What Can We Learn from Paul’s Co-Workers?

The end of letters in the New Testament often contains important details about relatively unknown servants of Christ. However sparse these details may be, they help us get a glimpse of other faithful workers for Christ in these churches. What can we learn from these co-workers in the concluding remarks of the New Testament epistles? Here are some notes from the Preacher’s Outline and Sermon Bible on the end of Paul’s letter to Titus.  

Some Committed Christian Believers (Titus 3:12-15)

Introduction: this is the close of Paul’s letter to Titus. As usual Paul closes his letter by sharing his plans and sending greetings to various believers. Hence, the close of Paul’s letters always gives us a glimpse of some of the early believers. This present passage mentions several committed believers who stand as dynamic examples of what commitment is all about.

1. Artemas: an unknown but committed minister (v. 12).

2. Tychicus: a dedicated minister (v. 12).

3. Titus: a disciple with unusual strength (v. 12).

4. Zenas: a committed lawyer or layman (v. 13).

5. Apollos: the evangelist whose witness was needed (v. 13).

6. Our people or all believers: a people needing to learn good works (v. 14).

7. Fellow workers: servants of God and their support to other believers (v. 15).

Artemas—Commitment

There was Artemas, an unknown but committed minister. This is the only time Artemas appears in the Bible. Note these facts:

• He was a companion of Paul.

• He was a fellow minister serving under Paul, a humble minister willing to serve in second place. His call was to serve Christ, and he served Christ no matter where he was placed—even under other ministers.

• He was a committed minister, a minister who was willing to serve on a foreign field among a very difficult people.

• He was apparently a strong minister, for he was being sent to serve in Crete, a most difficult place whose citizens had one of the worst reputations in the ancient world—a reputation so bad that their very name, Cretian became a byword for evil. They were famed as a drunken, insolent, untrustworthy, lying, gluttonous people. Imagine serving among a people like that! Artemas had to be ever so strong in the Lord.

Tychicus—Faithful

There was Tychicus, a most dedicated minister. Note that nothing is said about Tychicus in this passage except the fact that he may be sent to Crete to replace Titus as the minister to the Cretians. However, Tychicus is mentioned throughout Paul’s letters. He was one of Paul’s most faithful and trusted ministers.

• He was commissioned by Paul as a messenger to various churches (Ep. 6:21f; Col. 4:7; 2 Ti. 4:12; Tit. 3:12).

• He was entrusted to deliver the letters of Paul to the Ephesians, Colossians, and Philemon (Ep. 6:21-22; Col. 4:7-8).

• He was sent on a special mission to Ephesus (2 Ti. 4:12).

• He was to be sent to Crete for the purpose of relieving Titus (Tit. 3:12).

• He was called not only Paul’s beloved brother and faithful minister, but also his fellow-slave (Col. 4:7).

The point to see in the present passage is the dedication of Tychicus. He was a man with a world-wide vision, and he had sacrificed his life to reach the people of the world with the glorious news that they could now live forever. And note: there was the possibility that he was going to be sent to one of the most difficult places in the ancient world, the island of Crete. But he was a man of commitment—a man who dedicated his life to Christ. Therefore, he was ready and willing to serve anyplace.

Titus—Minister

There was Titus, a strong disciple with special strength. Note that Paul wants Titus to join him in Nicopolis. Why? Paul does not say, but Paul needed him for some special ministry, a ministry so special that the other ministers with Paul could not handle it. This fact plus the fact that Titus had been the disciple left behind to set in order the Cretian churches shows that Titus was a strong disciple, a disciple of unusual strength. He was a pioneer for Christ, a disciple so strong in Christ that he could be the first to reach an area for Christ and to set the churches in order for Christ (Tit. 1:5).

Zenas—Laymen, Committed

There was Zenas, a committed layman. This is the only time Zenas is mentioned in the Bible. Note these facts.

• Zenas was a lawyer.

• Paul tells us he was a layman who trusted Christ with all his heart.

• He was a committed believer, so committed that he deserved support from the church despite the fact that he was a lawyer and not a full-time pastor.

• And he was a believer who was willing to help and serve with other believers. Note that Paul was telling Titus to bring Zenas to him.

The lesson is clear: Christ needs committed laymen who will commit their lives to serve Him and to help other believers. They need to be so committed that they are worthy of support by the church. The church may not be able to support them in addition to the full time staff, but the laymen should be so committed that they are worthy of the support.

Apollos—Evangelism

There was Apollos, an evangelist whose witness was needed. Apollos is mentioned several times in Scripture (cf. Acts 18:23–28). Apollos was called to preach Christ and to evangelize the lost. As soon as he knew the truth, he was set aflame to share Christ. The fire of evangelism to reach the world for Christ burned in his heart. This was the fire that Paul apparently needed in Nicopolis. Imagine! To have such a burning zeal for souls that others request our witness. What a dynamic example! What a need today! Men and women burning to reach the lost for Christ. Note that Apollos, the evangelist, is not to be left needing anything. The church is to support him and meet his needs.

Believers—Our People

There were the believers, a people needing to learn good works. Note that Paul calls the believers of Crete our people (hoi hemeteroi), an endearing term. The Amplified Bible says:

“And let our [own people really] learn to apply themselves to good deeds—to honest labor and honorable employment—so that they may be able to meet necessary demands whenever the occasion may require and not be living idle and uncultivated and unfruitful lives.”

The point is that believers are to work and labor in order to make money and then they are to do good with their money. They are to help those in need, ministering to help meet the needs of the world. And they are to support men such as Zenas and Apollos, both layman and minister, who have given their lives and time to serve Christ. They are to financially support the spread of the gospel around the world.

Believers—Fellow Workers

There were fellow workers, servants of God. Paul had several fellow workers with him. All of them sent their greeting and prayed for God’s grace upon the Cretian believers. The idea is that of support and encouragement. And remember: nothing encourages us and stirs us to serve Christ more and more faithfully than the support of other believers. When things are going bad and trial after trial is confronting us, the very thing we need is a word of support from fellow workers. This is the reason we must be constantly supporting others.

Keep Reading the Preacher’s Outline and Sermon Bible

The Preacher’s Outline and Sermon Bible is one of the best-selling resource available in the Olive Tree app. This is an all-in-one resource for pastors and teachers for studying the Bible. It comes with textual notes like a commentary, outlines of passages, and a master index of topics. Learn more about The Preacher’s Outline and Sermon Bible by reading this review or by visiting our store!