Titus and Philemon: The Easy Study Bible Commentary: The Easy Study Bible Commentary Series, #56

By Dr. Trennis E. Killian

Not just for scholars but for anyone who would like to understand the New Testament!

The Easy Study Bible Commentary takes The Easy Study Bible Diagramed and examines, describes and expounds upon each New Testament book, chapter by chapter, paragraph by paragraph, verse by verse and finally phrase by phrase.

In my many years of Bible study, I have found this arrangement to be the easiest to follow and understand.

I have done my best to write this commentary with the idea in mind of making it easier for you to understand and therefore apply the great teachings that God gave to each of us through the various books of the New Testament.

At the end of each section that we study, I will give you what I call my Greek Paraphrase. What I do is to take all of the expanded Greek definitions and put them together to help us better understand the passage.

• Language: English
• Publisher: CCM
• Release date: Jul 20, 2019
• ISBN: 9798223420187

Book preview

TITLE PAGE

TITUS AND PHILEMON

The Easy Study Bible Commentary

Dr. Trennis E. Killian

COPYRIGHT

COPYRIGHT © 2019 BY Trennis E. Killian

Christ Centered Ministries

Surprise, Arizona

The print edition of this book may be obtained through http://www.trenniskillian.com

All Scripture quotations are taken from The Easy Study Bible ®, Copyright © 2011 by Trennis E. Killian and Christ Centered Ministries. Used by permission.

This E-Book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This E-Book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

THE EASY STUDY BIBLE COMMENTARY SERIES

THE EASY STUDY Bible Commentary Series

Galatians

Ephesians

Philippians

Titus and Philmon

James

Jude

INTRODUCTION

INTRODUCTION

I WANT to make it clear right away that this commentary series is not just for Bible scholars, pastors, or anyone else who is well versed in the Greek New Testament.

Instead, this commentary series is for everyone who would like to study the New Testament with the knowledge of what the significant Greek words mean and how they fit into the context of each verse, chapter, and book that you may be studying.

As a pastor, I have watched many Christians (not just new Christians either) struggle to better understand what God is saying to them through His Word.

I started doing this process more than twenty years ago when I was teaching a new member class at my church. As it turned out, I started with eight adults who were all either totally new to studying the Bible or they were not the strongest readers. Therefore, both groups were having a difficult time understanding the Bible.

So, I began by placing the verses of each lesson in a diagram form. When that proved to be helpful, I then began to take the Greek words and define them so they could understand the different meanings that each Greek word could have when translated into English.

The result was that the class soon became the largest class in the church and we all (especially me) learned a great deal about God’s Word in the process.

Therefore, this is the approach I have taken with this new Bible commentary series. I will show you how this is done with the example provided below,

* * *

The Easy Study Bible Commentary takes The Easy Study Bible Diagramed and examines, describes and expounds upon each New Testament book, chapter by chapter, paragraph by paragraph, verse by verse and finally phrase by phrase.

In my many years of Bible study and teaching, I have found this arrangement to be the easiest to follow and understand.

I have done my best to write this commentary with the idea in mind of making it easier for you to understand and therefore apply the great teachings that God gave to each of us through the various books of the New Testament.

Here is an example of how I bring in the Greek definition of all significant words. I don’t put in the Greek word or the transliteration of the Greek word. I simply put the word as it is translated into the English, then I give the definition of the Greek word as it is in the context of the verse being studied.

