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Titus

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The Book of Titus: Setting Things in Order

In Titus, Paul provides a “to-do list” for another of his young leaders. Titus was stationed on the island of Crete, a place so notorious for its lack of integrity that the Greeks actually had a verb, kretizein (“to act like a Cretan”), which meant “to be a liar.”

​Paul’s message to Titus is that the Gospel should produce good works that make the teaching of God attractive to a dishonest culture. If the Cretans were known for being “lazy gluttons,” the Christians were to be known for their self-control and devotion to doing good.

​Titus: Book Overview

  • ​Total Chapters: 3
  • ​Total Verses: 46
  • ​Author: The Apostle Paul
  • ​Date Written: Approximately AD 63–65
  • ​Key Theme: Setting the church in order through sound doctrine and good works.

​NIV Chapter Pericopes (Sections)

​Appointing Godly Leaders (Chapter 1)

  • ​Chapter 1:1–4: Paul’s Greeting
  • ​Chapter 1:5–16: Appointing Elders who Love What is Good; Rebuking those who Fail to Do Good

​Teaching Sound Doctrine (Chapter 2)

  • ​Chapter 2:1–10: Doing Good for the Sake of the Gospel (Instructions for older men, older women, younger women, younger men, and slaves)
  • ​Chapter 2:11–15: The Grace of God Teaches Us to Say “No” to Ungodliness

​Living as Good Citizens (Chapter 3)

  • ​Chapter 3:1–11: Saved in Order to Do Good; Warning Against Divisive People
  • ​Chapter 3:12–15: Final Remarks and Greetings

The Book of Titus: Setting Things in Order

For your series on copeministry.com, Titus is the “shorthand” version of 1 Timothy. While Timothy was serving in the established (but struggling) church of Ephesus, Titus was stationed on the island of Crete—a place with a reputation so bad that the Greeks actually had a verb, kretizein, which meant “to lie.”

The theme of Titus is the inseparable link between belief and behavior. Paul argues that if you truly believe the Gospel, it will inevitably result in a life of “good works.”

Paul had left Titus in Crete to “put what remained into order” (1:5). The island was chaotic, and the young churches were being misled by rebellious teachers. Paul’s letter acts as a blueprint for building a healthy society starting with the local church.

The book is structured into three clear instructions:

  1. Appoint Godly Leaders: Organization in the church (Chapter 1).
  2. Apply Godly Living: Discipleship in the home (Chapter 2).
  3. Act with Godly Mercy: Behavior in the world (Chapter 3).

I. Character Over Chaos (Chapter 1)

Paul begins by telling Titus to appoint elders in every town. Just as in 1 Timothy, the focus is on character. On an island famous for “gluttons and liars,” the church leaders had to be “hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined.”

  • The Cretan Paradox: Paul quotes one of their own prophets, saying, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons” (1:12). He tells Titus that the Gospel is the only thing powerful enough to change that cultural DNA.

II. The Gospel at Home (Chapter 2)

How do you change a culture? Paul says it starts with how different age groups treat one another. He gives specific instructions for:

  • Older men and women: To be models of sobriety and wisdom.
  • Younger women and men: To be self-controlled and pure.
  • The Motivation: Paul explains why we should live this way: “For the grace of God has appeared… training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions” (2:11-12). Grace isn’t just a safety net; it’s a trainer that teaches us how to live.

III. The Washing of Rebirth (Chapter 3)

In the final chapter, Paul tells Titus to remind the believers to be “submissive to rulers” and “ready for every good work.” He doesn’t want them to be known for being argumentative, but for being helpful.

  • The Logic of Kindness: Paul reminds them that they were once foolish and disobedient too. We aren’t “better” than the Cretans; we are simply “saved.”
  • The Mercy Verse: “He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit” (3:5).

Why Titus Matters Today

Titus is the cure for “cheap grace.” It reminds us that we aren’t saved by good works, but we are saved for good works. In a world where people are often “all talk and no walk,” Titus challenges the church to be a community where the beauty of the Gospel is visible in the way we treat our families and our neighbors.

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