IN these opening verses of the letter of Paul to Titus we have the greeting in verses 1-4, and the sending forth of Titus as Paul's representative, and the chief representative of Christ for the church in Crete.

GREETING (v.1-4)

The greeting is in the usual form in Paul's letters. Paul declares his authority which gives authority to what he writes. Paul declares himself to be God's servant (slave), and an apostle of Christ, that is one of the chosen twelve. Even though Paul was not one of the twelve while Jesus was alive, he was called and commissioned by Christ personally from his conversion on the Damascus road. From this we can deduce that Paul was Christ's choice to make up the twelve apostles to replace Judas, and that the church was wrong to appoint Matthias after prayer and the casting of lots (Acts 1:23-26)

Paul declares what his apostleship was for. It was for the faith of God's elect and the knowledge of the truth. In other words his apostleship was to build up the faith of those who were called by the Holy Spirit to faith in Jesus, and also to teach and set forth the truth of God � the truth of salvation, which alone produces true godliness. From this we are told that Paul's teaching is the definitive word of God, and only truth which produces the life of faith that is owned by God.

This knowledge and faith is founded on the promise of God of eternal life, and so is the only true way of attaining to the promise of eternal life. Faith and knowledge rests on this promise of eternal life. Paul tells us also that this promise of eternal life through the gospel of Christ preached by Paul has been the promise from before time. So anything that changes, denies, or diminishes this faith and knowledge is not the truth of God. Paul goes on in verse 3 to tell us God had appointed him specially to make this promise known to the Gentiles at this appointed time in history. Paul's authority for saying this was the command of God our Saviour, that is Jesus Christ.

Paul writes to Titus whom he expresses as his true son in our common faith. By this we understand that Titus was brought to faith by Paul's ministry, and he believed and lived by the faith which was common with Paul's faith. In other words Paul could safely entrust the church of Christ in Crete to Titus because he held and lived by the truth.

The greeting ends with the usual blessing. There is no greater blessing than to know and experience the grace and peace which comes from God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Grace expresses the substance of the gift of salvation, and peace expresses the glorious result of grace. We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

COMMISSIONING OF TITUS (v.1-9)

Verse 5 tells us that Paul left Titus in Crete to finish the work Paul had begun and to look after the health of the believers by appointing elders in different places where there were groups of believers, who would then care spiritually for those Christians.

Paul's commissioning of Titus we would call ordination, and the appointment of elders by Titus as ordination to the ministry in Christ's church

The purpose of ordination is seen to be twofold. Firstly, that the one set apart for ministry by ordination should be someone of holy and Christlike character. Secondly, that the ordained minister or elder should hold firmly to the trustworthy message. In other words the ordained minister must uphold the truth and teach the truth.

So we see that the ministry is by example as well as teaching to promote a people who hold to the truth by faith, and live out the truth in holy and Christlike living. This is most instructive for us today.

LESSONS in v.1-9.

It is plain that society in those days was decadent. Society had low standards of morality and behaviour. This is why the minister should be blameless etc. We can also deduce that it was common for men to have more than one wife in that culture, so the minister must show truth by only having one wife. It is the same today that the minister by life and family should be a beacon of the pattern of life which comes from God, and so by his or her living may commend the gospel. We are taught here also the importance of true ministers in the church of Christ. The importance is twofold. The minister must promote Christlike living, and the minister must teach the truth of Christ taught by Paul, and preserve that truth, and build up church members in that truth. This is the purpose of the ministry.

We are taught that such ministry is not to be taken up by any person who desires to do so. The ministry must be appointed by proper authority. In Crete at this time, Titus was given this authority by Paul. So we see that it is right for the church to have a process whereby ministers should be appointed and set apart for the good of the church. The purpose of ministry is to preserve the church and the souls of its members.

We see also the importance of the truth of Christ and the preserving of the truth. This tells us what must be the first concern of the ministry. The ministry of Christ first and foremost must teach and preserve the truth.

These verses gives us an example by which we must order ministry in the church today. This does not mean that the ministry in any particular denomination today is wrong, but we must see that it upholds the two principles of ministry set forth here in the instructions of Paul.