A Cretan hill town of flat-roofed stone houses climbs a rocky slope above terraced olive groves at first light, a goat path winding up between them and the sea pale far below.

The Book of

Titus 1

Paul left Titus on a rugged island with young churches and unfinished work. Here is how to set it in order.

16 verses≈ 3 min2 peopleBSB

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In this chapter

Where we are

1:1–9Set in orderElders who hold to the faithful wordChapter 1
1:10–16False teachersEmpty talk, denied by their deeds
2Sound teachingLives that adorn the gospel
3Saved to do goodMercy, new birth and good works

Paul’s Greeting to Titus

From PaulTo Titus, my true child in our common faith

Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ for the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness, in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began. In His own time He has made His word evident in the proclamation entrusted to me by the command of God our Savior.

To Titus, my true child in our common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.

Titus 1:1–4

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in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began.

Titus 1:2

In this chapter

Stylised map · locations approximate

On the map

The reason I left you in Crete

Crete is a long, mountainous island in the Mediterranean, south of Greece, with small towns in its valleys and along its coasts. Paul had worked there with Titus, and left him behind to “set in order what was unfinished and appoint elders in every town.” Paul knew the island’s south coast from an earlier voyage, when he sailed past it as a prisoner bound for Rome and put in at Fair Havens.

Appointing Elders on Crete

Paul

An older man seen from behind stands in the open doorway of a Cretan courtyard house at dusk, welcoming a dusty traveler with a staff in from the road, a lamp burning inside on a stone ledge.

Instead, he must be hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. He must hold firmly to the faithful word as it was taught, so that he can encourage others by sound teaching and refute those who contradict it.

0:16

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

Pray

Pray for your leaders

Paul wanted leaders who would “hold firmly to the faithful word as it was taught.” Pray today, by name, for the pastors and elders of your church: for faithful homes, gentle tempers and open doors, and for the courage to “encourage others by sound teaching” with both truth and kindness.

Above reproach

Whiteboard

Paul’s list is almost all about character. An elder manages God’s household, so his own home, his temper, his hands and his money should be above reproach. In their place: an open door, a love of what is good, self-control. And under it all, a firm hold on God’s word, so that he can “encourage others by sound teaching and refute those who contradict it.”

Correcting False Teachers

For many are rebellious and full of empty talk and deception, especially those of the circumcision, who must be silenced. For the sake of dishonorable gain, they undermine entire households and teach things they should not.

As one of their own prophets has said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”

This testimony is true.

Therefore rebuke them sternly, so that they will be sound in the faith and will pay no attention to Jewish myths or to the commands of men who have rejected the truth.

Question

Quick question

Teachers full of empty talk were upsetting whole households in the churches on Crete, and Paul tells Titus to deal with them.

Why does Paul tell Titus to rebuke them sternly?

To the pure, all things are pure; but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure.

Titus 1:15

Indeed, both their minds and their consciences are defiled. They profess to know God, but by their actions they deny Him. They are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for any good deed.

Titus 1:16

Reflect

Faith you can see

Paul says of the false teachers, “They profess to know God, but by their actions they deny Him.” The opposite is a life where what we say about God and what we do agree. Where do your words and your daily actions line up well? Where would you like them to line up better? Write it down, and ask God for His help.

You’ve experienced

Titus 1

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A verse to carry with you

They profess to know God, but by their actions they deny Him.

Titus 1:16

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