Set in Order

Titus was a Gentile companion of Paul’s missionary journeys (Gal. 2:3) who had ministered in Corinth (2 Cor. 8:6, 16). After his release from Rome, Paul appoints Titus to establish churches throughout Crete (62-67 AD).

The Preface (1-4)

• Central in the greeting is the reminder of the promise of eternal life as the content of faith
• Paul calls both the Father and Jesus Christ Savior. They share the same role with the same authority
• God called Paul as an apostle according to the same faith of the elect people, or the Jewish race. Abraham, Jacob, and Moses each held the same faith in eternal life through the Seed of the woman (Gen. 3:15, Gal. 3:8).

Elder Qualifications (5-9) - Are Your Leaders Qualified?

1. Blameless
2. Husband of one wife (or “one-wife husband”, μιᾶς γυναικὸς ἀνήρ. Faithfulness or monogamy?)
3. Faithful children (obedient to parents or believing unto the Lord?)
4. Not accused of dissipation (ἀσωτία = “not saving”, wastefully or extravagant)
5. Nor insubordination (who has authority over elders?)
6. Not self-willed (arrogant)
7. Not quick tempered
8. Not greedy
9. Hospitable
10. Lover of good
11. Not given to wine (πάροινος = “for wine”)
12. Just and holy
13. Self-controlled
14. Holding fast to the Word, that he may teach to exhort and convict

Case in Point for Teaching (10-16)

Those of the circumcision (Jewish legalists) had infiltrated households (likely house churches) & taught heresies. 1:15 may refer to keeping Kosher dietary laws. They thought they were acting “clean”, but their own minds were defiled from distorting the gospel - the free gift of eternal life (1:2). Those who are spiritually clean (John 15:3, Titus 3:5) are free from the Law (Col. 2:20-23) and all foods are permissible (Mark 7:18-19). The Law was given to Israel to set them apart from surrounding nations for worship, not for believers to obtain righteousness before God (Gal. 3:21). Perhaps best we can summarize these false teachers as promoting the doctrines of demons in 1 Timothy 4:1-4.

Instruction for Sound Doctrine (1-9)

• As for Titus’ congregation, the primary tool against heresy is unity with high moral expectations. When we sin against others, we’ve departed from truth. Sound church doctrine begins with reverence at home.
• Men have many of the same qualities expected of elders, being sober and above reproach. Everyone should be ready for the call of leadership. Being a leader of your family prepares you for potential church leadership.
• Women are likewise expected to be moral so they can teach other women. While the office of elder is reserved for qualified men, Paul never means women cannot teach at all. Indeed, they should be leaders in their own context so the Word of God might be respected. Again, they have to lead by example in loving their husbands and children.
• 1st Century slaves (boundservants, δούλους) here is far different from racial American slavery. Most slaves in the Old Testament were debtors, though Roman society had outlawed that practice centuries before Titus. Slaves of the empire were generally war captives, born into bondage, or victims of piracy. Treatment varied and they had few civil rights in the Roman world. Slave trading by kidnapping (or man-stealing) is condemned in 1 Timothy 1:10 (as well as Exodus 21:16 and Deuteronomy 24:7). Further, Paul encourages masters to not abuse slaves in Ephesians 6:9.
  • Even in a condition of lowly servitude, we are able to glorify God in our actions. God is Savior in all walks of life, whether man or woman, rich or poor, Jew or Gentile. All are able to live qualified for good works yet free of legalism.

The Teaching of Grace (11-15)

• The words grace (χάρις) and salvation (σωτηρία) are usually not associated with deliverance from Hell. However, salvation is used again in 3:5 clearly about our spiritual regeneration, being born again through the washing of the Spirit. The revelation of God’s grace is evident generally through creation (Rom. 1:20) but the special use of God’s Word illuminates the mind to persuade people concerning the gospel (Rom. 10:14). It’s offered to all people, not just hypothetically! Jesus died to atone for sins of the whole world (John 1:29, 1 Jn. 2:2), making possible the gift of eternal life to any who believes in Him for it (John 3:16, 5:24). Further, Titus 3:2 also uses “all people” and certainly means we should be humble to all without exception, not just in theory!
  • Since all have been offered salvation, we should not bicker or discriminate among ourselves. Love others as Jesus has loved us (John 13:34).
• This grace instructs us, through the yearning of the indwelling Holy Spirit, to live righteously now and yet eagerly expect the coming of Jesus Christ. Unfaithful stewards may face shame then (1 Jn. 2:28, Matt. 25:15-28), and loss of rewards (Hebrews 10:35-36)
• Paul again emphasizes Jesus as God, our great God and Savior who will rescue us from this age at the Rapture! See 1 Thessalonians 1:10, 4:16-17, 5:9-10, & Revelation 3:20. We can rest assured of our deliverance because we serve an all-powerful Messiah-King who will take His throne in the age to come. Wait for this blessed hope!

