Book of Titus
Summary of the Book of Titus
This summary of the
book of Titus provides information about the title, author(s), date of writing,
chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the
Book of Titus.
The letter is
addressed to Titus, one of Paul's converts (see 1:4 and note) and a considerable help to Paul in his ministry.
When Paul left Antioch to discuss the gospel with the Jerusalem leaders, he
took Titus with him (Gal 2:1-3); acceptance of Titus (a Gentile) as a
Christian without circumcision vindicated Paul's stand there (Gal 2:3-5). Presumably Titus, who is not referred to in
Acts (but is mentioned 13 times in the rest of the NT), worked with Paul at
Ephesus during his third missionary journey (see map, p. 1724). It is likely
that he was the bearer of Paul's severe letter to the Corinthian church (see
Introduction to 2 Corinthians: Occasion). Paul was concerned about the possible
negative reaction of the Corinthian church to his severe letter, so he arranged
to meet Titus at Troas (2Co 2:12-13). When Titus did not appear, Paul traveled on
to Macedonia. There he met Titus and with great relief heard the good news that
the worst of the trouble was over at Corinth (2Co 7:6-7,13-14). Titus, accompanied by two Christian
brothers, was the bearer of 2 Corinthians (2Co 8:23) and was given the responsibility for making final arrangements
for the collection, begun a year earlier, in Corinth (see 2Co 8:6,16-17 and notes).
Following Paul's
release from his first Roman imprisonment (Ac 28), he and Titus worked briefly in Crete (1:5), after which he commissioned Titus to remain there as his
representative and complete some needed work (1:5; 2:15; 3:12-13). Paul asked Titus to meet him at Nicopolis
(see map, p. 2487) when a replacement arrived (see3:12 and note). Later, Titus went on a mission to Dalmatia
(see 2Ti 4:10 and note), the last word we hear about him in the NT.
Considering the assignments given him, he obviously was a capable and
resourceful leader.
The fourth largest
island in the Mediterranean Sea, Crete lies directly south of the Aegean Sea
(see map and inset, p. 2308; cf. note on 1Sa 30:14; cf. also Paul's experiences there in Ac 27:7-13). In NT times life in Crete had sunk to a deplorable
moral level. The dishonesty, gluttony and laziness of its inhabitants were
proverbial (1:12).
Apparently Paul
introduced Christianity in Crete when he and Titus visited the island, after
which he left Titus there to organize the converts. Paul sent the letter with
Zenas and Apollos, who were on a journey that took them through Crete (3:13), to give Titus personal authorization and guidance in meeting
opposition (1:5; 2:1,7-8,15; 3:9), instructions about faith and conduct, and warnings about
false teachers. Paul also informed Titus of his future plans for him (3:12).
Paul possibly wrote
from Macedonia, for he had not yet reached Nicopolis (see3:12). The letter was written after he was released from his first
Roman imprisonment (Ac 28), probably between a.d. 63 and 65 -- or possibly at a later
date if he wrote after his assumed trip to Spain.
Especially
significant, considering the nature of the Cretan heresy, are the repeated
emphases on loving and doing and teaching "what is good" (1:8,16; 2:3,7,14;3:1,8,14) and the classic summaries of Christian
doctrine (2:11-14; 3:4-7).
IV.
Concerning Various
Groups in the Congregations (ch. 2)