This example is taken from the book of Titus, chapter one, verse one:

* * *

Verse: 1

¹ Paul, a slave of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the faith of God's elect and the knowledge of the truth that is according to godliness,

¹ Paul,

a slave of God

and an apostle of Jesus Christ,

for the faith of God's elect

and the knowledge of the truth

that is according to godliness,

Phrase by phrase:

¹ Paul,

Paul – Paul or Paulus = small or little – Paul was the most famous of the apostles and wrote a good part of the NT, the 14 Pauline epistles (letters); Paulus was a deputy or pro-consul of Cyprus and is said to be a prudent man, in the management of affairs, as a governor (different man)

a slave of God

slave – a slave, bondman, man of servile condition; devoted to another to the disregard of one’s own interests; a servant, attendant

God – God the Father

This is Paul’s usual way of identifying himself as belonging totally to God.

and an apostle of Jesus Christ,

apostle – a delegate, messenger, one sent forth with orders; specifically applied to the twelve apostles of Christ; in a broader sense applied to other eminent Christian teachers

Jesus – Jehovah is salvation

Christ – the anointed One, the Messiah

for the faith of God's elect

faith – conviction of the truth of anything; fidelity, faithfulness; the character of one who can be relied on; belief in the NT of a conviction or belief respecting man’s relationship to God and divine things, generally with the included idea of trust and holy fervor born of faith and joined with it: relating to God, the conviction that God exists and is the creator and ruler of all things, the provider and giver of eternal salvation through Christ: relating to Christ, a strong and welcome conviction or belief that Jesus is the Messiah, through whom we obtain eternal salvation in the kingdom of God

God’s – God the Father

elect – picked out, chosen; chosen by God; to obtain salvation through Christ; Christians are called chosen or elect of God; the Messiah in called elect, as appointed by God to the most exalted office conceivable; choice, select, i.e. the best of its kind or class, excellence preeminent: applied to certain individual Christians

and the knowledge of the truth

knowledge – precise and correct knowledge; used in the NT of the knowledge of things ethical and divine

truth – objectively: what is true in any matter under consideration; truly, in truth, according to truth; of a truth, in reality, in fact, certainly – subjectively: truth as a personal excellence; that honesty of mind which is free from affection, pretense, simulation, falsehood, deceit

that is according to godliness,

according – down from, throughout; according to, toward, along

godliness – reverence, respect; piety towards God, godliness

If we are to believe the opening of this letter then it is very clear that Paul was the author. Paul tells us who he is, who he represents and how all in the first verse.

Also, Paul adds a little more to this greeting which shows what he’s going to be talking about later. He is stressing the knowledge of the truth and that it must be according to godliness.

He’s giving a little hint here of things to come in the rest of the letter.

* * *

At the end of each section that we study, I will give you what I call my Greek Paraphrase. What I do is to take all of the expanded Greek definitions and put them together to help us better understand the passage.

The following example is also from Titus chapter one, verses one and two:

(First is the Easy Study Bible Translation, then the Easy Study Bible Diagramed, and finally my Greek Paraphrase.)

¹ Paul, a slave of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the faith of God's elect and the knowledge of the truth that is according to godliness,

Paul, a bond servant of God and a specially chosen messenger of Jesus Christ, the Messiah, selected and sent to stimulate and promote the faith and knowledge of God's chosen people so they will have the truth that leads to godliness,

- - -

I use this method whenever I study any part of the Bible, whether I’m just studying for my own enrichment or to teach it to others. It helps me to understand each passage well enough to apply it to my life as well as to help others do the same. This makes the whole experience so much more enjoyable for both my students and for me as well.

I sincerely hope that it will make the Bible more understandable for you too. Please let me know how it works for you.

You can reach me anonymously through the ‘Contact Us’ tab on the menu of my web page.

http://www.trenniskillian.com

THE BOOK OF TITUS

THE BOOK OF Titus

Author and Date Written

The letter itself claims that Paul was the author. He wrote the letter after he was released from the Roman imprisonment described at the end of Act. That would make it around 63AD.

Original Audience:

Titus, Paul’s trusted friend who was on the island of Crete. Titus was basically Paul’s representative there on Crete. He was one of Paul’s early Gentile converts and was probably from Antioch of Syria.

Purpose

Paul wrote to Titus, his representative on the island of Crete to accomplish several objectives. First, Paul wanted to encourage Titus in his own personal Christian growth. Second, Paul was giving Titus instructions about church organization, particularly congregational officers and various age groups. Third, Paul wanted Titus to come to Nicopolis to spend the winter with him.

Teachings about