Titus: Sound doctrine, good works

Where Titus sits

In the story

Act VI, Church · Rome, AD 60s and later

In the Bible

New Testament · Letters · book 56 of 66

Before it in the story

1 Timothy

After it in the story

1 Peter

One of three letters to Paul's delegates written after Acts ends; on Crete, as at Ephesus, the apostle sets churches in order with elders and sound doctrine, and grounds good works in grace.

Titus summary

On the chronology adopted here, Paul worked on Crete after his release from Roman house arrest with Titus, his trusted Gentile co-worker, and left him there to set the young churches in order (1:5). He writes, perhaps on his way to Nicopolis, where he means to winter (3:12). The long greeting announces the themes: the faith of God's elect, the knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness, and the hope of eternal life promised by God, who cannot lie, before time began (1:1–4). Titus must appoint elders in every town, blameless at home and in character and holding firmly to the faithful word, for many deceivers, especially of the circumcision party, are upsetting whole households for gain with Jewish myths and human commands (1:5–16). He is to teach what fits sound doctrine to older men and women, younger women and men, and slaves, so that the word of God is not reviled and the teaching about God our Savior is adorned, for the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation, training us to live godly lives as we wait for the appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself to redeem a people for His own possession, zealous for good works (2:1–15). Believers must be good citizens, gentle toward all, for we too were once foolish and enslaved, but when the kindness of God our Savior appeared, He saved us by His mercy, through the washing of new birth and renewal by the Holy Spirit poured out through Jesus Christ, so that, justified by His grace, we are heirs of eternal life (3:1–8). Titus must avoid foolish controversies and reject the divisive after two warnings, and then come to Paul (3:9–15). Six times the letter calls for good works; twice it grounds them, with a For, in what God has done (2:11; 3:3).

Titus in context

Written by

Paul the apostle (1:1), received as the author by the early church

Written to

Titus, a Greek believer and Paul's partner (Gal 2:3; 2 Cor 8:23), left on Crete; through him the Cretan churches (3:15, you plural)

Setting

Paul had left Titus on Crete and planned to winter at Nicopolis (1:5; 3:12). The adopted chronology places this after release from the first Roman imprisonment. His location while writing and the exact order of the journeys are not stated.

When

c. AD 62–64, between Paul's release from the house arrest of Acts 28 and his second imprisonment, about the time of 1 Timothy. Others fit it into the years Acts covers.

Why

To direct Titus to finish setting the Cretan churches in order with qualified elders; to silence the deceivers who taught Jewish myths and human rules for gain; to teach each part of the household a life that fits sound doctrine and adorns the gospel before outsiders; and to ground that life in the grace of God that appeared in Christ, who redeemed a people zealous for good works.

Themes of Titus

• Sound doctrine
• Good works
• Grace that appeared
• Elders for every town
• Adorning the gospel
• God and Christ our Savior
• New birth by mercy

Key verses in Titus

• Titus 1:2

  in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began.

• Titus 1:5

  The reason I left you in Crete was that you would set in order what was unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you.

• Titus 1:9

  He must hold firmly to the faithful word as it was taught, so that he can encourage others by sound teaching and refute those who contradict it.

• Titus 2:11–12

  For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to everyone. It instructs us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live sensible, upright, and godly lives in the present age,

• Titus 2:13–14

  as we await the blessed hope and glorious appearance of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. He gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.

• Titus 3:5

  He saved us, not by the righteous deeds we had done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of new birth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.

• Titus 3:8

  This saying is trustworthy. And I want you to emphasize these things, so that those who have believed God will take care to devote themselves to good deeds. These things are excellent and profitable for the people.

Titus chapter by chapter

Part 1 · Elders for Crete 1:1–16

1. 1
   Titus 1: Appoint elders in every town

   Titus must set Crete's churches in order with faithful elders who hold the word and silence deceivers.

Part 2 · Teach what fits sound doctrine 2:1–15

1. 2
   Titus 2: The grace of God has appeared

   Teach every group a life that fits sound doctrine, because God's grace has appeared to save and to train us.

Part 3 · Devoted to good works 3:1–15

1. 3
   Titus 3: According to His mercy He saved us

   Be gentle, good citizens, for God saved us by mercy through the Spirit's new birth; devote yourselves to good works.

See the outline of Titus