Titus

Overview

Paul writes to Titus, his true child in a common faith, whom he had left on the island of Crete to put right what was lacking and to appoint elders in every town. The Cretan churches were young and surrounded by a culture Paul describes bluntly, even quoting one of their own prophets. Titus's task was to bring order, beginning with godly leadership: elders who are above reproach, holding firm to the trustworthy word so they can give sound teaching and rebuke those who contradict it.

Paul is concerned about deceivers and empty talkers, especially those insisting on circumcision, who upset whole households for shameful gain. Their teaching must be silenced with the truth. To them nothing is pure, but to the pure all things are pure; they profess to know God but deny him by their works. Against this, Titus is to teach what accords with sound doctrine.

Paul then describes how sound doctrine shapes every group in the church: older men and women, younger women and men, and servants are each to live in ways that adorn the gospel. The motive for all of it is the grace of God that has appeared, bringing salvation and training believers to renounce ungodliness and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives while awaiting the blessed hope, the appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.

The heart of the letter shines in its reminder that salvation comes not by works of righteousness but by God's mercy, through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. Because believers have been justified by his grace, they are to devote themselves to good works, avoid foolish controversies, and live as people transformed by the kindness and love of God our Savior.

Context at a Glance

Author

The apostle Paul

Written

Around AD 62-64, after Paul's first Roman imprisonment

Genre

Epistle (pastoral letter)

Audience

Titus, Paul's co-worker, left to oversee the churches on Crete

Central theme

Sound doctrine that produces good works

Key Verse

Titus 3:5 (WEB)

not by works of righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy, he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,

Paul anchors the Christian life in grace: God saved us not because of our works but according to his mercy, by the washing of regeneration and the Holy Spirit.

The Big Movements

• Appointing godly elders (ch. 1) — Paul instructs Titus to set the churches in order and appoint qualified, blameless elders.
• Confronting false teachers (ch. 1) — Deceivers and empty talkers must be silenced, for they deny God by their works.
• Sound doctrine for all (ch. 2) — Every group in the church is taught to live in a way that adorns the gospel.
• Grace that produces good works (ch. 3) — Saved by mercy, believers devote themselves to good works and gentle conduct.

Key Figures

• Paul — The apostle and author, directing the ordering of the Cretan churches.
• Titus — Paul's trusted co-worker, left on Crete to appoint elders and teach sound doctrine.
• The Cretan elders — Church leaders to be appointed for their godly, blameless character.
• The false teachers — Deceivers and empty talkers, especially the circumcision party, who must be silenced.

Pointing to Christ

Jesus Christ is named our great God and Savior, whose grace has appeared bringing salvation to all people. He gave himself to redeem us from lawlessness and to purify a people of his own who are zealous for good works. Believers wait in hope for his glorious appearing, and they are saved through his mercy poured out by the Spirit, not by any righteousness of their own.

Big Lessons

• Healthy churches need godly, blameless leaders.
• Sound doctrine and good works belong together.
• Empty talk that denies God by works must be confronted.
• Grace trains us to renounce ungodliness and live uprightly.
• We are saved by God's mercy, not by our own righteousness.
• Transformed people devote themselves to doing good.