BIBLE BOOK GUIDE
Titus
3 chapters
God's chosen people are equipped to live godly, orderly lives in the true faith while awaiting the return of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.
Titus
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Why this book was written
Paul wrote to his fellow worker Titus to help him organize the churches on Crete by appointing elders, correcting false teaching, and instructing believers of every age group to live in line with the gospel, so that God's Word would not be reviled and the gospel would be honored among all people.
Structure
- 1:1–4Greeting and Mission
- 1:5–16Appointing Elders and Silencing False Teachers
- 2:1–15Godly Living in Line with Sound Doctrine
- 3:1–15Good Works and the Hope of Eternal Life
Major themes
Sound Doctrine and Godly Living
Titus stresses that sound teaching must align with godly living; faith cannot be separated from conduct (1:1, 2:1, 2:12).
Church Order and the Appointing of Elders
Paul directs Titus to appoint elders in every town and lists qualifications for overseers in character and doctrine (1:5-9).
Grace and Redemption
God's salvation has appeared through the grace of Christ and His atoning sacrifice, cleansing believers to be His people (2:11-14, 3:4-7).
Good Works as Witness
Believers are called to be devoted to good works so that the doctrine may not be reviled and so they may adorn the gospel before the world (2:7-8, 3:1-2, 3:8, 3:14).
Resisting False Teaching
Titus warns to silence those who teach false doctrine, especially those motivated by dishonest gain who upset whole households (1:10-16, 3:9-11).
God's word is trustworthy, and believers hope for the promised eternal life, awaiting the appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ (1:2, 2:13, 3:7).
How it points to Christ
Titus exalts Jesus Christ as our great God and Savior (2:13), who gave Himself to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession (2:14). The grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation through rebirth, washing, and renewal by the Holy Spirit, making us His people as we await our blessed hope—the appearing of His glory (2:11-13, 3:4-7). The book presents Christ as the foundation of the church, the Redeemer, and the focus of the believer's hope.
Key verses
- 1:1Paul describes himself as a servant and apostle bringing about the faith of God's elect that agrees with godliness.
- 1:9An elder must hold firm to the trustworthy message, able to encourage with sound teaching and refute those who oppose it.
- 2:1Titus must teach what accords with sound doctrine, setting the standard for the church's life.
- 2:11–14God's grace has appeared, training us to renounce ungodliness and live self-controlled, godly lives while we wait for the appearing of our Savior.
- 2:15Titus is to speak, encourage, and rebuke with all authority, letting no one disregard him.
- 3:1–2Believers are to be subject to authorities, ready for every good work, and gentle toward everyone.
- God saved us not by our righteous deeds but by His mercy, through washing and renewal of the Holy Spirit, justifying us by grace.
- 3:14Our people must learn to devote themselves to good works in order to meet pressing needs and not be unfruitful.
People in this book
Questions for reflection
- ·Am I living a godly life that matches sound doctrine? Is my faith consistent with my conduct? (Titus 2:1-14)
- ·Am I guarding sound doctrine in the church and gently resisting those who trouble the faith with false teaching? (Titus 1:10-16, 3:9-11)
- ·Do I truly understand and experience God's grace in Christ—redemption, rebirth, and the hope of eternal life? (Titus 2:11-14, 3:4-7)
- ·Am I showing humility, gentleness, and peace in my work, relationships, and ministry, so that I am a good witness? (Titus 3:1-2)
- ·Am I devoted to doing good works, so that my life becomes a channel through which others may know Christ? (Titus 3:8, 3:14)
Where Titus fits in the Bible's storyline
This book appears in the 12-stop storyline at:
Where to start reading the Bible? See the full 12-stop storyline
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Chapter 3
1Put them in mind to be in subjection to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready unto every good work,
2to speak evil of no man, not to be contentious, to be gentle, showing all meekness toward all men.
3For we also once were foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another.
4But when the kindness of God our Saviour, and his love toward man, appeared,
5not by works done in righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,
6which he poured out upon us richly, through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
7that, being justified by his grace, we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
8Faithful is the saying, and concerning these things I desire that thou affirm confidently, to the end that they who have believed God may be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men:
9but shun foolish questionings, and genealogies, and strifes, and fightings about law; for they are unprofitable and vain.
10A factious man after a first and second admonition refuse;
11knowing that such a one is perverted, and sinneth, being self-condemned.
12When I shall send Artemas unto thee, or Tychicus, give diligence to come unto me to Nicopolis: for there I have determined to winter.
13Set forward Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey diligently, that nothing be wanting unto them.
14And let our people also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.
15All that are with me salute thee. Salute them that love us in faith. Grace be with you all.