Free Bible Commentary
“Introduction to Paul’s letter to Titus”
Categories: TitusExcerpts from Marshall Patton’s Truth Commentary on The Books of 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon by Guardian of Truth Foundation:
“Titus was a close associate and trusted companion of the Apostle Paul. The apostle refers to him as ‘mine own son after the common faith’ (Tit. 1:4), ‘my brother’ (2 Cor. 2:13), and ‘my partner and fellowhelper’ (2 Cor. 8:23)… Like Timothy, Titus was a young evangelist who had been converted to Christ by Paul, as indicated by the expression ‘mine own son after the common faith.’
“We do know that he was a Greek and that, about fourteen (perhaps seventeen) years after the conversion of Paul, he was at Antioch in Syria and with others went up to Jerusalem with Paul and Barnabas to see the apostles and elders concerning circumcision (Gal. 1:18; 2:1; Acts 15:2). Since Titus was a Gentile and uncircumcised, Paul later used this occasion and Titus as an example of the truth on this saying, ‘But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised’ (Gal. 2:3).
“Nine times Paul mentions Titus in 2 Corinthians… From these references we learn that while Paul was at Ephesus on his third journey, he wrote his first letter to the church at Corinth… Paul sent Titus to Corinth probably as the bearer of the letter and primarily to encourage the brethren in making…corrections… Again, we find Paul sending Titus a second time to Corinth…this time he bears Paul’s second letter… We are not surprised, therefore, to find in this epistle that Paul left Titus on the Island of Crete to ‘set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city’ (Tit. 1:5).
“The island of Crete is one of the largest in the Mediterranean Sea and lies at the entrance to the Aegean Sea about equidistant from Europe, Asia and Africa. The Apostle Paul…showed that he was well acquainted with the character of the Cretians and the reputation they had established for themselves when he said, ‘One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are always liars, evil beasts, slow bellies’ (Tit. 1:12). This prophet or poet…is generally identified by authorities as Epimenides…variously dated between 630 and 500 B.C.’
“The purpose of Paul’s letter to Titus is clearly implied in Titus 1:5, ‘For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee.’ This implies a divine pattern to be followed and the need for divine instructions in carrying out the charge.”
Please read Titus 1:1-4 for tomorrow.
Have a blessed day!
- Louie Taylor
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