The Letter of St, Paul to Titus Chapter 3.

 

The Letter of St.Paul 

to 

Titus 

Chapter  3

 

¹ Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, ² to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show every courtesy to everyone.

(The Letter of St. Paul to Titus Chapter 3 verses 1 to 2) 


Oh God my Father, I pray for this spirit of obedience, so that I could be a worthy instrument in Your hands Amen. I pray that You make me devoid of my will and open to listen and obey the will of others Amen.


³ For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, despicable, hating one another. ⁴ But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, ⁵ he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy, through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.


(The Letter of St. Paul to Titus Chapter 3 verses 3 to 5)  



Oh God my beloved Father, I thank You for calling me back from my past life of pleasures and passion which would lead me to become angry. I thank You for reducing the stress that I had been experiencing, and for giving me the needed support. I thank You for giving me no reason to return to my previous life Amen. 


⁶ This Spirit he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, ⁷ so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.


(The Letter of St. Paul to Titus Chapter 3 verses 6 to 7)



Oh, Brothers and sisters, we have all been anointed in rich doses by the Holy Spirit. In Jesus Christ we are all brothers and sisters and sisters and brothers, therefore as one big family we are to be there for each other and help each other during moments when one might be low on supply, and praise each other in the same Holy Spirit with a Spirit of thanksgiving when we have had positive life experiences Amen. Thank You, Jesus.


⁸ The saying is sure. I desire that you insist on these things, so that those who have come to believe in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works; these things are excellent and profitable to everyone.



(The Letter of St. Paul to Titus Chapter 3 verse 8)


Oh God, my Father, I pray that You help me to keep my focus on what is important and essential to my existence that is You. Help me I pray to make good choices and effective decisions both in my professional life and in my spiritual and personal one Amen.


⁹ But avoid stupid controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless.


(The Letter of St. Paul to Titus Chapter 3 verse 9)



Oh God my Father I thank You for this eye *opener for many times I have ended up quarrelling over issues of religious nature which ended up in being a battle of wits instead of the testimony of Your Love and Holy Name Amen. I pray that You prompt me to speak only when necessary my God and Father Amen.


¹⁰ After a first and second admonition, have nothing more to do with anyone who causes divisions, ¹¹ since you know that such a person is perverted and sinful, being self-condemned.


(The Letter of St. Paul to Titus Chapter 3 verses 10 to 11)


Oh God my Father You give us many chances and You never give up on us, even if as humans we declare that we have nothing to do with You or that we do not know You as in the case of St. Peter. You are always ready to welcome back into Your fold, so that You will be the Good Shepherd of all and so that nobody will be lost Amen.


¹² When I send Artemas to you or Tychicus, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there.


(The Letter of St. Paul to Titus Chapter 3 verse 12)


Oh God my Father it is not the I that decides what happens in my life, where I shall go and what I shall do. It is the work and will of the Holy Spirit that enlightens me and shows me the tasks ahead that need to be done and the people that need to be visited Amen.


ⁱ³ Make every effort to send Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way and see that they lack nothing.


(The Letter of St. Paul to Titus Chapter 3 verse 13)


Even during these times my God and Father, there were those who were given special treatment over and above that given to others. I pray that we are healed of this attitude and learn to treat everybody as being equal in the fulfilment of common and particular needs Amen.


¹⁴ And let people learn to devote themselves to good works in order to meet urgent needs, so that they may not be unproductive.


(The Letter of St. Paul to Titus Chapter 3 verse 14)


Oh brothers and sisters as God never stops working on our behalf, may we also never stop working for the good and benefit of others Amen. May we always work with zeal and positive motivation for we are all instruments in Your hands. We are the product of the work of the Holy Spirit in us Amen.


¹⁵ All who are with me send greetings to you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with all of you.


(The Letter of St. Paul to Titus Chapter 3 verse 15)


Oh God my Father I also send my greetings to all who labour in the Kingdom of heaven on earth for one day we will all be united in the Kingdom of Heaven in Heaven. We will be united with all the Saints and martyrs and Apostles and Disciples and together we will give You praise and celebrate Your love Amen.


I would like end this meditation on the third and final chapter of the Letter of St. Paul to Titus with the following prayer:-


Oh God my Father brothers and sisters in the Lord God and Father Jesus Christ, during this moment of prayer I would like to offer this prayer to all of us who work for others in some way or another, that we all learn to give our service with love and dedication as if we are giving it directly to You Amen.


