TITUS THE BOOK OF ORDER IN THE CHURCH 

 Titus is considered by many to be a priceless and unrivaled manual of pastoral advice. 500 years ago, Martin Luther said, “This is a short epistle, but yet such a quintessence of Christian doctrine and composed in such a masterly manner, that it contains all that is needful for Christian knowledge and life”. 

Author 

  Titus 1:1 says Paul was the author. The early church record supports that view. 

Recipients 

  First and 2 Timothy and Titus form a group called the pastoral epistles. They were written during the same period in Paul’s life and all of them deal with the same error. It is equally clear that they were written after the book of Acts closes. We know that after the events of the closing chapter of Acts (28, Paul) went to Ephesus and then, to Macedonia (probably Philippi). After that he journeyed to Crete, where he left Titus to continue the work there (Tit. 1:5). Apparently, he next traveled to Corinth, where he wrote this letter to Titus. From there, he went to Spain and on a return trip, he was arrested. If that scenario is correct (and frankly, other itineraries are possible), the date of Titus is the same as 1 Timothy, 62 AD. The churches on the island of Crete needed organization and Titus addresses that situation, (Tit. 1:5). There were also other things that needed to be set in order. Jewish teachers needed to be reprimanded (Tit. 1:10, 13). They were going to the genealogies of the Old Testament (Tit. 3:9) and constructing the fables (Tit. 1:14). From these myths they drew commandments which turned people from following the truth of God into following legalistic man mad rules Furthermore, their motives were wrong, and the results were not God-honoring. Their motive was financial (Tit. 1:11). Their ministry and produced disputes, and arguments about the law (Tit. 3:9), as well as destabilizing whole households. They needed instruction in godliness and good works. 

 Message 

  The message of Titus is how to have order in the church. That is clear from Titus 1:5. Paul left Titus in Crete to set things in order and this book tells him how to do just that. The message of Titus is putting things in order is ordaining elders, who see to it that the Word is taught, which produces godliness in good works. 

 Structure 

 Titus follows the form and format of an ancient letter, except that there is no thanksgiving or prayer. In the body of the book, Paul gives three commands, each followed by a reason for it. 

 I.                 Salutation 1:1-4 

II.                The Body of the Letter.  

A: Ordaining Elders 

B: Responding to error. 

C: Reminding about Good Works 3:1-71.  

D: Tell all to do Good Works 3:1, 22  

E: Conclusion 3:8-11 

III.              III. Personal Greetings and Benediction 3:12-15 Purposes 

Purpose

The first purpose of Titus is to instruct Titus. The church on the isle of Crete was in a mess. Jewish teachers were teaching things they ought not to and they needed to be silenced (Tit.1:11). Consequently, the people needed instruction in truth to produce godliness and good works. Paul wrote Titus to tell him how to put the church in order. He was to ordain elders, refute the Jewish teachers, speak about godliness to each age group within the fellowship and remind all to maintain good works. 

 The second purpose of Titus is to impart personal information to Titus concerning Zenas and Apollos (Tit. 3:13) and to inform Titus of Paul’s decision to spend the winter at Nicopolis (Tit.3:12). The letter notified Titus that Paul was planning to send either Artemas or Tychicus to replace him and that he wished for Titus to join him at Nicopolis. 

 Summary: 

 Paul wrote to Titus to instruct him to set things in order in the churches and to inform him about a few personal matters. Elders are to see that the word is taught, which produces godliness and good works. As a result of the healthy teaching of the Word of God, there should be godliness and good works.