Titus: Stand for the Truth
Lesson 61
The Setting of Titus
c. A.D. 62–64
Paul likely wrote Titus during a
fourth missionary journey not
recorded in the book of Acts.
Writing from an unknown
location, he instructed Titus in
how to lead the churches on
the island of Crete. The
churches there had apparently
been founded by Paul.
(From esv.org)
What’s it All About?
Titus is a letter…
● From Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus
Christ.
● To Titus, Paul’s son in the sense that he shared a common
faith.
What’s it All About?
Paul left Titus in Crete to set in order the things that were
lacking and to appoint elders in every town.
● Where is Crete?
○ A large island south of Greece in the Mediterranean
Sea.
What’s it All About?
● What kind of reputation did Cretans have?
○ Liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons
● What was Titus to do about this reputation?
○ Rebuke them sharply
Paul wrote to inform Titus of his plans to send Artemas or
Tychicus to Titus so that Titus could go to Paul.
What’s It All About?
● 1:5: Reminded him of his job and gave direction on how to
carry it out.
● 1:10-16: Warned him about rebellious people and
instructed him how to deal with them.
● 2:1, 15: Urged him to teach sound doctrine with authority.
● 3:1-2: Instructed him to remind the Cretans to be subject
to the government and to live at peace with all men
Teach it Like it Is
1:10: unruly; vain talkers, deceivers, Jews
1:11: upset whole houses by teaching things they ought not
1:16: claim to know God but deny him with their works;
abominable, disobedient, reprobate
3:9: Promote foolish questions and strivings about the law
that are unprofitable and vain.
Teach it Like it Is
3:10: heretics (false teachers) who divide the church
To correct false teachers and their teachings, Paul told Titus
to:
● Select elders who would hold fast to the faithful word so
that they could encourage others by sound teaching and
convince those who would contradict it.
Teach it Like it Is
● Teach sound doctrine to:
○ Older men
○ Older women
○ Young men
○ Who was to teach the younger women?
■ Older women
Teach it Like it Is
Define doctrine:
Teaching
Be an example to young men by:
● Showing a pattern of good works
● Showing integrity and dignity
● Sound speech that cannot be condemned