Titus

Paul says to avoid foolish questions and stick to his teaching. If anyone believes other teachings then they should be warned twice. If they still do not change their ways then they should be rejected.

Titus 3:9-11
"But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself"

Paul says that this prophet was right. The men of Crete are liars, lazy and only interested in satisfying their stomachs. He tells Titus to be stern with them to make them strong in their faith.

Titus 1:12-14
"One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth"

The sinful pleasures of this world drive us away from God, and so we should be sober and righteous.

Titus 2:11-14
"For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works"

The two men are old friends, as we can tell by Paul's reference to Titus as his own son.

Titus 1:1-4
"Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness; in hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; but hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour; to Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour"

We don't know whether Zenas was an expert in Roman or Jewish law; the Greek word "lawyer" could refer to either. It is most likely that his occupation is stated only in order to distinguish him from another Zenas.

Titus 3:13-15
"Bring Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey diligently, that nothing be wanting unto them. And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.
All that are with me salute thee. Greet them that love us in the faith.
Grace be with you all. Amen.
It was written to Titus, ordained the first bishop of the church of the Cretians, from Nicopolis of Macedonia"

Slaves must not begrudge their lot. Instead they should serve their masters well, so that Christians become respected.

Titus 2:9-10
"Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again; not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things"

By their own actions the older women should be an example to the young.

Titus 2:2-6
"that the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; that they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded"

Our governments are our leaders and their representatives should be obeyed.

Titus 3:1-3
"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, shewing all meekness unto all men. For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another"

Because of His kindness and pity God washed away our sins and filled us with the joy of the Holy Spirit.

Titus 3:4-7
"But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; that being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life"

Paul is concerned that those who teach false doctrines are driving people away from Christianity for their own financial benefit.

Titus 1:10-11
"For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake"