Titus
Background of Pastor Titus
Titus was a Greek convert of the Apostle Paul (“my true son in the faith” - Titus 1:4). He had spent much time with Paul in his work and on his missionary journeys. Titus is not mentioned at all in the Book of Acts, but we know that he was with Paul early on in his ministry. In the second chapter of Paul’s letter to the Galatians we read that Titus was with Paul at the Jerusalem Council mentioned in Acts 15, to serve as an example that Gentiles did not have to be circumcised (this happened between Paul’s first and second missionary journeys).
Titus must also have been with Paul on his third missionary journey because we know that it was Titus that Paul sent to deliver his first letter to the congregation in Corinth and to lead them back to repentance (2 Corinthians 12:18). Titus worked there in that troubled congregation for a while, until he met up with Paul in Macedonia to give him a report of the positive manner in which the first letter had been received (“For indeed, when we came to Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were troubled on every side. Outside were conflicts, inside were fears. Nevertheless God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, and not only by his coming, but also by the consolation with which he was comforted in you, when he told us of your earnest desire, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced even more” 2 Corinthians 7:5-7). Titus then traveled throughout Macedonia to collect the offering for Jerusalem and again returned to Corinth with Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians (“But thanks be to God who puts the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus. For he not only accepted the exhortation, but being more diligent, he went to you of his own accord” 2 Corinthians 8:16-17).
After Paul’s release from his first Roman imprisonment he and Titus journeyed to or met at the island of Crete where new congregations were being organized. Paul left Titus there to finish this work of organization as he states at the beginning of this letter: “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” (Titus 1:5). Contrary to some traditions, Titus may not have been the bishop of Crete, and probably did not die there because Paul mentions this as being a temporary situation with the relief of Artemas and Tychicus soon to come. Following their arrival, Titus was to meet up with Paul in Nicopolis (in Achaia) where he would be spending the winter (3:12). Some time later, possibly from Nicopolis or during Paul’s second imprisonment, Titus was sent north by Paul to the province of Dalmatia (2 Timothy 4:10).
Purpose and Time of Writing
In this letter Paul may have been responding to questions asked by Titus, or Paul may have left in such a rush that he felt it would be wise to give Titus some additional information to assist him in his work at Crete. Either way, here are a couple dominant reasons for Paul’s writing this letter to Titus:
• First, to give Titus careful instructions for the organization of the churches of Crete - “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” (Titus 1:5).
• Second, to warn Titus of the dangerous false teaching which was prevalent in Crete - “For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain” (Titus 1:10-11).
From what we know about the later life of the Apostle Paul we can narrow down the writing of this letter to around 63 A.D.
Contents and Outline
In this letter Paul urges Titus to complete the work of organization at Crete (1:5); he gives Titus valuable information with regard to qualifications for the ministry (1:5-9); Paul insists that Titus take a strong stand against false teachers (1:10-16); reminds the young pastor to preach sound doctrine (2:7-8); gives Titus helpful advice in dealing with members of all types (2:1-6,9-10); Paul also focuses on the theme of good works which is brought up six different times in this short letter (1:16, 2:7,14, 3:1,8,14). Paul tells him that salvation comes by grace alone (3:5-7), but reminds him of the role of good works in the life of a Christian (3:8); finally he talks of upcoming plans (3:12-13); and sends greetings (3:15).
The letter to Titus includes two sections which are some of the closest forms that we have in the New Testament of a formulated creed, including a large part of New Testament Theology:
“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works” (Titus 2:11-14).
“But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life” (3:4-7).
A listing of the points brought out in these sections reads somewhat like the Table of Contents in a Dogmatics textbook:
• The qualities of God (“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men” 2:11; “But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared” 3:4);
• Christ as Savior (“looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” 2:13);
• The person and work of the Holy Spirit (“but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit” 3:5);
• The Trinity (“But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior” 3:4-6);
• The Deity of Christ (“...our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” 2:13 - cf. Sharp’s Rule);
• The Vicarious atonement of Christ (“who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works” 2:14);
• The universality of salvation (“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men” 2:11);
• Salvation by grace, not works (“not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us” 3:5);
• Justification by faith (“having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life” 3:7);
• Sanctification of God’s people (“teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age” 2:12);
• Inheritance of eternal life (“we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life” 3:7);
• And the return of Christ (“looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” 2:13).
The Epistle to Titus presents a good summary of the doctrinal teaching of the church in the day of the apostle Paul and demonstrates that there was such a thing as “sound” and “unsound” teaching already then. May the LORD continue to preserve us in the “sound” teaching of His Word still today!
Note: This study was prepared for the Bible Class at Zion Lutheran Church, Lawrenceville, GA by Pastor Nathanael Mayhew.
If you would like more information about this study,
please contact Pastor Mayhew