Titus 1:1-4, Paul explained his purpose being an apostle is for the sake of the “faith,” and for the sake of “knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness”
We must bear in our mind! Paul does not encourage people to quarrel about “words”, (2 timothy 2:14). Should we quarrel about words and meanings in Constitute 4.2.1…..?
1:10-11, He mentioned the false teachers. They are,
1.insubordinate
2.empty talkers
3.deceivers
They must be silent.
1.they ought not to teach (Titus 1:11)
2.rebuke them.(Titus 1:13)
Paul wanted Titus to deal severely with those who cause division and those insubordinate.
Paul himself even quoted from the local writers at Cretan. (Titus 1:12) He read a lot of books.
They must be dealt so that they may be sound in the faith (Titus 1:13). Not to cast them away.
1:11b-13, Paul command to Titus:
1.Not to devoting time to the “Jewish myths.”
2.Not to devoting time to “commands of people.”
Around 1400 BC, some say earlier as 2000 BC, God called some 40 men and women to begin a job, to do that job it took a long times, the job is to pen the Bible. God inspired them in writing the Hebrew and Greek Bible.
Those sacred writers are not machines. They are all fully inspired writers. Very words of the Bible are inspired by God. This inspiration does not guarantee the inspiration of any modern or ancient translation of the Bible, but it deals only with the original Hebrew and Greek languages. Weather Ancient or Modern translations, it does not allow for any false teachings.
George Washington I : “It is impossible to rightly govern the world without the Bible.”
Winston Churchill, “We rest with assurance upon the impregnable rock of holy Scripture.”
Chiang Kai-Shek: “The Bible is the voice of the Holy Spirit.”
Henry Van Dyke: “…No man is poor or desolate who has this treasure for his own.”
Augustine the church father, he said, “Let us give in and yield our assent to the authority of the Holy Scripture, which knows not how either to be deceived to deceive…”
Do not ask me, what Bible version they were using, at the moment they said that words.
Men die, and memories fail, but the written record remain, the Bible was preserved! From Septuagint, to Latin vulgate, (Vulgate was used for 1200 years), and to KJV (used for these few hundred years)…. They are translations! There is no one, no translation is perfect! Not even KJV.
No one is righteous too, and under the heaven, there is no name given,that by Him, we can be saved, He is Jesus Christ, my Lord, my God, let died in your arms.
By faith we believe we have the Word of God. No doubt about this!
ON MAY 3, 1870, THE PEOPLE WHO READ THE KJV, THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND, the English, the Ang Moh, revised the New Testament. They published the revision in May 17, 1881. Shall we ask the Ang Moh to apologize for revising the New Testament? My foolish question ! You think it is easy to translate a Bible? You think it is easy to revise a faithful Bible version?
5000 manuscripts, a proof that we have the Word of God.
Shall we give thanks for the 5000 ancients Greek manuscripts of the New Testament. My foolish question! Off course! No doubt. How can you say, we do not believe the Preservation of the Bible. We believe. God do preserve the Bible. He does. Yes, we all must give thank for those preserved 5000 different ancients Greek manuscripts!
But many do not accept your saying, that God only preserve the complete, every words, perfectly in “the underlying text of the KJV.” This is your verbal plenary preservation view (VPP). This is your personal view. Let time be the judge, to prove your view. Abraham Lincoln said, “…but you can’t fool all the people all of the time!”
Let people have some time to do researches in this VPP, let the BP be at peace, be united in evangelism in the weekend, be united in prayer meeting on Friday and Tuesday nights, be united to worship the Lord on Sunday. Why are you so desperate to impose the VPP? And you attack the people who are using CUV even! Did they attack you in using KJV? Did they said anything like “KJV is not a faithful translation.” They never said that!
The Bible does not prohibit personal research. (Lk. 1:1-3) All of the denominations used different versions of Bible, but they all believe the Bible is the Word of God! Shall we give thanks for faithful translations? Another foolish question! Yes or not?
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways…”Isa 55:8,9.
2 Timothy 2:14, not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. To be a servant without a contentious spirit, helping people to understand the Christian faith.
I appeal to the theologians, do not argue in the legalistic way, which Bible version they are using. Do not wasting time in doing that.
Do not study the Bible in a legalistic way. God wanted us to study the Bible. (2 Tim 2:15) in Spirit. Do not argue about “words” (2 Tim 2:14). Give way for the Bible. Fight the false doctrines.
RATHER, take time to:
Teach sound doctrines:
1.family and work (Titus 2:1-14)
a.conversation (Titus 2:3, 8, 9)
i.No slander.
ii.Sound speech
iii.Not argumentative
2.society (Titus 2:15-3:7)
a.Be ready for every good work (Titus 3:3-7)
3.others (Titus 3:8-11)
a.AVOID FOOLISH CONTROVERSIES. Like VPP.
b.GENEOLOGIES
c.DISSENSIONS, DIVISION,
i.As for a person who stir up division, after warning him once and twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.
ii.Division is wrong and sinful. The splits are because of VPP, is wrong.
d.NOT TO QUARREL ABOUT THE LAW
Finally, he reminded the believers to do good work, because this is the purpose of salvation. Not to be like those Cretans, lazy gluttons (Titus 1:12, 2:14)
LAST REMINDERS:
1.GOD NEVER LIES (Titus 1:2)
2.GOD SAVED US NOT BECAUSE OF WORKS DONE BY US IN RIGHTEOUSNESS, (Titus 3:5)
a.BUT ACCORDING TO HIS OWN MERCY (Titus 3:5)
b.BY THE WASHING OF RENEWAL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
There are oppositions from the ungodly legalists, in the church. So, we must know how to live and interactions with them and the nonbelievers. Christian behavior is based on the fact that “the grace of God has appeared, bring salvation for all.” Hopefully this become true to every soul, may I numbered the days and minutes in thanksgiving, and unite all of us once again.
Thank God for the reformers, in 15th Century.
Those who believe in God are to:
1.live self-controlled (Titus 2:11-13)
2.live upright
3.live godly lives
4.Waiting for His return.
My beloved Friends and theologians,
In Titus 2:10, the writer called God (Titus 2:10, 3:4) and Christ as God. (Titus 1:4, 2:13, 3:6).
Think about this.
Forget VPP! Say, no to VPP!
“not to strive about words”
Assignment, research paper 30 pages:
Sound Doctrines in Titus
Christ is God
Division
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