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Titus, Letter to

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Paul’s letter to Titus is in many ways similar to his first letter to Timothy, though it is much shorter. Paul apparently wrote the two letters about the same time.

After his two-year imprisonment in Rome (Acts 28:16; Acts 28:30), Paul went on further travels. Among the places he visited was the Mediterranean island of Crete, where he found that the churches were in a state of confusion. He stayed a while to help the churches through their difficulties, but he wanted to visit other cities and countries as well. He therefore left Titus behind in Crete to help correct the problems (Titus 1:5), while he himself sailed on to Ephesus. There were problems in Ephesus also, but Paul could stay there for only a limited time. When he moved on to Macedonia, he left Timothy behind to carry on the work (1 Timothy 1:3). (For map see under TIMOTHY.)

From Macedonia Paul wrote two letters, one to Titus in Crete, the other to Timothy in Ephesus. Both letters were intended to encourage Paul’s fellow workers in the tasks they faced, particularly in matters concerning leadership and teaching in the church. (For details of Paul’s travels and writings of this time see TIMOTHY, LETTERS TO.)

Contents of the letter

After a lengthy introduction (1:1-4), Paul reminds Titus of the need to appoint elders in the Cretan churches and of the personal qualities that should characterize those elders. In particular they must be able to recognize and resist false teaching (1:5-16).

Paul gives Titus instructions concerning the behaviour that people of different ages and social backgrounds should exercise towards each other in the church (2:1-10). He reminds Titus that the grace of God changes lives (2:11-15), and that Christians must demonstrate this by the way they live (3:1-7). Titus must therefore teach the great truths of the Christian faith, and not waste time arguing over senseless topics (3:8-11). The letter closes with a few notes concerning Paul’s plans for himself and Titus in the months ahead (3:12-15).