Titus 3: regeneration

Christian religion is different from other religions. In oriental religion, there is some emphasis in finding some connection with the universe through emptying the mind. In many other religions, the emphasis is what a person does; and even others, in what group a person belongs. In Christianity, the emphasis is in regeneration through the Spirit as we read in:

4 When God, our kind and loving Savior God, stepped in, he saved us from all that. 
5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we did in righteousness, but in accordance with His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He richly poured out upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

The implication is that a Christian knows that he must love his enemies, even people against Jesus, because we were enemies of Jesus before repentance/regeneration. Followers of an oriental religion with emphasis on the self and find some connection with the Universe are prone to keep distance from their enemies. Followers of a religions with emphasis on good deeds despise people of bad deeds. For instance, it is very common that world governments persecute Christians as it happened during the first century in Rome. Even so, Titus 3 began with:

1-2 Remind the people to respect the government and be law-abiding, always ready to lend a helping hand. No insults, no fights. God’s people should be bighearted and courteous.

Titus 2: dignified

I getting older and older. Paul told Titus:

1 But as for you, proclaim the things which are fitting for sound doctrine. 2 Older men are to be temperate, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, in perseverance.

I understood that an old man must be a gentleman, i.e. , a dignified manner: "Having a respectable, honorable, or impressive appearance and manner." An older man must be worth of respect but it doesn't mean that he must impose respect over others. Paul continues:

11-14 God’s readiness to give and forgive is now public. Salvation’s available for everyone! We’re being shown how to turn our backs on a godless, indulgent life, and how to take on a God-filled, God-honoring life. This new life is starting right now, and is whetting our appetites for the glorious day when our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, appears. He offered himself as a sacrifice to free us from a dark, rebellious life into this good, pure life, making us a people he can be proud of, energetic in goodness.

An older man that believed in Jesus must have a change of life (even in older ages). This new life is such that turns an old man in a gentleman, a dignified man, not for his own glory, but for the glory of Jesus.

Titus 1: good leaders in a new church

Titus was in Crete, establishing a new church. Note that it was different from Timothy dealing with a well established church in Ephesus. Paul knew there were some false teachers there preaching asceticism, focusing on genealogies, Jewish myths and commandments, etc. It was necessary to have good leaders in the new church.

5-9 I left you in charge in Crete so you could complete what I left half-done. Appoint leaders in every town according to my instructions. As you select them, ask, “Is this man well-thought-of? Is he committed to his wife? Are his children believers? Do they respect him and stay out of trouble?” It’s important that a church leader, responsible for the affairs in God’s house, be looked up to—not pushy, not short-tempered, not a drunk, not a bully, not money-hungry. He must welcome people, be helpful, wise, fair, reverent, have a good grip on himself, and have a good grip on the Message, knowing how to use the truth to either spur people on in knowledge or stop them in their tracks if they oppose it.

The leaders should have a good reputation from a good character. How come this good reputation? From the way he deals with his spouse and children, from his everyday life. In our society, leaders are chosen by his curriculum and not by their everyday lives. What is done inside the house, in secret, is very important to the Lord.

2 Timthy 4: Paul is about to be executed.

Paul is in Rome facing trials. He is about to be executed by Nero. Some "friends" left him and some opposed him. Perhaps, if I were Paul, I would ask: "was my life worthwhile"? However, Paul says to Timothy:

6-8 You take over. I’m about to die, my life an offering on God’s altar. This is the only race worth running. I’ve run hard right to the finish, believed all the way. All that’s left now is the shouting — God’s applause! Depend on it, he’s an honest judge. He’ll do right not only by me, but by everyone eager for his coming

or closer to the Greek:

8 in the future there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.

Paul is very sure that the Lord is on his side and that his life was worthwhile indeed. 

2 Timothy 3: from bad to worse

Paul in prison wrote to Timothy, the bishop of Ephesus:

1-5 Don’t be naive. There are difficult times ahead. As the end approaches, people are going to be self-absorbed, money-hungry, self-promoting, stuck-up, profane, contemptuous of parents, crude, coarse, dog-eat-dog, unbending, slanderers, impulsively wild, savage, cynical, treacherous, ruthless, bloated windbags, addicted to lust, and allergic to God. They’ll make a show of religion, but behind the scenes they’re animals. Stay clear of these people.

Everyone is very prone to sin, and to sin more and more. In a world that is getting more evil, Timothy will have to take tough decisions about himself and the church. Paul will soon die, but Timothy will find wisdom in the Scriptures:

14-17 But don’t let it faze you. Stick with what you learned and believed, sure of the integrity of your teachers—why, you took in the sacred Scriptures with your mother’s milk! There’s nothing like the written Word of God for showing you the way to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another—showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God’s way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us.

2 Timothy 2: be strong in the grace

Paul is in a prison. Timothy is a bishop and the church is facing problems: some are preaching heresies there. Timothy must confront these preachers but Timothy is young and he is a little timid. Can Timothy deal with his mission? We read:

1 You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

"be strong" came from Endynamoō which means: "be continually strengthened" or "allow yourself to be empowered". Paul is not asking Timothy to trust in himself, to be strong using his power, Paul is asking Timothy to trust in Jesus's power. "Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus" is a command to us, Christians, today.

2 Timothy 1: Paul is near death in a prison.

 Paul is in a prison for the second time in Rome. Nero is Caesar. He is near death. We read:

11-12 This is the Message I’ve been set apart to proclaim as preacher, emissary, and teacher. It’s also the cause of all this trouble I’m in. But I have no regrets. I couldn’t be more sure of my ground—the One I’ve trusted in can take care of what he’s trusted me to do right to the end.

Imagine that Paul were not certain about his resurrection after death, would he be in peace in prison? Probably he were thinking about if what he has done was right or wrong. However, Paul trusted in Jesus and received the treasure/gospel that he was obliged to preach.