Titus/Introduction/Commentary

Titus Introduction Historical Overview Titus himself is mentioned in the New Testament only in 2 Corinthians, Galatians, 2 Timothy, and Titus. His name is absent from the book of Acts. We first encounter Titus after the conclusion of Paul’s first journey (Acts 13-14), when he returned to Antioch, a discussion arose in the church there in regard to the question of whether it was necessary that Gentile Christians should be circumcised (Acts 15:1-4). Paul notes in the Galatian letter that at this time Paul went up to Jerusalem taking with him Barnabas and Titus (Galatians 2:1). Titus served as a successful test case or example that someone of a Gentile background did not need to be circumcised to be saved (Galatians 2:3). Here we learn that Titus, unlike Timothy, was not part Gentile and part Jewish but he was pure Gentile. All of this took place around 50 A.D. While Paul was at Ephesus during his third journey (57-58 A.D.), he received disturbing news from the church at Corinth (1 Corinthians 1:11; 5:1). He attempted to deal with the problems by correspondence (the First Corinthian letter). Paul then sent Titus to attempt a reconciliation and resolution of the difficulties (2 Corinthians 12:18).

During this time Paul and Titus agreed to meet in Troas. After leaving Ephesus and arriving at Troas, Paul did not find Titus. Although there were promising opportunities for work in Troas, Paul’s concern about Corinth and Titus led him to proceed into Macedonia (2 Corinthians 2:12-13). In Macedonia Titus brings much joy and peace of mind (2 1

Corinthians 7:5-16). Titus seems to have established a good rapport with the Corinthians (7:13,15).

During this same period of time Paul was instructing various congregations concerning the collection for the poor saints in Jerusalem. Corinth was among those instructed (1 Corinthians 16:1-2), but the Corinthians were slow in obeying (2 Corinthians 8:10-11). Titus was sent to Corinth to motivate them (2 Corinthians 8:6, 16; 9:3-5).

And Paul notes that Titus went of his own accord (2 Corinthians 8:17).

Later we find that Titus was successful in this task (Romans 15:26).

As we start reading the book of Titus, written probably around 67 A.D., we find that Paul had left Titus on the island of Crete (Titus 1:5).

Following this, Paul had then gone on toward Nicopolis (Titus 3:12, in Greece). Somewhere en route, he wrote the letter to Titus.

As with the books of First and Second Timothy, the events in the book of Titus do not seem to fit within the historical context of the book of Acts. Thus it appears that this book was written after Paul’s first imprisonment (Acts 28) and subsequent release. After his release, it looks like Paul come to Crete (Titus 1:5), went to Miletus (2 Timothy 4:20), on to Ephesus (1 Timothy 1:3), to Troas (2 Timothy 4:13), into Macedonia (1 Timothy 1:3), then on to Corinth (2 Timothy 4:20), Nicopolis (Titus 3:12), then at some time later was arrested and taken to Rome (2 Timothy 1:17; 4:15-17).

The last reference to Titus (68 A.D.) is when Paul informs Timothy that he had sent Titus to Dalmatia (2 Timothy 4:10), which was a district of the Roman Empire north of Greece on the shore of the Adriatic Sea.

A Personal Look at Titus

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He was a Gentile (Galatians 2:3).

Possibility converted by Paul (1 Timothy 1:2; Titus 1:4).

A man of emotion and affections (2 Corinthians 7:13,15).

A man concerned about others (2 Corinthians 8:16).

A self-motivated man (2 Corinthians 8:17).

A man who took on challenges. He went to Corinth with all its problems and he stayed on in Crete with its challenges (Titus 1:5; 10-16).

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Greetings: 1:1-4 Qualifications and Work of Elders: 1:5-9 False Teachers and Cretans: 1:10-16 The Behavior of Christians: 2:1-10 a. Older men: 2:1-2 b. Older women: 2:3 c. Younger women: 2:4-5 d. Younger men: 2:6-8 e. Slaves: 2:9-10 f. The basis for all Christian conduct: 2:11-15 5. The Church and the World: 3:1-11 a. The nature of proper conduct toward the world: 3:1-2 b. The reason for proper conduct toward the world: 3:3-7 c. The encouragement of proper conduct toward the world: 3:8-11 6. Closing Admonitions: 3:12-15

Themes 1. Things that befit sound doctrine: 2:1; 1:9; 2:7-8 3

2. Responsibilities of an Evangelist: 1:5; 2:1, 7-8,15; 3:1-3, 8-14.

3. Good Works: 2:14; 3:1,8.

4. The importance of Elders bringing stability to a congregation: 1:59 Much of the book is just plain practical “how to live” instruction (2:1-10; 3:1-3). Which will enable the Christian by his life to “adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things” (Titus 2:10).

