Titus 1

While Timothy was laboring in metropolitan Ephesus, Titus had his hands full on the island of Crete. Titus was a Greek believer (Gal. 2:3) who had served Paul well on special assignments to the church in Corinth (2 Cor. 7:13–14; 8:6, 16, 23; 12:18). Apparently Titus had been won to Christ through Paul’s personal ministry (Titus 1:4) as Timothy had been (1 Tim. 1:2). “As for Titus,” Paul wrote, “he is my partner and fellow worker among you” (2 Cor. 8: niv).

But the people on the island of Crete were not the easiest to work with, and Titus became somewhat discouraged. Like Timothy, he was probably a young man. But unlike Timothy, he was not given to timidity and physical ailments. Paul had been with Titus on Crete and had left him there to correct the things that were wrong. Since Jews from Crete were present at Pentecost (Acts 2:11), it is possible that they had carried the gospel to their native land.

Titus had his share of problems! The churches needed qualified leaders, and the various groups in the churches needed shepherding. One group of false teachers was trying to mix Jewish law with the gospel of grace (Titus 1:10, 14), while some of the Gentile believers were abusing the message of grace and turning it into license (Titus 2:11–15). By nature, the people of Crete were not easy to work with (Titus 1:12–13), and Titus needed extraordinary patience and love. It would have been easy for Titus to have “heard God’s call to go elsewhere,” but he stuck it out and finished his work.

As you read and study this letter, you will discover that it is a condensed version of Paul’s first letter to Timothy. In this first chapter, Paul reminded Titus of three responsibilities he had to fulfill.

In this rather lengthy greeting, Paul emphasized the importance of the Word of God. Four times he used the Greek preposition kata, the root meaning of which is “down.” But in this context, kata helps us see the relationship between the ministry and the Word of God. Consider the four phrases.

“According to the faith of God’s elect” (v. 1a). Paul’s ministry was governed by the Word of God. He was “a slave of God” (the only place Paul used this phrase) and “a messenger sent on a special commission” by Jesus Christ. But the purpose of his ministry was to share the faith, that body of truth contained in the Word of God. “God’s elect” are those who have trusted Jesus Christ as their Savior (Eph. 1:4; 1 Peter 1:1–5).

“The truth which is after [according to] godliness” (vv. 1b–2). “Godliness” is an important concept in this letter, just as it was in 1 Timothy, even though the actual word is used only once. But the repetition of “good works” emphasizes the point (Titus 1:16; 2:7, 14; 3:1, 5, 8, 14). The truth of the gospel changes a life from ungodliness (Titus 2:12) to holy living. Sad to say, there were people in the churches on Crete, like some church members today, who professed to be saved, but whose lives denied their profession (Titus 1:12).

This faith in Jesus Christ not only saves us today and makes our lives godly, but it also gives us hope for the future (Titus 1:2). We have assurance for the future because of God’s promises, and God cannot lie (see Num. 23:19). We are born again “unto a living hope” (1 Peter 1: niv) because we have trusted the living Christ. We believers have eternal life now (John 3:16; 1 John 5:11–12), but when Jesus Christ returns, we will enjoy eternal life in an even greater way.

“According to the commandment of God” (v. 3). God reveals His message through preaching. This does not mean the act of proclaiming the Word, but rather the content of the message. “It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching [the message of the cross] to save them that believe” (1 Cor. 1:21). This Word of the gospel was committed to Paul (see 1 Tim. 1:11), and he had committed it to Titus. This ministry was according to the commandment of God and was not given by men (Gal. 1:10–12).

As in 1 Timothy, the title Savior is often repeated in Titus (1:34; 2:10, 13; 3:4, 6). The God-given written Word reveals the Savior, because a Savior is what sinners need. God’s grace brings salvation, not condemnation (Titus 2:11). Jesus could have come to earth as a Judge, but He chose to come as a Savior (Luke 2:10–11).

