Page 92 - Pastoral Epistles student textbook

Study Section 14: Titus - Introduction

14.1 Connect

Titus continue to travel with Paul on missionary journeys, helping in the work of
sharing the gospel. Paul thought of Titus – much like he thought of Timothy, not
only as a very faithful friend but also as his spiritual son, because he had led him
to trust Christ.

Tradition tells us that after Paul was released from the Roman prison where he had been for two
years, he and Titus traveled to the island of Crete. Paul and Titus taught the people, called Cretans,
about their need for God and the good news about Jesus.

Soon there were enough believers to start churches in several towns. Paul wanted to go visit the
church in Corinth, so he left Titus to continue teaching the new Christians and to appoint church
leaders for each new church.

The gospel was now spreading into Europe.

Titus was a busy man as he cared for all the new Cretan believers, especially because the people just
didn’t know how to do what is good in God’s eyes. Paul knew Titus needed some encouragement and
reminders of what was important to teach the people. Paul wrote to Titus soon after writing 1st
Timothy, probably while Paul was in Macedonia, on his way to Nicopolis. Let’s examine what Paul
wrote to Titus…

14.2 Objectives

1. The student should be able to describe the introductory material for the book of Titus.

2. The student should be able to explain how sound doctrine was central to the message to
Titus.

14.3 Titus

Paul had only laid the foundations of the church in Crete when he had to hurry on elsewhere,
since he was not just the pastor of one island but the apostle to the Gentiles. Paul therefore
commissioned Titus as an evangelist to carry on his work. It is clear from this letter that,
immediately after Paul left, Satan made great efforts not only to overthrow the government of
the church, but also to corrupt its teaching.

Some people, out of selfish ambition, aspired to become pastors, and when Titus would not comply
with their evil desires, they spoke ill of him to many people. There were also some Jews who tried to
use the law of Moses as their pretext for introducing a great number of trifling regulations and
observances, and they were being listened to attentively and very favorably. So, Paul wrote to Titus to
arm him with his authority to help him to bear such great burdens. Doubtless, some people openly
scorned Titus as being just an ordinary pastor. It is also possible that complaints were being circulated
that he was taking upon himself more than he had a right to, since he refused to accept pastors until
they had won his approval.

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