Titus
A field guide for building churches on an island with a bad reputation.
Who wrote it: Says it is from Paul to Titus. Grouped with the Pastoral letters; most scholars think it was written in Paul's name around 80 to 100 AD, a minority defend Paul in the mid 60s.
What it is
Titus was a Greek convert, one of Paul's most trusted troubleshooters, the one he sent to Corinth when things were worst. Now he is on Crete, where Paul says the church needs leaders in every town and the culture is rough; he even quotes a Cretan poet calling Cretans liars and lazy gluttons. The letter is short and practical: here is what an elder should be like, here is what to do about the troublemakers, here is how older men, older women, younger women, younger men and slaves should live so that nobody can discredit the message.
That last part is the letter's distinctive concern. Titus cares about what outsiders see. The word 'good works' shows up repeatedly, not as a way to earn anything but as the thing that makes the teaching attractive. And twice the letter stops to say why: the grace of God has appeared and it teaches us to say no to ungodliness; and when God's kindness and love appeared, he saved us, not because of anything we did, but by his mercy. Both are compact summaries of the gospel dropped into a list of instructions.
It closes with a warning against pointless arguments over genealogies and the law, a note to avoid divisive people after two warnings, and travel plans. Three chapters, one purpose: churches on Crete whose lives make the message believable.
Verses worth keeping
11For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, 12instructing us to the intent that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we would live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present age;
Gen Zsame meaning, your wordsBecause God's grace has shown up, bringing salvation for everyone, and it's training us to say no to godlessness and to the cravings this world runs on, and to live with self-control, integrity and reverence for God right now, in this present age.
Grace as a teacher, not a loophole. That is the whole letter in a sentence.
- Titus 3:4–5WEB
4But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love toward mankind appeared, 5not by works of righteousness which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy, he saved us through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,
Gen Zsame meaning, your wordsBut when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for people appeared, he saved us. Not because of good things we'd done, but because of his mercy, through the washing that made us new and the renewing work of the Holy Spirit.
The clearest 'not because of what we did' in the Pastorals, tucked into a chapter about being good citizens.
- Titus 3:14WEB
Let our people also learn to maintain good works to meet necessary needs, that they may not be unfruitful.
Gen Zsame meaning, your wordsAnd let our people learn to give themselves to doing good, meeting real needs, so that their lives aren't fruitless.
'Necessary needs' is the phrase. Good works here are concrete: food, shelter, money for travel.
Read Titus
The full text, every chapter, from the World English Bible, a modern public-domain translation. Pick a chapter below. The highlighted verses are the place to start if you have never read it.
Titus 3
1Remind them to be in subjection to rulers and to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, 2to speak evil of no one, not to be contentious, to be gentle, showing all humility toward all men. 3For we were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. 4But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love toward mankind appeared, 5not by works of righteousness which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy, he saved us through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior; 7that being justified by his grace, we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 8This saying is faithful, and concerning these things I desire that you insist confidently, so that those who have believed God may be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men; 9but shun foolish questionings, genealogies, strife, and disputes about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. 10Avoid a factious man after a first and second warning, 11knowing that such a one is perverted and sinful, being self-condemned.
12When I send Artemas to you, or Tychicus, be diligent to come to me to Nicopolis, for I have determined to winter there. 13Send Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey speedily, that nothing may be lacking for them. 14Let our people also learn to maintain good works to meet necessary needs, that they may not be unfruitful.
15All who are with me greet you. Greet those who love us in faith. Grace be with you all. Amen.
Questions about Titus
Did Paul really call all Cretans liars?
He quotes a Cretan poet, probably Epimenides, who said it about his own people, and says 'this testimony is true'. It was a well-known proverb and Paul uses it to say Titus has a hard job. It is not a verse about ethnic character, and the letter's whole point is that grace makes Cretans different.
Why is Titus so similar to 1 Timothy?
Same author, same period, same concerns: qualifications for leaders, false teachers, household instructions, sound doctrine. Titus is shorter and tighter, and it has the two gospel summaries in chapters 2 and 3 that 1 Timothy lacks. Read together they show what the church looked like as it settled into a second generation.