"Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, to speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, showing all meekness unto all men."
Titus 3:1-2
The Cretans to whom Titus was ministering were not known as peaceful or law-abiding citizens. Here are some excellent lessons for believers today from Paul’s letter to Titus.
“Put them in mind.”
This is to remind them and to remind, and remind them again… These things need to be taught until they were established as their personal habits. Lest we think we are somehow better than the Cretans, we need to remember what the Holy Spirit does in us. The same word used for reminding the Cretans is the word used for the Holy Spirit’s work in every believer.
“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you” (John 14:26).
We must admit that sometimes we are very slow learners also.
“To be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates.”
Paul said to Titus that we must be in subjection to those who sit in the “chief place.”[1] These are leaders who have the proper “authority.”[2] These leaders can expect our obedience. Believers are not a band of rowdy lawbreakers.
“To be ready to every good work.”
On the contrary, we are “ready to every good work.” Christians, which of these two verses describe you the best?
“They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate” (Titus 1:16).
OR,
“In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity” (Titus 2:7).
“To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers.”
Believers are careful not to speak evil of anyone (“no man”). The Greek term is blasphēmēo, and we don’t need a college degree to understand this word. The Christian doesn’t blaspheme other people’s names or characters. We need to remember this the next time we’re tempted to speak of anyone judgmentally.
And believers also are not contentious. Robertson says this word means “to be non-fighters.”[3] We are not going around looking for arguments or trying to find people we can contend with.
“But gentle, showing all meekness unto all men.”
We are gentle, “equitable, fair, mild…”[4] (Thayer). And we are meek, our “power is under control.” Believers are conscientious about how they speak to “all men.”
Unlike the lost Cretans, we believers live lives that are “in control.”
[1] The word translated “principalities” is archē, “the person or thing that commences, the first person or thing in a series, the leader” (Thayer). The “chief place” (Cambridge Bible).
J.H. Thayer, Thayer’s Greek Definitions, the electronic version in eSword.
Cambridge Bible, the electronic version in eSword.
[2] “Authority” is the ancient word exousia, for “power, authority.” These are rightly appointed authorities.
[3] A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament, the electronic version in eSword.
[4] J.H. Thayer, ibid.