Titus 3:12-15

Titus 3: 12-15

¹²  When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, make every effort to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there.  ¹³  Diligently help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way so that nothing is lacking for them.  ¹⁴  Our people must also learn to engage in good deeds to meet pressing needs, so that they will not be unfruitful.  ¹⁵  All who are with me greet you. Greet those who love us in the faith.  Grace be with you all.

Verse 12

When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, make every effort to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there.

Artemas or Tychicus

It would seem that Titus was laying the ground work for others to come in and continue what he was beginning.  Tychicus is mentioned as a faithful helper and assistant to Paul (Acts 20:4; Eph. 6:21; Col. 4:7; and 2 Tim. 4:2). The point is that both of these men were faithful servants of the Gospel and of the Church.  One or the other was being sent to Crete so that Titus could move on and head to Nicopolis.

make every effort to come to me at Nicopolis

Here we see that the someone else is being said to take Titus' place so that he can go and meet Paul at Nicopolis.  Some commentators thing that Paul could feel the end finally closing in and wanted to make arrangements to be with Titus one last time.  The benefits to meeting in Nicopolis would have been manifold.  Firstly, it was a good compromise so no one of them had to traverse the entire span between them.  Secondly, it was reputed to be a bit less cold and forbidding in the winter times.

Verse 13

Diligently help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way so that nothing is lacking for them.

Diligently help...nothing is lacking for them.

Here we see that Zenas and Apollos are being sent.  This isn't just a pleasure trip but the word translated “on their way” here has the idea of a journey that one has been sent on, rather than something simply done of the own initiative, for personal or business reasons.  This verse is an example of Paul commanding the need for physical supporting of missionaries, teachers or ministers.  We find here that Paul is telling Titus that he should make sure that their needs are met as they continue on their way.  Titus would, presumably, be drawing this support from the Church at Crete.

the lawyer

This word is the word nomikos and is based on the word for Law.  It is not a sure thing, but it is probably best translated as “lawyer.”  This proves, contrary to all of our instinctual understanding, that Lawyers actually can be saved!  Hallelujah!

Verse 14

Our people must also learn to engage in good deeds to meet pressing needs, so that they will not be unfruitful.

Our people

This seems to be referring to the Christians who are in Crete. Even in closing the letter Paul is driving home the point of how the believers should be behaving towards others.  This would seem to be an exhortation that the believers are to be supporting ministry, missionaries and other believers!

so that they will not be unfruitful

It even seems shocking to us now, but Paul seems to equate this provision for these ministry with their fruitfulness.  It shows us that giving, hospitality and provision for others is a vital part of the Christian life.  It is something that is called “fruitful.”  A way we can gage our heard before the Lord.  If we are giving freely from what we have there is one sign that we are in a good place.  If we are unable to give freely from the good things that the Lord has provided we may find ourselves not surrendered to the Lord in other areas of life as well.

Verse 15

All who are with me greet you. Greet those who love us in [the] faith.  Grace be with you all.

Grace be with you all

So Paul closes with the warmth that has characterized the entire letter.  He sends greetings from all who are with him, many of whom Titus may have known his entire Christian life.  He also sends Paul's greetings to all those “who love us in faith.”  It seems Paul couldn't end this masterpiece of divinely inspired writing without emphasizing one last time what it is that characterizes our existence, as believers.  There is no escaping the fact that God's grace is the only thing that has brought us this far, and as the hymn says, “grace will lead me home.”