Dr. Grant C. Richison
I. The “Pastoral Epistles”
The three epistles of 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus have been called “the Pastoral Epistles” since the 1700s.
Paul sent Timothy and Titus on missions to instruct believers and warn them against false teachers.
Paul wrote the Pastoral Epistles after the time of the book of Acts.
II. Authorship of Titus: Paul (1:1)
Paul wrote Titus from Greece (3:13). Zenas and Apollos delivered the letter (3:13).
III. Title of Book:
The epistle of Titus was named for its recipient.?
IV. Background:
Luke did not mention Titus in the book of Acts. He was a Gentile (Ga 2:3) whom Paul led to Christ (Ti 1:4) during the first missionary expedition. He was with Paul and Barnabas during the Council of Jerusalem (Ac 15; Ga 2:1-5). Paul left Titus on the island of Crete for a special task. When Artemas or Tychicus (3:12) arrived in Crete, Paul encouraged Titus to join him in Nicopolis in the province of Achaia in Greece (3:12).
Crete was the place of ministry of the book of Titus. This island was the largest of the Mediterranean Sea, 160 miles long and 7 to 35 miles wide. The population was Minoan and Mycenaean in background.
Both Greek and Roman civilizations influenced the island of Crete. The island had some Jews (Ac 2:11). Rebellious and empty talkers were already in the church (Ti 1:10). This problem was especially a problem for a new church.
Paul visited Crete more than once.
V. The Person Titus
1. Titus was converted by Paul (Titus 1:4), probably during the second missionary enterprise.
2. Titus was a pure Gentile, not half-Gentile and half-Jew like Timothy.
3. Titus is mentioned by name 13 times (Ga 2:1, 3; 2 Ti 4:10; 9 times in 2 Co [2:13; 7:6, 13, 14; 8:6, 16, 23; 12:18]); Titus 1:4).
4. Titus was sent on important missions a number of times by Paul.
5. Titus carried an offering from the Corinthians to the Jerusalem church, 2 Co 8.
6. Nothing is known about Titus’s conversion or his family other than that he was a Gentile.
7. Titus was one of the most trusted partners of Paul.
8. Titus traveled with Paul extensively.
9. Paul refused to allow him to be circumcised as a test case at the Jerusalem Council, as an indicator of God’s grace (Ac 15; Gal. 2:1-5).
10. Titus represented Paul on a number of occasions in 2 Corinthians (2 Cor. 2:13; 7:6-7, 13-15; 8:6, 16-17).
11. Paul took Titus with him to Crete after his first Roman imprisonment.
12. Paul visited Crete with Titus between his two Roman imprisonments, then left Titus behind to continue the work that they had begun (Titus 1:5).
13. During Paul’s second Roman imprisonment, Titus left Crete and traveled to Dalmatia, current-day Yugoslavia (2 Tim. 4:10).
14. Titus was Paul’s personal representative in Crete, carrying out a difficult assignment to correct the church there (1:6-16; 2:15; 3:9-11).
15. Titus was still young at the writing of the book of Titus (Titus 2:6-7).
16. Paul encouraged Titus to meet him at Nicopolis (3:12) and assist Zenas and Apollos on their journey (3:13).
17. Titus served with Paul on his second and third missionary expeditions.
VI. Key word: doctrine
VII. Characteristics
1. Titus is part of a collection called “the Pastoral Epistles” that give instruction to pastors.
2. Paul worked closely with Titus, a Gentile.
3. Titus was not as personally needy as Timothy.
4. Paul wrote the epistle of Titus before Second Timothy.
5. Titus might have been on a fourth missionary expedition of Paul’s.
6. There was a group of false teachers in Crete who opposed Paul’s teachings.
7. The epistle contains much instruction on church government.
8. There are only 46 verses in the book.
9. The central concern of Titus is sound doctrine.
VIII. Themes of the Book
1. Council to pastor Titus about leading a church and to all future pastors.
2. Warning about false teachers
3. Salvation (1:3, 4; 2:10, 11, 13; 3:4-6)
4. Christ’s deity and coming (2:13)
5. The cross (2:14)
6. Regeneration (3:5)
7. Leadership (1:5-9)
8. Civil government (3:1-8)
9. Works (1:16; 2:7, 14; 3:1, 5, 8, 14)
10. Sound doctrine (1:4, 9, 13; 2:1, 2, 7, 8, 10; 3:15)
IX. Date: A.D. 63-64
Paul wrote Titus between his first and second Roman imprisonments from Corinth or Nicopolis (3:12).
X. Place of Writing
Paul wrote Titus from Greece. Some believe it was from Corinth.
XI. Occasion
Upon Paul’s release from his first Roman imprisonment, he took Titus with him to Crete to correct the church.
XII. Purpose
To challenge pastors to teach sound doctrine and discipline in the church (1:5).
Outline
I. Introduction (1:1-5)
A. Salutation (1:1-4)
B. Purpose of the epistle (1:5)
II. Effective Ministry (1:6-3:11)
A. Among Leaders (1:5-16)
1. Recognition of leaders (1:5-9)
2. Rebuke of false leaders (1:10-16)
B. In the Church (2:1-15)
1. To live godly lives (2:1-10)
2. To be sound in doctrine (2:11-15)
C. In the World (3:1-11)
1. To live godly lives (3:1-11)
2. To keep sound doctrine (3:5-11)
III. Conclusion (3:12-14)
IV. Benediction (3:15)
