Titus introduction...

PURPOSE

It is not known just how or when the faith was established in Crete.

But at the time Paul writes, it seems local gatherings of believers (probably house churches)

have reached a point where they require more formal and established leaders (as in ).

The letter furnishes guidance for this process. In addition to upright leadership (1:5–9), Paul is concerned that both

men and women,

all ages, and

all social classes live out the gospel (2:1–10).

Titus must refute leaders who mislead (1:10–16),

avoiding useless controversy and exercising church discipline where required (3:9–11).

He needs to make progress in these tasks soon enough to join Paul before winter (3:12).

GENRE

Titus is a letter from an apostle to a trusted co-worker and, by extension, to the churches he has been called to stabilize via leadership development.

While Paul’s words are particularly relevant to the original recipients, they retain appeal and indeed authority for followers of Christ today,

for the apostolic faith was not only for then and there

but continues in the church until the end of the age ().

THEMES AND THEOLOGY

The nouns occurring most frequently in Titus (with their number of occurrences) are God (13), work (as in “good works”; 8), faith (6), and Savior (6).

Christ is presented in elevated terms.

His earthly appearance showed him to be Savior, just like God the Father (1:4; 2:10).

His future appearance is “the blessed hope” wrapped up in the revelation of “our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ” (2:13).

is one of several NT verses that explicitly identifies Jesus as God (see also , ; ; ; ; ; ).

The message of Titus takes shape against a unique social background.

Cretan culture was widely regarded as disorderly and rife with dishonesty.

The prominent mythical god Zeus allegedly was born and died on Crete, earning divine status by his generosity to humans.

Some passages in Titus take on sharper meaning when this myth is borne in mind;

Paul likely shapes his discourse to engage Cretan convictions,

for these may have challenged Christian teaching.

Paul drew on teachings about the true and living God, not a mythical one.