Dr Paul Allen

“To Titus , mine own son after the common faith: Grace , mercy , and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.” ( Titus 1:4 )   On the surface, this verse might be considered insignificant and could easily be missed, for it is part of a lengthy greeting to Titus by Paul at the beginning of this very practical book. However, many nuggets are contained therein, and it is well worth our study.   Titus was one of Paul’s most trusted companions. He was a faithful worker who had accompanied Paul on a number of his journeys. Late in Paul’s life, after years of discipleship, Paul asked Titus to carry on the work he had started in Crete , an island well known for its deplorable moral state. Paul may have been instrumental in Titus’ initial conversion, for he calls him “mine own son,” literally “my true child,” a very endearing term. The bond of “common faith” gave them a mutual goal, and, of course, it is the same faith that we share today.   ...

It’s a familiar scene. Two families, a few college students, and an elderly couple are spread across the couches in the living room. I ask, “Is there anything we can pray for one another?” One student timidly shares about troubles at home between his parents. An older member mentions the sudden death of an old high school friend. Another person shares about woes in searching for a job. After prayer, the small group disperses, and a member pulls me aside to ask for specific prayer for a struggling marriage. Bear Each Other’s Burdens People turn to their churches when they are dealing with difficulties, struggles, and sins. In my experience, I find people are often quick to share what’s troubling them, sometimes even non-churchgoing people. It is our duty and privilege as fellow believers to help one another carry the heavy loads we call life: “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ ” (Galatians 6:2). We are not meant to struggle alone i...

Imagine the scene. A guy gets dropped off on a 140 by 30 mile island. With beautiful weather, rich agriculture, calm beaches, and mountainous landscape, it was, externally, a great place. However, as he spends time there, reality sets in. The island is inhabited by stiff-necked, unsaved religious people and liars, evil beasts, and lazy gluttons. There is no worse combination. The place is so debauched that even Greeks cringed at the thought of it. Later, he receives a letter which says, “I want a good church planted in every town on the island.” And, at that time, it’s likely that there were about 100 towns. This was the situation in which Titus found himself near A.D. 60 on the island of Crete, and for which Paul wrote the New Testament letter. Though Crete prided itself on once having advanced societies such as the Minoans, history records it was so bad in Titus’ day, that to be called a “Cretan” was to be called something like a liar or dru...

HOLY SPIRIT - FOIX (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) “. . . the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost .” ( Titus 3:5 ) The Holy Spirit ’s eternal impacts on our lives (regeneration and renewal) are brought together in this text in a rather unique way. To begin with, the Greek words are unusual—“regeneration” being used only twice in the New Testament and “renewal” only five times in various forms. They come together only in this passage. “ Regeneration ” (paliggenesia) means to “birth again” where God gives up the ability or faith to believe the gospel message. Saved is from sōzō, which, although it is sometimes used in the New Testament of physical, temporal deliverance (see, e.g., Matt. 8:25; John 12:27), is most often used of spiritual salvation. Those words have always been cherished by those who have been saved. Our salvation is the most important and precious thing about us, to which nothing else can begin to compare. Biblical Christianity is a saving reli...

English: Icon of Jesus Christ (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) “Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.” ( 2 Timothy 1:13 ) When Paul wrote to his two young disciples, Timothy and Titus , he stressed again and again the vital importance of maintaining sound doctrine in their churches. “If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome [same word as ‘sound’] words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ , and to the doctrine which is according to godliness” ( 1 Timothy 6:3 ; see also 1:10). “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine” ( 2 Timothy 4:3 ). “That he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers” ( Titus 1:9 ). “But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine” ( Titus 2:1 ; also 2:8). If the great apostle was so concerned that his pastoral disciples guard the doctrinal integrity of their first-century churches, he would surely be even more e...

Jesus washes the disciples' feet (Photo credit: teawithlizzie ) What happens when you get into a room to discuss life and the gospel?Talking. Lots of talking. And questions. More questions than you can imagine. Why? Because we need each other, and sometimes life can be confusing and include insurmountable circumstances. During my time in settings like this, I’m reminded of the importance of discipleship. Discipleship can take on many forms. It can be as simple as inviting someone into your kitchen for fellowship to organizing a normally scheduled lunch. However it looks, it involves honesty, seeking advice, and Scripture, and someone willing to do all of the above. The Preacher in Ecclesiastes writes, “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!” (Ecclesiastes 4:9–10). He is writing about the vanity of trying to work alone ...

Our Lord Jesus Christ (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) "Who gave himself for our sins , that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father ." ( Galatians 1:4 )   There can never be a greater gift than this. Our Lord Jesus Christ not only has given us forgiveness and salvation and all spiritual blessings, He gave Himself! The pure, glorious Son of God gave Himself, substituting Himself in our place to suffer the righteous judgment of God on our sins.   Six times this wonderful affirmation is found in God’s Word. The first is in our text, assuring us that, when He gave Himself, He paid the price to deliver us from this present evil world into the eternal world to come .   Then, in the next occurrence, this promise is made intensely personal. Christ "loved me, and gave himself for me" ( Galatians 2:20 ). The gift Christ gave is more than the world could ever give.   The supremely sacrificial nature of His gift ...

Of all the elder qualifications Paul gives in Titus 1, none causes more hand-wringing and knee-bending than this: An elder must have “faithful children.” What exactly does that mean? Three most common view: Evangelical View, the Baptistic View, and the Reformed View. “[An elder must be] someone who is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of wildness or rebellion” ( Titus 1:6 ). Or…“if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination” ( Titus 1:6 ). The KJV , Holman and RSV go with “faithful children.” The ESV , NIV , NASB , and probably even The Message (no way I’m checking) all use “children are believers.” The Greek word is pista, which can mean trustworthy, faithful, or believing. Now for the three views: Evangelical View: Children who are under control The essence of this view is that children in the home are to be under control, but the requireme...

Image via Wikipedia Image via Wikipedia Image via Wikipedia “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23). In the resurrection there will be no self- denial because none of our desires will be sinful or foolish. Till then we have sinful and foolish desires daily. Hence, “Let him deny himself and take up his cross daily.” What Paul Says This is so essential in Christian living that Paul made it part of his one-time sermon to Felix (“he reasoned about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment,” Acts 24:25); he made it part of the fruit of the Spirit (“faithfulness, gentleness, self-control,” Galatians 5:23); he made it part of the qualifications for overseers (“self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined,” Titus 1:8). And he gave us a taste of the sort of thing he meant: “But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry” ( 1 Corinthians 7:9). So he means there are times for denying some ...