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INTRODUCTION TO

THE LETTER OF SAINT PAUL TO TITUS

Author Titus claims to be a letter from the Apostle Paul (1:1), as do the other Pastoral Epistles (1 Tim 1:1; 2 Tim 1:1). Christian writers accepted this claim from earliest times, and it was not until the nineteenth century that biblical scholars began to dispute and then deny the Pauline authorship of Titus. Many exegetes today continue to attribute this epistle to a devoted follower of Paul who wrote a decade or more after the apostle's death. Nevertheless, reasons for upholding its authenticity remain strong, and there is much in the letter that lends credence to the tradition that Paul himself composed the epistle. Indeed, Titus gives us valuable insights into Paul's ministry and movements during the final years of his life that we would not otherwise know. See introduction to 1 Timothy: Author.

Date It is difficult to establish an exact date for Titus. Information within the letter about Paul's situation is spare, and the little there is does not fit into the travel itinerary of his three missionary journeys described in the Book of Acts. This has led many to posit that Paul must have embarked on a fourth missionary tour in the eastern Mediterranean sometime after his Roman imprisonment recorded in Acts 28:16 (from A.D. 60 to 62) yet before his martyrdom a few years later (ca. A.D. 67). The possibility of a fourth missionary campaign in the mid 60s is accepted by many scholars and is supported by the testimony of early Christian tradition. This would mean that Paul wrote Titus sometime between A.D. 63 and 66, around the same time he wrote 1 Timothy. Scholars who deny the Pauline authorship of the letter tend to date it much later, between A.D. 80 and 110.

Destination and Purpose The letter was sent to Titus on the Mediterranean island of Crete. Although Crete had an established Jewish community (1:10; Acts 2:11), its inhabitants were mostly Gentiles and pagans infamous for their moral decadence (Tit 1:12). Paul and Titus had previously evangelized parts of the island together, but Titus was left behind while Paul continued to travel. Titus was charged with organizing the converts into communities and ensuring that elders or presbyters (i.e., priests) were appointed to lead the flock (1:5). Paul now writes to encourage Titus and to authorize his spiritual and organizational efforts (2:15). He places full confidence in Titus, who has already proven himself a capable delegate in even the most sensitive situations in Corinth (2 Cor 7:6, 13-15; 8:16-23). Once Titus fulfills his mission and is relieved of his duty by a replacement, he is to rejoin Paul in Nicopolis for the winter (Tit 3:12).

Themes and Characteristics The letter to Titus shares much in common with 1 Timothy, although its instructions are less detailed and its tone is less personal. Still, both letters are addressed to young bishops on temporary assignment: Titus on the island of Crete (1:5) and Timothy in the city of Ephesus (1 Tim 1:3). Both of these men have been handed the challenging task of supervising communities that are threatened by false teaching (Tit 1:10-16; 1 Tim 1:3-7), in need of sound doctrine (Tit 2:1; 1 Tim 4:11-16), and lacking in qualified leadership (Tit 1:5-9; 1 Tim 3:1-13). These are men Paul can trust. These are the men he is grooming to continue his ministry after his death.

The themes of the letter follow the instructions that Paul is giving to Titus, whose mission is to organize both the pastoral leadership and the personal lives of the believers on Crete. (1) Pastoral Leadership. The first assignment given to Titus is to ordain qualified elders (priests) in every town, lest Christians on the island be like wandering sheep without shepherds to lead them (1:5). This is not to be done arbitrarily but with discernment. In Paul's mind, the only fitting candidates for spiritual leadership are men of proven character and deep convictions (1:7-8). A practical element is also involved in this, and so Titus must take account of how well a prospective clergyman manages his own family and household when considering his selection (1:6). As a final note, Paul stresses that candidates must be competent instructors and defenders of the truth, able to lead the faithful as teachers and apologists (1:9). This is all the more necessary in Crete, where dangerous teachings are already taking hold in the Christian communities spread across the island (1:10-16). (2) Personal Living. Paul reasons that because Christianity is advertised to the world through our actions, it is important that our behavior be consistent with our beliefs, lest the Church of God be discredited in the eyes of nonbe-lievers. There is thus a strong emphasis in Titus that believers should be zealous for every good work (2:7, 14; 3:1, 8, 14). This includes not only acts of charity toward fellow Christians (2:2-10), but also a respectful posture toward government authorities and fellow Cretans more generally (3:1-2). The immediate aim of such works is to assist the needy (3:14), while their ultimate purpose is to honor the Lord Jesus in anticipation of his glorious return (2:11-13). «