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"Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker..."

Text: 2 Corinthians 8:23

SPEAKING UP FOR A FELLOW-SERVANT

Paul was not afraid of identifying himself with his fellow-workers. If there were people who questioned his team members, he was not afraid to stand up for them. In this text, he defends Titus. Paul spoke of him affectionately as his spiritual son (Titus 1:4).

“If anyone inquires about Titus,
he is my partner and fellow worker concerning you.
Or if our brethren are inquired about,
they are messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ.”
2 Corinthians 8:23

1. “If anyone inquires”

a) This was a pre-emptive statement.

b) Not that there was anyone querying.

c) But Paul knew the human heart all too well.

d) There would be some who would always query!

2. “Titus”

a) Paul spoke of him glowingly.

i) He is Paul’s “partner” (who is in close fellowship with him).

ii) He is a “fellow worker”. (Titus had worked alongside Paul steadfastly for years.)

b) Paul was not ashamed of Titus.

c) He stood by him loyally.

d) He would vouchsafe Titus as a worker of high integrity.

3. “Our brethren”

a) Paul did not name these “brethren”.

b) But he stood by them staunchly.

c) He called them “messengers of the churches”.

d) The word translated “messengers”.

i) Literally translated it means “apostles”.

The NKJV translators wisely translated this word as “messengers”
(Cf. The same translation in Philippians 2:25. Epaphroditus was called a “messenger”.)

ii) This was meant to avoid confusion with the Apostles Peter, Paul, John etc.

e) The meaning intended was that these were highly regarded individuals by the churches.

4. “The glory of Christ”

a) Paul said that these people reflected the glory of Christ in the way they served.

b) These faithful servants of Christ should be greatly honoured and not held in suspicion!