Leadership: Intermission

No time last night to write on Titus 3, but I had enough time to put together a quick word about the last 4 verses of the book.

12 As soon as I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, because I have decided to winter there. 13 Do everything you can to help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way and see that they have everything they need. 14 Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order to provide for urgent needs and not live unproductive lives.

15 Everyone with me sends you greetings. Greet those who love us in the faith.

So far as I know, this is the only mention of Artemas in the bible, but Tychicus we know. He was with Paul when Paul was first planting the church in Ephesus (Acts 20:4). So, Tychicus, Titus and Timothy all got the same training there with Paul. Nicopolis is on the far side of Greece, nearest to Italy - Albania, really. We don't hear much about Paul in Albania, but he wintered there, at least.

Zenas is only mentioned here, but someone figures he was a Jewish lawyer who later became a Christian.

Apollos is one of the biggest small-fries of the new testament. He was at the center of quite a stink in Corinth, and maybe he even was the stink in Corinth. A study of Apollos might be a great followup to the generic leadership thoughts I have been working through. Whatever the case might have been in Corinth, Paul is looking out for him now.

Paul references good works one more time, just for good measure, and then sends and accepts love from those on both "ends of the line."

These verses get precious little attention, but they are the glue that hold the new testament together. Paul gives us little throw-away indications of what is happening in and between the churches from day to day. They are worth attention just on their own.

Maybe another day. :-)