Pastoral Reminders (1-2)

• While Paul last addressed instructions to servants (2:9-10), the role of submission to government is applied to all believers. This doesn’t imply passivity to abuses of corrupt rulers, but insists we use every opportunity to do good. Being an ideal citizen involves humility as an example of Christ. Looking for the appearance of Christ (2:13) is not an excuse to no longer be involved in societal affairs.
  • Romans 13:1-7 details a general design of a just government we should honor and obey. They praise good, punish wickedness, and are a terror to evil. Civil disobedience has Biblical precedent, for example the Israelite midwives (Exodus 1:15–21), Daniel’s commitment to pray (Daniel 6:1–28), and Queen Esther approaching the king unsummoned (Esther 4:11–5:2).
• “Speak evil of no one” as to not slander, gossip, or harshly condemn anyone. While the pagan culture in Crete may have been hostile, Paul commands to control the tongue to live peaceably with gentleness and humility. “Towards all” is a consistent theme of God’s love and grace. Just as He extends the gospel to all, we must demonstrate godly character without discrimination. Life and death are in the power of the tongue (Prov. 18:21).

Salvation Reminders (3-8)

• Treat people well because we’ve all had struggles like them. Sin is also not a discriminator! God’s mercy, not our works, has given us cleansing of the Holy Spirit through salvation. By His grace we’ve been born again (regenerated) into a new identity with Christ. Notice all the descriptors of the believer: saved, washed clean, renewed, justified, and now made heirs of eternal life. This is somewhat of a controversial passage, so here are some clarifying notes:
  • Godly desires don’t come automatically (or else why would Paul command good works). This isn’t a passage supporting that some specific measure of works necessarily will flow out of faith and prove salvation. Rather, the gracious opportunity to resist sin is available to all believers. No temptation is without a way out (1 Cor. 10:13).
  • Some traditions use Titus 3:5 as a proof text of baptismal regeneration - that water baptism is required to be saved from Hell. However, baptism isn’t literally in the text but loosely inferred. Ezekiel 36:25–27 foretells of the Spirit’s work as a spiritual washing. Similarly, Ephesians 5:26 speaks of the “washing of the word”. Grammatically, the single preposition διά (“through”) governs the whole phrase, presenting one saving act described two ways: regeneration and renewing, both the work of the Holy Spirit (πνεύματος ἁγίου). The genitive should best be taken epexegetically - that is, the “washing which is the regeneration and renewing,” rather than a genitive of product (“washing which produces or creates…”). In other words, the washing is the Spirit’s work itself, not a separate rite of water that brings it about.
• Paul implores good works for believers simply because they are good and profitable! They save us from ineffective witnessing and fruitless ministries (see James 2:14-17). The “faithful saying” expression (1 Tim. 1:15, 3:1, 4:8-9; 2 Tim. 2:11–13) may signify an early church hymn or doctrinal creed.

Avoid Dissension (9-11)

• On the flip side, contentions over foolish things are unprofitable. Ministry involves planning events, organizing people, and often budgeting for materials. It’s easy for pride to make us domineering in management - and yet that is primarily not what Paul addresses! Disputing details in a management process might be understandable, but they become foolish when legalism and mysticism become the focal point. It was common for Jews to establish authority from a prestigious lineage. We shouldn’t rank people by their ancestry, since we are all one in Christ (Col. 3:11). The obsession with genealogies extended to speculations on Biblical narratives with Jewish legends (like Jubilees, Genesis Apocryphon, and Enoch). Earlier, in Titus 1:14, Paul referred to these kinds of writings as fables. Disputes about them are utterly useless for any Christian growth and have no grounding in inspired revelation. Gnostics would later develop an elaborate twisted version of the faith from similar traditions.
• Those who strive and contend about the law likely refer back to “those of the circumcision” from Titus 1:10. Remember, they not only reject all things made pure but also are dishonest and subversive. Cultic leaders generally entice people with sensationalism and sophistry while having ill motives to control and manipulate people.
• Rejecting such a divisive member of the church after the second correction echoes a pattern illustrated in Matthew 18:15-17. The KJV renders αἱρετικός as “heretic,” a simple transliteration; most modern versions translate it “divisive man”. However, the issue is not denying a core doctrine of orthodoxy, like the Trinity or virgin birth. Paul commands that we reject someone who compulsively argues about unprofitable speculations to the point they are creating heated factions in the church.

Farewell Message (12-15)

• Paul desired to lodge the winter in Nicopolis, which is on the west coast of Greece. There is no record in Acts of him spending time there or returning to Crete to minister. Many conservative scholars therefore place Titus as written sometime after his release from house arrest in Rome in 62 AD.
• Titus is instructed to send Zenas and Apollos on their journey with everything they need. By providing for them, the Cretan believers learn the theme of Titus: believers should maintain good works to not be unfruitful in ministry.