Introduction to Titus

R. Dwain Minor   -   March 6, 2025

Preaching through Titus is going to be a bit different than other books of the Bible that I’ve preached through since coming to Victory Baptist Church. And the reason for this is simple. This letter was written to a church planter about the right order of churches in Crete.

Titus didn’t have long-term plans in Crete and these churches had not been there very long at all. In fact, at the end of the letter, Paul tells Titus that he is sending two people to replace him. This means we get a view of the priorities of the church unencumbered by the additions that naturally happen in a long time frame. This church does have a problem that must be dealt with. But not many. And so, we see what an orderly church should look like without speaking about a lot of other things. The letter was sent to Titus for the purpose of setting the churches of Crete in order. This is the purpose of the letter.

This letter was written sometime between the years of 62-64 AD, which is sometime between Paul’s first and second Roman imprisonments. And we can understand this as we read different passages from the New Testament, but also some things that we read from the Early Church.

Paul was expecting to be released by Nero in Philemon 1:22 when he says “prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping through your prayers I will be graciously given to you.” (Philemon 1:22 ESV) We might also see some indication that Paul expects to be getting out of prison soon in Philippians 1:19-26.

We get more information from Clement, which is a source outside of Scripture. He is thought to be the same person that is mentioned in Philippians 4:3, though we cannot be certain of that. From all the historical sources we have today, he was in contact with all of the Apostles. It is Clement that gives us an account of what Paul did with the rest of his life and it seems to accord very well with the information we gather from Paul’s letters. He wrote that Paul made it to Spain after he was released by Nero. This is found in the non-canonical writing of 1 Clement. (1 Clement 5:5-7)

We believe that Titus was present with Paul on both his second and third missionary journeys. And this close relationship between the two shines in the opening of the Book of Titus. Titus was a beloved brother to Paul in the faith and in the work of the gospel. We see this in the introduction to the Book of Titus.

“To Titus, my true child in a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.” (Titus 1:4 ESV)

But this is also seen in the Book of 2 Corinthians.

“As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker for your benefit. And as for our brothers, they are messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ.” (2 Corinthians 8:23 ESV)

And in 2 Timothy 4:10 we find that Demas deserted Paul and Titus had left to take the gospel to present day Yugoslavia.

Paul’s second Roman arrest was in 67 AD. This time he was in a prison for about five years and was beheaded under the emperor Nero. 2 Timothy was written while he was awaiting his final verdict. When the final verdict came, he was beheaded.

So, our text today was written after he was released from Roman house arrest in Acts 28 and before he was rearrested. 2 Timothy and a few other books were written while he was under arrest in prison awaiting trial and execution.

The tone of this letter is much different than Paul’s other letters. He doesn’t define or defend theological positions. It seems that he has complete trust in Titus to preach and teach what is true and right. So, the letter is short and straightforward.

“For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you…” (Titus 1:5 ESV)

The purpose of the letter is to set these churches in order.

Crete is one of the largest islands in the Mediterranean. It is about 160 miles long and 35 miles wide. In Acts 27 Paul was there, but we’re not sure that he stopped at that point. It was probably after Paul was released from prison that he did any work there. And the reason for this letter is very likely that he had received a letter from someone at Crete. It could have been Titus, but it may have been from someone else.

There was a problem in this church. There were rebellious men teaching things that were “upsetting whole families, teaching things they should not teach for the sake of sordid gain” (Titus 1:11). And Paul tells Titus how to take care of the problem by describing what his role is and how the Church is to function.

So, an outline of the Book of Titus, in its most basic form is this.

  1. Introduction
  2. Pastor Qualifications
    1. Role of a pastor in the church.
      1. He is to correct wrong doctrine
      2. He is to expect believers to not live like the world
  • He is to expose the unbelief of the rebellious.
  • What the homes of believers are supposed to look like.
    1. Pastor is to be an example for believers’ conduct.
    2. Older men
    3. Older women
    4. Younger women
    5. Young men
    6. Bondservants
    7. Pastor is to exhort and rebuke with authority so that the people behave as they ought
  1. How the people behave out in the world so people will come to faith in Christ.

What we have in this letter is what a church is to look like, very simply laid out for us. Sadly, modern churches haven’t often tended to disregard Paul’s instructions to Titus. But we are not like other people. We must pay close attention.

 

R. Dwain Minor