The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-11-24
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON NOTES.
Nov. 20, 1900: Titus ii. 1-15-sober
Living.

Nov. 20, 1900: Titus Ill, 1-15-sober
The circumstances under which the Pastoral
Epistles were written insure for them prac-
| teal character. They prompted by tbs un-
| dying affection of the apostle for his sons In
| the gospel and his passion secure the per-
| petuity OF the church after his departure. They
were written. not TO incumbents OF easy-going
benehces, but TO pastors in great popuous cen
| tiers, environed by dangerous elements, per-
picked by all but insolvable problems. They
are the fruit Of splendid natural genius and wide,
| long, varied experience. There is about them
| no dryness OF formal treatises. 1t is rather the
overflow Of the full heart. One thing suggests
another. Yet the apparent lack OF order is in
appearance only. They form perfect institute
of practical theology. The principles irradiated
| are fundamental be applicable 10 each
| succeeding age. Compressed into the fewest pos
sible paragraphs are summaries of Christian
doctrine: Church order. life and ritual, minis
| terial traits. habits, pastoral bearing toward
various classes in society in general and in the
| church in particular. . The Epstle to
| Titus is epitorne of the First Epistle TO Tim
| othy, just Titus himself seems to be a smaller
edition Of Timothy. In saying this there is no
disposition minify Titus. Indeed. II would
be difficult TO do so In the Of one whom
| ST. Paul calls mime own son after the common
faith" my partner and fellow-helper,' and
who held efficiently for years the vicar apostolate
of the Island Crete. of the most strategic
| points in the advance of Christianity against
heathenism. To Titus also belongs this distin-
| guished honor; he pre-eminenty the rep
resentative OF gentle Christianity. He was dis
| tinctively trophy from heathenism. AS such.
| st. Paul refused the demand OF Jewish Chris
| tians. still fettered by Hebrew ritualism. that
| he should be circumcised. He thus became
| typical uncircumcised Christian GENTLE. and
| decisive victory of emancipation from Jewish
| ritualsm won in his case st. Paul seems
| also to have commissioned Titus with most
| difficult and delicate affair, striking evidence
| in itself of Paurs high estimate of Tituss judi
| ciousness-a quality unusual in young
| Part of his commission was to investigate the
| immoralties alleged TO be practced among the
| Corinthian Christians and the effect produced
| by ST. Pauls corrective letter. The other part
| was to make the collections for the poor Chris
| tians of Judea. In both these important offices
| Titus was so wise. Jealous and successful as
| To receive the commentator OF the apostle
| and be sent a second time upon a similar mis-
| sion. and be commended by him my partner
| and fellow-helper." Titus is believed TO have
| been 'irmer and energetic than Timothy,
| and for this reason to have been prepared for
| this important matter. The responsible
| ity of his sub-apostolic Office in the Island OF
Crete may easily be inferred by the terms of
/ his commission given to him in the Episte
| which bears his name: l. He is to complete the
| unfinished work of the apostle. 2. Organize the
| churches and appoint presbyters. 3. He Is TO
| checkmate the Judaizers. 4. Urge the duties OF
| 'decorous and Christian life upon the wom-
| en-" 5. Have to his manner of life.
| 6. Teach slaves to be dutiful. T. Curb the in
| surrectionary spirit. s. Discourage useless theo-
| logical controversy. 3. Bring heretics to the
book. 1t is supposed that the Island OF
Crete is honored with the dust of its first bishop.
| Gambia being claimed his burial place. His
| name the battle cry of the Cretans in their
| heroic but unsuccessful resistance to Venetian
| invasion . The picture which st. Paul
| gives of Cretan society is revoltng but he
| tains it by quoting of their authorities.
| who does not hesitate to declare his fellow
countrymen as inveterate liars, evil beasts and
| slow bellies" Such folks not to be reformed
| by inane platitudes, and sweetness and light"
| The very epistle their first bishop is tingei
| with the severity with which they are TO be
| dealt with. Among the crooked and perverse
eeneration'' the apostle and his converts are to
| ..shine as light" and ''hold forth the Word of
| Life" They are to give heed to the duties OF
practical, useful piety." The New Testament
| Goes not contain more striking portraiture OF
| the ideal Christian layman than is found in the
| Epistle to Titus.
| Key and Analysis
/. Pastoral epistes in general; their motive,
/
| contents
| H. Epistle to Titus in particular; compared to
| First Timothy; likeness and contrast The diff
| ference OF the epistles. the difference of the
/ men addressed: l. Character, office and work or
| Titus, as casting light upon the epistle TO him.
2. Exact analysis OF epistlc impossible; an APP
proxinate analysis. 8. The portraiture OF Cretan
| society, casting light upon the epistie and work
of Titus L. Portraiture of the ideal Christian
| Iayman-
| THE STUDY LAMP.
| The Epistle of Paul to Titus was distinct
/ contributions potent factor in the evolution
| OF civilization in general, and in that of the
| island of Crete in particular. Current vices AMI
| follies were rebuked, and the ideal Of good
| society pictured ia fascinating way
| The discouraged social evolutonist OF to-day
| finds soace in the fact that even Paul snd Titus
| did not Immediately succeed in reforming the
| Cretans and that at best their final success was
| only approximate.
| Truth in society is growing to the stature of
| manness in Christ Jesus. And hardy growth
| is slow Patience. my soull But remit not the
| digging about it, fertilizing the soil. pruning.
grating and what not this tree OF the social life
| In some future age it will come TO the symmetry.
| the perfection OF fruit and shade, impossible
without the toll of the present.
| Our answer to the carping and deprecating pes
| smistic question, why the former days
| better than theseg'' lie, They were mott In evil
| dence of it see First Corinthians First Timothy.
| Titus and Jude. While the church had living
! arostles IL was characterized by fragrant of
| lenses such as could not be thought Of in con-
| nection with the church Of to-day.
| The grounds of all advces Of the epiytle are:
| l. The free grace which trains the Christian
| to seIf-denying and active piety- , Glorious
/ hope of the second advent. ?. Atonement by
which Jesus Christ has purchased US to be His
peculiar people. (Smith)