In order to continue meditating on the Word of God I invite You in the name of God to click on the following link that will refer you to the First Letter of St. Paul to Timothy.


https://firstletterofpaultotimothy.blogspot.com/2016/06/the-first-letter-of-paul-to-timothy.html








 

The Letter of St. Paul to Titus Chapter 2

The Letter of St.Paul 

to 

Titus 

Chapter 2

¹. But as for you, teach what is consistent with sound doctrine. ². Tell the older men to be temperate, serious, prudent, and sound in faith, in love, and in endurance.

(The Letter of St. Paul to Titus Chapter 2 verses 1 to 2)






Oh God my Father, that we be governed by these positive values and characteristics. That we be people who know how to be humble and firm in faith and endurance.




³ Likewise, tell the older women to be reverent in behavior, not to be slanderers or slaves to drink; they are to teach what is good, ⁴ so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, ⁵ to be self-controlled, chaste, good managers of the household, kind, being submissive to their husbands, so that the word of God may not be discredited.


(The Letter of St. Paul to Titus Chapter 2 verses 3 to 5)




Oh God my Father many times we place the blame on youngsters, especially where drugs and alcohol abuse is referred to in the media, without ever considering that as adults we may have given them negative examples or are still giving them negative examples by the way we are living, that may not always match with Your ways. I pray for our young generation that they may follow You as their signpost and not the people of the world Amen.




⁶ Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. ⁷ Show yourself in all respects a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, gravity, ⁸ and sound speech that cannot be censured; then any opponent will be put to shame having nothing evil to say of us.





(The Letter of St. Paul to Titus Chapter 2 verses 6 to 8)




Oh God my Father not only are we to guide others in relation to how they behave, but we ourselves are to be role models for us to follow. As humans and as Roman Catholics, we are to practice what we preach, and there is to be no disparity between our verbal messages and our actions. When confronted by others we are to keep control of ourselves and be careful not to set a bad or negative example for others, so that by our actions we will give nobody the occasion to speak negatively of us and You my God and Father in whom I totally believe Amen. 




⁹ Tell slaves to be submissive to their masters and to give satisfaction in every respect; they are not to talk back, ¹⁰ not to pilfer, but to show complete and perfect fidelity, so that in everything they may be an ornament to the doctrine of God our Savior.



(The Letter of St. Paul to Titus Chapter 2 verses 9 to 10)




Oh God, my Father although we are to be obedient to our superiors it is still expected of us to express our opinions and not always be people who say yes to everything and let everybody walk all over us and dig their heels in us. I pray for humility and that I always stand up for Christian values and aim at doing nothing, that goes against what is written in the Word of Life that is the Bible.




¹¹ For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, ¹² training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions,  and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly, ¹³ while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.




(The Letter of St. Paul to Titus Chapter 2 verses 11 to 13) 




Oh God my Father it is true that Your grace has appeared, however although some have accepted the grace and power of  Your Holy Spirit of which they have become enriched, by a life of grace through living according to Your will others have still not accepted Your presence in their life. I pray for such people to accept You as their God and Father Amen.

 


¹⁴ He it is who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds. ¹⁵ Declare these things; exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one Look down on you.




(The Letter of St. Paul to Titus Chapter 2 verses 14 to 15) 




Oh God and Father, You have generously given Yourself to us even though as sinners we did not deserve to be redeemed. May You really and truly continue to purify us so that we be found ready when You call us to be by Your side Amen.




Oh God my Father I am ending this second chapter of St. Paul's Letter to Titus, with the following prayer:-




As human beings regardless if we are Christians, or believers of other belief systems, may practice the values of love compassion self-control and behave as mature humans who know how to be of an example to others. As Christians and believers in You my God and Father we have a higher responsibility to obeying what is written in the Bible. May You give us a spirit of obedience my God and Father Amen.

  
 

The Letter of St. Paul to Titus Chapter 1

The Letter of St.Paul 

to 

Titus 

Chapter 1

1. Paul a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God's elect and the knowledge of the truth that is in accordance with godliness.

