Introduction to Titus

I. BRIEF BACKGROUND

A.Titus is part of the division of Paul’s letters known as “the Pastoral Letters.” This is because I

Timothy, Titus, and II Timothy deal with Paul’s admonitions to his co-workers on (1) how to deal with false teachers, (2) how to establish leadership in local churches and (3) how to encourage godliness. The apparent chronological order of these books is: I Timothy and or Titus then later,

II Timothy. Titus deals with the same subjects as I Timothy. Titus may have been written first because its introduction is so lengthy and theologically involved, much like Romans.

B.The geographical movements of Paul and these co-workers do not fit into the geographical movements of Paul in Acts. Therefore, many assume that this is an evidence that Paul was released from prison and conducted a fourth missionary journey.

C.The dates for this fourth missionary journey would have to be sometime between the early to middle A.D. 60's to A.D. 68 because Paul was beheaded under Nero and Nero died in A.D. 68.

II. TITUS, THE MAN

A.Titus was one of Paul’s most trusted co-workers. This is evidenced by the fact that Paul sent him to the trouble spots of Corinth and Crete.

B.He was a full Gentile (Timothy was only half-Greek), converted under Paul’s preaching. Paul refused to circumcise him (cf. Gal. 2).

C.He is mentioned often in Paul’s letters (cf. II Cor. 2:13; 7:6-15; 8:6-24; 12:18; Gal. 2:1-3; II Tim. 4:10) and it is very surprising that he is not mentioned by Luke in Acts. Some commentaries theorize that 1.he may have been a relative of Luke (possibly a brother) and to include his name would have been an act of cultural impropriety on Luke’s part 2.Titus is Luke’s major source of information about Paul’s life and ministry and, therefore, like Luke, would not be named

D.He accompanied Paul and Barnabas to the all important Jerusalem Council, recorded in Acts 15.

E.This book focuses on advice Paul gives Titus about his work on Crete. Titus is acting as Paul’s official surrogate.

F.The last information in the NT about Titus is that he was sent to work in Dalmatia (cf. II Tim. 4:10).

III. THE FALSE TEACHERS

A.There is obviously a group of false teachers who oppose Paul’s gospel on Crete. 1.Their error seem to relate to the godly lifestyle that is expected of all believers. 2.References to godly living: 1:1,16; 2:7,14; 3:1,8,14 3.Summaries of character qualities: 2:11-14; 3:4-7

B.There is an obvious Jewish flavor to this false teaching (cf. 1:10,14; 3:8-9). These heretics are a combination of Jewish legalism and Greek speculative thought (gnosticism). They are similar to the false teachers addressed in Colossians and Ephesians. The focus of the Pastoral Letters is on heresy, and not exclusively church organization.

IV. TERMS AND PHRASES TO BRIEFLY IDENTIFY

1.godliness, 1:1 2.“in the hope of eternal life,” 1:2 3.“which God who cannot lie,” 1:2 4.hospitable, 1:8 5.Jewish myths, 1:14 6.sound doctrine, 2:1 7.perseverance, 2:2 8.“in the present age,” 2:12 9.“the blessed hope,” 2:13 10.redeem, 2:14 11.“the washing of regeneration,” 3:5

V.PERSONS TO BRIEFLY IDENTIFY

1.elders, 1:5 2.overseer, 1:7 3.“those of the circumcision,” 1:10 4.“a prophet of their own,” 1:12 5.“to rulers, to authorities,” 3:1 6.Tychicus, 3:12 7.Apollos, 3:13

VI. MAP LOCATIONS TO PLOT

1.Crete, 1:5 2.Nicopolis, 3:12

VII. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1.Why is it significant that both God the Father and Jesus the Son are called “Savior” (3 times each) in Titus? 2.How does 1:16 relate to false teachers? 3.Does 2:1-5 refer to church leaders or church members? 4.Why is 2:11 such an important verse? 5.Does 2:13 call Jesus God? 6.Why is 3:5a a basic theme of Paul? 7.Does 3:5b teach baptismal regeneration?