“…and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior;” (Titus 1:3 (ESV)
“The supreme work of the Christian minister is the work of preaching.” – G. Campbell Morgan (1863-1945).
“The primary task of the Church and of the Christian minister is the preaching of the Word of God.” ― D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981).
“Specifically, evangelical preaching ought to reflect our conviction that God’s Word is infallible and inerrant. Too often it does not. In fact, there is a discernable trend in contemporary evangelicalism away from biblical preaching and a drift toward an experience-centered, pragmatic, topical approach to the pulpit.” – Dr. John MacArthur.
The Apostle Paul understood the primary task of the pastor was preaching the Word of God. Today’s text proclaims that the saving of God’s chosen ones by grace alone, through faith alone, in the person and work of Jesus Christ alone (Titus 1:1-2) occurred through the preaching of God’s Word (Romans 10:14). The conversion of souls always occurrs at God’s proper time.
The word manifested (φανερόω; phaneroo) means to disclose, to make plain and to reveal. The truth exposed and revealed is the truth of the Gospel. This is the Master’s message that Paul was a herald and servant. The elect’s knowledge of the truth of the Gospel, which results in godliness, is by preaching God’s Word.
The source of the Gospel, and preaching, is the Word (λόγος; logos). The Word is the source by which the message is preached. It is the Scriptures. The Scriptures contain the content of preaching.
Paul declared that the Gospel was communicated through preaching (κήρυγμα; kerygma). Preaching is the public proclamation of the Gospel message (Matt. 12:41; Luke 11:32; Rom. 16:25; 1 Cor. 1:21; 2:4; 15:14; 2 Tim. 4:17; Titus 1:3). This is one of several words used for preaching.
The Greek word Kēryssō occurs over sixty times in the Scriptures, kēryssō means to proclaim as a “herald.” In the ancient world the herald was a figure of importance. He was a man of integrity and character who the king or State employed to make all public proclamations. Preaching is heralding the message of the Gospel of salvation in Christ.
While kēryssō tells us something about the activity of preaching, euangelizomai, ‘to bring good news’ (from the primitive eus, ‘good’, and the verb angellō, ‘to announce’), emphasizes the quality of the message itself. It is a verb found over fifty times in the New Testament. We derive our English word evangelical and evangelism from this Greek word.
It is wise to distinguish between preaching and teaching—between kērygma (public proclamation) and didachē (ethical instruction). “The kērygma proclaims what God has done: the didachē teaches the implications of this for Christian conduct,” explains the New Bible Dictionary.
“The Heb. prophets as they proclaimed the message of God under divine impulse were forerunners of the apostolic herald. Jonah was told to ‘preach’ (lxx kēryssō; Heb. qârā’, ‘to call out’), and even Noah is designated a ‘preacher (kēryx) of righteousness’ (2 Pet. 2:5).”
God entrusted (πιστεύω; pisteuo) the proclamation of the message of salvation to the Apostle Paul by divine command (ἐπιταγή; epitage). God not only commanded Paul to preach but also what to preach. By the Holy Spirit, Paul would not only reiterate this command to Timothy but also to all ministers of the Gospel (2 Tim. 4:1-7).
The phrase God our Savior refers to God the Father’s plan of salvation in eternity past (Eph. 1:3-6). “God’s word is the sole source of content for all faithful preaching and teaching. Cf. 1 Cor. 1:18–21; 9:16–17; Gal. 1:15–16; Col. 1:25,” states Dr. MacArthur.
“The preaching of which he (Paul) speaks is the gospel proclaimed as the chief thing which we hear — that Christ is given to us and that in Him there is life,” explains John Calvin.
Pray for the faithful and accurate preaching of the Word of God. Have a blessed day in the Lord.
Soli deo Gloria!
His Word Today 