Titus 1 New
International Version - UK (NIVUK)
1
Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ to further the faith of
God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness – 2 in the
hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the
beginning of time, 3 and which now at his appointed season he has brought to
light through the preaching entrusted to me by the command of God our Saviour,
4
To Titus, my true son in our common faith:
Grace
and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Saviour.
Appointing elders who
love what is good
5
The reason I left you in Crete was that you might put in order what was left
unfinished and appoint[a] elders in every town, as I directed you. 6 An elder
must be blameless, faithful to his wife, a man whose children believe[b] and
are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. 7 Since an overseer
manages God’s household, he must be blameless – not overbearing, not
quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest
gain. 8 Rather, he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is
self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. 9 He must hold firmly to the
trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by
sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.
Rebuking those who fail
to do good
10
For there are many rebellious people, full of meaningless talk and deception,
especially those of the circumcision group. 11 They must be silenced, because
they are disrupting whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach
– and that for the sake of dishonest gain. 12 One of Crete’s own prophets has
said it: ‘Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons.’[c] 13 This
saying is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, so that they will be sound in
the faith 14 and will pay no attention to Jewish myths or to the merely human
commands of those who reject the truth. 15 To the pure, all things are pure,
but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact,
both their minds and consciences are corrupted. 16 They claim to know God, but
by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for
doing anything good.
No one can do everything
from Elim Missions
Titus 1
The
Apostle Paul held his dear friend, Titus, with high regard. Titus had been his
missionary partner and they had both run successful evangelism campaigns in
Crete together.
Look
at verse 5
1.
Paul admits to leaving things unfinished, half-done.
Not
even if you are a super-apostle can you do everything. You cannot spin all the
plates successfully. The work will always outweigh your availability. So give
yourself freedom. Don't set yourself up to fail simply because your
expectations are way too high for yourself.
2.
Paul knows what is left to do and knows he is not the person to do it.
There
had to be elders appointed to the churches in every town where the campaign had
been. Paul had advice and guidance. Just because you know how doesn't mean you
should be the one.
3.
Paul appoints the right person and commissions Titus for the task.
If
you are a one-man band then you will achieve very little. Take someone with you
in life, always. Share the load. Delegate. It is called team.
The Voice
of the Nature of God
I heard
the voice of the Lord, saying: "Whom shall I send, and who will go for
Us?" —Isaiah 6:8
When we
talk about the call of God, we often forget the most important thing, namely,
the nature of Him who calls. There are many things calling each of us today.
Some of these calls will be answered, and others will not even be heard. The
call is the expression of the nature of the One who calls, and we can only
recognize the call if that same nature is in us. The call of God is the
expression of God’s nature, not ours. God providentially weaves the threads of
His call through our lives, and only we can distinguish them. It is the
threading of God’s voice directly to us over a certain concern, and it is
useless to seek another person’s opinion of it. Our dealings over the call of
God should be kept exclusively between ourselves and Him.
The call
of God is not a reflection of my nature; my personal desires and temperament
are of no consideration. As long as I dwell on my own qualities and traits and
think about what I am suited for, I will never hear the call of God. But when
God brings me into the right relationship with Himself, I will be in the same
condition Isaiah was. Isaiah was so attuned to God, because of the great crisis
he had just endured, that the call of God penetrated his soul. The majority of
us cannot hear anything but ourselves. And we cannot hear anything God says.
But to be brought to the place where we can hear the call of God is to be
profoundly changed.
The Compelling Force of
the Call, My Uttermost for His Highest, Oswald Chambers.
Woe is me if I do not
preach the gospel! —1 Corinthians 9:16
Beware
of refusing to hear the call of God. Everyone who is saved is called to testify
to the fact of his salvation. That, however, is not the same as the call to
preach, but is merely an illustration which can be used in preaching. In this
verse, Paul was referring to the stinging pains produced in him by the
compelling force of the call to preach the gospel. Never try to apply what Paul
said regarding the call to preach to those souls who are being called to God
for salvation. There is nothing easier than getting saved, because it is solely
God’s sovereign work— “Look to Me, and be saved…” (Isaiah 45:22). Our Lord
never requires the same conditions for discipleship that he requires for
salvation. We are condemned to salvation through the Cross of Christ. But
discipleship has an option with it— “If anyone…” (Luke 14:26).
