Titus

About Titus

Titus is a short letter of instructions for a young church leader on the island of Crete. Paul left Titus there to appoint trustworthy elders and to teach believers how sound faith shows up in daily life. Its heartbeat is that God's grace saves us and then trains us to live differently, so good works flow from salvation rather than earning it.

Written by

The letter presents itself as Paul's, written to his coworker Titus; most Christians through history have accepted that, though some modern scholars think a later follower of Paul wrote it in his name.

When

If Paul wrote it, it dates to the mid-60s AD, near the end of his life; scholars who see a later author place it closer to AD 80-100.

Themes

• Grace that trains us
• Good works
• Healthy church leadership
• Sound teaching
• Hope in Christ's return

Key verses

• Titus 2:11-14For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to everyone. It instructs us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live sensible, upright, and godly lives in the present age, as we await the blessed hope and glorious appearance of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. He gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.
• Titus 3:4-7But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not by the righteous deeds we had done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of new birth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. This is the Spirit He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by His grace, we would become heirs with the hope of eternal life.