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TITUS: INTRODUCTION

INTRODUCTION:

1. Crete is an island in the Mediterranean Sea about 156 miles long and 7-30 miles wide.  While not inhabited by many wild animals, the people were described by their own as “always liars, evil beasts, idle gluttons” (1:12).

2. Titus, “my true child after a common faith,” was a young convert through Paul.  Titus was considered a beloved worker in the Lord (1:4; Galatians 2:1-3; 2 Corinthians 2:13; 7:6, 13-14; 8:6, 16, 23; 12:18).  

I. AUTHOR: “Paul a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ” (1:1).

II. PLACE AND DATE OF WRITING:

A. After writing I Timothy from Macedonia, Paul visited the island of Crete and left Titus there and instructed him to set things in order. He is in or near Nicopolis (western Greece) at the time this letter was written (3:12).

B. The letter was written after I Timothy, and before the writing of 2 Timothy –  A.D. 65-66.

III. THEME AND PURPOSE OF THE BOOK:

A. Theme: Emphasizing Sound Doctrine

B. Purpose:

1. To set things in order in Crete by following sound doctrine (1:5).

2. To manifest godliness in a society that desperately needs godly examples (1:10-16).

IV. FEATURES OF THE BOOK:

A. The necessity of doctrine:

1. Must be sound (1:9, 2:7).

2. Must be known (1:9).

3. Must be practiced in word and deed (2:1, 10).

B. Good Works: Adorning the Doctrine

            1. Ten times two Greek words translated “good” appear in the three chapters.

a. KALOS – indicates more of the character or intrinsic beauty of good (Titus 3:8, I Thessalonians 5:21).

b. AGATHOS – indicates more of the benefit or blessings of good (Titus 2:5, I Thessalonians 5:15).

2. We must be:

    a. Lovers of good (1:8)

    b. Teachers of good (2:3)

    c. Examples of good (2:7)

    d. Be ready for good (3:1)

    e. Maintain good (lead out; honest occupations) (3:8,14).

V. OUTLINE: (from an OVERVIEW OF THE NEW TESTAMENT by Brent Lewis)

I. Salutation: The Source of Sound Doctrine (1:1-4)

II. The Administration of Sound Doctrine (1:5-16)

A. The Appointment of Elders (v. 5-9)

B. The Exposure of False Teachers (10-16)

III. The Preaching of Sound Doctrine (2:1-15)

            A. Application: (v.1-10)

1. To aged men

2 To aged women

3. To young women

4. To Himself

5. To Slaves

            B. Definition (v.11-15)

IV. Counseling by Sound Doctrine (3:1-11)

V. Concluding Salutations (3:12-15)