Titus

Part One: Introduction to Titus

The Author and Recipient

"Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ... To Titus, mine own son after the common faith" (1:1, 4). Titus was a Greek, a Gentile believer who was never circumcised (Galatians 2:3). He may have been converted through Paul, who calls him his "son." Although Titus is never mentioned in Acts, Paul's letters show that he was one of his most capable and trusted co-workers:

Titus was a strong, reliable leader, sent where problems were hardest.

Date and Setting

After his release from his first Roman imprisonment, Paul visited Crete with Titus and left him there to complete the work (1:5). He wrote this letter around AD 63-65, between 1 and 2 Timothy, probably from Macedonia or on his way to Nicopolis on the western coast of Greece, where he planned to spend the winter (3:12).

The Island of Crete

Crete is a large, mountainous island south of Greece. Cretans were present in Jerusalem at Pentecost (Acts 2:11), and some may have brought the gospel home. Paul's ship had sailed along its coast on the way to Rome (Acts 27:7-13). The Cretans had a poor reputation. Paul quoted one of their own poets, Epimenides, a Cretan of the sixth century BC: "The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies" (1:12). The Greeks even coined a verb, "to cretize," meaning to lie. (One reason for the saying was that Cretans claimed to have the tomb of Zeus, though Zeus was supposed to be immortal.) Paul agreed: "This witness is true" (1:13).

The Situation

The Cretan churches were young and unorganised. They needed qualified elders in every city (1:5). False teachers, especially "they of the circumcision," were upsetting whole families with Jewish myths and human rules, for the sake of money (1:10-14). And the moral standards of the surrounding culture threatened the churches' testimony.

Purpose and Theme

Paul wrote to instruct Titus to appoint elders, silence false teachers, and teach sound doctrine that produces godly living in every group in the church. The great theme of Titus is that sound doctrine must produce good works. The phrase "good works" appears six times (1:16; 2:7, 14; 3:1, 8, 14), and "sound" doctrine five times (1:9, 13; 2:1, 2, 8). Yet good works never save: salvation is "not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy" (3:5). Grace saves, and grace teaches us to live godly lives.

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ

Titus 2:11-13

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost

Titus 3:5

God Our Saviour and Christ Our Saviour

Titus calls both the Father and the Son "Saviour," three times each, in alternating pairs, a powerful testimony to the deity of Christ:

Titus and 1 Timothy

Outline of Titus

Part Two: Chapter-by-Chapter Analysis

Section I: Order in the Church (Chapter 1)

Chapter 1:1-4 — The Truth After Godliness

Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness; In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began

Titus 1:1-2

Paul's ministry aimed at the faith of God's chosen people and their knowledge of "the truth which is after godliness": truth that leads to godly living. This sets the theme of the whole letter: true doctrine produces a godly life. Their hope of eternal life rests on the promise of "God, that cannot lie" (Numbers 23:19; Hebrews 6:18), a pointed contrast with the lying Cretans (1:12). God "hath in due times manifested his word through preaching" (1:3).

Chapter 1:5-9 — Appointing Elders

For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee

Titus 1:5

"Set in order" was a medical term for setting a broken bone. Each local church needed qualified leaders. Paul uses "elder" (1:5) and "bishop" (1:7) for the same office: "elder" stresses the man's maturity and dignity, "bishop" (overseer) his function. The qualifications fall into four groups:

An elder is "the steward of God" (1:7), managing God's household. He must hold firmly to the trustworthy Word so that he can both encourage believers with sound teaching and refute those who oppose it (1:9).

Chapter 1:10-16 — Silencing False Teachers

Qualified elders were urgently needed because "there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake" (1:10-11). These teachers were rebellious, full of empty talk, deceptive, Jewish legalists, destructive to families, and motivated by money. Their mouths had to be stopped by the sound teaching of the elders.

Paul quoted the Cretan poet Epimenides, "The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies," and agreed: "This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth" (1:12-14). The goal of sharp rebuke is health in the faith.

Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.

Titus 1:15

The false teachers imposed rules about ritual purity, perhaps food laws. Paul answered that purity is a matter of the heart. To those whose hearts have been cleansed, created things are not defiling (Mark 7:15; Romans 14:20); to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure, because their minds and consciences are corrupted.

They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

Titus 1:16

Their lives contradicted their profession. Saying one knows God while denying Him by one's conduct reveals a false faith (James 2:14-26; 1 John 2:4).

Section II: Order in the Home and Life (Chapter 2)

Chapter 2:1-6 — Older and Younger Believers

"But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine" (2:1). In contrast to the false teachers, Titus must teach what fits healthy doctrine. Paul addresses different groups:

Older women have an essential teaching ministry: training younger women in godly living in the home. The reason for these instructions is the testimony of the gospel: "that the word of God be not blasphemed" (2:5).

Chapter 2:7-8 — Titus' Example

In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.

