Study Fourteen
A Few Thoughts from the Book of Titus
Thank God for Faithful People
Titus 3:12-15
We now come to the end of Paul’s letter to Titus. Paul’s
“yours truly,” of his letter contains a list of names of special
friends, as well as parting instructions to Titus and the
churches. These friends were men that were being used by
God and were faithful servants with him in the Gospel
ministry. As we saw in our last thoughts, in verses 9-11,
Paul spoke of unfaithful people. He called them “hereticks”
in verse 10. Now, he speaks to faithful people, those that
were faithful servants and ministers of Jesus Christ.
In my opinion, one of the greatest compliments that
could be paid a person is that they are faithful Christians
and servants of the Lord. The Bible says of Moses in
Hebrews 3:5 that he “verily was faithful in all his house.”
Paul spoke of himself as a faithful servant in 1 Timothy
1:12, “And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled
me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the
ministry.” One of the expectations of Christians and
servants of God is that they are faithful. The Bible says in 1
Corinthians 4:2, “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a
man be found faithful.” One of the goals of our spiritual life
ought to be that one day we will hear the Lord say, “Well
done, good and faithful servant” (cp. Matt 25:23). What
greater could be said of us than we were faithful to God and
His Word?
King Joao V of Portugal (1689-1750) paid almost a
quarter of a billion dollars for the two words "Rei
Fidelissimo" (Most Faithful King). The exact sum spent was
234 million dollars. In exchange for this fantastic sum, the
king won the right to display these two words in his title.
This breathtaking extravagance exhausted all the wealth
Portugal had extracted from Brazil up to that time. And
when the Most Faithful King died, there was not enough
money in the treasury to bury him decently. A public
collection was necessary to defray the cost of the royal
burial. The title or testimony of faithfulness cannot be
purchased. It is a testimony that is earned and achieved by
the kind of life and service you give to the Lord.
In chapter one, Paul specifically spoke to ministers. In
chapter 2, his focus was on members. As he closes his
letter, his words are addressed to both. In his closing
words, he speaks of:
FAITHFUL MINISTERS
In verses 12-13, Paul mentions four ministers:
Artemas, Tychicus, Zenas, and Apollos. These men were
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faithful ministers of the gospel and co-laborers with Paul
in the ministry. In these four men, we see:
Faithful Men Sent by Paul
Paul speaks of sending, “Artemas unto thee, or
Tychicus.” He is talking about replacements for Titus.
Seeing that Paul strongly stressed faithfulness on the part
of Titus, it stands to reason that those whom he would send
to replace Titus would be considered by Paul as faithful
men as well.
It reminds us that God uses faithful people to do His
work. Paul would have never considered someone who
was not faithful as a replacement for Titus. He knew that
God only uses faithful people. If you want God to use you,
faithfulness is a prerequisite.
The first replacement he mentions is “Artemas.” We
know nothing about Artemas. His name is most likely a
shortened form of the name Artemidoros, meaning “gift of
Artemis.” This suggests that his parents worshipped the
Greek goddess Artemas. Here is a faithful minister of the
gospel who had been saved from a pagan background. He
is a testimony of God’s saving power and the new life and
Lord that salvation produces.
Many faithful ministers of the gospel of Jesus Christ
can testify to a life transformation by the saving power of
Jesus Christ. Some of the greatest preachers I have ever
known were rogues before God saved them. However,
when they met Jesus, He changed their life, and now they
are preaching the Gospel.
John Newton is a good example of the saving power of
the gospel. Newton was a rough, dirty sailor with a foul
mouth. He served as a captain of a slave ship, and his life
was marked by sin and degradation. But then He met the
Savior, and his life was changed. He became a faithful
minister of Jesus Christ. His ministry still touches the lives
of Christians Sunday after Sunday. I doubt there is a
Sunday without his great hymn, Amazing Grace, being sung
somewhere around the world.
Artemas reminds us that God can take unlikely
candidates and make them faithful servants. I do not care
what your past was like; God can take you, make
something of your life, and use you for His honor and glory.
The second possible replacement that Paul mentioned
is “Tychicus.” He is mentioned five times in the New
Testament. His name means “fortunate,” and he was a
faithful companion of Paul, as well as a faithful minister. He
was with Paul on his missionary journey from Corinth to
Asia Minor. He is referred to by Paul as “a beloved brother
and faithful minister in the Lord” (Eph 6:21). In Colossians
4:7, Paul speaks of him not only as a “beloved brother, and
a faithful minister” but also as a “fellowservant in the Lord.”
He had been sent to Ephesus as a replacement for Timothy.
Paul’s often references of him as a “faithful minister,”
describes someone dependable and committed to God’s
work. Whatever his role in God’s work, he was dependable,
trustworthy, and faithful. God uses people who take the
work of God seriously. They make God’s work a priority
and take their responsibilities seriously.
As Christians, whatever our place of service, it
deserves and demands our commitment. Thank God for
Sunday School teachers that are faithful. Thank God for
youth workers, choir members, deacons, and soul-winners
that are committed to their place and work. That is the kind
of people God uses and the kind of people that God expects.
In verse 12, Paul mentions that he will spend the
winter at “Nicopolis,” and he wants Titus to do everything
he can to join him. He says to Titus, “be diligent to come
unto me to Nicopolis.” In the meantime, he is praying about
whom to send as a replacement. Whomever that
replacement will be, it will be someone faithful.
The second two men that Paul mentions are:
Faithful Men Sent to Paul
Artemas and Tychichus were men that Paul was
considering sending as replacements for Titus. In verse 13,
he says to Titus, “Bring Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on
their journey diligently.” He now talks about two men
whom he wants to be sent to him.
