The pastoral epistles of Timothy and Titus are filled with references to the Faith because these two men had to oversee churches—a job which entailed doctrinal oversight. The job of an overseer/bishop is to supervise a church. The job of a pastor is to feed Christ’s sheep. The spiritual well-being of the flock is the responsibility of both overseers and pastors.
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus… to Timothy my true son in the Faith (1 Timothy 1:1-2).
Paul opened his letter by declaring that Timothy was his ‘true son in the Faith.’ Such a declaration made it clear that the Faith was the basis of their unity. And it’s not hard to imagine why the Faith would be the basis of unity between two of the Church’s teachers. Teaching is the fundamental activity of a pastor, so pastors who teach the same things are peers, colleagues, fathers, and sons.
Nothing should be more important to a pastor than the spiritual food he provides for Christ’s sheep. Jesus said to Peter—the Rock upon whom Jesus would build his Church—‘Feed my lambs… Take care of my sheep… Feed my sheep’ (John 21:15-17). Jesus’ priorities need to be our priorities, and his priority was getting his sheep fed.
While Timothy pastored a congregation in Ephesus Titus was serving in Crete, directing doctrine in the church. It’s no wonder that Paul would use the same expression he used with Timothy ‘true son in the Faith’ with Titus, calling Titus ‘my true son in our common Faith.’
Paul… to further the Faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the Truth that leads to godliness… to Titus, my true son in our common Faith (Titus 1:1, 4).
Using the literary device of Hebrew parallelism, Paul mentions both the common Faith and the Faith of God’s elect in his address to Titus. His reason was because he wanted to show that these are the same thing. Hebrew synonymous parallelism is when parallel ideas are placed right next to each other, reinforcing in the reader’s mind the same idea through repetition. It’s called parallelism because it’s like railroad tracks—two matching ideas right next to each other.
But this is a special case of parallelism because these tracks have a third rail! Paul presents the common Faith and the Faith of God’s elect in the same passage with the Truth that leads to godliness. Why did Paul put them all together? Simply because the three terms are synonymous.
As a reminder: The seven Truths of the unity of the spirit (Ephesians 4:3-6) are the great Truths of the Universe—One Church, One Spirit, One Hope, One Lord, One Baptism, One God—and the One Faith is among these seven Truths as the one particular Truth that can lead believers to godliness. It is the historical Christian Faith. It is what some churches call “orthodoxy.” A concise definition of the One Faith based on Titus 1 is this:
The doctrine that all of God’s chosen ones share, the original doctrine delivered to the Church by the Holy Spirit through Peter at Pentecost—and subsequently through the writings which have become the New Testament—doctrines which are sound enough to produce godliness in those who believe.
Or, if you prefer it, a more simple definition is “the Truth which sets us free.” Jesus prophesied that this liberating Faith, the One Faith, was coming when he said:
…you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free (John 8:32).
Jesus also told the Apostles:
I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of Truth comes, he will guide you into all the Truth (John 16:12-13).
So, after Jesus ascended to Heaven, the Apostles were expecting a revelation that would bring them the fullness of Truth. That fullness is called the Faith. Remarkably, it did not come to the Church directly through Jesus. The Faith came to us indirectly from Jesus, but directly through the ministry of the Apostles. Their collective preaching and writings are the basis for what every true Christian believes today.
Jesus enlightened the Apostles after his ascension to Heaven by giving them the Holy Spirit.
All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you (John 14:25-26).
The inefficacy of the Old Testament (OT) to free believers from sin should cause us to marvel at the efficacy of the One Faith. The OT didn’t work, but the New Testament (NT) works. The OT Law never completely purified the hearts of its adherents. On the other hand, the NT sanctifies us completely. Grace triumphs over Law. Acting according to the Faith prevails over the works of the Law.
The Faith frees us from sin in a way the Law never could. That’s why Peter without reservation stated that what he taught was the true grace of God. The Faith contains the teachings that really save because they are based on grace and not on the Law.
… standing firm in the Faith… I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it (1 Peter 5:9, 12).
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