Titus and leadership
My daily readings tonight lead me to Titus 1. Paul informs Titus in Titus 1:5 that he assigned Titus the task of selecting elders in each town and "setting in order the things that are lacking." Titus is assuming the role of a bishop, and the elders are assuming the role of priests assigned to a small parish. It appears that Christian communities already existed in these places, but they needed to be recognized and brought into right contact with the Catholic Church. Titus 2:15 is also noteworthy: "These, then, are the things you should teach." With every authority, encourage and rebuke. Don't allow anyone make fun of you." What is Titus' acting position? Yes I have read commentaries. Spurgeon Commentary: Titus, Titus by John MacArthur, 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus NIVAC by Walter L. Liefeld and The Letters to Timothy and Titus (Pillar New Testament Commentary | PNTC) my only exegetical one. More significant is the Greek word επιταγης (epitage) which Kittel’s Theological Dictionary of the New Testament vol. viii p. 37 has this to say: “…it denotes especially the direction of those in high office who have something to say.” (my further emphasis added) I believe as my conclusion the meaning of the original Greek epitage is based on authority coming from a higher office is consistent with the office of the bishop as a hierarchical position. Is this a correct assumption?
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You are asking a question that is theological and interpretative. Even I can't think of a neutral way to answer that would not clearly violate the guidelines. I would suggest that you look at the culture as a whole and try to find institutions from the family to the emperor that are not hierarchical and compare them to the church. I personally know of none that aren't hierarchical but would look for any among the mystery religions.
Orthodox Bishop Alfeyev: "To be a theologian means to have experience of a personal encounter with God through prayer and worship."; Orthodox proverb: "We know where the Church is, we do not know where it is not."
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Christian..... your questions often lead to you trying to teach what you read. I would suggest that you stop this and use the forums for trying to learn about Logos and it's products or functions...
I think you should understand what has been said about this and stop this.
I have gotten in trouble on these forums for doing what you seem to continue to do. I now understand ..... You're questions would and does often lead to theological debates....
Please stop this. Thanks.
Edit: I do believe that people on the forums would whole heartily and with zeal ... answer any questions you might have about Logos, it's products or it's functions or how to do something in Logos. I believe they have showed that.
xn = Christan man=man -- Acts 11:26 "....and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch".
Barney Fife is my hero! He only uses an abacus with 14 rows!
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I agree with MJ and xnman ... are you asking something generic specific to Logos (good), or validating an opinion (bad).
Staying within Logos'y world:
- You have stacks of layered assumptions, leading up to a 'correct assumptioin?'. Logos' benefit is seeing what you have support for, vs what's speculation or proposal. Be wary of needing so many assumptions. It's not uncommon even among scholarly works in Logos.
- Beware of trying to over-load word-usage, to fit a needed meaning. Your greek word has generic daily usage. It has LXX usage. And usage in the NT as well. That's a big reason to use your Logos BWS tool. And your word also is relative to context; one translator assigns 'divine command' in Titus 2.15, from its greek gods usage. Appropriate?
"If myth is ideology in narrative form, then scholarship is myth with footnotes." B. Lincolm 1999.
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