Salem Media Group. 1 Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ to further the faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness 2 in the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time, 3 and which now at his appointed season he has brought to . After Paul's release from prison in Rome, Timothy and Paul traveled to visit friends in the churches they had founded. After leaving Galatia., ( Acts 18:23 ) and spending a long time at Ephesus, ( Acts 19:1 ; 20:1 ) the apostle proceeded to Macedonia by way of Troas. Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. The apostle held him in great respect and fondness, referring to him as: Mine own son after the common faith (1:4). There is no further notice of Titus for some years afterward, when he is again mentioned in 2 Corinthians. at the time of the Jewish revolt. The army of Persia and Media and the nobles and governors of the provinces were before him, while he showed the riches of his royal glory and the splendor and pomp of his greatness for many days, 180 days. The child of God is to protect the gospel in 1 Timothy. Titus seems to have established a good rapport with the Corinthians and Paul exuberantly expresses his gratitude for the happy turn of events. The books of Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon. indicates that the letter was written from Philippi and delivered by () Titus and Luke. Something happens that causes their love for Jesus to go cool, turning away or falling back. Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down. As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age? And Jesus answered them, See that no one leads you astray. The most prominent cities in the early Roman period were Gortyn (the administrative capital, known for its celebrated "Gortyn Code," a set of classical codified laws), Knossos (a Roman colony most likely established by Augustus famous for its Bronze Age palace), and the less-explored Eleutherna, Hierapytna, and Kydonia. <> N Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. However, Paul wasnt above making points in a risqu way if the situation called for it. This article is part of our People from the Bible Series featuring the most well-known historical names and figures from Scripture. The Judaistic party in the church at Jerusalem desired to have Titus circumcised, but Paul gave no subjection to these persons and to their wishes, "no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you" (Galatians 2:5). There he met Titus and with great relief heard the good news that the worst of the trouble was over at Corinth ( 2Co 7:6-7,13-14 ). Paul clearly held Titus in a position of great respect as a friend and fellow worker for the gospel, praising Titus for his affection, his earnestness, and his bringing comfort to others. From Crete, Paul proceeded onward but he left Titus to "set in order the things that were wanting, and appoint elders in every city" (Titus 1:5) . They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. He seems to have accompanied Paul during the third missionary trip. He is last mentioned in 2 Tim. Paul reflects very favorably upon Titus genuine devotion and pastoral concern (2 Cor 8:16, 17). He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church? Only when God the Son took on human flesh in the person of Jesus was the believers faith in God made sure. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. First Timothy presents the most explicit and complete instructions for church leadership and organization in the entire Bible. See Pastoral Epistles. Titus was one of Paul's very dear and trusted friends; and the fact that he was chosen by the apostle to act as his delegate to Corinth, to transact difficult and delicate work in the church there, and that he did this oftener than once, and did it thoroughly and successfully, shows that Titus was not merely a good but a most capable man, tactful and resourceful and skillful in the handling of men and of affairs. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Titus, accompanied by two Christian brothers, was the bearer of 2 Corinthians ( 2Co 8:23) and was given the responsibility for making final arrangements for . And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God. Paul asked Titus to meet him at Nicopolis (see map, p. 2487) when a replacement arrived (see 3:12 and note). Even though Paul spends a lot of time describing just how foolish heretics are, he holds out hope that they can change. First passage: For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works (2:11-14). Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. This is the first resurrection. According to Paul, elders must live blamelessly, to be good husbands with children who are also Christians, and to be both generous and hospitable. He restores my soul. When describing heretics, Paul references a quote about Cretans being liars, crazy animals, and lazy gluttons (Titus 1:12-13) to show how foolish these heretics are. TopicalBible In hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began. Advice to the people in the pews and the pastor in the pulpit, 3. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. "Whether any inquire about Titus, he is my partner and fellow-worker to you-ward" (2Corinthians 8:23). and Codex Angelicus (L9th cent.) Start for FREE. Titus, like Timothy ( 2 Tim. J Paul wasn't messing around when he wrote this letter to Titus, a Greek follower of Jesus who helped Paul navigate tight situations (see Galatians 2:1-3 and 2 Corinthians 7-8). ( 2Corinthians 8:6 ) A considerable interval now elapses before we come upon the next notices of this disciple. Christians were once slaves to their sins, but God saved them, and they have been taught to turn away from godless living (Titus 2:12). By expelling the hated informers, and doing away with trials and executions for treason, he gained the favor of the Senate, and thus that body did not oppose his actions. For by grace you have been saved through faith. He was the darling of the populace, good looking, affable to everyone. Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. 6. K And while the form of a churchs worship is vital to reaching its community for Christ, without a firm base of sound doctrine, the church will lay its foundation in shifting and sinking sand. