Paul’s letter to Titus

Paul addresses his “Letter to Titus” to a co-worker. In the New Testament, there is only one letter to Titus who is charged with developing the Church on the island of Crete, an island where Paul had never ministered. Titus’ ministry, then, is to a large extent, independent of that of Paul, although, of course, both are based on Scripture and Church teaching.

After addressing Titus in a long greeting, Paul begins to discuss his purpose in leaving Titus in charge in Crete. He says that Titus is to: “…set right what remains to be done and appoint presbyters in every town as I directed you on condition that a man be blameless, married only once, with believing children who are not accused of licentiousness or rebellious (Ti 1:5-6).”

Paul then goes on to specify the qualities a bishop should have. He must be “blameless but not arrogant, nor irritable, not a drunkard, not aggressive, not greedy for sordid gain.” In contrast to these negative qualities, the bishop should be “hospitable, a lover of goodness, temperate, just, holy and self-controlled, holding fast to the true message as taught so that he will be able both to exhort with sound doctrine and to refute opponents (Ti 1:7-9).”

Paul goes on to say that these qualities are necessary because their opposites are upsetting many people in the very early Church. Nevertheless, where there is public wrongdoing and/or wrong beliefs, Titus must “admonish them sharply so that they may be sound in one faith (Ti 1:13).”

In Chapter 2, Paul then outlines the Christian behavior required of followers of Christ in every class–older men, older women, younger women, younger men, even slaves (Ti 2:1 – 10). The result of trying to live this Christian behavior will be a transformation of our lives, Paul tells Titus.

“For the grace of God has appeared, saving all and training us to reject godless ways and worldly desires and to live temperately, justly and devoutly in this age as we await the blessed hope, the appearance of the glory of the great God and of our savior, Jesus Christ (Ti 2:11-13).”

Paul then reminds Titus that Jesus gave himself for us “to deliver us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for himself a people as his own (Ti 2:14).”

In Chapter 3, Paul summarizes his earlier teachings and places them on a higher level when he says, “But when the kindness and generous love of God, our savior, appeared…not because of any righteous deed we had done but because of his mercy, he saved us through the bath of rebirth and renewal by the Spirit, whom he richly poured out on us through Jesus Christ, our savior, so that we might be justified by his grace and become heirs in hope of eternal life (Ti 3:4-7).”

Paul concludes his letter to Titus with some words of advice, “…let our people too learn to devote themselves to good works, to supply urgent needs so that they may not be unproductive…Greet those who love us in faith, (Ti 3:14-15).”

Paul clarifies for Titus, in a brief but important instruction, how to live the faith in practice.