“After the common faith” (v. 4). The word common means “to have in common.” This faith is the possession of all of God’s people and not just a selected few. Christians in different denominational groups may wear different labels, but all who possess the same saving faith share “the common salvation” (Jude 3). There was a definite body of truth deposited in the church, “the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints” (Jude 3 niv). Any departure from this “common faith” is false teaching and must not be tolerated in the church.

As you review these four statements, you can see that Paul related everything in his ministry to the Word of God. His calling and his preaching depended on faith in Christ. He wanted Titus to grasp this fact and to make the Word of God a priority in his ministry. Throughout all three of the pastoral epistles there is an emphasis on teaching the Word of God. Local churches ought to be “Bible schools” where the Word of God is taught systematically and in a practical way.

One reason Paul had left Titus on the island of Crete was that he might organize the local assemblies and “set in order” the things that were lacking. That phrase is a medical term; it was applied to the setting of a crooked limb. Titus was not the spiritual dictator of the island, but he was Paul’s official apostolic representative with authority to work. It had been Paul’s policy to ordain elders in the churches he had established (Acts 14:23), but he had not been able to stay in Crete long enough to accomplish this task.

Several of the qualifications listed here (Titus 1:6–8) have already been discussed in our study of 1 Timothy 3:2–3: “blameless, the husband of one wife … not given to wine, no striker [not violent], not given to filthy lucre … a lover of hospitality … sober.” The fact that these standards applied to Christians on the island of Crete as well as to those in the city of Ephesus proves that God’s measure for leaders does not fluctuate. A big-city church and a small-town church both need godly people in places of leadership.

Now, consider nine additional qualifications.

“Having faithful children” (v. 6b). Faithful means “believing.” The bishop’s children should be Christians. After all, if a servant of God cannot win his own children to Christ, what success can he expect with outsiders? This is the same principle Paul emphasized to Timothy (1 Tim. 3:5)—Christian living and Christian service must begin at home. The children in an elder’s home must not only be saved, but must be good examples of obedience and dedication. To be accused of “riot” [wild living] or disobedience [“unruly,” unable to be ruled] would disqualify their father from the eldership. This applies, of course, to children still at home, under the authority of their father.

Too often, new Christians feel a call to the ministry and want to be ordained before they have had a chance to establish their families in the faith. If the children are small, the problem is not too great; but mature children go through a tremendous shock when all of a sudden their household becomes “religious”! A wise father first wins his own family to Christ and gives them a chance to grow before he pulls up stakes and moves to Bible school. We would have fewer casualties in the ministry if this policy were followed more often.

“The steward of God” (v. 7a). A steward does not own but manages all that his master puts into his hands. Perhaps the most famous steward in the Bible is Joseph, who had complete control over all of Potiphar’s business (Gen. 39:1–9). The most important characteristic of a steward is faithfulness (Matt. 25:21; 1 Cor. 4:1–2). He must use what his master gives him for the good and glory of his master, and not for himself personally (see Luke 16:1–13).

The elder must never say, “This is mine!” All that he has comes from God (John 3:27) and must be used for God. His time, possessions, ambitions, and talents are all loaned to him by the Lord, and he must be faithful to use them to honor God and build the church. Of course, all Christians ought to be faithful stewards, and not the pastors only!

“Not self-willed” (v. 7b). An elder must not be “overbearing” (niv), a person always pushing to have his own way. While church members ought to respect and follow the leadership of the elders, they should be certain that it is leadership and not dictatorship. A selfwilled pastor is arrogant, will not take his people’s suggestions and criticisms, and makes sure he always gets his own way.

“Not soon angry” (v. 7c). He must not have a quick temper. There is a righteous anger against sin (Eph. 4:26), but much of our anger is unrighteous and directed against people. A righteous man ought to get angry when wrongs are done. Someone has said, “Temper is such a wonderful thing that it’s a shame to lose it.” Wise counsel, indeed.

“A lover of good men” (v. 8a). “One who loves what is good” (niv) is an alternate translation, and this would include good men. But it also includes good books, good music, good causes, and many other good things. A man is a good man because he has a good heart and surrounds himself with good things. It is difficult to believe that a dedicated servant of God would deliberately associate with things that are bad for him and his family.

