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Titus 1:4
4 To Titus [Titos], mine own [gnesios] son [teknon] after [kata] the common [koinos] faith [pistis]: Grace [charis], mercy [eleos], and peace [eirene], from [apo] God [theos] the Father [pater] and [kai] the Lord [kurios] Jesus [Iesous] Christ [Christos] our [hemon] Saviour [soter]. KJV-Interlinear
4 to Titus, my true child in a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior. NASB
The name of Titus is found only in 2 Corinthians, Galatians 1:1-6:18, 2 Timothy, and of course Titus.
The description of Titus that Paul makes, indicates that Titus was a really good friend and aid in Pauls ministry.
Titus was sent to some of the most remote places in the region, facing almost insurmountable odds in getting the gospel spread and setting up and organizing local churches for folks that lived in those places.
Titus helped Paul in Asia Minor, in Mesopotamia, in Crete, and in the far northern regions above today’s Turkey and Greece.
Titus, a gentile, was most probably a very resourceful, skilful, and capable man in dealing with people in general. It is likely that Titus was brought to Christ by Pauls ministry, as Paul here refers to him as a child in the common faith, which is Christianity.
Titus was not Pauls literal child, but this is a term of which today we might say, ‘Best of friends.’
Grace and peace are terms we have already covered in other studies. Grace is a reference to favor, or having the favor of God. Peace is the reference to prosperity, happiness, wealth, and such things that indicate a full, complete, and meaningful life. And such is the life that comes to anyone and everyone who pursues their spiritual life in a legitimate and honorable fashion.
And such a life comes to you only by means of the Father through the Son, Jesus Christ. And we might add here, in the power of the Holy Spirit. The Father is credited with authoring the Divine Decrees (Gods plan), the Son is credited with executing that plan, and the Holy Spirit sustains and reveals that plan.
There is no other means of attaining a perfect and meaningful and full life.
Paul was blessed to know many people who supported his ministry. Those people were blessed because they functioned unselfishly in an obedient and responsible manner within their spiritual lives.
You might ask yourself, ‘where do you fit in that type of picture?’
Most folks see the Bible as free. They take and give nothing in return for what they receive. However, there will be in life, a very small minority of folks that will not just take, but give, of themselves in many ways, so as to promote the gospel, the Bible, and their Christian beliefs, such that others may be saved and/or have the opportunity of advancing in their spiritual lives. Titus was such a person as were many others in history.
Are you in that minority?