Titus 2:7-8

A leader's life must match his teaching, so that opponents have nothing to criticise.

Chapter 2:9-10 — Adorning the Doctrine

Servants (slaves) were to be submissive, pleasing their masters, "not answering again; Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things" (2:9-10). "Adorn" (from the Greek word that gives us "cosmetic") means to make attractive. Even the lowest member of society, by honest and faithful work, can make the gospel beautiful to those who watch.

Chapter 2:11-15 — The Grace That Teaches

Why should believers live this way? Because of the grace of God:

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Titus 2:11-14

This passage moves between two "appearings":

• The grace of God "hath appeared" (2:11): God's saving grace appeared in Christ's first coming, offered "to all men." This grace not only saves; it teaches. It trains believers to say no to ungodliness and worldly desires, and to live self-controlled ("soberly"), upright ("righteously") and devout ("godly") lives in this present age: toward self, toward others, and toward God.
• "The glorious appearing" (2:13): believers are "looking for that blessed hope," Christ's return in glory. He is "the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ": the grammar of the Greek indicates that one Person is called both "the great God" and "our Saviour." This is one of the clearest statements of Christ's deity in the New Testament.

Between the two appearings stands the cross: He "gave himself for us," with a double purpose:

• To redeem us from all iniquity: to set us free, by paying the price, not only from sin's penalty but from its power (Psalm 130:8).
• To purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works: "peculiar" means His own special possession, as Israel was called God's "peculiar treasure" (Exodus 19:5; Deuteronomy 14:2; 1 Peter 2:9). His people are to be eager to do good.

"These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee" (2:15).

Section III: Order in Society (Chapter 3)

Chapter 3:1-2 — Good Citizens

Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.

Titus 3:1-2

The Cretans were known for being rebellious and quarrelsome. Believers must be law-abiding, ready to do good, not slanderous or quarrelsome, but gentle and courteous to everyone (Romans 13:1-7; 1 Peter 2:13-17).

Chapter 3:3-7 — Saved by Mercy

Why should believers be gentle toward unbelievers? Because they remember what they themselves once were:

For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.

Titus 3:3

Then God intervened:

But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Titus 3:4-7

This is one of the most complete summaries of salvation in the Bible:

All three Persons of the Trinity are involved: God the Father's kindness and love, the Holy Ghost's regenerating and renewing work, and Jesus Christ through whom the Spirit is poured out. "The washing of regeneration" is the spiritual cleansing that occurs in the new birth, the Spirit's work of making a person new (John 3:5; Ezekiel 36:25-27; Ephesians 5:26). Baptists understand it not as water baptism, which pictures this cleansing but does not produce it, since salvation is explicitly "not by works of righteousness which we have done." The Spirit was "shed... abundantly," poured out lavishly, as Joel foretold (Joel 2:28; Acts 2:33).

Chapter 3:8-11 — Maintain Good Works; Avoid Divisions

This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.

Titus 3:8

Salvation is not by works (3:5), but it leads to works. Those who have believed must be careful to devote themselves to good works, which benefit everyone.

"But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain" (3:9). Endless speculation and arguments about the law achieve nothing.

A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.

Titus 3:10-11

"Heretick" (Greek hairetikos) here means a divisive, factious person who causes splits by promoting his own opinions. After two warnings, the church should have nothing more to do with him (Romans 16:17; Matthew 18:15-17). Such a person is "subverted" (twisted) and self-condemned.

Chapter 3:12-15 — Final Instructions

Paul would send Artemas or Tychicus to replace Titus, and asked him to come to Nicopolis, "for I have determined there to winter" (3:12). Titus should help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey, making sure they lacked nothing (3:13).

And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.

Titus 3:14

Believers should learn to devote themselves to good works that meet real needs, so that their lives bear fruit. "All that are with me salute thee. Greet them that love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen" (3:15).

Part Three: Christ in Titus

Portraits of Christ

Good Works in Titus

Titus holds together two truths: good works can never save (3:5), and those who are saved must be zealous for good works (2:14; 3:8). Works are the fruit of salvation, never its root (Ephesians 2:8-10; James 2:14-26).

The Two Appearings

Part Four: Prophecies Fulfilled and Future

Part Five: Key Passages in Depth

Titus 1:5-9 — Qualified Elders

Every local church needs leaders who are blameless, faithful in marriage and family, self-controlled, hospitable, holy, and able to teach sound doctrine and refute error.

Titus 1:15-16 — Profession and Practice

Purity is a matter of the heart. Those who profess to know God but deny Him by their works show that their faith is false.

Titus 2:1-10 — Sound Doctrine in Everyday Life

Healthy teaching produces godly older men, older women who teach younger women, self-controlled young men, faithful workers and exemplary leaders, so that God's Word is not blasphemed and the gospel is adorned.