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. The probability is that Titus, who had long been associated with Paul (Galatians 2:3), who, as his commissioner, had executed difficult offices in Corinth (2Corinthians 7-9), and who, not very long before 2 Timothy was written, had completed some missionary work in Crete that had been begun by others, had gone as a missionary and as Paul's representative and helper to Dalmatia. When the latter was called to Rome and was elevated to the imperial seat, Titus was left in charge of the war, and brought it to an end by the capture and destruction of Jerusalem in a.d. 70. We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing. What are you doing, son of my womb? The brief reign of Titus was noteworthy mainly for two disasters by which it was visited. In the biblical narrative, Luke appears suddenly but unobtrusively among Paul's companions in Troas. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh. But even Titus, who was with me, was not forced to be circumcised, though he was a Greek. An eyewitness account of this event may be found in two letters written by Pliny to his friend Tacitus, the historian (Pliny, Epistulae, VI.16.20). The latter was mentioned in a number of Pauline epistles. Who Was Titus in the Bible and Why Should You Read His Book Now. Paul's letter to Titus is the final Pastoral Epistle and has many similarities to 1 and 2 Timothy. Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. In the first place we learn that he was originally converted through St. Pauls instrumentality. Some suggest that this visit is to be identified with the famine-relief visit in Acts 11 and 12 (e.g., Bruce); others, with the Jerusalem Council visit in Acts 15 (e.g., Ridderbos). Here he expected to meet Titus, ( 2Corinthians 2:13 ) who had been sent on a mission to Corinth. In some Bibles a subscription to the epistle may show that Paul wrote from Nicopolis in Macedonia. Its certainly wrong to talk in a malicious way (1 Peter 2:1) and Paul warns elsewhere about avoiding filthy jokes (Ephesians 5:4). 2:1). Such were Paul's plans; whether they were carried out is unknown. 5. And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed. E It is difficult and perhaps impossible to give the true reason why Titus is not mentioned by name in the Acts, but he is certainly referred to in 15:2. He was also known as Saul of Tarsus (Acts 9:11). Blog, A When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. So I took leave of them and went on to Macedonia. Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. Daily Bible Readings, Podcast Audio and Videos and Prayers brought to you by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. I Paul. Does God Really Work All Things Together for Good? Second passage: But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life (3:4-7). As Paul calls him "my true child after a common faith" (Titus 1:4), it is probable that he was one of the apostle's converts. Paul advises Titus to handle these people by rebuking them to make them strong in the faith (Titus 1:13), and to give a first and second warning (Titus 3:10). For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. Like someone above pointed out, the word "teaching" should mean teaching generally, not an academic . Verse 7. 1. Who? Whether Titus accompanied Paul during all these journeys cannot be ascertained. %PDF-1.3 All rights reserved. Vesuvius erupted and completely destroyed the two towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum, covering the former with a shower of hot ashes and pumice, the latter with a river of lava. There is still room to turn around. 1915. This island, southeast of Greece, was about 150 miles long and 35 miles wide, thus making it the largest of the Mediterranean islands. 1:2 ), had become a beloved disciple (1:4) and . Even the women in the church may have had problems with alcohol (see 2:3). For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Paul had assigned Titus to strengthen a previously established church work on the Isle of Crete. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. And he who was seated on the throne said, Behold, I am making all things new. Also he said, Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true. Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. The three pastoral epistles may be favorably compared. They are to teach what is good. First Timothy 3:1-7 contains the biblical qualifications for a pastor: "Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. Did we not take the same steps? My spirit was not at rest because I did not find my brother Titus there. The book of Titus reminds us that our beliefs about God impact every decision we make. The Bible Story of Elijah The Life of Ruth - 5 Essential Faith Lessons The Bible Story of Queen EstherThe Greatest Villain - King NebuchadnezzarThe Bible Story of Mary Magdalene. And when he came to David, he fell to the ground and paid homage. What is Titus in the Bible? For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. Titus: Working for Good Deeds Bible Commentary / Produced by TOW Project. A Psalm of David. Did Titus take advantage of you? I use all as my study material. of Answer In the New Testament, a bishop is a person who functions as a teaching leader among a local group of Christians. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. And on the third day, behold, a man came from Saul's camp, with his clothes torn and dirt on his head. Your browser does not support JavaScript. To overview the duties of leaders and laity in a local church. Timothy accompanied Paul on most of his second journey travels after he left Lystra. >=a+d0- From Paul's Epistle to him these details are gathered: On Paul's liberation at the conclusion of his first Roman imprisonment he made a number of missionary journeys, and Titus went with him, as his companion and assistant, on one of these--to the island of Crete. Taking the passages in the epistles in the chronological order of the events referred to, we turn first to ( Galatians 2:1 Galatians 2:3 ) We conceive the journey mentioned here to be identical with that (recorded in Acts 15) in which Paul and Barnabas went from Antioch to Jerusalem to the conference which was to decide the question of the necessity of circumcision to the Gentiles. There are three terms used interchangeably in the New Testament to refer the highest office in a church: elder, overseer, and pastor (which means "shepherd") all refer to the same office. Apparently Paul and Titus agreed to meet in Troas. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. Title. But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine. Such abundance and prosperity are holy and pleasing to God. The messengers returned to the king, and he said to them, Why have you returned? After the death of Saul, when David had returned from striking down the Amalekites, David remained two days in Ziklag. So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.
