The end of the epistle, all of Paul to Titus has been heard (or will be by the end of this message). What remains on Paul’s mind for Titus and for Titus’ mission for Crete? What should we, the hearers of the letter, remember and take away with us?

To finish this series is not to complete our work, but sends us out with grace for good.

Spoude Instructions (verses 12-14)

I love the great Greek word spoude. Remember, it means zeal. It opposes reluctance. And Paul uses a form of it twice in his last words.

Zeal to Leave (verse 12)

It was almost time for Titus to take up a new station.

When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. (Titus 3:12 ESV)

Paul was about to send a replacement for Titus. Paul left Titus on Crete for the purpose of establishing elders in all the churches (Titus 1:5). That’s not only a large enough work geographically, it had consequences generationally. That said, apparently Paul didn’t want Titus to stay.

Either Artemas or Tychicus would replace him. Also apparently Paul didn’t know which one it would be at the time of sending the letter; the replacement would be the carrier. (As it turns out, Tychicus went to Ephesus according to 2 Timothy 4:12, so Artemas went to Crete.)

And then Paul wanted Titus to show some spoude: do your best (the imperative spoudason), “make every effort” (NASB), to make his way to Nicopolis, that is, “Victory City” (nike = victory + polis = city) or “Win Town.” Paul was on his way to the west side of Greece for the winter, as a strategic place, but also to avoid traveling during the tough winter season.

Zeal to Support (verse 13)

Two more men are named; probably making at least a three-fold group of travelers, two of which would only have a short lay-over on Crete.

Do your best to speed Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way; see that they lack nothing. (Titus 3:13 ESV)

Do your best is another cognate of spoude (the adverb spoudaios). So in other words, “zealously send these two guys with full support.”

Supporting a lawyer has biblical warrant. Zenas—not mentioned anywhere else in the NT—is a Greek name, so possibly he knew Roman law, though some speculate that he worked in Jewish law, making him more likely to be poor, and therefore need support.

Apollos is more well known, mentioned by Paul in Acts, and one of the favorite preachers among the Corinthians (see 1 Corinthians 1:12). Zenas and Apollos were going places, and Paul urged Titus to organize sending hospitality.

Zeal for Good (verse 14)

It is starting to get repetitive.

And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful. (Titus 3:14 ESV)

How many times do you have to say it, or hear it, for it to sink in? I’ve read one book that says “people need to hear the vision seven times before they really hear it for the first time.” We still live in a target rich environment of forgetfulness, so reminders almost always hit something.

Not only are good works the theme of Titus, this phrase is exactly the same as in Titus 3:8. Learn is the verb form of disciple; let this be the pattern, the path a man follows. Devote is giving one’s time and/or resources to the thing. Get after it.

In a context where Paul just instructed Titus to “see that they lack nothing,” there are cases of urgent need.

Without good works we are unfruitful. So, stated alternatively, fruitfulness is good works. You might get tired of productivity talk, but let us not grow weary of productivity itself. God sent Jesus to redeem us from unlawful works that we would be His people and zealous (in Titus 2:14 it’s not spoude, but a synonym) for good works.

Specific Greetings (verse 15a)

Greetings, both from some and to some.

All who are with me send greetings to you. Greet those who love us in the faith. (Titus 3:15 ESV)

The you in the first part of the verse is singular, and the imperative is also addressed to a specific person, Titus.

Who was with Paul saying Hi to Titus? He was likely in Corinth, headed shortly to Nicopolis.

Titus was to pass along greetings to a specific group: those who love us in the faith. Paul’s typical designation would be to name some names, whether persons or a location. There were some problem people in some of the churches on Crete, hence needing elders who could refute false teaching and even the exhortation to get away from certain division-makers. False teachers and division-makers wouldn’t be fond of Paul, Paul was a sort of litmus test.

Supernatural Benediction (verse 15b)

Of course, “good-bye” is a shortened form of “God be with ye.” The most typical NT salutation would then be, “grace-bye” = “grace be with ye.”

Grace be with you all. (Titus 3:15 ESV)

Just a couple things to marinate in. First, this you all is clearly plural (a plural pronoun plus the adjective for all). It suggests Paul expected that this letter would be read publicly. It’s one of the reasons he reminds Titus to speak with authority, so the hearers would know it, too.

Second, grace is really good. Just in Titus, grace and peace from the Father and Son start it off (1:4), grace from God has appeared to train us (2:11), grace justifies us in order to be hoping heirs of eternal life (3:7), and it goes with us. Grace keeps us company. It’s a supernatural good word of reminder, prayer, and blessing.

Conclusion

To recap the letter:

• Chapter 1: Elders are to know and embody sound doctrine with visible virtues and protect that sound doctrine as necessary.
• Chapter 2: All sorts of groups in the church are to embody sound doctrine with visible virtues and practice that sound doctrine.
• Chapter 3: Christians are to embody sound doctrine with visible virtues and take those virtues out in public; such a life is good in a world of haters.

Adorn the doctrine. The truth is already good, live in such a way that shows its beauty.

Numbered List Take-aways (NLTAs):

• Love the truth of the gospel of God’s sovereign grace, by the redeeming sacrifice of Jesus Christ our Savior and the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit. It is good news.
• Watch elders model the way, and hear them when they remind and insist on these things. Expect good things from elders/bishops as they are lovers of good.
• Attend to the virtues appropriate to your given station, man/woman, older/younger, slave/citizen. Self-control is always good.
• Learn from grace that trains us to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age. Grace goes with you, and grace goes with you for good.
• Adorn the doctrine of God our Savior. Do it with zeal as people possessed by God for good.

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Charge

Whether you consider yourself imaginative or not, your greatest imaginative efforts could not have imagined it so good as to know and worship and serve the God of all grace. He is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, and His power is at work within us. So, may He bless You, equip You, and go with you for good.

Benediction:

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word. (2 Thessalonians 2:16–17 ESV)