a blessing (3:15 ^be). 3:12 ^bf Evidently Artemas or Tychicus would be Titus’s replacement on Crete. Since Tychicus was in fact sent to Ephesus (see 2 Tim 4:12 ^bg), Artemas might have been the one who went to Crete.

• Nicopolis: Several cities had this name; this was most likely a major city on the western coast of the Greek peninsula. Paul had possibly worked here before (see Rom 15:19 ^bh, which mentions Paul’s activity even further west).
3:13 ^bi Zenas and Apollos were involved in spreading the Good News, and they might have been the couriers of this letter to Titus.

• Zenas was probably an expert in Roman law or a Roman jurist (the same word for lawyer is in Luke 7:30 ^bj; 10:25 ^bk); his pagan name (“gift of Zeus”) makes it unlikely that he was an expert in Jewish law.

• Apollos is presumably the same man as in Acts 18:24 ^bl; 19:1 ^bm; 1 Cor 1:12 ^bn; 3:4-6 ^bo, 22 ^bp; 4:6 ^bq; 16:12 ^br.

• everything they need: See 1 Tim 3:2 ^bs; 3 Jn 1:5-8 ^bt; cp. Rom 15:24 ^bu; 1 Cor 16:6 ^bv, 11 ^bw; 2 Cor 1:16 ^bx.
3:14 ^by This final exhortation is connected to the responsibility to take care of Zenas and Apollos (see Rom 12:13 ^bz; Eph 4:28 ^ca; 1 Thes 4:11 ^cb; 1 Tim 5:8 ^cc, 16 ^cd; 6:18 ^ce).

• Our people must involve themselves in the life-giving ministry of the Good News rather than in the unproductive speculations of the false teachers.
3:15 ^cf you all: The letter was addressed to Titus (1:4 ^cg), but the whole church was the audience for the letter.