Titus 3:9-15
Some scatter-shooting as we close out Titus… We haven’t heard much about Apollos (v. 13) since Acts 18-19, although he did get a number of mentions in I Corinthians. My Study Bible suggested that Zenas and Apollos may have delivered this letter to Titus, with Paul expecting them to stay on a bit, then return to him. There is no other mention of Zenas in the New Testament. Finally, in verse 12 (When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you… ), it looks like Paul is sending interim leaders to take over for Titus for a while so that Paul can meet with him personally. It seems that he does not want to leave the Cretan church without responsible leadership. We’ve seen Tychicus a few times. He was part of the entourage that went with Paul to Jerusalem to deliver the monetary gifts to the Jerusalem church. He was also (most likely) the messenger who, along with Onesimus delivered Paul’s letters to the Ephesians, Colossians, and Philemon.
But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law… (v. 9a) It seems that from the beginning (his first missionary journey) to the end (his release from prison) Paul had trouble from the Judaizers. And yet he was more schooled in the Law than almost anyone with whom he came in contact. What frustration for him!
“Good works” again, verse 14…!!
Slava Bohu!