我们在上个月查考了保罗写给提摩太的两封书信；一般相信，提多书的成书日期，是在提摩太前、后书的中间，大概是在保罗第一次被囚的时期。圣经并没有记载保罗到访革哩底的详情，我们只知道他被押送到罗马途中经过革哩底。很可能，他后来曾带同提多到过该处，还将他留下，要他完成工作。

留意保罗在第1节形容自己是「神的仆人」。他是神的奴仆；他要完完全全听命于神。保罗在哥林多前书六章20节同样教导我们，我们不是属自己的人，因基督已用重价将我们买来；我们必须时刻紧记这点。

保罗也称自己是「耶稣基督的使徒」。他正是以使徒的权柄，来与提多谈论革哩底教会的会众和情况。我们今天再没有像保罗那种身份的使徒；但「使徒」一词相当于「被差者」的意思，就这一意义而言，我们都是基督差派去为祂作见证的仆人。

英文的引伸版圣经（Amplified Version）为第1节下半节提供的意译，很值得我们用心揣摩。它说：「激发和强化神选民的信心，引导他们正确分辨、认识和熟悉真理，就是那属乎敬虔、等同敬虔和催化敬虔的真理。」让我们细味这句意译的含意。第一句特别强调我们对初信者的责任，提醒我们要悉心喂养和扶立这些属灵的初生婴孩。

你身边有没有一些信徒，需要你去「激发和强化信心」的呢？当你尝试去激发别人的时候，自己也必深受激励。

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.