In this series we offer brief introductions to the books of the Bible, including background, authorship, content, and application to the lives of today’s Christians.
Arguably the silliest disparagement leveled against the Bible is that it is, for the most part, impractical. One of the more sarcastic canards used to express that sentiment is that the Christian Bible is “as practical as a glass hammer.”
Set aside for a moment the audacity, the arrogance, of man thus disparaging the inspired words of Almighty God, and judge the criticism on its merits. “Impractical” implies uselessness. In what world could the Creator’s revealed will ever be considered impractical? In what scenario could the wisdom of the omniscient God ever be regarded as unimportant, or the direction of the One before Whom all must one day stand be dismissed as negligible? What, in fact, could possibly be more practical than a letter from God Himself, using words so compact and concise that they could fit comfortably on this printed page, where the Creator provides perfect guidance on gender roles, time management, vocation, conflict resolution, social interaction, relationship to authority, and more. And that’s just what the Letter to Titus reveals to mankind about life on this earth. It also contains priceless information about how to pass from this life to life eternal. Clearly the Epistle to Titus is anything but impractical, and the “glass hammer” label is itself shattered.
Given the rich and precious content, it is not at all surprising that Martin Luther held this Epistle in such high regard: “This is a short epistle, but a model of Christian doctrine, in which is comprehended in a masterful way all that is necessary for a Christian to know and to live.” (American Edition 35:389-390)
The epistle was written, as the title indicates, to Titus, who was assigned by Paul to organize the Christian churches that the Holy Spirit had established on the Island of Crete. Paul not only provides guidance here on the qualifications God demands of “elders” or “overseers” (as he did also in his First Letter to Timothy), he also warns extensively in the Epistle of the dangers of excess. Clearly his warning has application and relevance still today in our own disturbingly gaudy and materialistic society. Quoting the Cretan philosopher Epimenides, who six centuries earlier wrote, “Cretans are . . . lazy gluttons,” (Titus 1:12) Paul went on to individualize the danger to the various demographics in the Cretan congregations.
Every Christian today can find his place in the Letter. Every Christian will here find guidance and instruction regardless of age or station in life. Paul left no one out, for he gave guidance to men and women, young and old, employers and workers, husbands, wives, and citizens of any given society. Combating the excess of the society in which they lived, Paul stresses “self-control” throughout—as he did also in 1 Timothy.
Yet perhaps the greatest strength of the letter is the mastery by which the Holy Spirit balances His encouragement to live lives of good works with the central truth that we are not saved by those works, but through faith alone in Jesus Christ.
As we would expect, the Epistle is thoroughly evangelical; here we find this great summary of the Christian faith: “For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” (Titus 3:3-7)
Dear Christian, go and read Paul’s Letter to Titus. If you have the time to read this article about the Letter, you have the time to read the Letter itself. The word-count is nearly identical, but the content of the Epistle is of immeasurably greater worth.
is pastor of Saint Paul Lutheran Church in Bismarck, North Dakota.