The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to
TITUS
Author Paul
Date Probably A.D. 64
Theme Setting the Church at Crete in Order
Key Words Diligence, Commitment, Responsibility
Background It is strange that a person whose name is listed among the books of the New Testament is so little known. Even though Titus was a companion and valuable coworker of Paul, there is no mention of him in the Acts of the Apostles. Titus was a Greek and evidently a convert of Paul. The fact that Titus was not circumcised (Gal. 2:3) indicates that he had not been raised in Judaism nor had he become a proselyte. Paul highly esteemed Titus, and the apostle was restless when there was little or no news of the young man’s whereabouts and activities.
Occasion and Date Although the New Testament does not record a ministry of Paul in Crete, such passages as 1:5 clearly indicate that he and Titus] had conducted a mission there. This campaign probably took place sometime during A.D. 63–64, after Paul’s release from his first imprisonment in Rome. Since his time was short, Paul left Titus on Crete to care for the new churches. Then the apostle departed to other fields of labor. Somewhere enroute to Nicopolis of Greece (3:12), he wrote to Titus. The letter gives evidence of having been written during the fall of the year, probably around A.D. 64 (see 3: 12).
Purpose Paul gave to Titus, a relatively young preacher of the gospel, the difficult assignment of directing the work in Crete. Later he wrote this letter to give Titus more detailed instructions concerning the performance of his pastoral duties.
Content The letter to Titus has an affinity with 1 Timothy. Both epistles are addressed to young men who had been assigned positions of responsible leadership in their respective churches during Paula absence. Both epistles are occupied with the qualifications of those who are to lead and teach the churches. The worldly corruptions that face the new churches are the same. Titus has three great theme–church organization, sound doctrine, and holy living. Titus was to ordain elders in every city where the nucleus of a congregation existed. They must be men of high moral character, and must be adamant on questions of principle, maintaining the true apostolic doctrine and able to refute objectors.
Personal Application Difficulties in the church are compounded when there are problems with the leadership. This letter teaches that the supreme aim of church government is the preservation of revealed truth and the safeguarding of ethical standards. Therefore, church leaders must be exemplary in life-style and sound in doctrine. This letter also stresses the close connection between sound doctrine and morals Truth is always intended to determine life and to promote godliness
Christ Revealed Underlying the instructions of Paul is the theme that Christ is building His church, carefully choosing the stones that make up this habitation for God. Paul also emphasizes Christ as our Redeemer (2:14; 3:4̑-7) and presents His Second Coming as an incentive to holy living (2:12, 13).
The Holy Spirit at Work The ministry of the Holy Spirit is understood throughout the entire epistle. The Cretans cannot change themselves (1:12, 13), and regeneration can only be the work of the Holy Spirit (3:5). The one who experiences a new birth receives the Holy Spirit in order to maintain a victorious lifȇstyle patterned after that of Christ (3:6–8).
Jack W. Hayford, Spirit Filled Life Study Bible
TITUS
Author Paul
Date Probably A.D. 64
Theme Setting the Church at Crete in Order
Key Words Diligence, Commitment, Responsibility
Background It is strange that a person whose name is listed among the books of the New Testament is so little known. Even though Titus was a companion and valuable coworker of Paul, there is no mention of him in the Acts of the Apostles. Titus was a Greek and evidently a convert of Paul. The fact that Titus was not circumcised (Gal. 2:3) indicates that he had not been raised in Judaism nor had he become a proselyte. Paul highly esteemed Titus, and the apostle was restless when there was little or no news of the young man’s whereabouts and activities.
Occasion and Date Although the New Testament does not record a ministry of Paul in Crete, such passages as 1:5 clearly indicate that he and Titus] had conducted a mission there. This campaign probably took place sometime during A.D. 63–64, after Paul’s release from his first imprisonment in Rome. Since his time was short, Paul left Titus on Crete to care for the new churches. Then the apostle departed to other fields of labor. Somewhere enroute to Nicopolis of Greece (3:12), he wrote to Titus. The letter gives evidence of having been written during the fall of the year, probably around A.D. 64 (see 3: 12).
Purpose Paul gave to Titus, a relatively young preacher of the gospel, the difficult assignment of directing the work in Crete. Later he wrote this letter to give Titus more detailed instructions concerning the performance of his pastoral duties.
Content The letter to Titus has an affinity with 1 Timothy. Both epistles are addressed to young men who had been assigned positions of responsible leadership in their respective churches during Paula absence. Both epistles are occupied with the qualifications of those who are to lead and teach the churches. The worldly corruptions that face the new churches are the same. Titus has three great theme–church organization, sound doctrine, and holy living. Titus was to ordain elders in every city where the nucleus of a congregation existed. They must be men of high moral character, and must be adamant on questions of principle, maintaining the true apostolic doctrine and able to refute objectors.
Personal Application Difficulties in the church are compounded when there are problems with the leadership. This letter teaches that the supreme aim of church government is the preservation of revealed truth and the safeguarding of ethical standards. Therefore, church leaders must be exemplary in life-style and sound in doctrine. This letter also stresses the close connection between sound doctrine and morals Truth is always intended to determine life and to promote godliness
Christ Revealed Underlying the instructions of Paul is the theme that Christ is building His church, carefully choosing the stones that make up this habitation for God. Paul also emphasizes Christ as our Redeemer (2:14; 3:4̑-7) and presents His Second Coming as an incentive to holy living (2:12, 13).
The Holy Spirit at Work The ministry of the Holy Spirit is understood throughout the entire epistle. The Cretans cannot change themselves (1:12, 13), and regeneration can only be the work of the Holy Spirit (3:5). The one who experiences a new birth receives the Holy Spirit in order to maintain a victorious lifȇstyle patterned after that of Christ (3:6–8).
Jack W. Hayford, Spirit Filled Life Study Bible
