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.
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.
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