Titus: Introduction and 1:1-9

To whom was Titus Written?

A man named Titus who was an early church leader, a trusted companion of the apostle Paul, and a faithful servant of the Lord. Titus was a Gentile (Galatians 2:3) who was led to faith in Christ by Paul (Titus 1:4). He was drawn to the ministry and became a co-worker with Paul, accompanying him and Barnabas from Antioch to Jerusalem (Titus is included in the “other believers” of Acts 15:2). At the Jerusalem Council, Titus would have been a prime example of a born-again Gentile Christian. Titus was living proof that the rite of circumcision was unnecessary for salvation (Galatians 2:3). Later, Titus went to Corinth to serve the church there (2 Corinthians 8:6, 16-17). On Paul’s third missionary journey, which took place from A.D. 53 to 57, Paul arrived in Troas and expected to meet Titus there (2 Corinthians 2:12-13). Not finding his friend, Paul left for Macedonia. Titus rejoined Paul in Philippi and gave him a good report of the ministry in Corinth (2 Corinthians 7:6-7, 13-14). When Titus returned to Corinth, he hand-delivered the Epistle of 2 Corinthians and organized a collection for needy saints in Jerusalem (2 Corinthians 8:10, 17, 24). Several years later, Titus and Paul traveled to the island of Crete, where Titus was left behind to continue and strengthen the work. Titus’s task was administrative, mostly: he was to maintain sound doctrine and “straighten out what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town” (Titus 1:5). When Artemas and Tychicus arrived in Crete to direct the ministry, Paul summoned Titus to join him in Nicopolis, a city in the province of Achaia in western Greece (Titus 3:12). The last mention of Titus in the Bible indicates that he was with Paul during Paul’s final Roman imprisonment. From Rome, Titus was sent to evangelize Dalmatia (2 Timothy 4:10), an area which later became known as Yugoslavia and is now called Serbia and Montenegro.

When was TItus written? Some time between 62-64 AD between his first and second imprisonment in Rome.

From where was Titus written? Most likely while traveling through Macedonia or maybe in Nicopolis.

Why was Titus written?

Organize the Church: Paul explicitly stated he left Titus in Crete to "straighten out what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town". [1, 2]

Combat False Teachings: The letter addresses disruptive and deceitful teachers—particularly those promoting strict legalistic requirements—who were causing division for financial gain. [1, 2]

Define Church Leadership: Paul outlined the specific moral and personal character qualifications required for spiritual overseers and elders. [1, 2]

Promote Godly Behavior: Because Cretan society was infamous in the ancient world for deceit and corruption, Paul instructed Titus on how different groups (older men, older women, younger people, and workers) should live out their faith to make the Christian message attractive to outsiders.

Titus 1:1-4

Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God’s elect and the knowledge of the truth that is in accordance with godliness, 2 in the hope of eternal life that God, who never lies, promised before the ages began— 3 in due time he revealed his word through the proclamation with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior, 4 To Titus, my loyal child in the faith we share: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.

Couple things to note about this introduction.

This is the only place Paul calls himself a “servant (or slave) of God) and uses the phrase “God our Savior” and this leads many to doubt Paul’s authorship.

When Paul writes “…God, who never lies…” he is specifically countering the Greek gods who would lie, manipulate, and abuse!

Titus 1:5-9

I left you behind in Crete for this reason, so that you should put in order what remained to be done, and should appoint elders in every town, as I directed you: 6 someone who is blameless, married only once, whose children are believers, not accused of debauchery and not rebellious. 7 For a bishop, as God’s steward, must be blameless; he must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or addicted to wine or violent or greedy for gain; 8 but he must be hospitable, a lover of goodness, prudent, upright, devout, and self-controlled. 9 He must have a firm grasp of the word that is trustworthy in accordance with the teaching, so that he may be able both to preach with sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict it.

Paul identifies why he left Titus behind, to “put in order what remained to be done…”

There were things Titus was suppose to do that we do not know about, but we do know some things.

you should appoint elders in every town.

Category / Trait 1 Timothy 3:1-7 Titus 1:5-9

General Reputation Above reproach (blameless) Above reproach (as God's steward)

Marital Fidelity Husband of one wife (faithful partner) Husband of one wife

Personal Control Sober-minded, self-controlled Self-controlled, disciplined

Social Conduct Respectable (Not explicitly listed)

Hospitality Hospitable (welcoming to strangers) Hospitable

Teaching Ability Able to teach Able to give instruction in sound doctrine and rebuke opponents

Substance Use Not a drunkard Not a drunkard

Temperament Gentle, not violent, not quarrelsome Not violent, not arrogant, not quick-tempered

Finances Not a lover of money Not greedy for gain (dishonest gain)

Family Life Manages household well; Children are believers;

children are submissive not open to charges of wildness/insubordination

Spiritual Maturity Not a recent convert (Not explicitly listed)

Public Witness Well thought of by outsiders (Not explicitly listed)

Moral Virtues (Implied through conduct) Lover of good, upright, holy