Paul’s
words have to do with our being made servants of Jesus Christ, and our
permission is never asked as to what we will do or where we will go. God makes
us as broken bread and poured-out wine to please Himself. To be “separated to
the gospel” means being able to hear the call of God (Romans 1:1). Once someone
begins to hear that call, a suffering worthy of the name of Christ is produced.
Suddenly, every ambition, every desire of life, and every outlook is completely
blotted out and extinguished. Only one thing remains— “…separated to the
gospel…” Woe be to the soul who tries to head in any other direction once that
call has come to him. The Bible Training College exists so that each of you may
know whether or not God has a man or woman here who truly cares about
proclaiming His gospel and to see if God grips you for this purpose. Beware of
competing calls once the call of God grips you.
1 Cor 2:6 - 15 NIV God’s
wisdom revealed by the Spirit
6
We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom
of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7 No, we
declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for
our glory before time began. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood it,
for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 However, as
it is written:
‘What
no eye has seen,
what no ear has heard,
and
what no human mind has conceived’[a] –
the things God has prepared for those who
love him –
10
these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit.
The
Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11 For who knows a
person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one
knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 What we have received is
not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may
understand what God has freely given us. 13 This is what we speak, not in words
taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining
spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words.[b] 14 The person without the
Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers
them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only
through the Spirit. 15 The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all
things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments,
The IVP New Testament
Commentary Series
The Sender (1:1-3)
Paul
uses two terms to introduce himself in verse 1. Servant of God occurs only here
in the Pastorals (see "servant of Christ Jesus," Rom 1:1; Phil 1:1).
It describes Paul as one who is under compulsion, committed to faithful service
as a slave to a master. It also indicates his submission to the will of God.
Apostle of Jesus Christ, as we have seen at 1 Timothy 1:1 (though there it is
"Christ Jesus"; compare 2 Tim 1:1), signifies Paul's selection for
service and his sending by Christ himself. This is a technical designation of
one to whom Christ's authority has been delegated.
From
the accounts in Acts and his own letters, it is very apparent that Paul lived
to serve God. It is also apparent that he wanted to see this motivation
duplicated in the lives of others. The greeting in Titus reflects both of these
interests as Paul describes what makes life meaningful for him. Both the
compact form of the description (in fact, the entire greeting, vv. 1-4,
consists of a single sentence) and its central place in the message of the
letter recommend a closer look.
1.
The purpose of Paul's ministry (1:1). Three main phrases combine to describe
what made Paul tick. The first two focus on purpose, and that purpose was the
salvation and spiritual growth of others. He lived to bring God's elect to
faith and maturity in Christ (compare 2 Tim 2:10). This language reflects the
belief in God's election, his sovereign choice and preservation of a people for
himself (compare 2:14). At the same time Paul clearly understood his ministry
to consist of calling in, by proclaiming the gospel, those who would belong to
God.
The
second phrase continues without a break in the Greek sentence to define the
first phrase in terms of knowledge of the truth. This is a description of
salvation based on a rational decision about the gospel (the truth; compare 1
Tim 2:4; 4:3; 2 Tim 2:25; 3:7). But in Crete, as in Ephesus, the traditional
meanings of "truth" and "gospel" were disputed by false
teachers. For this reason Paul adds the important qualification that leads to
godliness. The "truth" that his ministry was concerned with produces
genuine Christians. Godliness throughout the Pastorals defines the Christian
experience as a balanced and holistic life in which correct knowledge of God
affects every part of life (see notes on 1 Tim 2:2).
Consequently,
Paul conceived of his life's task not simply as planting seeds of faith but
also as producing strong, mature and fruitful Christians. His purpose was
accomplished only when people were well on their way to maturity in Christ.
