The biblical Titus is an enigma for many. First, we do not know when or where he was born. History even is unsure of his death, which could be 96 or 107 AD per Wikipedia. Like many Christians today, he was a convert to the faith. History suggests he was a Greek and possibly a native of Antioch (Syria). Regardless of his origin, we do know that he was a “Servant of the Almighty,” called by God through the Apostle Paul to serve his mentor, but also as a missionary and a church leader. Part of his serving included Paul’s emissary to the church at Corinth to deliver a stern message (“Severe Letter” or “Letter of Tears”) as well as working to collect alms for the Christians in Jerusalem. In addition, it is suggested in Acts 15:2 that he is one of the believers who accompanied Paul to the Council at Jerusalem. According to many theologians, his primary service was to serve the young church in Crete.
History also suggests he was a student of Greek philosophy and poetry from his early years. (source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Titus) This background would have indeed enabled this future missionary to evangelize and work with Greek speaking churches. He is mentioned in 2 Corinthians as having accompanied Paul on his 3rd missionary journey. (2 Cor 2:13; 7:6, 13) Modern Christianity recognizes Titus as “St. Titus,” and celebrates him on January 26th, the day following the Conversion of St. Paul, his mentor. In addition, Titus is the patron saint of the US Army Chaplain Corps which has established the “Order of Titus Award.”
The geography associated with St. Titus is multifaceted. Circa 56 A. D., Paul sent Titus to Corinth to remedy the “fallout” from Timothy’s delivery of Paul’s first letter. As previously stated, Titus delivered the Severe Letter (possibly included in 2 Corinthians) having left Ephesus for Corinth. If the Severe Letter was a “lost letter,” as many suggest, then he later met Paul in Macedonia where Paul authored the 2nd letter to the church at Corinth. Servant, courier, ambassador, missionary, and leader, Titus was a man of God having been called by God’s divine plan to serve where called.
The Geography of Titus
Titus is mentioned fifteen times in the Pauline epistles. Besides the locations mentioned above, we also see cities like Dalmatia and Nicopolis, as well as cities in Crete.
Crete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands and the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.
Dalmatia is a narrow belt on the eastern shore of the Adriatic Sea. Its largest city is called Split. Dalmatia became a Roman province but much larger than today which is only a region versus a commonwealth. Most of the area is covered by the Dinaric Alps. Dalmatia is now one of the historical regions of Croatia.
The other city associated with Titus is Nicopolis (“The City of Victory”). The root word comes from the Greek Nike (victory) and polis (city). This city is only mentioned once in the Bible in the Epistle of Titus where Paul urges his understudy to join him in Nicopolis. There is more than one city named Nicopolis in history but has long been associated with Macedonia.
A Delicate Mission: Corinth
Paul sent Titus to Corinth to deliver the Severe Letter – whether included in 2 Corinthians or some lost document. 2 Corinthians 2:4 says, “For I wrote to you out of great distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to grieve you but to let you know the depth of my love for you.” The fact that he uses the past tense verb (wrote), might suggest this Severe Letter was a separate document from his 2nd epistle to the Church.
It is never easy to arrive with the anticipation that something negative is coming. But that is the situation. The church at Corinth was wayward. Timothy had delivered the first letter and had reported the situation back to Paul. His second letter was then delivered by Titus that was necessitated by the severity of the situation in the church.
Titus, the Introduction by Paul: A Pastoral Letter
The first three verses of Paul’s letter to Titus are power-packed. Let me see if I can diagram the opening.
Teacher Paul->Servant and Apostle->Serve->Faith and Knowledge of the Elect->Godliness->Hope of Eternal Life, promised by God before the beginning.
Paul’s opening to his student, Titus, is powerful. Just as Paul was sent to serve, so his student has been empowered by the Holy Spirit to lead the people of Crete to faith in their LORD and Savior that leads to godliness and the hope of life eternal. But Titus’ job is not going to be easy. According to overviewbible.com, the churches on this Greek island needed leadership, correction, and order.
The people of Crete are described by the same source as having “undisciplined lifestyles.” Sounds somewhat similar to the situation in Corinth that Titus encountered on Paul’s behalf.
The first thing Paul touches on relates to the appointment of elders. Paul does not leave anything to chance as he describes the attributes of an elder.
- Must be blameless
- Husband of one wife
- Children are believers
- Not open to being wild or disobedient.
Paul reminds Titus, that an overseer (bishop, episkopos) is entrusted with God’s work and thus has strict instructions for his charge to be blameless, not overbearing, not quick tempered, non-drunkard, not violent, nor pursing dishonest gain. Rather, the overseer must walk the narrow path and hold firmly to the message of salvation to encourage others and to refute those in opposition.
Paul describes what Titus will encounter not only from the Cretans but also those who hold to the circumcision of the Old Testament. Paul’s language is poignant – Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, and lazy gluttons. Sounds like Titus’ job is more than he can tackle by himself! But we know that the Holy Spirit of God will guide him to accomplish God’s objective.
Chapter two opens with details of how God’s people should live. Paul reminds Titus that by God’s grace, salvation is open to all men (people) who share in the Good News of Jesus Christ. The faithful must say, “no” to their old ways (Old Adam) and to live a life that reflects Christ and His humility. For God Himself, sent His only Son, Jesus, to take on the humble form of man and to suffer and die for the sins of all. This atoning sacrifice redeems those that come to faith and walk in newness of life, says scripture.
Just as Paul is a servant of Almighty, so too, Titus shares that same function. His service is to show that the people of God are to live out the theme portrayed by Paul in Ephesians 2:8-10. Yes, grace saves, but the output of faith is good deeds showing the love of God to His creation. Paul concludes chapter three with these famous words: “This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good.” (Titus 3:8)
Closing
Like Timothy, Paul had a deep love and admiration for Titus as a servant of Almighty God to profess the Good News of Jesus Christ and Him crucified. While Christians today are not Apostles, we are servants of the same message that Paul preached centuries ago. As such, we too, are to walk blamelessly as having been born again by water and the Word. We are “God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10).
Whether overseer, elder, deacon(ess) or just one called by the gospel, we have been placed in the Kingdom of God for a purpose. Seek His way always!
Peace
Connected in Him, I stand
GHR
