In sending Artemas or Tychicus to Titus - it was Paul's
desire to have Titus accompany him during his winter stay at Nicopolis (Titus 3:12)
Nicopolis is a city in northwestern Greece - a considerable
distance from Crete, which lies to the southeast of the Greek mainland and where Titus was left by Paul to set
things in order (Titus 1:5)
Evidently, Paul being eager to learn from Titus of his
progress in Crete - he makes sure to send a REPLACEMENT (Artemas or Tychicus) during Titus's ABSENCE from Crete
(Titus 3:12)
Artemas is not well known in Paul's ministry being mentioned
only here (Titus 3:12) whereas Tychicus is mentioned three other times as one of Paul's FAITHFUL
co-workers:
Tychicus is TWICE described as a "BELOVED BROTHER"
and a "FAITHFUL MINISTER" who Paul sent to the churches at Ephesus and Colosse (Ephesians 6:21;Colossians 4:7)
It is significant that such a TRUSTED CO-LABORER as Tychicus
(I Corinthians 3:9) would be dispatched for service to the two churches whose letters
contain the "REVELATION of the MYSTERY" (Romans 16:25) concerning the Gentiles Ephesians 3:3-6 cf.Colossians 1:24-27)
BOTH LETTERS were to be SHARED BY BOTH CHURCHES (Colossians 4:16)
- the "Epistle from Laodicea" is most probably the encyclical (widely circulated) letter known as the
Epistle to the Ephesians
Paul makes request for Titus to assist two other brethren
with the necessary provisions for their missionary journeys when he makes preparation for his own trip to visit
Paul (Titus 3:13)
As in the case of Artemas and Tychicus (Titus 3:12)
- we have another pair of servants in which one is relatively unknown, i.e. "Zenas the lawyer" who is
mentioned only here (Titus 3:13) and Apollos (Titus 3:13) who is mentioned numerous other times in Scripture:
Apollos is described as an "ELOQUENT man, and MIGHTY
IN THE SCRIPTURES" (Acts 18:24,28) and although "FERVENT IN SPIRIT" - he knew "ONLY THE
BAPTISM OF JOHN" (Acts 18:25 cf.Matthew 3:11)
and, therefore, did NOT KNOW that the PROMISED SPIRIT HAD ALREADY COME (Acts 1:4-5;Acts 2:1,4)
Apollos was HELPED in his understanding PRIVATELY by Aquila
and Priscilla (Acts 18:26 cf.I Corinthians 2:6-7)
who then introduced Apollos to other brethren at Corinth (Acts 19:1) whom he in turn was able to EDIFY in the GRACE of God (Acts 18:27 cf.II Timothy 2:1-2)
Apollos is mentioned as one of note among the apostles
(I Corinthians 1:12), but who along with Paul were BUT MINISTERS and NOT THE GIVER (I Corinthians 3:4-7)
Apollos along with Paul are given as examples of MINISTERS
whom themselves are BUT RECEIVERS and, therefore, GIVE ALL GLORY TO THEIR GIVER (I Corinthians 4:6-7)
Paul's closing exhortation is that ALL believers will
"learn to maintain GOOD WORKS", so that they will NOT be "UNFRUITFUL" in supplying the "NECESSARY
USES (NEEDS) of the MINISTRY (Titus 3:14), e.g. Paul's MINISTRY REQUESTS to Titus (Titus 3:12-13)
Paul praised the Philippians for their ABUNDANT GENEROSITY
to him MATERIALLY (Philippians 4:10,14), so that FRUIT would ABOUND to their account SPIRITUALLY (Philippians 4:17)
The MINISTRY OF THE WORD is to be SUPPORTED BY THOSE who
have been "TAUGHT OF THE WORD" (Galatians 6:6-10)
The JOYFUL GIVING to MINISTRY NEEDS is a TRUE EXPRESSION
of DIVINE GRACE (II Corinthians 9:6-8)
The Philippians were the ONLY CHURCH in the GREEK region
of MACEDONIA who FAITHFULLY "COMMUNICATED (SHARED)" Paul's MINISTRY NEEDS (Philippians 4:15) and they did so CONTINUALLY, i.e. "ONCE AND AGAIN" (Philippians 4:16)
The SECRET OF SACRIFICIAL GIVING is FIRST to GIVE one's
SELF TO THE LORD (II Corinthians 8:1-5)
The MEASURE of our SUCCESS will be the MEASURE of our
APPRECIATION of the ENRICHING GRACE shown by CHRIST to us (II Corinthians 8:9)
Those who are SPIRITUALLY "PERFECT (MATURE)"
are those who KNOW "the PREACHING OF JESUS CHRIST according to the REVELATION OF THE MYSTERY" (I Corinthians 2:6-7 cf.Romans 16:25)
Therefore, since the SCRIPTURES are NOW COMPLETE (Colossians 1:25-26)
- it is the SCRIPTURESC ALONE that are able to FULLY EQUIP the "MAN OF GOD" for ALL SERVICE (II Timothy 3:16-17)