Titus was a Gentile who was converted to Christianity by the ministry of the Apostle Paul. Though not mentioned by name in the Book of Acts, we know he was in Jerusalem with Paul and the others prior to the Jerusalem Council meeting recorded in Acts 15 (see Galatians 2:2-5). During that time, certain Jews attempted to force the Mosaic Law onto Gentiles who became Christians. This was an error on their part and Titus stood up to them. He declined to be circumcised. The matter of law obedience in general was often reduced to the rite of circumcision, the most permanent mark of your allegiance of faith. The debate was finally settled at the council meeting that circumcision was not required for Gentiles to be saved. The first step was a letter they sent out to that effect.
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The fact that Titus took a stand in that matter set up the Apostle Paul to later refute the notion that Mosaic law obedience was required for Christians altogether:
“Then after fourteen years, I went up again to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas. I took Titus along also. I went in response to a revelation and, meeting privately with those esteemed as leaders, I presented to them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. I wanted to be sure I was not running and had not been running my race in vain. Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek. This matter arose because some false believers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves [to the Mosaic Law]. We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you.
“As for those who were held in high esteem—whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not show favoritism—they added nothing to my message.”
Galatians 2:2-6
From Jerusalem, Titus traveled to many of the same places as Paul such as Corinth, Ephesus, Galatia, Philippi and more. His travels are not well documented and impossible to chart with certainty. Sometimes he must have traveled as a companion of Paul and sometimes independently. As the Biblical record reveals later, Titus was not only converted through the ministry of Paul, but he was Biblically discipled, fully trained in moral character and grew into a reliable, trusted leader. For example, Paul had spent some time in Corinth and established a church there. Titus played a big part in that ministry. The friendship and mutual respect between Titus and Paul becomes evident when Paul noted that he had hoped to meet up with Titus in Troas. When Titus wasn’t found there, Paul pursued Titus and found him in Macedonia. As they shared updates, they were alarmed about the reports coming from the church previously established in Corinth. As a result, Paul wrote the letter known as Second Corinthians and had Titus hand-deliver it to them. Titus was eager to return to that sometimes hostile environment because of the love he had for the Corinthians. Titus helped bring to fruition all the things Paul wrote about in his letter. The authenticity of Paul’s Gospel and authority as an Apostle were skillfully defended. Titus was able to heal the wounds of division and forcefully and lovingly corrected the false doctrine and sinful practices of the Corinthian church. He was well respected by the church there and completed the task of leading them in the ministry of giving to the famine stricken Jews in the Jerusalem area. This gesture showed great unity within the church of God which is comprised of Jew and Gentile who are both equal in Christ. The generous collection was sent from the mostly Gentile church in Corinth to the mostly Jewish believers in Judea during their time of need due to the famine in their region. It was part of a larger collection from all the Gentile churches Paul had established and was a great demonstration of Christian Love.
Much later, Paul was imprisoned in Rome and he wrote the letters known as Colossians, Ephesians, Philippians and Philemon. After a period of about two years, he was released. It is after this release that he reconnected with Titus and they traveled to the Island of Crete, the largest of the Greek Islands. “Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons” (Titus 1:12). However, Luke recorded that there were representatives from Crete who were present at Peter’s great sermon during the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was received like tongues of fire. Perhaps some of these travelers returned with news of the Gospel (see Acts 2:11). Paul ministered alongside Titus in Crete for a brief time. When Paul continued his missionary travels Titus remained in Crete to oversee the churches there. Paul showed a high degree of confidence in Titus to leave him with the great responsibility of establishing leaders for the churches in a harsh environment.
Paul went on to arrange for some replacements to handle things in Crete after Titus did the hard work of establishing proper leadership. Once Artemas or Tychicus arrived to relieve him in the ministry in Crete, Titus was requested to meet up with Paul again in Nicopolis (see Titus 3:12). The Biblical record doesn’t confirm that the rendezvous in Nicopolis was successful but we do know Titus visited Paul during his final imprisonment in Rome. Based on 2 Timothy 4:10, which is the last of Paul’s letters recorded in Scripture, Paul states that Titus was one among several close friends that came to visit him in prison just prior to his execution. He goes on to state that Titus went to Dalmatia, presumably to spread the Gospel to that region and/or support the churches there much like he did in Crete. Tradition apart from the Scriptures hold that Titus eventually returned to Crete and served as a bishop to the churches there until he died at an old age. There is still a church in Crete called the Church of Saint Titus and they honor his memory and service to the Christian Faith.
“As soon as I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, because I have decided to winter there. Do everything you can to help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way and see that they have everything they need. Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order to provide for urgent needs and not live unproductive lives.”
