Titus
Encouraging Right Living
Summary | About | Why You Should Read it | Author | When Written | Context | Timeline | Location | Outline | Observations | Resources
Summary
Paul’s epistle to Titus is another of his personal letters to encourage and strengthen one of Paul’s protégés. It is a condensed version of what we find in II Timothy. It is a short book of only 46 verses, yet packs into a limited space, a lot of important points.
Chapter 1 focuses on instructions to the church leader in Crete to:
- Preach God’s Word Titus 1:1-4
- Ordain Qualified Leaders Titus 1:5-9
- Silence False Teachers Titus 1:10-16
In it we find a key truth that God cannot lie when Paul tells us in Tit 1:2 “In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began”.
Chapter 2 address concerns regarding various groups within the church. Chapter 3 deals with concerns with believers in general, as well as responses to spiritual errors.
We are exhorted to hold fast to the faithful word and preach sound doctrine and display proper, Christlike conduct. This results in the performance of good works. Paul reminds us again that although we are to do good works, it is not by works but by faith that we are justified.
The table below is a high-level look at the structure and contents of Titus.
About
Titus is the 17th book of the New Testament and the 12th book authored by Paul (in biblical order, not chronological order). It is one of the pastoral epistles.
Why You Should Read It
Much like II Timothy, this letter from Paul is a personal letter to believers everywhere. It reiterates the importance of sound doctrine, avoiding false teachers and conduct within the church. This is very applicable to our lives today, as we are faced with many false doctrines, both inside and outside the church. We are challenged as to what proper conduct is within the church. Are women allowed to preach? Is it okay to accept homosexuals into the congregation if they are not repentant? Should all the denominations join together, even joining with other religions to make peace and fight for a common good?
We deal with these issues today as much as in Paul’s day. We deal with Gnostic-like philosophies that say Jesus was a good guy, even a prophet, but not the actual, physical Son of God. We need to know how to respond to these topics that we are confronted with every day.
Author
Paul is self-identified as the author in the first verse. This is consistent with the other Pastoral Letters of I Timothy and II Timothy.
When Written
Paul most likely wrote from Macedonia, for he had not yet reached Nicopolis (3:12). The letter was written after he was released from his first Roman imprisonment (Act 28), probably around 64 A.D. before his second imprisonment in Rome.
Context
Titus was working on the island of Crete, which is directly south of the Aegean Sea, south of modern-day Greece. Titus was a Greek believer (Gal 2:3) and he had been converted to Christ by Paul (Titus 1:4). He had worked under Paul on special assignments in Corinth (2Co 7:13-14; 8:6, 16, 23; 12:18). Paul wrote: “As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you.” (2Co 8:23). Following Paul’s release from his first imprisonment in Rome (Act 28), he and Titus worked for a short time in Crete (1:5), after which he commissioned Titus to remain there as his representative and complete some needed work (1:5; 2:15; 3:12-13).
Paul used him as a troubleshooter to handle some very delicate situations. While Paul was still working at the church in Antioch, he took Titus and Barnabas on a difficult trip to Jerusalem. They debated with the leaders there the position of non-Jews in the church. Titus was probably the only Greek present (Gal 2:1-5).
Paul also used Titus on a diplomatic mission to the church in Corinth. Titus took a severely worded letter from Paul to the Corinthians addressing their unruliness. When Paul and Titus met in Macedonia, Titus had achieved a lot of what Paul had asked for (2 Cor 2:12-13; 7:5-16). Paul and Titus travelled to Crete, where Paul left him in charge.
Crete
Crete was a challenging place to work. There was a great deal of mythology and tradition on a Greek island. Crete was annexed to the Roman Empire about 67 B.C.
Paul assigned Titus to set things in order there. There were Jews from Crete present at the Feast of Pentecost (Shavout) (Acts 2), and they may have been the core group who had returned to their land and established the churches there.
In NT times life in Crete had sunk to a deplorable moral level. The dishonesty, gluttony and laziness of its inhabitants were proverbial (1:12). This is where we get the term “Cretans”.
Timeline
The general order of events from the New Testament period of the early 60s to the early 100s is shown below. This letter was written in this timeframe.
Location
The epistle to Titus was most likely written from Macedonia and sent to the Island of Crete, where Titus was working as a missionary.
Outline
Greetings (1:1-4)
Concerning Elders (1:5-9)
Reasons for Leaving Titus in Crete (1:5)
Qualifications of Elders (1:6-9)
Concerning False Teachers (1:10-16)
Concerning Various Groups in the Congregations (ch. 2)
The Instructions to Different Groups (2:1-10)
The Foundation for Christian Living (2:11-14)
The Duty of Titus (2:15)
Concerning Believers in General (3:1-8)
Obligations as Citizens (3:1-2)
Motives for Godly Conduct (3:3-8)
Concerning Response to Spiritual Error (3:9-11)
Conclusion, Final Greetings and Benediction (3:12-15)
Observations
- Titus is not mentioned in the Book of Acts.
- Titus is mentioned 13 rimes in the writings of Paul.
- Apparently Titus was a convert of Paul. 1:4
- He may have been from Antioch in Syria.
- On three different occasion Paul sent Titus to Corinth.
- The island of Crete, located in the Mediterranean Sea:
- Was 156 miles long.
- Was up to 30 miles wide.
- “To act the Cretan” became an idiom meaning “to play the liar.”
- A number of Jews from Crete were present in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost when the church was established. Acts 2:11
- Paul was involved in evangelizing in Crete after his release from his first Roman imprisonment and then left Titus on the island to finish organizing the congregations. Titus 1:5 – “For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and
- appoint elders in every city as I commanded you.”
- Paul wrote to Titus from Corinth in A.D. 63 in order to take advantage of the journey of Zenas and Apollos who would be traveling by Crete.
- Frequently used words in the Book of Titus.
- “Good works” – 7 times.
- “Savior” – 7 times.
- “Salvation” – 7 times.
- “Sound doctrine” – 7 times
- Paul is the only New Testament writer that quotes from heathen writers. 1:12; Acts 17:28
- Paul instructs Titus:
- To maintain proper order in the church.
- In the qualifications of elders.
- To preach the truth.
- To be ready to every good work.
- To keep the church pure.
- To live as a faithful example.
- To rebuke false teachers.
“Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities to obey, to be ready for every good work.”
Titus 3:1
Sections in Titus
- Setting up the right leadership 1
- Instructions for particular people 2
- Attitude & conduct toward good and bad 3
Theme
- Titus’s role in encouraging right living through sound doctrine.
Jesus in Titus
- Jesus is our great God and Savior, who redeems and purifies His people (2:13-14).
