Quizzing the New Testament : Titus

Answer: My true son in our common faith

Elsewhere, Paul describes Titus as his brother (2 Corinthians 2 v. 13) and "partner and fellow worker" (2 Corinthians 8 v. 23).

Answer: Crete

It is not clear how the Cretan church was founded. There were Cretans present in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2) so it is possible that Christianity could have reached the island through this route. Paul is also recorded as having sailed along the coastline of Crete en route to Rome (Acts 27), although there is no evidence of him making significant contact with its people.

Answer: They must be generous givers.

"An elder must be blameless, the husband of but one wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. Since an overseer is entrusted with God's work, he must be blameless - not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. Rather he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined." (Titus 1 v. 6-8)

It's a tough list of wants. How many of today's pastors and lay leaders would fulfil every one of those requirements?

Answer: Jerusalem

Paul writes of the controversy in his letter to the Galatians. He had made the journey to Jerusalem with Barnabas and Titus and, whilst there, they met privately with the leaders of the Jerusalem church. His reason for giving this account was to stress that these leaders had not demanded that Titus, a gentile, be circumcised: "Fourteen years later I went up again to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas. I took Titus along also. I went in response to a revelation and set before them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles.

But I did this privately to those who seemed to be leaders, for fear that I was running or had run my race in vain. Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek. This matter arose because some false brothers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves." (Galatians 2 v. 1-4)

Answer: Pure

Paul takes this a little further in his letter to the Corinthians. There he again asserts that all things are "permissible" for the Christian but goes on to counsel that sometimes it is better to abstain than risk damaging the faith of a fellow believer (1 Corinthians 10).

Paul's objections are not just doctrinal. His letter to Titus contains constant encouragement that people should be living good lives. This he does not see in those who obsess over the purity laws:
"They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good." (Titus 1 v. 16)

Answer: The older women

"Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good." (Titus 2 v. 3)

A major theme in all of the practical advice that Paul gives here is that personal lives should both be an inspiring example to others and leave no room for possible criticism.

Answer: The appearance of Jesus Christ

"For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say 'No' to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age..." (Titus 2 v. 11-12)

Paul makes clear that the grace of God was revealed to the world in the coming of Jesus Christ among us. The need for self-control is highlighted five times in this short letter. At various times it is advised for elders; older men; younger men and younger women.

Answer: We must adhere strictly to the demands of scripture.

"But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life." (Titus 3 v. 4-7)

Once again, Paul is not just expounding doctrine for the sake of it. The end result should be people "doing good" and reflecting on things that "are excellent and profitable for everyone." (Titus 3 v. 8)

Answer: Matthew

"If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.' If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector." (Matthew 18 v. 15-17)

This is an unusual passage in that it uses the Greek word "Ecclesia" for church. The kind of church structure that the word suggests is that of Paul and Titus' day rather than Jesus' lifetime. Most scholars, therefore, accept that, whilst the gist of the passage may be true, the actual word has been read back onto Jesus' lips.

Answer: All five of the New Testament books beginning with "T" come together and are in alphabetical order.

It's also true that, if you open your Bible roughly in the middle, you should find the book of Psalms. Old Testament history books come before Psalms; Old Testament prophets come after. This is, of course, less likely to hold true if you have a study Bible with masses of additional pages at the back.