Dear Friends,

Yesterday I mentioned that Titus 1:8 was worth a closer look but that we didn't have time. Well...here's the closer look. When speaking of church leaders Paul says (Titus 1:8, NIV), "Rather he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined."

“Rather he must be hospitable,” The word is literally phileo. It means gentle spirit, or warm, or kindly. He must be kindly, or friendly.

So, he must be friendly, and “one who loves what is good.” Then Paul uses the word phileo again, only this time it’s combined with another word, the word agathos. Agathos in Greek literally means kind. In fact, it is used by Paul in Romans 5:7 when he says, “Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.” The word “good” used there is the same “good” used over here in Titus. A kind man, Paul says. You might die for a kind man, maybe not a righteous man, but you might for a kind one.

Then Paul continues speaking of one “who is self-controlled.” Now, self-controlled is sometimes translated prudent. The word used here is the same one Paul uses when he says to Timothy, (2 Timothy 1:7) “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (deliria, a spirit of disorienting fear), but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline (or sound-mind).” The word for sound mind is pseuphrono. Phrono is the word for mind, and pseu is from the word soter, save, or health. The word “to save” caries the meaning “to make healthy.” It means to have a healthy mind. The same word is used here in Titus. So, look at what he is saying. He wants the elders, along with Titus of course, to be “friendly, lovers of kindness, and of sound mind.”

Then Paul adds “upright,” That’s the word “dikiaos” which means righteous.

Paul also uses the word “holy,” often translated devout. This has something to do with the presence of God. So, I see Paul communicating that he not only wants them upright, but also close to God, Christ-centered. He wants someone close to Christ. Have you ever known people who just seemed to walk with Jesus? There is a kind of devoutness there. They are in close.

Then Paul closes this list with the word “disciplined.” We love that word, because it’s one of the fruits of the Spirit—self-control. It's the same word. This word in Greek is used almost exclusively of athletes, because they are disciplined in diet, training, and sleep. They’ve got focused and concentrated effort.

So, putting it all together, Paul is telling Titus, "This is what I want to see in your life and in the lives of the elders around you, and hopefully eventually in the live of everyone in the congregation. I want them to be friendly. I want them to be lovers of goodness/kindness. I want them to be clear-headed. I want them to be upright. I want them to be close to Christ. And I want them disciplined.” Can you imagine the impact of a church filled with folks like that? When Christ-followers have these marks of distinction, I would think that would be winsome in any culture.

Peace,

Ernest