The Island of Crete “Crete is one of the largest islands in the Mediterranean, situated almost equidistant from Europe, Asia, and Africa. A high state of civilization once flourished there, but by New Testament times the moral level of its inhabitants were deplorable. Their ferocity and fraud were widely attested; their falsehoods were proverbial; the wine of Crete was famous, and drunkenness prevailed” (Hiebert p. 29).

“We identify Crete with the Caphtor of the Old Testament (Deuteronomy 2:23; Jeremiah 47:4; Amos 9:7). Very early it was the scene of advanced civilization. In Homer’s Odyssey it is mentioned as having 90 cities. In the Iliad 2.649 it has as many as 100 cities. In 69 B.C., the island was added to the Roman dominion. In the days of Augustus it was united into one province with Cyrene. It abounded with Jews of wealth and influence; this we learn from the testimony of Philo and Josephus” (Reese p. 325).

The island itself is 160 miles long and seven to thirty-five miles wide. “It is dominated by four mountain ranges, but in the eastern half there are fertile plains and upland basins which furnish summer pasturage…..During classical times Crete was largely a recruiting area for mercenary soldiers, particularly archers. Jews from Crete were present at the feast of Pentecost (Acts 2:11)” (Zond. Ency. p. 1029). The 4

establishment of the Christianity on this island may have come from Jews converted on Pentecost who returned. The only recorded visit on this island by Paul, prior to leaving Titus here, was when he was headed as a prisoner to Rome, when the grain ship on which he was traveling anchored at the port of Fair Havens (Acts 27:7-8).

The Condition of the Church Here 1. More than one congregation existed on this island (1:5 “every city”).

2. The members were threatened by false teachers, especially from a Jewish background (1:10).

3. Too many members were being influenced by the bad elements in the surrounding culture (Titus 1:12-13). This is a truth that we need to appreciate for it is always a danger to conform to the world around us (Romans 12:1-2).

Here Paul quotes from the poet Epimenides (c. 600 B.C.). This was an opinion not only shared by many of the ancients, but one shared by God as well. Cretans were proverbially depraved. “The Cretans were such habitual liars (1:12) that the Greeks coined a special verb for lying —‘to Cretize’. Paul’s instructions throw no flattering light on the Cretan temperament. They were a naturally belligerent, argumentative people, uncontrolled, resentful of authority, and partial to the bottle.

But the Christian life calls for discipline, obedience, and respect for others” (Eerdman’s Handbook to the Bible, pp. 623-624).

4. Everyone in the congregation needed to do their part (Titus 2:110).

5. There was a definite need to have the right attitude towards authority (3:1)

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6. These Christians were also facing some of the same issues that Timothy was battling against, that is, foolish controversies and genealogies (3:9). “The whole tenor of the Epistle implies that Christianity was widespread on Crete and had been in existence long enough to admit irregularities, and to be endangered by false teachers. The churches were deficient in organization and needed positive instruction in doctrine and Christian living. With these needs Titus is to deal. And what a task he had! As Green says: ‘Setting in order churches that have gone wrong is a delicate and large task---more difficult in many ways than evangelizing new fields. False teachings are hard to correct, and when sin gets into a church, it is difficult to dislodge it� (Hiebert p. 30).

Evangelistic Oversight?

In recent years some have argued that Titus 1:5 is teaching that preachers actually have a position of authority over elders, seeing that Titus is told to appoint elders. First, Titus is told to see to it that elders are appointed, nothing in the verse suggests that Titus has the authority to act alone in this appointment. Secondly, seeing that qualified men are appointed to this office does not mean that Titus occupies a position of authority over them. Titus is simply to see that that qualified men are appointed. Once elders are appointed obviously such elders would see to it that more elders are appointed in the future for the elders do have oversight over the flock (1 Peter 5:3). The authority that is assigned to elders as overseers is never assigned to evangelists or preachers. All the passages that speak about shepherding the flock, ruling and overseeing are specifically applied to the elders (Acts 20:28; 1 Timothy 3:4ff; 1 Peter 5:1-3).

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One Congregation Per City?

From the expression “appoint elders in every city� (Titus 1:5), some have argued that this teaches that there can only be one congregation in each city, that it is unscriptural for a city to have more than one congregation. If there are two congregations in a city and each congregation has elders, there are still elders in that city. The expression does not demand only one congregation per city. Each congregation needs to be governed by its own elders (Acts 14:23), but the scriptures nowhere teach that each city must have only one congregation.

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