Titus

Paul wrote this short letter to Titus. Titus was a Gentile. [Note: This means that he was not a Jew]. Paul helped him to become a Christian (1:4. Read Galatians 2:3). Titus also worked with Paul. He was of great value in Paul's work. (Read 2 Corinthians 2:12-13; 8:23; Galatians 2:1-4 and 2 Timothy 4:10.)

Paul wrote this letter for three reasons. He wanted to encourage Titus. He gave him advice as his Christian leader. And Paul was teaching him important truths. The church in Corinth was a difficult one. But Titus worked hard there. (Read 2 Corinthians 7:6-7, 13-15; 8:6, 16-18; 12:18.) Then Paul gave him another hard task. This time it was the care of the church that was on the island of Crete (1:5). And it would not be an easy job. Some things that the people believed were causing divisions in the church (1:10-11). There were moral problems on the island too (1:12, 15-16).

First, Paul described himself in his greeting (1:1-4). He called himself God's slave. He also called himself Christ's apostle. His confidence was in the God whom he served. It was also in the Christ who sent him. God chooses Christian believers. He changes them. Then he uses them.

Paul explained about three main subjects.

Leaders (Chapter 1:5-9)

The churches on the island of Crete were new. So the members needed to become strong in their faith. They needed moral protection. They needed spiritual growth. And good leadership was essential for all of these things. So Titus must choose suitable elders.

[Note: An elder is a person who leads a church. He cares for God's people. Read Acts 20:28.]

There was a typical social life on Crete. The people had bad moral standards. In the first century there were some popular words. They were ‘to cretise’. And this meant the same as ‘to tell lies’ (1:12).

Crete's spiritual leaders must not be like this. That kind of behaviour must not be in their homes. The elder's life must be a good example. His children must be believers (1:6). Their behaviour must not be bad. They must obey their parents. And they must not be like other children who lived on Crete.

An elder must be ready to accept people into his home (1:8). He must love what is good. He must be able to control himself. An elder must understand the truth. And he must be able to teach it (1:8-9).

Problems (Chapter 1:10-16)

The people of Crete had evil behaviour. And this was not recent. Paul used the words of a famous man (1:12). He lived on Crete in the 6th century BC. [Note: BC means Before Christ]. His name was Epimenides.

There were false teachers. And they even made money out of it. There were some people who had no moral standards. And other people who said that everyone must be like Jews. All boys must be circumcised (1:12). But ceremonies will not change lives. To know God is not just a spiritual experience. It must be a moral experience too (1:16). Bad behaviour is against the gospel.

Teaching (Chapters 2:1-3:11)

The people of Crete needed to have good teaching (2:1). And this section is the teaching about two principles. First, it was about life as a Christian should live it. Second, it was about Christ. He was the only one who made this life possible.

Teaching about behaviour (2:2-10). Some false teachers on Crete just wanted to make money (1:11). But true Christians on the island must be different. Their lives must attract people to the gospel (2:10). Titus must teach Christian principles (2:1). And Christians must be good examples (2:7). What they believed must attract people because of right behaviour (2:10). There were different age groups in the church. And Titus must help them to use the message in their own lives.

The older men must:

• control themselves
• be serious
• be wise
• be strong in what they believe
• be strong in love
• be strong in patience (2:2).

The older women must:

• have holy lives
• not speak against other people
• not drink too much wine
• teach the younger women (2:3).

The younger women should:

• love their husbands and children
• be wise
• be holy
• take care of their homes
• be kind
• obey their husbands.

[Note: Paul told the older women to teach these things. He did not tell Titus to teach the younger women.]

The younger men must learn from Titus. Titus must teach them to be wise. Titus must be a good example for them in every way. When he taught, he must be honest and he must be serious. And he must always speak the truth (2:6-8).

Slaves must be honest. They must also obey their masters (2:9-10).

But something else was most important. It was this. The teacher himself must be an example in every way (2:7).

People would watch the lives of Christians. People were probably looking for something bad (2:8). Then they would speak evil about God's word (2:5). So Christians on Crete must have lives of moral goodness. And their goodness should be easy for people to see. The lives of Christians should show their teaching. And it should be like this in each local community. Then people would see that God really does save people.

Teaching about Christ (2:11-3:11). There was another appeal for right behaviour (3:1-2). The appeal comes between two passages about the Saviour. [Note: Saviour is one who saves. This was the Lord Jesus.] Paul advised Titus. Titus must remind believers about what they were at one time (3:3). Then he must remind them about who Christ is (3:4).

Christians’ lives should be completely different. And everyone should be able to see this. But only Christ's work makes this possible. Nobody else could ever do it. The believers could never change their own lives. And they could certainly not change the life of anyone else.

Paul reminded young Titus about two facts about Christ. He had come and he will come. First, he came to Bethlehem (2:11; 3:4). Then there is the ‘great hope’ of his return (2:13). And these two great truths do two things. They encourage a holy life. They cause a complete change of life.

The Christ who came to earth is God's generous gift. And this gift is for all people. It is for slaves (2:9) as well as for free people. It is for all who believe in Christ's work of salvation (3:5). It is not just for those who depend on ceremonies (1:10) or good deeds.

Christ's work saves us. Notice how Paul linked the truths and their effects. The truths are:

• Christ's birth (2:11; 3:4)
• Christ's death (2:14; 3:5)
• Christ's great work (3:6-7)
• Christ's demands (2:12)
• Christ's return (2:13).

Jesus came into this world to save us. And he will return to complete that work of salvation. Christ's return is a fact. This truth is not just something for people to talk about. It does not help people to guess when he will return. His return gives a reason for a complete change of life. Believers want to be at their best when Christ returns. And this includes both their moral and their spiritual lives. (Read 1 John 3:3.)

Paul knew that not everyone would want to do good things all the time (3:8, 14). The message had advantages for everyone. But not everyone would listen to the message. Some people preferred to argue about things that were of no use. They would rather argue than believe absolute truths (3:9). They talked about things that were of no use. Then they caused arguments in the churches (3:10). Christians must recognize that these people were false teachers. And they must not allow them to damage people's lives.

Paul's final greetings were for partners whom he could trust (3:12-15). We should do all that we can to help the Lord's servants. We should ‘be sure that they have everything that they need’ (3:13).

The believers on Crete must work hard. Then they could be generous in their gifts (3:14). Lives that are not useful cause people to think bad things about Christ. He ‘gave himself for us’ (2:14). And believers should love other people. They should ‘do what is good’ (1:8; 2:14; 3:8, 14. Compare 1:16.) This would be evidence that people could see for themselves. It would show people the work of God's Holy Spirit, who lives in believers. And he makes them become new people (3:5).