Titus 3:12-14
Summary
The Scriptural record shows that Titus grew from being a convert to Christianity to a fully mature leader of the church. Not many details are offered as to all his travels and tasks but enough is given to see that he was trusted by all those who knew him. He was able to bring peaceable conclusions to difficult situations, he understood proper doctrine and upheld the truth of the Gospel against Judaizers and others. He was trustworthy in financial matters for both the church and on a personal level. He spoke out against immorality. He was a faithful friend to the Apostle Paul. As one who was to appoint elders and overseers in Crete, he must have met all the character requirements listed for those he would be appointing.
“The reason I left you in Crete was that you might put in order what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you. An elder must be blameless, faithful to his wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. Since an overseer manages God’s household, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. Rather, he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.”
Titus 1:5-9
“You, however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine. Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance.
” Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.
“Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.
“Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.
“For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
“These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.”
Titus 2:1-15
Appendix: The Lost Letters
It is helpful to note that there were multiple letters written by the Apostle Paul to the church in Corinth. What we know as 1st and 2nd Corinthians may actually be the 2nd and 4th letters as the others have been lost. Not all students of the Bible agree on these conclusions, but this seems logical. If some letters were lost, they obviously were not intended by the Holy Spirit to be included in the canon of Scripture. See 1 Corinthians 5:9-11 which refers to an earlier letter which then receives clarification. The letter known to us as 1 Corinthians was to address concerns brought to Paul’s attention from the house of Chloe (1 Corinthians 1:11) and others (1 Corinthians 16:17).
Some time after writing the letter known to us as 1 Corinthians, Paul made his way to visit Corinth in person. This turned out to be a “painful visit” (2 Corinthians 2:1) possibly because of the failure of the church to support the Apostle regarding the actions of a member referred to in 2 Corinthians 2:5-11 and 7:12.
After this visit Paul apparently returned to Ephesus and from there sent a third letter which was hand-delivered by Titus since Titus had developed close relationships and respect from the church in Corinth. This letter grieved Paul because it was harsh and dealt with disciplinary measures (2 Corinthians 7:8-13).
Later Paul traveled to Troas hoping to meet up with Titus and get an update. He was concerned that he couldn’t find Titus and sought to find him in Macedonia. His concern subsided when they did indeed meet and Titus informed him that the letter was well received and the wounds have healed. This must have been a great answer to the prayers of the Apostle Paul. However, there was still a faction in the Corinth church who were starkly opposed to Paul and his methodology. It is because of this situation that Paul wrote the letter we know as 2nd Corinthians. Titus also delivered this letter and defended the Apostle’s authority and teachings.
Here is a quick reference chart I created regarding Paul’s ministry to Corinth.
| 1st Visit | Church Established | Acts 18:1-11 |
| 1st Letter | Now Lost | 1 Corinthians 5:9-11 |
| 2nd Letter | 1st Corinthians | 1st Corinthians |
| 2nd Visit | Painful Visit | 2 Corinthians 2:1 |
| 3rd Letter | Now Lost | 2 Corinthians 2:3-4 |
| 4th Letter | 2nd Corinthians | 2nd Corinthians |
| 3rd Visit | Encouragement | Acts 20:2-3 |
Handy list of all references that mention Titus:
Galatians 2:1-3 “Then after fourteen years, I went up again to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas. I took Titus along also. 2 I went in response to a revelation and, meeting privately with those esteemed as leaders, I presented to them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. I wanted to be sure I was not running and had not been running my race in vain. 3 Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek.”
2 Corinthians 2:13 “I had no rest for my spirit, not finding Titus my brother; but saying goodbye to them, I went on to Macedonia.
2 Corinthians 7:6 “But God, who comforts the discouraged, comforted us by the arrival of Titus;”
2 Corinthians 7:13 “Because of this, we have been comforted. and besides our comfort, we rejoiced even much more for the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all.
2 Corinthians 7:14 “For if I have boasted to him about you regarding anything, I was not put to shame. But as we spoke all things to you in truth, so also our boasting before Titus proved to be the truth.”
2 Corinthians 8:6 “So we urged Titus that as he had previously made a beginning, so he would also complete in you this gracious work as well.”
2 Corinthians 8:16-17 “Thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same concern I have for you. For Titus not only welcomed our appeal, but he is coming to you with much enthusiasm and on his own initiative.”
2 Corinthians 8:23 “As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you; as for our brothers, they are messengers of the churches, a glory to Christ.”
2 Corinthians 12:18 “I urged Titus to go, and I sent the brother with him. Titus did not take any advantage of you, did he? Did we not conduct ourselves in the same spirit and walk in the same steps?”
2 Timothy 4:10 “…for Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica; Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.”
Titus 1:4 “To Titus, my true son in a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.”
“To Titus, my true son in a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.”
Titus 1:4
All Scripture quoted from:
New International Version (NIV)
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