Titus is the recipient- 1:4 (note: Titus
was a Gentile- Galatians 2:3)
Paul and Titus had been in Crete together,
Paul left Titus to lead the work there- 1:5 (note: Crete is an island
in
the Mediterranean Sea about 150 miles wide, 30 miles high. Other NT
references
include Acts 2:11, 27:7-13)
There were churches in many towns on
Crete- 1:5
Rebellious members, most notably those
of Jewish descent, were causing problems in the churches- 1:10, 3:9
Titus was not well respected by some
of these people- 2:15
Paul wanted Titus to visit him at Nicapolis-
3:12 (note: Nicopolis is on the W. coast of Greece, 150 NW of Corinth)
Artemis or Tychicus were coming soon
to relieve Titus of his work- 3:12
Zenas and Apollos were on their way
to subsequent destination- 3:13
Zenas and Apollos probably carried the
letter to Titus- 3:13
Though the text does not say so, we
suppose that Paul traveled from Crete to Corinth and sent this letter
to
Titus via Zenas and Apollos. Paul then intended to travel to Nicopolis
to spend the winter. Corinth is likely because of the large number of
his
disciples there- Apollos, Zenas, Artemis and Tychicus.
What's the Point?
Paul wrote to Titus to instruct him
what to do on Crete in setting the churches in order- 1:5
Because of the people that were causing
problems, Titus was urged to appoint elders in every town- 1:5
Elders were intended to teach members
correctly and refute those who taught otherwise- 1:9
Titus was also urged to deal strongly
and confidently with these troublemakers and "teachers"
1:11 (silence them)
2:15 (not tolerate a lack of respect)
3:10-11 (warn them as appropriate)
Basic directives for ministry
Paul discusses the need for the Cretan
Christians to be devoted to doing good, with 8 references- 1:1
(godliness),
1:8, 1:16, 2:7, 2:14, 3:1, 3:8, 3:14. This is especially contrasted
with
the description of Cretans in 1:12
Paul discussed basic ministry needs
for various groups- 2:1-10
Paul drew a connection between the attitude
and behavior people ought to have and their conversions in 2:11-14,
3:3-8
The people were to be good citizens
of the land they lived in- being submissive to rulers and humble
towards
all-
3:1-2
What's The Connection?
Titus was responsible for a large number
of churches; it is very biblical to have a role such as this.
Paul wanted elders in every town- each
local church needed permanent elders to teach the members sound
doctrine
and to refute false teaching since Titus could not be everywhere at
once.
Focus of church training- training and
ministry ought to resemble the pattern Paul gave in Titus 2:1-10
"Doing what is good" As Paul wanted
the Cretans to develop the character to "devote themselves to doing
what
is good," we also need to have this character. Consider:
Elders are to "love what is good" (1:8)
The false teachers and troublemakers,
in contrast, are "unfit for doing anything good" (1:16)
Older women are to teach "what is good"
(2:3)
Titus was to set young men an example
by doing "what is good" (2:7)
One purpose of redemption was for God
to have a people "eager to do what is good" (2:14)
The people were to be taught to "be
ready to do whatever is good" (3:1)
The people were to be "devoted" to doing
what is good (3:8, 3:14)
Conversion has a direct relation to
our focus and motives- Titus 2:11-14, 3:3-8
We should be good citizens of our nation,
being submissive to the authorities and truly humble towards all people