New Testament Class Week 4 second post

Unit TWO

Choice 4: Titus 1–3. Epistle of Obedience

1. Read Titus 1:1–5 and the Bible Dictionary entry for “Titus” (pp. 785–86). Write a paragraph about who Titus was and what responsibility he had toward the Saints living in Crete.
• It sounds like Titus was Paul’s son. I’m not sure if Paul used that term literally or figuratively. Either way he used that term in the scriptures Titus was a very near and dear person to Paul. Titus traveled with Paul on several of his missions, and was present at a lot of the conferences. His role in Crete was to carry on the work there and establish the priests and the “government” of the church.
2. List the attributes of a bishop found in Titus 1:6–9; 1 Timothy 3:1–7.
• Blameless
• One wife
• Faithful children
• Not accused of riot
• Not unruly
• Not selfwilled
• Steward of God
• Not soon angry
• Not given to wine
• No striker
• Not given to filthy lucre a lover of hospitality
• Lover of good men
• Sober
• Just
• Holy
• Temperate
• Holding fast to the word
• Good behavior
• Apt to teach
• Patient
• Not covetous
• Presides well over his own house
3. Read Titus 1:10–16 and the institute student manual commentary for Titus 1:12, “The Nature and Character of the Cretans” (p. 373). Make a list of the problems Paul identified that existed among the Saints in Crete.
• Many unruly, vain talkers, deceivers
• Lovers of filthy lucre
• Always liars
• False prophets
• Evil beasts
• Slow bellies
• Unbelievers
• Disobedient
• Deny God
• Hypocrites
4. Read Titus 2–3. Then write your answers to the following questions:
• In Titus 2:1, what did Paul encourage Titus to speak of?
1. Speak only sound doctrine
• What impact did Paul say sound doctrine would have upon the aged?
1. it teaches them to be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things.
• How could that also apply to the young?
1. it also teachers them to be sober, chaste, good works, obedient.
• How can the counsel given in Titus 3:2–5 help us be patient with new members of the Church?
1. That we have all made “fools” of ourselves and we have all been learners and brand new to something so we should have love and patience for those who are new and learning.
• What role does the Lord’s grace play in our salvation? Read Titus 3:5–7; 2 Nephi 2:6–8; 10:24; Moroni 6:4; 10:32–33; Doctrine and Covenants 45:3–5.
1. Without the Lord’s grace there is no way we could be saved. He is our advocate during the judgment. He suffered for all of our sins so that if we just live as righteously as we can and repent of our sins with our Lord’s grace we can be clean 100%.
5. Read Titus 3:9 and the institute student manual commentary for Titus 3:9, “Why ‘Avoid Foolish Questions, and Genealogies, and Contentions, and Strivings About the Law’?” (p. 374). Write a definition for what is meant by foolish questions and genealogies. Write a paragraph about how you could stay grounded in “sound doctrine” (Titus 2:1) and “avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law.”
• I figure what is meant by foolish questions and genealogies is when people ask things to be contentious, or to try and start a “bible bash” and we are supposed to avoid those.
• I can stay grounded in sound doctrine by obviously going to church every Sunday, attending FHE on Monday nights, go to institute if it is offered. Also reading my scriptures and praying, studying conference talks. Doing all these things can help me stay grounded in sound doctrine. Ways to avoid foolish questions and contentions would be to just not rise to the challenge. Many times in my life people have tried to trip me up in my beliefs, or have wanted to bible bash. As soon as I start to get a hint of that kind of attitude I simply bare my testimony and try to end the conversation. People who want to argue are not spiritually sensitive enough to understand the spirit.