1. LETTER TO A TRUSTED FRIEND
TITUS
LETTER TO A TRUSTED FRIEND

2. WHO WAS TITUS?
A trusted co-worker of Paul’s
Mentioned 12 times in NT (9 in 2 Cor.) but never in Acts, so all we know is from Paul’s letters
Paul calls him “my true child in a common faith” (1:4)
A Greek who remained uncircumcised as a test-case for the gospel (Gal 2:3)
Paul left him on island of Crete to strengthen the church (1:5)
Apparently later rejoined Paul at Nicopolis (3:12)
Went to Dalmatia shortly before Paul’s death (2 Tim. 4:10)

3. EUSEBIUS’ WORDS re TITUS
Eusebius was a 4th-Century church historian; said Titus returned to Crete & served as a bishop there
Note at end of KJV (authorship unknown) probably reflects Eusebius’ words: “It was written to Titus, ordained the first bishop of the church of the Cretans, from Nicopolis of Macedonia.”
Anachronistic statement, since single-bishop rule did not occur in 1st Century A.D., but was a 2nd-Cent. development
Contradicts Paul’s instructions to “appoint elders in every town” (1:5). Paul uses “overseer” (“bishop”) interchangeably with “elder” (1:7)

4. THE LETTER
Cretan church may have been recently established, since no elders/overseers
Paul knew Titus faced a big challenge, so wrote to encourage him & to send specific instructions for the church
Not certain when Paul left Titus at Crete; only reference to his going there is Acts 27:7, on voyage to Rome
Establishment of Cretan church not recorded, but Acts 2:11 may provide a clue. (If so, the church was not of recent origin)
Time of writing somewhere between A.D. 61 & 67.
Nothing in the letter says Paul was in prison; 3:12 suggests he was not

5. MAJOR THEMES
The importance of leadership as a deterrent to unhealthy doctrine
Christian living as a complement to sound doctrine
God & Jesus as “our Savior”

6. LESSONS FOR TODAY
Every church needs Godly _________ who will stand against false & foolish teaching.
It is the responsibility of every Christian to “____________ the doctrine” by living a Godly life.
God’s grace not only _________ us, it also ___________ us.
Those who insist on creating ___________ must be dealt with through church discipline.