2.
The basis of Paul's ministry (1:2-3). The third phrase, set off somewhat from
the first two by a change of preposition (the first two phrases share the same
one), also describes Paul's apostleship. The NIV interpretation repeats the
substance of the first two phrases, faith and knowledge, suggesting that Paul's
meaning is that these "rest on" hope. But in the long sentence the
three main phrases are parallel, each describing apostle. Thus it is Paul's
ministry that is based on the hope of eternal life. Or to put it another way,
the reason for Paul's apostolic calling is the hope of eternal life.
This
word hope means different things to different people. Often the way we use it
("I hope tomorrow will be a nice day," "I hope I get the
job") implies uncertainty. But Christian hope has an entirely different
quality about it, for it is grounded on the promises of God. The remainder of
verses 2-3 provide one of the finest illustrations of the certainty of
Christian hope in eternal life.
Paul
divides time into two parts to emphasize the certainty of our hope. First,
before time God made the promise of eternal life (v. 2). That is, it was part
of his eternal will that his people would enjoy eternal life. Furthermore,
God's promises are not like human promises, because God cannot lie.
Paul's
argument reaches full force, however, with the shift in time that occurs in
verse 3. Here Paul says that God manifested his word at the proper time (NIV
his appointed season), and he links this manifestation in some way to
preaching. In what sense did/does God bring his word to light through
preaching? Paul's thought here is important for an understanding of the role of
proclamation in God's plan of redemption. God first demonstrated the certainty
of his promise (that is, his word) in sending his Son who died and was
resurrected. Paul does not mention this explicitly here (though compare 2 Tim
1:10), but the thought is implicit. This is virtually certain because the verb
"manifest" (NIV brought . . . to light) and the "before time—now"
(or, as here, "at the proper time") scheme in the New Testament
usually depict together the divulgence of God's plan of salvation in Christ to
the world or to the apostles (Rom 16:25-26; 1 Cor 2:6-7; Eph 3:4-7, 8-11; Col
1:26-27; 1 Tim 1:9-10; compare Gal 4:4; 1 Tim 3:16). Also, in the Pastorals the
phrase "the proper time" refers to Christ's Incarnation or his Second
Coming. Therefore, in saying, as the NIV interprets it, at his appointed season
he brought his word [his promise] to light, Paul alludes to the historical appearance
(ministry, death and resurrection) of Christ which forms the bedrock of
Christian hope in eternal life.
But
Paul's focus in this passage is on his (and our) place in God's plan to deliver
eternal life. Now we see that God not only verified the truthfulness of his
promise—the certainty of hope—in sending Christ but continues to do so through
the preaching entrusted to Paul and the church. The thought here parallels 2
Timothy 1:9-10: there time is also divided into the "before" and the "now,"
and God fulfills his promise first in Christ's death and resurrection, second
through the church's preaching of that event. Thus in God's plan the church has
become not only the proof and recipient of hope's promise but also the channel
through which the hope of eternal life is offered to the rest of the world.
Christian
hope is built on the promise of God. That promise is good (1) because God does
not lie and (2) because he sent his Son to keep his promise. The gospel
ministry, which exists to communicate this hope, extends the redemptive work of
Christ's cross and resurrection into the "present" of the church. For
by this means and this means alone God has chosen to execute salvation (1 Cor
1:18-31). The rest of Paul's instructions to Titus draw their meaning from this
point, because only a healthy church will be able to carry out this plan of God
the Savior.
It
is important to get hold of the significance of ministry in Paul's thinking.
Every believer's life has been uniquely designed with ministry in mind (Rom
12:6; 1 Cor 12:7). Paul's calling—to make known the truth of God and the hope
of eternal life—is one in which we are all meant to have a part.
The Bible Panorama
Titus 1
V 1–4: INTRODUCTORY
REMARKS
Paul, bond servant and apostle, writes to his spiritual son Titus, and sends
him Christian greetings having emphasised the importance of faith, truth,
godliness, eternal life, God’s faithfulness, preaching His Word, and his own
commission to obey his Saviour.