The first that he mentions is “Zenas the lawyer.” As
Artemas, we know nothing about Zenas. His name is an
abbreviation of Zenadorus which means “gift of Zeus.” This
suggests that he had been saved from a pagan background
as Artemas. The only thing we really know about him is
that he was a lawyer.
I think about a couple of fellows that were walking
through a cemetery and came upon a gravestone that read,
“Here lies so and so. A good man and a lawyer.” One said to
the other, “Well, look here. Two men buried in the same
grave.”
Lawyers do not always have a good reputation. In the
case of Zenas, we have a Christian lawyer. Zenas reminds
us that God uses people from all walks of life. God can take
professional people and use them for His honor and glory.
I have met professional people with a wonderful testimony
and witness for Jesus Christ. I praise God for Christian
doctors, bankers, lawyers, and professional people who
are not ashamed of Christ and are witnesses for him.
Zenas also reminds us that no matter one’s field of
employment one’s occupation, one can have a Christian
testimony. It matters not what you do; if you are a
Christian, you should have a Christian testimony.
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The second man that Paul tells Titus to bring with him
is “Apollos.” He is found on several occasions in the Bible.
In Acts 18:24-25, we read, “And a certain Jew named
Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in
the scriptures, came to Ephesus. This man was instructed in
the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake
and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only
the baptism of John.” Apollos, an Alexandrian Jew, was a
great minister and preacher of the Word. When the Bible
speaks of him as “an eloquent man,” it means that he was a
fluent communicator. We would call him an orator. He was
“mighty in the scriptures.” He was a great student of God’s
Word and very skillful in the communication of the Word.
Apollos reminds us that a Christian should be a
student of the Bible. As Christians, we ought to love the
Bible and take time to read and study the Bible. It is tragic
that Christians, by and large, have so little knowledge of
the Bible.
I think about a list of answers I once came across from
students that took a Bible knowledge test:
• The first book of the Bible is Guinessis in which Adam
and Eve were created from an apple.
• Noah's wife was Joan of Ark.
• Lot's wife was a pillar of salt by day and a ball of fire
by night.
• Samson slew the Philistines with the ax of the apostles.
• Moses went to the top of Mt. Cyanide to get the 10
Commandments.
• The seventh commandment is, "thou shalt not admit
adultery."
• Joshua led the Hebrews in the battle of Geritol.
• Solomon had 300 wives and 700 porcupines.
• The people who followed Jesus were called the twelve
decibels.
• The epistles were the wives of the apostles.
• One of the opossums was St. Matthew.
• Paul preached acrimony, which is another name for
marriage.
• David fought the Finkelsteins, a race of people who
lived in Biblical times.
• A Christian should have only one wife. This is called
monotony.
I am not so sure some adults would do much better.
Like Apollos, every Christian should desire to be a student
of the Bible. It is God’s Word. It reveals His plan and
purpose for your life. It gives you spiritual guidelines for
living as a Christian and is the source of all spiritual growth
and strength. Therefore, we all should be students and, as
Apollos, “mighty in the scriptures.”
When Paul speaks of Zenas and Apollos, he asks “that
nothing be wanting unto them” (Vs. 13). He wanted them to
be cared for so that they would lack nothing. Paul’s words
are a reminder that the Church is to be mindful of the needs
of those who preach the Gospel and generous in meeting
those needs.
Artemas, Tychichus, Zenas, and Apollos; are four men
that were faithful ministers of the Lord Jesus. What
excellent examples they are for each of us.
Secondly, Paul not only speaks about faithful
ministers, but he talks about:
FAITHFUL MEMBERS
He says in verse 14, “And let ours also learn to maintain
good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.”
The “ours” speaks of the members of the Church. Having
given a closing word to ministers, Paul now has a few final
words for the church members. First, Paul speaks of
members as being:
Faithful Workers
He commands members to “maintain good works.”
Maintaining has the idea of faithfulness. Christians are to
be faithful workers. They are to “learn” to be faithful. As
Christians, we must learn that serving God and being
faithful Christian workers is part of the Christian life. Some
believe that the pastor and church staff are to do the work.
Every Christian is to be a worker.
Paul speaks of “necessary uses.” He is talking about
pressing needs that exist and how Christians are to learn
to assist in these pressing needs. The idea is that the needs
are so great that it is beyond the pastor’s ability to meet
them. Therefore, members assist and are involved in
meeting these needs. When it comes to the work of God,
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everyone is needed. The work is so great that it is
impossible for one person to meet those needs. Every
Christian is to use their spiritual gifts and abilities in God’s
work, so these needs are met.
Are you a worker? Paul’s words to Titus indicate that
every Christian is to understand that they are to be
workers. I am to work, you are to work, and all of us are to
be faithful workers.
Members are to not only be faithful workers but also:
Fruitful Workers
In verse 14, he speaks of members “that they be not
unfruitful.” Faithfulness leads to fruitfulness. Jesus said in
John 15:8, “Herein is my Father glorifed, that ye bear much
fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.” Fruitfulness is to
characterize the life of the Christian. As Christians, we are
to live fruitful lives. The spiritual fruit Paul primarily had
in mind is the lives of others. Winning people to Jesus is
bearing fruit. Ministering to others and helping them is
bearing fruit. Being used by God to help others grow in the
Lord is bearing spiritual fruit.
Are you faithful? Are you faithful to God’s work?
Are you fruitful? As a Christian, are you bearing
spiritual fruit?
Paul closes his letter with verse 15, “All that are with
me salute thee. Greet them that loves us in the faith. Grace
be with you all. Amen.” The word “salute” is equivalent to
saying, “Peace be unto you.” In Paul’s final words to Titus,
he tips his hat to both ministers and members who were
faithful to God.
Can you be saluted for being faithful?