AN INTRODUCTION TO THE BOOK OF TITUS

Titus was probably a Gentile from Antioch (Gal.2v3) who was brought to Christ by Paul (see Tit.1v4) fourteen years after Paul himself had been converted. At that time, when the dispute arose about the circumcision of Gentiles, Titus accompanied Paul to Jerusalem. While there, some dogmatic Jewish brethren insisted that Titus (born a non-Jews) be circumcised. Paul would not allow it for the sake of principle (Gal.2v5,16). To do otherwise would imply that all non-Jewish Christians were second-class citizens in the kingdom of God.

Titus remained as Paul's traveling companion and was probably with Paul when he wrote the letter to the Galatians. Titus is not mentioned again until the events which triggered the writing of 1 Corinthians and 2 Corinthians. After Paul's release from his first Roman imprisonment (circa 64 A.D.), he traveled with Titus in the East. They landed at Crete and evangelized several towns (Tit.1v5). However, Paul was unable to remain any longer. So, he left Titus behind to help appoint some leaders and to organize the Christians in that region.

Titus found considerable opposition, especially from the Jews (Tit.1v10), and a strong tendency toward insubordination. Quite possibly, Titus had written to Paul to report this fact and to ask for his spiritual advice. Consequently, Paul wrote a short letter pressing him to complete the process of organization, to ordain elders, to teach sound doctrine and to avoid empty disputations. The letter was probably delivered by Zenas and Apollos (Tit.3v13). Titus was requested to be ready to leave Crete and to join Paul at Nicopolis (Tit.3v12), where he was staying for the winter.

It is probable that Paul dispatched Titus from there on a new mission to Dalmatia (2Tim.4v10). A comparison of 1Tim.4v12 and Tit.2v15 suggests that Titus may have been older than Timothy and that he had been the stronger of the two men during the difficulties which had occurred in Corinth (1Cor.16v10; 2Cor.7v13-15). Titus volunteered readily for a delicate task (2Cor.8v17). He was full of affection and enthusiasm for the Corinthian brethren (2Cor.7v15). He was effective, free from all sordid motives, and shared in Paul's spirit and example (2Cor.12v18). Paul regarded him as if he were his own son (Tit.1v4), his brother (2Cor.2v13), and his partner in Christ (2Cor.8v23). The epistle to Titus was probably written almost simultaneously with 1 Timothy from Nicopolis in Macedonia (Tit.3v12).

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