In other words, since God poured out His grace on all humanity, He cleanses His people from their sin and purifies believers for Himself. Daily Bible Readings, Podcast Audio and Videos and Prayers brought to you by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. 2023 Insight for Living Ministries. S Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. Asthe letter goes on, it transitions through several subjects: Character requirements for being an elder (Titus 1:1-9). Who Was Titus and What Do We Know about Him? - iBelieve.com I urged Titus to go, and sent the brother with him. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. The presence of a letter addressed to Titus in the NT has, among other things, been a great inspiration to ministers of the Gospel throughout the history of the Church. New International Version (NIV). 5. What are you doing, son of my womb? John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. In the first place we learn that he was originally converted through St. Pauls instrumentality. Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope. In many ways he was a contrast to his father. Blog, A Who Was Titus in the Bible - Book of Titus in the Bible - Bible Study Tools His mission was largely successful, so that he was able to return to Paul with joy, because his spirit was refreshed by the Corinthians (2Corinthians 7:13). If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. G. Connor Salter is a writer and editor, with a Bachelor of Science in Professional Writing from Taylor University. There is still room to turn around. The all-too-common phenomenon of pastors kids not following their parents faith and its becoming clear that their parents were emotionally absent proves this in a very sad way. 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 . ( Titus 3:12 ) and then is to hasten to join St. Paul at Nicopolis, where the apostle purposes to pass the winter. He is not mentioned in the Acts at all. It does not appear to be a question here of where Paul lodged, but where he preached. In Galatians 2, Paul recounts his visit to Jerusalem, where he and Barnabas confront the Judiazers about requiring Gentiles to be circumcised as well as being baptized. Such were Paul's plans; whether they were carried out is unknown. Addressed to the church in Crete. The Corinthian correspondence indicates that Paul had a number of frustrating experiences with the church at Corinth. He uses Titus as an example of how the Holy Spirit changes men's hearts, not legalistic requirements. The "certain other of them" includes Titus, for in Galatians 2:3 it is recorded that Titus was then with Paul. Intro to Titus - Biblica - The International Bible Society 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. See Pastoral Epistles. Although the data regarding Titus in the NT is scanty, nevertheless much can be learned from his pastoral activities and the letter addressed to him as a model and manual for a pastor. This is the last reference to Titus in the NT. On one level, this shows that elders need to have sound character, and family is often the best indicator of how a person really behaves. Early in the morning he came again to the temple. Crete: a large island south of Greece where Paul had assigned Titus as pastor of the local church there, 2. They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. Early church tradition holds that Paul, after his release from his first imprisonment in Rome, stopped at the island of Crete to preach. In Crete, he is to complete what St. Paul had been obliged to leave unfinished, ch. Paul had assigned Titus to strengthen a previously established church work on the Isle of Crete. 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. And they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst they said to him, Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Listen to Chuck Swindolls overview of Titus in his audio message from the Classic series Gods Masterwork. 8:16-23); he is the recipient of this letter. Whether Titus accompanied Paul during all these journeys cannot be ascertained. He rejoined the apostle when he was in Macedonia, and cheered him with the tidings he brought from Corinth ( 7:6-15 ). Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work. He goes with them to Jerusalem. In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. Paul highlights how some foolish people at the Cretan church fool others with useless talk (Titus 1:10) about circumcision, spiritual genealogies, and following Jewish laws that Christians dont have to follow. The Cretans were relatives of the Philistines. See 1Corinthians 16:1,2 compared with 2Corinthians 8:6: "We exhorted Titus, that as he had made a beginning before, so he would also complete in you this grace also.". Right living was essential because Christ gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, saving us by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit (Titus 2:14; 3:5). Titus is a short book that packs a punch. Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. But even Titus, who was with me, was not forced to be circumcised, though he was a Greek. He did not require his disciples to be circumcised, but if the situation called for working among Jews and it made things easier, he would concede to it. ( 2 Corinthians 8:6 2 Corinthians 8:17 ) that he would see to the completion of the collection. Does God Really Work All Things Together for Good? If people still do not repent after the second warning, then Titus should have nothing more to do with them (Titus 3:10). We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Galatians 2 mentions that Titus accompanied Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem, apparently the trip mentioned in Acts 15 where they went to the Council at Jerusalem to debate whether Christians had to be circumcised. K 10. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. In this letter, Paul reminds Titus . He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it. After various attempts to deal with these problems by correspondence and a personal visit, Paul sent Titus to attempt a reconciliation and resolution of the difficulties. and T.R. Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught. Titus was later left on the island of Crete to help organize the Church there, and later met back with the Apostle Paul in Nicopolis. Titus, A letter of fundraising, was sent by Paul to Corinth to solicit donations for the needy in Jerusalem. Titus: Working for Good Deeds Bible Commentary / Produced by TOW Project. The three letters, First and Second Timothy and Titus, form a distinct group within the Pauline corpus. ( 2Corinthians 8:6 ) Thus we are prepared for what the apostle now proceeds to do after his encouraging conversations with Titus regarding the Corinthian church. Titus contains two of the most concise summaries in the entire New Testament regarding the relationship of gospel truth to practical living. Cite this page: Editor: Stephen Smith. The apostle held him in great respect and fondness, referring to him as: Mine own son after the common faith (1:4). The churches on Crete were just as susceptible to false teachers as any other church, so Paul directed Titus to establish a group of faithful I do not know the Lord, and moreover, I will not let Israel go. Then they said, The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Who Was Titus in the Bible? - Christianity.com When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. Why Does God Compare Our Relationship with Him to That of a Bride and Groom? Church leaders may put on a good face at work, but their behavior at home and how their children respond to them speaks volumes. "International Standard Bible Encyclopedia". 8. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Paul advised Timothy on these practical matters in a way that . From Rome he was sent into Dalmatia, no doubt on some important missionary errand. Along with 1, 2 Timothy, these letters to Paul's sons in the faith are traditionally called . 2:1, 3; 2 Tim 4:10; for the 9 times in 2 Cor., see Background and Setting ). And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. They place their trust not in whether they will be treated well in this life, but in the eternal promise of salvation. honourable, was with Paul and Barnabas at Antioch, and accompanied them to the council at Jerusalem ( Galatians 2:1-3 ; Acts 15:2 ), although his name nowhere occurs in the Acts of the Apostles. Galatians 2 mentions that Titus accompanied Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem, apparently the trip mentioned in Acts 15 where they went to the Council at Jerusalem to debate whether Christians had to be circumcised. His name does not occur in the Acts; and, elsewhere in the New Testament, it is found only in 2 Corinthians, Galatians, 2 Timothy and Titus. There is also one more "rule" mentioned by the Apostle Paul with regard to teaching. Here we see Titus in close association with Paul and Barnabas at Antioch. 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. So, Pauls choice to circumcise Timothy would suggest that he had a pragmatic side. The same sources describeSalona as where some of the first martyrs were killed and highlight the fact that Dalmatia would later be the birthplace of Diocletian, a Roman emperor known for persecuting Christianity. And not only that, but he has been appointed by the churches to travel with us as we carry out this act of grace that is being ministered by us, for the glory of the Lord himself and to show our good will. 3. Paul identified himself as the author of the letter to Titus, calling himself a bond-servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ (Titus 1:1). Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. He does something similar in Galatians 5 when he talks about problems created by circumcisers and says, I wish the people who are bothering you would castrate themselves (Galatians 5:12). Titus 1 NIV - Paul, a servant of God and an apostle - Bible Gateway He is later sent by Paul to Corinth to straighten out certain disorders in the church there and to initiate an offering for the poor saints at Jerusalem (2 Cor. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. This verse (1:12) marks the final of two occasions where Paul quotes from a non-biblical source (see Acts 17:28 for the other). E And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. It was an island of 100 cities, consist-ing of mountains, but also very fertile valleys. Salem Media Group. From the Podcast: The Arch of Titus with Dr. Steven Fine This is an interesting point, since Timothy was half-Greek, and not circumcised either. Unless otherwise indicated, all content is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License. In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. To Titus, my true child in a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior. and Codex Angelicus (L9th cent.) 1:15), Regarding the promise of eternal life (1 Tim. Paul. A quick reading reveals three concentrated chapters filled with authoritative language and blunt commands. Titus was therefore a troubleshooter, peacemaker, administrator, and missionary. This late testimony does fit with the givens of 2 Corinthians. It can be safely assumed that all these references refer to the same individual. Many churches today focus more on the form of their worshipmusic styles, lighting, and building designsthan they do on the content of the faith they mean to proclaim. After the departure of Titus from Corinth, difficulty had again arisen in the church there, and Titus seems to have been sent by Paul a second time to that city, as the apostle's messenger, carrying a letter from him--referred to in 2Corinthians 2:3; 7:8. All rights reserved. So little is known about him that no one can positively state where he made his home, but most scholars feel it was in Philippi. Afterward Moses and Aaron went and said to Pharaoh, Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast to me in the wilderness. But Pharaoh said, Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice and let Israel go? Who Were Timothy And Titus? | Bible.org 2. What Was Crete Like in Paul's Day? (Titus) - Biblical Foundations In August of 79, Mt. . The absence of the name from the Acts of the Apostles complicates precise integration into Lukes account of Pauls missionary activity. Having described how the church should act, Paul gives the grace of God as the reason for them to behave this way. Titus - Grace to You