Internalization questions for Titus 1

Titus 1.md

Outline and Questions for Titus 1:1-16

Scene 1: Paul's Introduction and Greeting (Titus 1:1-4)

\c 1
\po
\v 1 Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ to further the faith of Godʼs elect and their knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness—
\v 2 in the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time,
\v 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 Savior,
\po
\v 4 To Titus, my true son in our common faith:
\po Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.

Questions:

1. How does Paul describe himself in verse 1? Why do you think he uses these specific titles?
2. What is Paul’s mission according to verse 1?
3. In verse 2, what does Paul say God has promised? When was this promise made?
4. According to verse 3, how is this promise being fulfilled? What role does Paul have in this?
5. To whom is Paul writing this letter, and how does he describe their relationship in verse 4?
6. What blessing does Paul give to Titus in verse 4? Why might this be important?

Summary Questions:

• How do you think Paul feels about his mission and his relationship with Titus?
• How does Paul's introduction set the tone for the rest of the letter?

Scene 2: Instructions for Appointing Elders (Titus 1:5-9)

\s1 Appointing Elders Who Love What Is Good
\p
\v 5 The reason I left you in Crete was that you might put in order what was left unfinished and appoint\f + \fr 1:5 \ft Or \fqa ordain\f* elders in every town, as I directed you.
\v 6 An elder must be blameless, faithful to his wife, a man whose children believe\f + \fr 1:6 \ft Or \fq children \fqa are trustworthy\f* and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient.
\v 7 Since an overseer manages Godʼs household, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain.
\v 8 Rather, he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined.
\v 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.

Questions:

1. Why did Paul leave Titus in Crete according to verse 5?
2. What qualifications does Paul list for an elder in verses 6-8? How do these qualities contribute to their role?
3. In verse 9, what is the elder expected to do with the trustworthy message? Why is this important?
4. What is the significance of holding "firmly to the trustworthy message"? How does this relate to the overall goal of Paul's instruction?

Summary Questions:

• How do these requirements for elders reflect Paul's larger vision for the church?
• Can you visualize what kind of community would emerge if leaders truly embodied these qualities?

Scene 3: Dealing with Rebellious People (Titus 1:10-16)

\s1 Rebuking Those Who Fail to Do Good
\p
\v 10 For there are many rebellious people, full of meaningless talk and deception, especially those of the circumcision group.
\v 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.
\v 12 One of Creteʼs own prophets has said it: “Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons.”\f + \fr 1:12 \ft From the Cretan philosopher Epimenides\f*
\v 13 This saying is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, so that they will be sound in the faith
\v 14 and will pay no attention to Jewish myths or to the merely human commands of those who reject the truth.
\v 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.
\v 16 They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.

Questions:

1. What kinds of people are causing problems in verse 10? What group is particularly mentioned?
2. According to verse 11, why must these people be silenced? What is the impact of their actions?
3. How does Paul use a quote from a Cretan prophet in verse 12? What does he say about its truth in verse 13?
4. What is Paul's advice for dealing with these rebellious people in verses 13-14?
5. In verse 15, what distinction does Paul make between the pure and the corrupted? How does this affect their perception?
6. According to verse 16, what is the discrepancy between the actions and claims of these people? How does Paul describe them?

Summary Questions:

• How do the characteristics of rebellious people contrast with the qualities of the elders Paul described earlier?
• How might these warnings and instructions help shape the community’s behavior and attitude towards faith and conduct?

Final Reflection:

• After contemplating this passage, how do you see Paul's guidance helping to build a strong and faithful community?
• Can you imagine being Titus and receiving this letter? How would Paul's instructions empower you to act?