“Just” (v. 8b). “Upright” is a good translation. He should be a man of integrity who sticks by his word and who practices what he preaches. His conduct is righteous.

“Holy” (v. 8c). “Unstained” gives the idea. “Be ye holy, for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16). The root meaning of holy is “different” Christians are different from lost sinners because Christians are new creations by the grace of God (2 Cor. 5:17).

“Temperate” (v. 8d). “Self-controlled” is the meaning, and it applies to a man’s appetites and actions. “Disciplined” is a synonym. A pastor must discipline his time so that he gets his work done. He must discipline his desires, especially when well-meaning members try to stuff him with coffee and cake! He must keep his mind and body under control, as he yields to the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:23, where temperance means “self-control”).

“Holding fast the faithful Word” (v. 9). The word faithful was a favorite with Paul (see 1 Tim. 1:15; 4:9; 2 Tim. 2:11; Titus 3:8). God’s Word is trustworthy because God cannot lie (Titus 1:2). Because the Word is faithful, those who teach and preach the Word should be faithful. Again, Paul used the term sound doctrine, which we have already met in 1 Timothy 1:10. It means “healthy doctrine” that promotes spiritual growth.

So the elders have a twofold ministry of God’s Word: (1) building up the church with “healthy” doctrine, and (2) refuting the false teachers who spread unhealthy doctrine. The naive church member who says, “We don’t want doctrine; just give us helpful devotional thoughts!” does not know what he is saying. Apart from the truth (and this means Bible doctrine), there can be no spiritual help or health.

The mentioning of those who oppose true doctrine led Paul to give the third responsibility that Titus was to fulfill.

It did not take long for false teachers to arise in the early church. Wherever God sows the truth, Satan quickly shows up to sow lies. Titus faced an enemy similar to that described in 1 Timothy—a mixture of Jewish legalism, man-made traditions, and mysticism. Paul gave three facts about these false teachers.

What they were personally. Paul had nothing good to say about them! They would not submit to God’s Word or to the authority of God’s servant, for they were unruly. “Rebellious” would be a good translation. Beware of teachers who will not put themselves under authority.

They were vain talkers. What they said impressed people, but it had no content or substance. When you boiled it down, it was just so much hot air. Furthermore, they excelled in talking, not in doing. They could tell others what to do, but they did not do it themselves. Note especially Titus 1:16.

The great tragedy was that they deceived people by their false doctrines. They claimed to be teaching truth, but they were peddlers of error. Because they themselves were deceived by Satan, they deceived others, “teaching things they ought not to teach” (Titus 1: niv).

They were carnal and worldly: “liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons” (Titus 1: niv). What an indictment! Instead of living for the beautiful things of the spiritual life, they lived for their own appetites. Paul’s adjectives are arresting. These men were not just “beasts,” but “evil beasts”; they were not just “gluttons,” but “lazy gluttons.” They were celebrities, not servants. They “lived it up” at the expense of their followers, and (true to human nature), their followers loved it!

Paul summed up their character in Titus 1:16. They were “abominable,” which means “detestable, disgusting.” Christians with good spiritual sense would be completely disgusted with the character and conduct of these teachers, and would never follow them. “Disobedient” means “they cannot and will not be persuaded. “ Their minds have been made up and they will not face the truth. “Reprobate” literally means “not able to pass the test.” God does not use them because they have been proved unfit. This same Greek word is translated “castaway” in 1 Corinthians 9:27. There it is in an athletic context and means “disqualified.”

Having described what these teachers were, Paul then shared a second fact.

What they did. The picture was clear: These false teachers told lies from house to house and thus upset the faith of the people. Whole families were affected by their unhealthy doctrines. For one thing, they were teaching Jewish legalism (“they of the circumcision,” Titus 1:10; see 3:9) which Paul rejected. They were also teaching “Jewish fables” (Titus 1:14), which probably described their fanciful interpretations of the genealogies in the Old Testament (1 Tim. 1:4).

