“For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another.” Titus 3:3
The Book of Titus, like the 2 previous ones to Timothy, are called the “Pastoral Epistles”. These were Letters whose primary purpose was “Pastoral” in nature; How the Churches they helped Oversee should Live. He also used the opportunity to address them personally regarding their (notice how he includes himself) behavior and conduct. Here in Today’s Verse, Paul reminds Titus about their “former” manner of life. Consider the words he uses: foolish, disobedient, enslaved, malice, envy, and hateful. But then notice, the most important word of all…”were”. If we miss that small 4 letter word, we do great injustice to the Text!
As Paul wrote the Corinthians (6:9-11), he listed several lifestyles that would ban them from Heaven, quite predominate in the Corinth Culture. He uses the same word in describing them; “such “were” some of you”. Christianity is not an Intellectual Assent to Jesus’ existence. It is a Radical Transformation of Heart and Character. Though Paul and Titus “once were”, they now are no longer. Does this describe you? May God make it so!