12 When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, make every effort to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. 13 Diligently help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way so that nothing is lacking for them. 14 And let our people also learn to engage in good deeds to meet pressing needs, that they may not be unfruitful. (Titus 3:12-14)

Paul was not going to stand to the side. He strongly protected the church. We see this in a number of ways in Titus 3:12-14.

• Fresh Recruits (Titus 3:12)

"When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, make every effort to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there" (Titus 3:12).

Paul sends in fresh recruits to help out Titus, the young church planter. He obviously trusts both Artemas and Tychicus and sends them to replace Titus. He senses there is a need of change, even if it was temporary.

We often see this in the mission field. It is time for furlough. Extra pressures face the church planter. Not everything turns out as one has hoped. A change is good so that one can refresh oneself in the Lord and mature one's perspectives.

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Notice what Paul wanted with Titus. He wanted Titus to visit him. “Make every effort to come to me.” This is the caring Dad, not just some busy apostle. Paul no doubt knew he needed special time with Titus to build him up against those he was encountering there in Crete.

• The Mailmen (Titus 3:13)

"Diligently help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way so that nothing is lacking for them" (TItus 3:13).

In Titus 3:14 we find Paul subtly writing about how he is sending what we now call the "Book of Titus." Originally, it was a letter written to Titus.

Remember, however, that there was no first class mail. No post office. No mailmen. One needed to employ one's personal messengers to deliver the message. He chose people that could verify its message.

Zenas was an expert in the law. He knew the ins and outs of the Jewish law which was being hotly disputed. He could speak more authoritatively about these issues if needed. Apollos, on the other hand, was a great apologist. Paul sent two top qualified people to help out the church there. It appears they would deliver the letter and minister to them for a short time.

Paul asked the church there to be responsible to help with their fare to where they would be sailing.

• Engage in Good Deeds (Titus 3:14)

"And let our people also learn to engage in good deeds to meet pressing needs, that they may not be unfruitful" (Titus 3:14).

What do we see here? Paul again is encouraging the people about doing good deeds. He returns to the message he wanted to close with in verse 8. God’s people need to be busy doing good deeds. God created us to do good deeds. We have God’s power to do good deeds. If we ever get confused about what we should be doing, if we are ever facing temptation, we should just go out and do another good deed. This is the reason we were made.

Paul himself was serious about helping out the church. For some reason, Paul could not go or thought it best not for himself to go. It probably has to do with why the apostle left in a rush. In any case, he is sending a powerful team down there. For one, he will reprieve Titus. Secondly, with Zenas an expert on law and Apollos, the famous, apologist, bringing the letter, they were also able to help bring God’s Word to shed light on the false teaching in Crete. Paul has some brief closing remarks.

(More on good deeds can be found in a previous section.)

We next look at Paul's very last words, his goodbyes. Next