V 5–9: IMPORTANT RESPONSIBILITIES Titus had been left in
Crete to help organise the churches in each city and appoint elders. Elders
(the same as bishops) are to be spiritually mature and godly men whose
essential characteristics and abilities are spelled out to Titus by Paul.
Theirs is an important responsibility in the churches, and so is that of Titus
in appointing them on Paul’s behalf. They must be able to hold, teach and defend
the truth of God’s Word.
V
10–16: INTERNAL REBELS Insubordinate, idle, deceiving, self-seeking, false
teachers—many of whom are Jewish legalists—are to be opposed and rebuked, so
that the Christians acquire a soundness in the faith of God. Jewish fables and
man-made commands are to be opposed. The false teachers’ wicked, self-seeking,
materialistic and disobedient lifestyles disqualify them from any good work,
obviously including eldership, as they profess to know God but show by the way
they live that they do not know Him.
Dictionary of Bible
Themes
7026 church, leadership
of
Jesus
Christ is the absolute head of the church. He sets leaders in the church to
enable the whole church to grow into maturity. Christ’s authority in the church
is acknowledged more by the church’s obedience to God than through any
particular form of government.
Jesus
Christ alone is head of the church
Col
1:18 See also Mt 23:8-10; Eph 1:22; Eph 4:15; Eph 5:23; Col 2:19; Heb 3:3
The
Holy Spirit directs the church
Ac
13:2 See also Ac 15:28; Ac 16:6-7; Ac 20:28; Ro 8:14; 1Co 12:11; Rev 2:7,11
The
appointment of leaders in the church
God
calls and equips leaders Eph 4:11 See also Mt 16:18; Ac 1:24-26; Ac 9:15-16; Ac
20:28; Ac 26:16-18; 1Co 12:28; Gal 1:15-17
Delegated
leadership Ac 6:3-6; Ac 14:23; Tit 1:5
The
appointment of apostles Mk 3:13-19 pp Mt 10:1-4 pp Lk 6:12-16 As founders of
the church: 1Co 9:1-2; 2Co 3:3; Eph 2:20; Rev 21:14 As leaders of the church:
Ac 2:42; Ac 15:6,22-23; 1Th 2:6; 2Pe 3:2; Jude 17
Prophets
as leaders Ac 15:32 Judas and Silas were leaders in the Jerusalem church (Ac
15:22). See also Ac 11:27-30; Ac 13:1-2; Ro 12:6 The role of prophets as
leaders is distinct from the gift of prophecy, which was in principle available
to all; 1Co 12:28; 1Co 14:29-30; Eph 3:5
Evangelists
as leaders Ac 21:8 See also Eph 4:11; 2Ti 4:5
Pastors
and teachers as leaders Ac 20:28 See also Jn 21:15-17; Ac 13:1; Ro 12:7; 1Co
12:28; 1Ti 3:2; Tit 1:9; Jas 3:1; 1Pe 5:2 Pastors are also called “shepherds”.
interchangeable.
