Survey of the Bible - Titus

Text: Titus 2:11-15 

I.         The book of Titus is a set of instructions for setting up churches.

            A.        Titus was sent by Paul to get the churches in Crete in order.

II.        Background of Titus

            A.        Titus isn’t mentioned in Acts, but he is mentioned in three other letters of Paul.

                        1.         We conclude from those references that Titus was a close companion of Paul’s - Titus 1:4

            B.        Titus was a Gentile - Galatians 2:3

                        1.         Likely from Antioch of Syria since that is where Paul was at that time.

            C.        Titus traveled with Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem - Galatians 2:1

            D.        Likely Titus traveled with Paul on his third journey Paul sent him with the first letter to Corinth from Ephesus - II Corinthians 12:18

                        1.         After Titus delivered the first letter to Corinth, Paul hoped to meet Titus in Troas to find out how it was received

                                    a.         But Titus didn’t show up in Troas - II Corinthians 2:12-13

                                    b.         Even though there was work to do in Troas, Paul went to Macedonia to see if he could find Titus there.

                                    c.         Titus did come to Macedonia - II Corinthians 7:6-7, 13-16

                        2.         Paul decided to send Titus back with his second letter to finish what he had started - II Corinthians 8:6

                                    a.         Titus actually eagerly volunteered to go - II Corinthians 8:16-17

                                    b.         Paul made sure the Corinthians knew that Titus represented him - II Corinthians 8:23-24

            E.        Titus journeyed with Paul after his release from his first Roman imprisonment - Titus 1:5

            F.        Likely Titus went with Paul to Spain - Titus 3:12

            G.        Even near the end of Paul’s life, he was still running errands for Paul, having gone to an area we now call Croatia - II Timothy 4:10

III.       Background of the churches in Crete

            A.        Crete is an island in the Mediterranean. It is about 156 miles long and 30 miles wide at its widest point.

            B.        Cretans did not have a good reputation

                        1.         To act like a Cretan meant to be a liar - Titus 1:12-13

            C.        There were Jews from Crete in Jerusalem when the church was established - Acts 2:11

            D.        Paul only briefly stopped there during his journey to his first Roman trial - Acts 27:7-13

            E.        We know the churches there were experiencing problems from the false Jewish teachers - Titus 1:10-11

            F.        Paul had stopped in Crete after his release, and left Titus there Titus 1:5

            G.        Because of its similar themes to I Timothy, it is assumed the two letters were written about the same time.

            H.        The letter to Titus was likely written from Macedonia or Corinth, where Paul planned to send either Artemas or Tychicus to replace him.

                        1.         Corinth is a guess as Paul mentions planning to join Timothy in Ephesus - I Timothy 1:3; 3:14; 4:13

                        2.         Paul was planning to spend the winter in Nicopolis, but he had not gone yet (the use of “there” instead of “here” in the passage) - Titus 3:12

                                    a.         That would put the time of the letter to autumn of that year.

                                    b.         Likely written AD 62-63.

                        3.         The letter was carried by Zenas and Apollos whose own journey was taking them through Crete - Titus 3:13

IV.      Outline

            A.        Salutation - Titus 1:1-4

            B.        Appointing Elders - Titus 1:5-9

            C.        Dealing with false teachers - Titus 1:10-16

            D.        Sound doctrine - Titus 2:1

                        1.         Older men - Titus 2:2

                        2.         Older women - Titus 2:3

                        3.         Younger women - Titus 2:4-5

                        4.         Younger men - Titus 2:6

                        5.         Being an example - Titus 2:7-8

                        6.         Slaves - Titus 2:9-10

                        7.         All Christians zealous for good deeds - Titus 2:11-14

                        8.         Speak with authority - Titus 2:15

                        9.         Dealing with non-Christians - Titus 3:1-3

                        10.       We were saved from the world - Titus 3:4-8

                        11.       Reject false teaching and controversy - Titus 3:9-11

            E.        Plans - Titus 3:12-14

            F.        Greetings and benediction - Titus 3:15