holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict. Titus 1:9 NASB Holding fast – In the past we discovered that Hebrew has no word for possessing. In Hebrew, the basic thought pattern is about…
“There are three things that are stately in their stride, four that move with stately bearing: a lion, mighty among beasts, who retreats before nothing; Proverbs 30:29-30 NIV Lion – In two days I hope that the small group of us who are venturing into the African bush to see and study God’s creation will…
but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, just, devout, self-controlled, Titus 1:8 NASB Hospitable – Can you express the commandment to love your neighbor as yourself in one word? Paul can. That word is philoxenos. OK, it’s really two Greek words combined into one, but if you look carefully you can see why Paul fuses these together….
For the overseer must be above reproach as God’s steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, not fond of sordid gain, Titus 1:7 NASB Not pugnacious – Pugnacious. A word I am sure you use every day. Right! We don’t have much problem understanding Paul’s requirement of a calm constitution (“not quick-tempered”) and we certainly…
For the overseer must be above reproach as God’s steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, not fond of sordid gain, Titus 1:7 NASB Overseer – What characteristics accompany the “overseer” (Greek – episkopos), a term sometimes translated as “bishop”? Paul gives Titus a list, both negative and positive. We have discovered that people who…
For yet in a very little while, He who is coming will come, and will not delay. But My righteous one shall live by faith; and if he shrinks back, My soul has no pleasure in him. Hebrews 10:37-38 NASB Will come – In the previous verse, the author of this letter exhorts the reader…
For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised. Hebrews 10:36 NASB Endurance – What does endurance mean? Does it mean gritting your teeth and pushing forward? Does it mean steeling yourself to circumstances? (Did you notice the two English idioms in those questions?) Does it…
Taking the child by the hand, He said to her, “Talitha kum!” (which translated means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). Mark 5:41 NASB Translated – Why does Mark include a translation of Yeshua’s words? The answer, of course, is that he wants his readers to know what Yeshua said. But if Aramaic were the common language…
namely, if any man is above reproach, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of dissipation or rebellion. Titus 1:6 NASB Man – Can women be elders? The Church in general struggled with this. It read the indefinite, masculine pronoun, tis, in the context of “husband of one wife,” as though…
For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you, Titus 1:5 NASB Appoint – There’s a lot of confusion concerning Paul’s instruction to Titus about elders. Maybe we can clear up some of it. First, let’s remember that…