Titus 2:11-14 — Grace That Saves and Teaches

God's grace, which appeared in Christ, both saves and trains us to reject ungodliness and live godly lives while we look for the glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour, who gave Himself to redeem us and make us His own people, zealous for good works.

Titus 3:1-2 — Good Citizenship

Believers should submit to authorities, be ready to do good, speak evil of no one, and show gentleness to all people.

Titus 3:3-7 — Saved by Mercy

We were once foolish and enslaved. God saved us, not by our works, but by His mercy, through the regenerating and renewing work of the Holy Spirit, justifying us by grace and making us heirs of eternal life.

Titus 3:8-11 — Maintaining Good Works; Rejecting Divisive People

Believers must devote themselves to good works, avoid fruitless controversies, and, after two warnings, reject divisive people.

Part Six: The Major Teachings of Titus

1. The Truthfulness of God

God cannot lie, and His promise of eternal life is sure (1:2).

2. Church Leadership

Qualified elders (bishops) must be appointed in every church (1:5-9).

3. Confronting False Teaching

False teachers must be silenced by sound doctrine and sharp rebuke (1:9-14).

4. True Purity

Purity is of the heart, not external rituals (1:15).

5. Sound Doctrine Produces Godly Living

Doctrine and conduct cannot be separated (1:1, 16; 2:1).

6. The Ministry of Older Women

Older women teach younger women godly living (2:3-5).

7. Adorning the Gospel

Godly conduct makes the gospel attractive (2:5, 8, 10).

8. The Grace of God

Grace brings salvation and teaches godliness (2:11-12).

9. The Deity of Christ

Jesus Christ is "the great God and our Saviour" (2:13).

10. The Blessed Hope

Believers look for Christ's glorious appearing (2:13).

11. Redemption and Purification

Christ gave Himself to redeem and purify a special people (2:14).

12. Salvation by Mercy, Not Works

God saves by His mercy through regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit (3:5).

13. Justification by Grace

Believers are justified by grace and made heirs of eternal life (3:7).

14. Good Works

The saved must be careful to maintain good works (2:14; 3:8, 14).

15. Good Citizenship

Submission to authority and gentleness toward all (3:1-2).

16. Church Discipline of the Divisive

Factious people are to be rejected after two warnings (3:10-11).

Part Seven: Connections — How Titus Links to the Rest of the Bible

Titus and the Old Testament

Titus and the New Testament

Themes That Run from Titus Through Scripture

Part Eight: Practical Lessons

• Let your knowledge of truth produce godliness (1:1).
• Rest on the promises of God who cannot lie (1:2).
• Set things in order where they are lacking (1:5).
• Choose leaders of proven character who hold fast the Word (1:6-9).
• Know sound doctrine well enough to encourage and to refute (1:9).
• Rebuke error sharply, aiming at health in the faith (1:13).
• Reject human rules presented as God's commands (1:14).
• Make sure your works match your profession (1:16).
• Older men: be self-controlled, dignified and sound in faith (2:2).
• Older women: live reverently and teach younger women (2:3-4).
• Younger women: love your husbands and children, and manage your homes well (2:4-5).
• Younger men: be self-controlled (2:6).
• Leaders: be a pattern of good works (2:7).
• Let your speech be sound and beyond reproach (2:8).
• Adorn the gospel by honest, faithful work (2:9-10).
• Let grace teach you to say no to ungodliness (2:11-12).
• Live soberly, righteously and godly (2:12).
• Keep looking for the blessed hope (2:13).
• Be zealous of good works (2:14).
• Be a good citizen, ready to do good (3:1).
• Speak evil of no one; be gentle to all (3:2).
• Remember what you were before grace (3:3).
• Rejoice that you were saved by mercy, not works (3:5).
• Be careful to maintain good works (3:8).
• Avoid fruitless arguments (3:9).
• Deal firmly with divisive people (3:10).
• Support Christian workers on their journeys (3:13).
• Meet real needs so that your life is fruitful (3:14).

Part Nine: Key Verses to Memorize

Conclusion

Titus is Paul's letter to a trusted co-worker left on the island of Crete, among a people known for lying, laziness and rebellion, to set young churches in order. Paul instructed him to appoint elders in every city, men of proven character who could hold fast the faithful Word, encourage believers with sound doctrine and refute the false teachers who were upsetting whole families for money. He insisted that true doctrine must show itself in godly lives: older men and women, younger women and men, servants and Titus himself were all to live in a way that would adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour and give opponents nothing evil to say. At the heart of the letter are two great passages about grace. The grace of God that brings salvation has appeared, teaching us to deny ungodliness and live soberly, righteously and godly, while we look for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ, who gave Himself to redeem us and purify a people zealous of good works. And God saved us, not by works of righteousness we have done, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost, that being justified by His grace we should be heirs of eternal life. Because we have been saved by grace, we must be careful to maintain good works.

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ

Titus 2:11-13