A final trustworthy saying. Titus 3.

This is a trustworthy saying, and I want you to insist on these teachings so that all who trust in God will devote themselves to doing good. These teachings are good and beneficial for everyone. (Titus 3:8 NLT)

I'll get to the actual trustworthy saying that Paul is referring to in a minute, but first, it's time to say goodbye to Paul in our reading for a while. We still have two of his letters to read before the end of the year, but they don't contain any identified trustworthy sayings. As noted earlier, the presence of these sayings is a reflection on the maturing of the various churches, adding embodied truth in the form of memorized and repeated sayings.

Even as Paul says that he's given Titus a trustworthy saying, he adds his own trustworthy saying. Titus was to teach the church at Crete what the apostles had taught, teach what was embodied in the trustworthy saying. The result of that teaching would lead any who trust in God to devote themselves to doing good works. Our trust in God's work on the cross is the starting point of doing good, not the end point. While some of the teachings in this letter are rooted in the situation in Crete, this isn't. We don't have to take an extra step to extract principles for us from the prescription for the initial recipients of the letter.

But—“When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. Because of his grace he declared us righteous and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.” (Titus 3:4-7 NLT)

And there you have it. God did all the work, in kindness and love, not because of what we had done. We're made new, anointed with His Spirit, and declared righteous. And it's that truth that leads us to devote ourselves to doing good. Can there be any doubt? If we really believe this, if we grow in our understanding of what it means, if we see more and more clearly what it means to be eternally in God's presence, how can we possibly do less than be devoted to doing good?

Paul can remind us (and Titus) of this, but it's our choice to absorb the lesson. It helps to remember the story of Jesus, and we get one more reading of that, yet this year. And it helps to have trustworthy sayings in our memory, ready to call up at any moment to chew on, meditate over, and remind us that it really is all about Him.

Self-control. Titus 2.

Was there any choice on what to blog about for this chapter?

At then end of the first chapter of Titus (keeping in mind that this was just the previous sentence of Paul's letter), Paul wrote, "They profess to know God but with their deeds they deny him, since they are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for any good deed." (Titus 1:16 NET) Paul continues that thought by saying to Titus in v.2:1, "But as for you, communicate the behavior that goes with sound teaching."

As Paul gave Titus the instruction to complete the task of putting things in order in the church in Crete (v.1:5), a part of that task was to stand firm against the false teachers (v.1:11). And that meant providing teaching that led to proper behavior and good works. Paul gives Titus specific instructions for older men, older women, younger women and men, and bondservants (slaves). And one of the chief characteristics to be taught is that of self-control -- given to older men, younger men, and through the older women to the young women. It's not too much to assume Paul meant it for everyone.

There are several Greek words that are translated as self-control. The two words we're concerned with are: egkrateia and sophron. Both these words occur in Titus 1:8, but only the latter, sophron, is used in Titus 2. The NIV translators chose to translate sophron as self-controlled, so in Titus 1:8 they translate egkrateia as "disciplined". Unfortunately, this is not the same translation they used in Galatians 5:23, where self-control (egkrateia) is listed as a fruit of the spirit. The NET Bible is more consistent, but using the English word "sensible" instead of self-control for the Greek word, sophron throughout the letter to Titus. This leaves the translators free to use "self-control" for egkrateia in Titus 1:8. Here's a chart to sort it all out.

Greek Word	sophron	egkrates/egkrateia
Definition	- sensible, self-controlled; chaste, modest (of women). - pertaining to being sensible and moderate in one's behavior.	- to exercise complete control over one's desires and actions. - self-controlled; pertaining to exercising self-control.
NET Bible	sensible	self-controlled
NIV Gal. 5:23		self-controlled
NIV Titus 1:8	self-controlled	disciplined
NIV Titus 2	self-controlled

Now why all this potential confusion? In part it has to do with closeness of the meanings between the words self-control and sensible. Louw and Nida, whose lexicon contains the longish definitions you've read as the last definitions for each "Word of the Day" on the blog, divide the Koine Greek language into "semantic domains." These domains are a way of classifying various words in a language into a meaningful hierarchy. The concept comes from an understanding about the way we tend to think in and learn a language by those who study semantics. Thus, there are domains for plants, and one for animals that we pretty quickly learn to differentiate between. (And so, Gallagher can make jokes about a sledge hammer as a kitchen device, the "Sledge-o-Matic.")

Louw and Nida classify sensible and self-control as adjacent domains, signifying the very close relationship between the words. Take a look at the chart above for the definitions. The difference between the Greek words is subtle, but may be worth singling out. In the case of egkrateia (Titus 1:8 and Galatians 5:23), there is the idea disciplining oneself (exerting power), like a runner training for a marathon getting up every morning to run. In the Titus 2 passage, the idea to be taught is that of sensible living, modesty in behavior, and the thoughtful awareness that leads to living that way.

Both ideas are implicit in who we are to be and how we are to act as Christians. For this day, then, where are the places where my living is less than sensible and lacking self-control? God help me in those areas, that my life might be a better reflection of who You are.

Appointed season. Titus 1.

In 2 Timothy we looked at the timing of the "last days." In his letter to Titus, Paul talks about the timing of God, in the sense of events taking place at an appropriate moment, chosen by God. The NET Bible translation says, simply, "But in his own time ..." (Titus 1:3a) The NIV puts it more elegantly:

"... a faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time, and at his appointed season he brought his word to light through the preaching entrusted to me by the command of God our Saviour ..." (Titus 1:2,3 NIV)

(A side note on the translations. As the NET Bible footnote indicates, in the Greek there is a strong contrast between v.1:2b and v.1:3a, which they emphasize with the word "But". The NIV uses "and", which makes a connection, but doesn't emphasize the contrast. The new version of the NIV, Today's New International Version, or TNIV, keeps the phrase "appropriate season", but adds the contrast in this way: "and which now ..." For those of you unfamiliar with it, this updated version (TNIV) of the NIV has much to commend it.)

The two thoughts Paul is expressing are that first of all, God has made decisions and extended promises before the dawn of time; and second, that it's His choice as to when those decisions come to fruition or when He fulfills His promises. The implication is that in both cases, it's His choice to make, and it will be good.

The best example I can think of is the same one Paul is talking about -- God's promise of eternal life was fulfilled in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. There was no more fortuitous time for Jesus' entry into the world, than at the moment He did come. The Greek civilization had provided a common language. The Roman Empire had provided peace (enforced militarily), common economics, and a tremendous infrastructure (especially their roads). The message of the kingdom of God at hand could be taken throughout the civilized western world, and was. Even Paul's background -- trained Jewish scholar and Roman citizen -- enabled him to uniquely help in the spread of the gospel.

At the appointed season.

And for each of us, we can put our confidence in the God who does not lie, even when we're waiting for that appointed season. From Jesus' text:

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. (Ecclesiastes 3:11 TNIV)

This verse, is the conclusion of the passage which begins, "To everything there is a season" and expresses a godly perspective on the passage.



And on that note, I'll end. Boy do I feel old.