A Series on Titus - introduction

Before we get into the book of Titus it is good to know some historical context. Titus was a Greek man that was converted by Paul’s ministry. He worked with Paul at Ephesus during Paul’s third missionary journey. Paul then sent Titus to Corinth to help the church there. As we can see by several passages in 2 Corinthians, Paul greatly cared for Titus and calls him “brother” on many occasions. After Paul’s release from his first imprisonment, he and Titus worked briefly in Crete; after which, Paul asked Titus to stay there. This is evident by what he writes to Titus; chapter 1 verse 5 says, “The reason I left you in Crete was that you might straighten out what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town as I directed you.” This would have been written for the benefit of the local churches, so that they might know the purpose of Titus’s stay. He was to be a directing leader and teacher.

Paul describes Crete as having “many rebellious people, mere talkers and deceivers” (Titus 1:10), and he notes that even one of the Cretan prophets called them “liars, evil brutes and lazy gluttons” (Titus 1:12). Their reputation was so bad that in Greek literature the word “Cretanize” meant “to lie”. The newly converted Cretans would have had to make drastic changes in their way of life. Paul writes to Titus to help organize the Cretan converts, to give instruction about faith and conduct, and to warn about false teachers. He writes with a view to being Christians that live out their faith in good works.

While the letter is written to Titus, it was meant to be read to the churches. Paul lists his qualifications so the listeners would be forced to recognize the authority with which he wrote. He wanted them to follow the laws and order God had established, and to do away with the world’s mentality and focus. Paul first tells them to establish elders and what is needed to be an elder. Setting overseers in the churches would help with the follow-through of Paul’s teaching. He then goes on to talk about our Christian obligations. He shows the link between what we believe and how we behave. Your life and lifestyle should make your beliefs obvious. The Cretans were living in a culture of moral excess and had to learn how to switch to a life that is marked by God. The radical change in their morals and self-control would make them stand out in society, just as we, too, ought to stand out in society. Many times in the letter, Paul repeats the need for good works, teaching them that the gospel is the basis for these good works.

As we go through the letter to Titus it should become obvious that, while religion says, “do good and God will accept you”, the Christian gospel says, “we have been accepted by the saving work of Christ Jesus and this should cause us to do good works”. We are to live out our faith and it should be evident in every area of our lives. The book of Titus finds its purpose in preparing the churches to be more effective witnesses; this is done by living a Christian lifestyle.

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