An Introduction To Paul’s Letter to Titus

Pastor David L. Brown, Ph.D.
Sermon Delivered 10/23/05

Introduction

• The Author: Paul the Apostle is the author. This is clearly stated in verse 1 of the little epistle (letter). "Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ…" No one disputes his authorship of this little letter.
   
• The Recipient: Paul addresses his letter to Titus (v.4). While Titus is not mentioned in the book of Acts, the Apostle Paul mentions him 13 times in his epistles. The only reason I point that out is to make you aware of the fact that the book of Acts does not contain all the record of the Apostolic Church era.
   
• The Date Paul Wrote This Letter: Titus is one of three Pastoral Epistles or letters that Paul wrote two young pastors. 1 & 2 Timothy are the other two Pastoral Epistles. While we don’t know for sure the date Paul wrote this letter to Titus, I think it was written approximately a.d. 63-64, sometime after they left Timothy behind in Ephesus & Paul and Titus traveled on to Crete. After a brief stay, Paul left Titus behind to organize and help provide leadership for the Cretan churches (see Titus 1:5) and then later he wrote this epistle and had it delivered to Titus. We do not know for sure where Paul was when he wrote this letter, however, it has been long believed that it was written in Nicopolis which was to be the place Paul and Titus joined up again. The Geneva Bible includes this note at the end of the book – " To Titus, elect the first bishop of the Church of the Cretians, written from Nicopolis in Macedonia."
   
• The Purpose of The Letter: The purpose of the epistle to Titus was to instruct him in his church planting efforts in Crete. Paul told him what he should do and teach in the Cretan churches. Further, we know the broad purpose of Paul’s letter because it is stated in chapter 1, verse 5 – "For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:" Titus 1:5. In other words, Paul is writing to Titus giving him Instructions on Organizing & Supervising The Churchs he will be establishing in Crete.
   
• Some Things We Know About Titus

He was won to Christ through Paul’s ministry – Titus 1:4

He was a Greek – Galatians 2:3

He was one of Paul’s closest and most trusted companions. Paul called him his partner and fellow helper (2 Corinthians 8:23) and, his brother (2 Corinthians 2:13). Paul took Barnabas and Titus with him to the Jerusalem, having been sent by the church of Antioch to answer questions concerning converts among the Gentiles (Galatians 2:1-10). It was while at the Jerusalem Council that some Pharisees argued that Gentile converts should be circumcised (Acts 15:5). Peter disagreed (Acts 15:7-11). James announced the decision of the Apostles was that "we trouble not…Gentiles [which] are turned to God." (Acts 15:19-20)

Titus had also functioned as a faithful emissary to the troubled church in Corinth (2 Corinthians 7:6-7; 8:6, 16).

Titus carried 2 Corinthians back for Paul (2 Corinthians 8:16-19).

Titus was Paul’s helper and was left at Crete to organize churches all over the Island (Titus 1:5) until Paul could send Tychicus or Artemas to take over (Titus 3:12).

Titus was at Rome during Paul’s second imprisonment, from whence he traveled to Dalmatia (in what is today Coratia) on a mission for the apostle (2 Timothy 4:10).