Titus

Our good works are the natural outward expression of the deep love we have for God and the salvation provided in Christ Jesus. The Holy Spirit is in us to direct us in the way we should go.

Out of the love, mercy and kindness He has shown us we love others.

As Titus struggles to help the church on the island of Crete, his experienced mentor, Paul, writes to give him advice. Paul had left Titus in Crete to appoint church leaders and to oppose false teachers. In this letter, Paul shows the connection between right belief and right action, emphasizing that God’s graciousness should prompt us to be godly people.

Titus

“Point man,” “pinch hitter,” “clutch player,” “go-getter.” These terms describe a person who can be counted on, someone who knows what to do and how to do it and who works tirelessly to get it done. Titus was that kind of person.

He had to be. Much of his work, like the apostle Paul’s, was dangerous, unpopular, difficult, and tiring. It involved traveling, introducing strangers to new ideas, constantly making new friends, consistently battling new enemies, and even deflecting threats on one’s life. The number of people who could share such a load was small, but the early church desperately needed them. Not just anyone could start and maintain a new church in a hostile world. Yet Titus rose to the challenge.

The believers in Crete lacked leadership and were suffering as a result. False teachers were taking advantage of the absence of sound doctrine. Judging from Paul’s exhortations, the harmony and morals of the young congregation were disrupted. Paul relied on Titus to help them establish their leadership and make up their other deficits. Their struggles are repeated in every age, and this letter is as relevant today as it was to Titus.

Paul may have planted a church on the island of Crete during a missionary trip after his first imprisonment in Rome, which ended about a.d. 62. When Paul departed from Crete, he left Titus behind to “set in order the things that [were] lacking” in the church.

Titus is mentioned numerous times in the New Testament as one of Paul’s most trusted assistants. He was a Greek and was converted by Paul. He assisted the apostle on some of his missionary journeys and went with him to the Jerusalem council. Paul mentioned Titus several times in 2 Corinthians. Titus carried the letter to Corinth. While at Corinth, Titus was entrusted with collecting funds from the Corinthian church. Later Titus went to Dalmatia at Paul’s request. Early church tradition says that Titus returned to Crete and spent the remainder of his life there.

Although Titus contains only 46 verses, it covers a wide range of topics. It is a key New Testament book for church organization, with its guidelines for elders, pastors, and other believers. Furthermore, it contains one of the clearest statements about God’s grace in all of the New Testament. It explicates the significance of Christ’s first and second coming. The book contributes to our understanding of the work of the Holy Spirit in salvation and the Christian life. But it is known most for its practical instruction about the roles of men, women, and servants and its instruction for dealing with false teaching. A church needs organization, sound doctrine, and good teaching to survive. In this letter, Paul gives Titus a succinct overview on how to lead a church.

Whereas the letters to Timothy emphasize sound doctrine, the letter to Titus emphasizes good works. There were influential people in the church who were motivated by personal interest and selfish gain. In his letter, Paul exposes the ways this was affecting the doctrine and practice of the church and urges Titus to champion purity, service, and kindness toward others. Paul reminds Titus that salvation is not based on our own “works of righteousness” but rather is the result of God’s work of kindness and love toward us. NKJ Bible.