(The Letter of St.Paul to Titus Chapter 1 verse 1)

When addressing the issue of the truth in Your presence oh God my Father, Pontius Pilate became confused and asked You to tell him what was the truth. I understand the feeling for it is easy to hold scientific and mathematical proof as being the truth, for two plus two will always amount to four, however, Your truth is not subject to any scientific formula. It is the truth and one has the choice of either believing or not. May we all believe in Your Name Amen.




2. in the hope of eternal life that God who never lies, promised before the ages began- 3. in due time he revealed his word through the proclamation with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior.




(The Letter of St. Paul to Titus Chapter 1 verses 2 to 3)




Oh God my Father hope in You is the only reliable hope that we can ever have, especially when confirmed to when we place our hope in humans. There is a chance that when we place our hopes in humans we may not always feel fulfilled, however, when we place our hope in You, we have a certainty and assurance that You will fulfil Your promises as You have always done since the beginning of time Amen.




4. To Titus, my loyal child in the faith we share: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.


(The Letter of St. Paul to Titus Chapter 1 verse 4)


Oh God my Father in faith we are one big family that although is different in cultures traditions and belief, even though we may not admit it, we all believe in a power that is greater than our own. This makes us all united in the face of this unknown power which is You my God and Father Amen. 



5. I left you behind in Crete for this reason, so that you should put in order what remained to be done, and should appoint elders in every town, as I directed you: 6. someone who is blameless, married only once, whose children are believers, not accused of debauchery and not rebellious.



(The Letter of St. Paul to Titus Chapter 1 verses 5 to 6)



Oh God my Father You permitted Titus to remain in Crete for a particular reason, that of gradually laying the foundations of a new community of believers that in time would become 'The Church' or 'Your Body on earth' that is the Roman Catholic Church. On reflecting oh God my Father, You also created each one of us to perform a particular task or tasks or roles. May we all discover such assignments that You tailored for us even before we were born as was the plan for our salvation Amen.


7. For a bishop, as God's steward, must be blameless; he must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or addicted to wine or violent or greedy for gain; 8. but he must be hospitable, a lover of goodness, prudent, upright, devout, and self-controlled. 9. He must have a firm grasp of the word that is trustworthy in accordance with the teaching, so that he may be able both to preach with sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict it.



(The Letter of St. Paul to Titus Chapter 1 verses 7 to 9)



Oh God, my Father I thank You for sharing me this insight. After all these years You have given me the understanding of why priests learn both theology and philosophy. The first is to enable knowledge and familiarity with the message of the Good News, the other is to be able to defend it with sound reasoning. Amen.



An important tool that helps us to accept or refute arguments is the square of opposition which can be found by referring to the following link:-


Square of opposition



10. There are also many rebellious people, idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision; 11. they must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for sordid gain what it is not right to teach. 12. It was one of them, their very own prophet, who said, "Cretans are always liars, vicious brutes, lazy gluttons." 13. That testimony is true, for this reason rebuke them sharply, so that they may become sound in the faith, 14. not paying attention to Jewish myths or to commandments of those who reject the truth. 15. To the pure all things are pure, but to the corrupt and unbelieving nothing is pure. Their very minds and consciences are corrupted. 16. They profess to know God, but they deny him by their actions. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.



(The Letter of St. Paul to Titus Chapter 1 verses 10 to 16)




Oh God, my Father when You said by means of the letter of St. Paul to Titus, that such people need to be controlled and stopped You did not refer to the Spanish Inquisition or the Gas Chambers, but with sound reasoning sharing of our faith and exemplary life and alot of love. Oh God I believe that even people in such a negative situation deserve to be loved especially by You and us, for You yourself told us to show love not only to those who love us, but even more to those who do not love us Amen.



Oh God my Father I would like to end this first chapter of St. Paul's letter to Titus with the following prayer:-


Oh God my Father, I offer this prayer for Pope Francesco and for all the bishops, cardinals and all leaders, or ministers in the body of Christ on earth even if they are not Catholic or Christian. I pray that all in their own way be of a good example to their followers and continue to lead them on the way in goodness and love. Amen. I also pray for those who oppose or criticise the Roman Catholic Church and its teachings as when based on the Word of God. I pray that such brothers and sisters, learn how to let the Word of God enlighten them instead of judging it Amen. Thank You Jesus Amen.