See also Ac 11:30; Ac 14:23; Ac 15:2,22; Ac 20:17; 1Ti 5:17; Tit 1:5; Jas 5:14;
2Jn 1
Deacons
as leaders Php 1:1 “Deacon” means “one who serves”. See also Ac 6:5-6; 1Ti 3:8
Qualifications
for church leadership
The
first apostles were witnesses of Jesus Christ’s life and resurrection: Ac
1:21-22; Ac 10:41; 1Co 9:1-2; 1Co 15:7-8; 2Pe 1:16 Qualifications for elders
and deacons: Ac 6:3; 1Ti 3:1-12; 1Ti 5:17; Tit 1:6-9; 1Pe 5:1-4
Responsibilities
of church leaders
To
preach the gospel Ro 1:15; 1Co 1:17; Gal 2:8; Eph 3:8; 1Ti 2:7
To
teach sound doctrine 1Ti 4:6,13; 1Ti 5:17; Heb 13:7
To
give direction in church life Ac 15:2,6,22-23; Ac 16:4; Ac 20:28-31; 1Ti 5:17;
1Pe 5:2
To
be an example in loving service Mt 20:26-28 pp Mk 10:43-45; Mk 9:35; Jn
13:13-15; Heb 13:7; 1Pe 5:3
To
train and appoint other leaders Ac 14:23; 1Ti 4:14; 2Ti 2:2; Tit 1:5
To
pray for the sick Jas 5:14
To
exercise discipline in the church 2Co 13:10; 1Th 5:12; 1Ti 1:20; 1Ti 5:20; Tit
3:10; 3Jn 10
The
church’s responsibilities to its leaders
To
respect and submit to its leaders Ac 16:4; 1Th 5:12-13; 1Ti 5:19; Heb 13:17
To
pray for its leaders Eph 6:19; 1Th 5:25
To
support its leaders financially 1Co 9:7-14; Php 4:15-19; 1Ti 5:17-18
The
corporate government of the church
In
choosing leaders Ac 6:3-6
In
implementing decisions Ac 15:22-29
In
building up the church Ro 12:4-8; 1Co 12:4-12,27; Eph 4:3,7-16; 1Pe 4:10-11
In
discerning true and false teachings 1Jn 4:1-3; 2Jn 10; Rev 2:2
In
exercising discipline Mt 18:15-20; 1Co 5:4-5; 2Co 2:6-8; 2Th 3:14-15
The
structure of the church
The
pattern of church life Ac 2:42 See also Ac 2:46; Ac 5:42
The
house church Ac 1:13-14; Ac 12:12; Ac 16:40; Ro 16:5; 1Co 16:19; Col 4:15; Phm
2
The
local church Ac 13:1; Ro 16:1; 1Co 1:2 It is unknown whether there were
subdivisions of the church in towns such as Corinth; 1Th 1:1
Churches
in a region Ac 9:31; Ac 15:41; 1Co 16:1; 2Co 8:1; Gal 1:2,22; Rev 1:4 Normally
the NT speaks of “churches” in an area rather than of a unified regional
structure.
The
universal church Mt 16:18 Referring to the local as well as the universal
church: 1Co 12:28; Eph 1:22; Eph 3:10; Eph 5:25
1.
Pastors and teachers as
leaders
Ephesians
4:11-16 New International Version - UK (NIVUK)
11 So Christ himself
gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12
to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be
built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the
Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of
Christ.
14
Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and
blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and
craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the
truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him
who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held
together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as
each part does its work.
Dictionary of Bible
Themes
7789 shepherd, as church
leader
Church
leaders are likened to shepherds, on account of their pastoral responsibilities
and tasks.
Jesus
Christ, the archetypal shepherd
1Pe
5:4
Appointment
of shepherds
Eph
4:11 See also Mk 3:14; Ac 14:23; 1Co 12:28
Shepherd
responsibilities
Feeding
the flock Jn 21:15 See also Mk 6:34; Jn 21:17; 1Co 3:2; Heb 5:12-14; Jude 12
Caring
for the flock Jn 21:16 See also Mt 25:36; Ac 20:28; Php 1:1; 1Ti 3:1-2; 2Ti
1:17; Tit 1:7; Jas 1:27; 1Pe 5:2
Protecting,
from false teachers Ac 20:29 See also Mt 7:15; Jn 10:1,10
Leading,
not exploiting 1Pe 5:3
Being
accountable See also Heb 13:17
Risking
death Jn 10:15; Ac 12:1-4; Ac 21:13
2.
Feeding the Flock.
Hebrews
5:11-14 New International Version - UK (NIVUK)
Warning
against falling away
11
We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because
you no longer try to understand. 12 In fact, though by this time you ought to
be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word
all over again. You need milk, not solid food! 13 Anyone who lives on milk,
being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness.
14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained
themselves to distinguish good from evil.
3.
Caring for the Flock.
