12When 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. 13Diligently help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way so that nothing is lacking for them. 14Our people must also learn to engage in good deeds to meet pressing needs, so that they will not be unfruitful. 15All who are with me greet you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all.
What a wonderful thing to have one’s name written down in inspired Scripture. That is the case for Artemas, about whom we know nothing other than that he was with Paul at the time of this writing, being only mentioned this one time in the Bible (his name is distinguished from “Artemis” the pagan goddess in Ephesus (Acts 19:35). God is concerned for individuals—and all of us who are believers have our names written down in the Lamb’s book of life (Rev. 21:27, Phil. 4:3).
Paul is sending either Artemas or Tychicus (frequent assistant and traveling companion of Paul’s) to Titus. Zenas, also singularly mentioned here, was noted as a lawyer, and an associate of the well-known Apollos—Paul instructs Titus to help equip them for their upcoming travels. Notice the geographic notation; Paul is currently planning to travel to Nicopolis to spend the winter there. Unlike with modern transportation, travel by ships and overland in the ancient world was largely dependent on weather and seasons.
The apostle now uses an interesting phrase, “Our people.” Paul used this phrase when preaching to the Jews about the Jewish people as a whole (see Acts 28:17). But now, he uses it clearly in reference to Christians. The sense of Christian identity is becoming predominant in the apostle’s mind, and probably in the minds of the growing Christian community in the first century. The instruction, though, after a letter full of emphasis on sound doctrine and warnings about false doctrine, is to emphasize the importance of doing good works. There is much practical work to be done in aiding people with their tangible and physical needs. Christianity is all about people being freed up from the bondage of sin to do what God made them for, namely to reach out to people in need, just as God reached out to us in our need. Right doctrine, even salvation, must fulfill its destiny, and that is to reflect God in the world around us. If not, then we are no better than the hypocrites and Pharisees. The fruit or result of salvation is seen in our works.
Finally, Paul sends personal greetings from those with him and finishes with a word about love and grace, central themes to the Christian life.
Lord, help me build on the truth with my actions of love and grace.
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