Titus 3 structure

As I mentioned recently, one thing that stands out in Titus is the number of times works are mentioned. There are good (agathos) works, there are beautiful (kalos) works, and there are righteous (dikaiosune) works. All three of these turn up four times in chapter three, with beautiful (kalos) works turning up twice, as well as a third use of kalos (translated excellent in the NIV, in parallel with profitable).

What stands out is, for the four times works occur in this chapter (v1,5,8,14), between the first and second, and between the third and fourth, there is a description of the opposite of good works, including disobedience, depravity and division. 3:3, 9-10 essentially describe the type of person previewed back in 1.16 - the person who is unfit for, and unable to do, good works. 

There is also, along with 2.11-14, the greatest and clearest description of the gospel in this short letter, in 3.5b-7, which occurs between the second and third occurrences of works.  This reveals this structure:

A 3.1-2 Remind them about relationships with others, and to be ready for good works (ἔργον ἀγαθὸν)

B 3.3 We used to be pretty awful people

C 3.4-5a God saved us - not by our own righteous works (ἔργων τῶν ἐν δικαιοσύνῃ)

D 3.5b-7 We were saved by Jesus Christ, through the Holy Spirit, in the hope of eternal life

C'3.8 Those who believe in God should be devoted to good works (καλῶν ἔργων)

B' 3.9-11 There is no more place for those who behave in awful ways

A' 3.12-15 Those with whom I am in relationship with; remind people to commit to good works (καλῶν ἔργων)

I like the way this structure begins and opens with practical examples of good works, moves through descriptions of the opposite of good works, then back to good works, and finally, moving to the centre, has this beautiful description of the saving gospel. 

I've only just started working on this passage, but looking forward to preaching on it in a couple of weeks to conclude our short Titus series. 

Books of the Old Testament by Title

 As a follow up to the popular Books of the New Testament by Title, here is my attempt at summarising the Old Testament in a similar way. 

This one is probably a little more controversial for what I have not said: I have not said Daniel is the author of Daniel - if that troubles you, here is a brief summary of why I think that. 

I'm not sure whether Jonah wrote Jonah - that seems unlikely to me. So too the others, especially when they die in them (ehem, Samuel). It could be that Ezra wrote Ezra-Nehemiah - I haven't looked into that at all; I'll probably have to do a humble-pie update later on. 

I think the others are okay. Leviticus refers to the rules given to the Levites - perhaps that should be an event also; if they were a group then the book should be called Levites, which it isn't. In Hebrew it's just called "wayyiqra" - and he called. Maybe I should do another one on Hebrew titles. 

Oh, and Ecclesiastes is the Greek translation of what they assume Qohelet means. I think Qohelet refers to the assembler of wisdom rather than an assembler of people, but you'll have to buy my book to find out the reasoning for why I think that. 

Books of the New Testament by Title

Still thinking about Titus...

It's one of only four NT books which is entitled by its recipient: only Philemon and 1, 2 Timothy have that honour. 

Of course, by grouping the books/letters like this, I'm not making any definitive statements about authorship; only to say that's how we are supposed to understand them. Interestingly, Hebrews is the only book which we have zero idea about (wild guesses like Paul, Luke and Apollos not withstanding). 

Anyway, enjoy. I just thought it was interesting to sort them in this way.

Who is the saviour in Titus?

I've always thought Titus was a gem, and have also had some fascinating exchanges with JW's due to the way it describes Jesus and God with identical terminology. In particular the use of "saviour" for both, with an ABABA(C)B structure to its use, in pairs throughout the letter:

God our saviour (Titus 1.3)
Christ Jesus our saviour (1.4)
God our saviour (2.10)
Jesus Christ our saviour (2.13)
God our saviour (3.4)
(saved … by the Holy Spirit – 3.5)
Jesus Christ our saviour (3.6)

It's interesting to see the Holy Spirit snuck in there between the final two as well. That said, it could be a suggestion that the whole letter is riffing off the credal statement (as assumed by some, including the NA28 editors) in 3.4-7, as the three persons of the Godhead are described as working salvation. This is of course followed with the phrase, Πιστὸς ὁ λόγος, "this is a faithful saying" (cf the identical phrase in 1 Tim. 1:15; 3:1; 4:9; 2 Tim. 2:11).

Two other brief unrelated notes:

1. Teaching vocabulary is seen throughout, in 1.9a, 9b, 10; 2.1, 7, 10. 
2. The language of "good works" is also throughout the letter, 
• works, good works ἔργοις ... ἔργον ἀγαθὸν (1.16) - are not possible for the disobedient
• good works καλῶν ἔργων (2.7, 14; 3.8, 14) - should be given as an example, and should be zealously pursued by the godly
• every good work πᾶν ἔργον ἀγαθὸν (3.1) - people should be ready for these
• works of righteousness ἔργων τῶν ἐν δικαιοσύνῃ  (3.5) - these works cannot save, but only God

Lots in this little letter, which we start this Sunday and will work through over five weeks.