Titus 1:1-16

A Guide for Christian Leaders

Titus

Hilda Bright and Helen Pocock

About this letter

What we know about Titus

Titus was a *Gentile Christian (Galatians 2:3). Titus had probably become a Christian when Paul taught the good news about Jesus Christ. So Paul described Titus as his ‘true son’ (1:4). Paul described Titus as a partner and a worker with him (2 Corinthians 8:23).

1 Titus went to Jerusalem with Paul. Paul insisted that Titus need not obey the very strict *Jewish laws (Galatians 2:1-4).

2 Paul had to send a severe letter to the Christians in Corinth. (This letter may be 1 Corinthians. But it may be a letter that is not in the Bible.) They were allowing one of the Christians to act in a wicked way. They were not doing anything about it. Titus took the letter. He also helped to sort out the serious situation (2 Corinthians 7:8-15).

3 Titus had a special responsibility. Many poor Christians lived in Jerusalem. Titus had to organise the people in Corinth who collected money for the poor people (2 Corinthians 8:16, 17).

4 Titus had been working with Paul on the island called Crete. (This happened after Paul had been in prison in Rome in Acts 28.) Paul did not have time to complete the work himself. So he left Titus to finish it. Many people considered that the people in Crete had bad characters. Paul was aware of this opinion.

The reason why Paul wrote the letter

1 Titus had to appoint men to lead the churches. Paul reminded Titus about the kind of character that a leader should have.

2 Paul advised Titus how he should teach different groups of people. These groups were the old people, the young people and slaves.

3 Titus had to emphasise the true message about Jesus Christ. He had to tell the Christians how to behave in the right way. He had to warn them about false teachers.

Chapter 1

Paul’s greeting

v1 This letter is from Paul. I am a servant of God. I am an *apostle of Jesus Christ. I help the people that God has chosen. I help them, as they believe. I help them to really know the truth. It shows them how to respect and please God. v2 This is the truth. God’s people can confidently expect to live for ever. Before time began, God promised *eternal life. God cannot lie. v3 At the right time God let people know this good news. And he trusted me to tell it to everyone. God, who saves us, ordered me to do it. v4 I write to you, Titus. You are my true son because we both believe God’s good news.

God is the Father. Jesus Christ saves us. I pray that they will give you *grace and peace.

Verse 1 The author described himself as ‘a servant of God’. A servant is loyal to his master. And he obeys his master. This title showed that Paul was humble. He thought that it was an honour to serve God. Paul also described himself as ‘an *apostle of Jesus Christ’. An *apostle is someone whom God sends. So Paul had God’s authority.

‘The people that God has chosen’ refers to Christians.

Paul worked for Jesus in two ways:

1 Paul had told people the good news about Jesus. As a result, people believed and trusted Jesus.

2 Paul taught the Christians more about God’s true message. He taught them how to live in the right way. He wanted them to become mature Christians. Then they would not believe the false teachers.