我們在上個月查考了保羅寫給提摩太的兩封書信；一般相信，提多書的成書日期，是在提摩太前、後書的中間，大概是在保羅第一次被囚的時期。聖經並沒有記載保羅到訪革哩底的詳情，我們只知道他被押送到羅馬途中經過革哩底。很可能，他後來曾帶同提多到過該處，還將他留下，要他完成工作。

留意保羅在第1節形容自己是「神的僕人」。他是神的奴僕；他要完完全全聽命於神。保羅在哥林多前書六章20節同樣教導我們，我們不是屬自己的人，因基督已用重價將我們買來；我們必須時刻緊記這點。

保羅也稱自己是「耶穌基督的使徒」。他正是以使徒的權柄，來與提多談論革哩底教會的會眾和情況。我們今天再沒有像保羅那種身份的使徒；但「使徒」一詞相當於「被差者」的意思，就這一意義而言，我們都是基督差派去為祂作見證的僕人。

英文的引伸版聖經（Amplified Version）為第1節下半節提供的意譯，很值得我們用心揣摩。它說：「激發和強化神選民的信心，引導他們正確分辨、認識和熟悉真理，就是那屬乎敬虔、等同敬虔和催化敬虔的真理。」讓我們細味這句意譯的含意。第一句特別強調我們對初信者的責任，提醒我們要悉心餵養和扶立這些屬靈的初生嬰孩。

你身邊有沒有一些信徒，需要你去「激發和強化信心」的呢？當你嘗試去激發別人的時候，自己也必深受激勵。

Last month we looked at Paul’s two letters to Timothy. It is generally thought that this letter to Titus was written between 1st and 2nd Timothy, possibly after Paul’s first imprisonment. We have no certain details of a visit by Paul to Crete, except that his ship touched there on his journey to Rome. He must have gone there later with Titus whom he left behind to complete the work begun during his visit.

Notice how Paul describes himself in verse 1, “A bond-slave of God.” He was God’s slave. God owned every part of him in total commitment. Paul said it again in 1 Corinthians 6:20. We are not our own, we have been bought by Christ, something we need to recognise continually.

“Being an apostle of Jesus Christ,” Paul has the authority to speak plainly concerning the church members and the situation in Crete. There are no similar apostles today. The word “apostle” does mean a “sent one” and in that sense we have been sent by Christ as His witnesses.

Following Paul’s thought of being sent by Christ, the Amplified Version has a very interesting paraphrase of the remainder of verse 1, “to stimulate and promote the faith of God’s chosen ones and lead them on to accurate discernment and recognition of and acquaintance with the Truth which belongs to and harmonizes with and tends to godliness.” Read that paraphrase again slowly and take in the meaning of it. The first part of it could really describe our responsibility toward new Christians. Often they are neglected when as babes in Christ they should be carefully nurtured.

Is there someone you can help now? Could you “stimulate and promote their faith” ? It can mean very much to them and you yourself will only benefit.