Hebrews
5:11-14 New International Version - UK (NIVUK)
Warning
against falling away
11
We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because
you no longer try to understand. 12 In fact, though by this time you ought to
be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word
all over again. You need milk, not solid food! 13 Anyone who lives on milk,
being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness.
14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained
themselves to distinguish good from evil.
7797
teaching
The
apostles’teaching formed the basis of the instruction given to the first
Christians. Parts of the NT draw a distinction between preaching and teaching,
seeing the former as a means of converting individuals, and the latter as a
means of instructing them after conversion.
The
importance of teaching
Ecc
12:11-12 “goads” prod the sluggish to action, while “embedded nails” furnish a
kind of mental anchorage. “Shepherd” is almost certainly a reference to God
himself. See also Pr 1:8-9; Pr 3:1-2; Pr 4:1-4; Pr 6:20-23; Mt 5:19; 1Co 14:6;
2Ti 4:2-3
Teaching
given by parents
Pr
22:6 See also Dt 6:6-9; Dt 11:18-19; Eph 6:1-4
The
apostles’teaching
Ac
2:42; Tit 1:9 See also Mt 28:19-20; Ro 6:17; Ro 16:17; 1Th 4:8; 2Th 2:15; 1Ti
1:10-11; 1Ti 4:6; 1Ti 6:3; 2Ti 1:13-14; 2Ti 4:3; Tit 2:1
The
gift of teaching in the church
Ro
12:7 See also 1Ti 4:13-14
Ways
of teaching believers
Through
example 1Th 1:5-6 See also 1Co 4:17; 1Co 11:1; Php 4:9; 1Th 2:14; 2Ti 3:10; Tit
2:3-7
Through
dialogue with the teacher Ac 20:7; Ac 19:8-9
Through
explanation of ceremonies Ex 12:26-27; Ex 13:14-16
Through
proverbs Pr 1:1-6,20-28
Through
the law Dt 6:6-9; Dt 11:18-19; Dt 27:1-26; Ps 78:5-8
Through
mutual edification Col 3:16 See also Ro 15:14; 1Th 5:11; Heb 5:12
Through
the instruction of different groups within the church Eph 5:22-6:9; Col
3:18-4:1; Tit 2:1-10; 1Pe 2:18-3:7; 1Pe 5:1-5
The
distinction between teaching and preaching
Ac
15:35 See also Mt 4:23; Mt 9:35; Mt 11:1; Lk 20:1; Ac 4:2; Ac 5:42; Ac 28:31
Examples
of major themes taught in the NT church
Righteousness
from God through faith in Jesus Christ Ro 3:21-22 See also Gal 2:20-21
Freedom
in Christ from the demands of the law Gal 5:1-3
The
humility of Jesus Christ Php 2:5-8 See also Heb 13:12-13
The
supremacy of Jesus Christ Col 1:18
The
superiority of Jesus Christ Heb 3:3 Hebrews also shows Jesus Christ to be
superior to the angels, the high priest and the sacrifices.
Godly
behaviour Eph 4:22-24 See also Ro 12:1-2; 1Ti 6:1-2
4.
The gift of teaching in
the church
1
Timothy 4:6-16 New International Version - UK (NIVUK)
6
If you point these things out to the brothers and sisters,[a] you will be a
good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished on the truths of the faith and of the
good teaching that you have followed. 7 Have nothing to do with godless myths
and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. 8 For physical
training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding
promise for both the present life and the life to come. 9 This is a trustworthy
saying that deserves full acceptance. 10 That is why we labour and strive,
because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Saviour of all
people, and especially of those who believe.
11
Command and teach these things. 12 Don’t let anyone look down on you because
you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in
love, in faith and in purity. 13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public
reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. 14 Do not neglect your
gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their
hands on you.
15
Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone
may see your progress. 16 Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in
them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.
Be
Blessed today,
Yours
because of the richness of His Grace,
Mercy and Love
For
the sake of His Glorious Gospel, Church
and Kingdom
Blair
Humphreys
Southport,
Merseyside, England
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