It never ceases to amaze me what some people get out of the Scriptures! I was once on a telephone talk program on a Chicago radio station, discussing Bible prophecy. A man phoned in and tried to take over the program by proclaiming his strange interpretations of Daniel’s prophecies. He rejected the clear explanation given in the Bible and was very upset with me when I refused to agree with his fanciful ideas.

Dr. David Cooper used to say, “When the plain sense of Scripture makes good sense, seek no other sense.” There is no need to find “deeper meanings” to the plain teachings of the Word of God. Such an approach to the Bible enables a “student” to find anything he is looking for!

Since the early church assemblies usually met in private homes, it is easy to understand how “whole houses” (Titus 1:11) could be upset by false teachers. People today who have Bible study classes in their homes must be careful lest visitors come in with strange doctrines. There are sects and cults that look for these classes and plant their agents just for the purpose of winning converts, so we must be careful.

Why they did it. Their main motive was to make money “for filthy lucre’s sake” (Titus 1:11). They were not ministering to the church; they were using religion to fill their own pockets. This explains why Paul said that “not given to filthy lucre” was one requirement for an elder. A true servant of God does not minister for personal gain; he ministers to help others grow in the faith.

But behind this covetousness was another problem: Their minds and consciences had been defiled (Titus 1:15). This is what happens when a person lives a double life: Outwardly, he commands respect, but inwardly, he deteriorates. No one can serve two masters. These deceivers’ love for money caused them to teach false doctrine and live false lives, and the result was a defiled conscience that did not convict them. This is one step closer to that “seared conscience” that Paul wrote about (1 Tim. 4:2).

Titus 1: is one of those verses that some ignorant people try to use to defend their ungodly practices. “To the pure, all things are pure” is used to excuse all sorts of sin. I recall warning a teenager about the kind of literature he was reading, and his defense was, “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Your heart must be filthy if you see sin in what I’m reading. After all, ‘To the pure, all things are pure.’”

To begin with, Paul was refuting the false teaching of these legalists with reference to foods. They were teaching that Jewish dietary laws still applied to Christian believers (see 1 Tim. 4:3–5). If you ate forbidden food, you defiled yourself, but if you refused that food, you became holier.

“It is just the opposite,” Paul argued. “These teachers have defiled minds and consciences. Therefore, when they look at these innocent foods, they see sin, because sin has defiled their vision. But those of us who have pure minds and consciences know that all foods are clean. It is not the foods that are defiling the teachers; it is the teachers who are defiling the foods!”

But this principle must not be applied to things that we know are evil. The difference, for example, between great art and pornography is more than “in the eye of the beholder.” A great artist does not exploit the human body for base gain. For a believer to indulge in sinful, erotic experiences and claim that they were pure because his heart was pure, is to use the Word of God to excuse sin. The application Paul made was to food, and we must be careful to keep it there.

Having shared these three facts about these false teachers, Paul added one further matter.

What Titus was to do. He was not to stand quietly by and let them take over! First, he was to “exhort and to convince” them by means of “sound doctrine” (Titus 1:9). The only weapon against Satan’s lies is God’s truth. “Thus saith the Lord!” is the end of every argument.

Titus was to stop their mouths (Titus 1:11) and prevent them from teaching and spreading false doctrines. He was to “rebuke them sharply” (Titus 1:13). Paul would give this same counsel to Timothy in his final letter “Reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine” (2 Tim. 4:2).

Paul’s purpose, of course, was to convince these teachers and get them to be “sound in the faith” (Titus 1:13). But while he was doing this, he needed to protect the church from their false teachings. False doctrine is like yeast: it enters secretly, it grows quickly, and permeates completely (Gal. 5:9). The best time to attack false doctrine is at the beginning, before it has a chance to spread.

The attitude of some church members is, “It makes no difference what you believe, just as long as you believe something.” Paul would not agree with that foolish philosophy. It makes all the difference between life and death whether or not you believe the truth of the Word or believe lies. You can choose what you want to believe, but you cannot change the consequences.

“And ye shall know the truth,” said Jesus Christ, “and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32).