There are twenty-seven books in the New Testament. Twenty-one are Epistles. Thirteen of those letters were written by Paul. Within those Epistles of Paul, there is a subgenre called the Pastoral Epistles. 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus were written to individuals, not churches. Although Philemon was also written to an individual, it is categorized as a Prison Epistle. The Pastoral Epistles were written to men who pastored churches. 

• Timothy led the church at Ephesus. 
• Titus led the churches in Crete. 

Titus 1:5 states the occasion of this letter: “This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained in order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you.” Paul visited Crete during his third missionary journey. Churches were planted. When Paul continued his travels, he left Titus in Crete to appoint godly leaders, teach sound doctrine, and promote good works. Soon after, Paul wrote this letter to confirm and clarify his instructions to Titus. 

 Titus 1:1-4 is Paul’s opening salutation. In the typical format of ancient letters, it identifies the author, states the addressee, and gives a greeting. Yet Paul does much more than that here. This is the third-longest salutation in Paul’s Epistles, behind Romans and Galatians. Verses 1-3 consist of Paul telling Titus about himself – things Titus already knew about Paul. This letter is not personal correspondence between Paul and Titus. It would be read in the churches of Crete, among young Christians it would instruct, and false teachers it would rebuke. As God-breathed scripture, Titus speaks to us today.

• What does it mean to live the Christian life?  
• What does it mean to be a well-ordered church? 

The opening salutation previews how Paul will address these questions in this letter. Verses 1-4 contain one long, complex sentence in the Greek. It teaches a simple but significant truth: Paul’s letter to Titus is the Lord’s order to the church. Who was Paul? Titus 1:4 shows us the kind of man Paul was from four different perspectives.

An Authorized Messenger

Titus begins with the name “Paul.” At birth, he was named “Saul,” after the first king of Israel. After his conversion, Saul became Paul. This name change reflected his calling as the apostle to the Gentiles. After stating his name, Paul gives a self-description. With no reference to his background, education, or accomplishments, Paul identifies himself in two ways. 

God’s Servant. Verse 1 is the only time Paul calls himself “a servant of God.” He calls himself “a servant of Christ” on several occasions. Only here does he claim to be God’s servant. “Servant” means “slave.” Paul belonged to God, not himself. Paul served God’s cause, not his own. Paul lived for God’s glory, not his flesh. He willingly submitted his life to God, knowing that God is a good, just, and wise Master. We shy away from the term “slave.” Paul wore it as a badge of honor. It put him in the company of Moses, Joshua, David, the prophets, and Jesus! For the record, every Christian is God’s servant. Are you a faithful or rebellious servant? 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 says, “You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” 

Christ’s Apostle. God’s servant was also “an apostle of Jesus Christ.”

• “Servant” indicates submission. 
• “Apostle” indicates authority. 

An apostle is one who is sent as an envoy or emissary. Among his disciples, Jesus chose twelve apostles to be witnesses of his resurrection and leaders of the early church. After meeting the risen and glorified Christ on the Damascus Road, Paul became the final apostle. We don’t need any more apostles! 1 Corinthians 15:9-10 says, “For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church. But by the grace of God I am what I am.” Paul wrote Titus in his official capacity as Christ’s apostle. Some reject New Testament teachings by setting Paul against Jesus. Paul did not view himself as teaching a new or novel form of Christianity. He spoke and wrote as an authoritative messenger for Christ. Why study Titus? Paul wrote it as a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ. 

A Gospel Missionary

 As God’s servant and Christ’s apostle, Paul lived with a clear sense of purpose.  Verses 2-3 state the purpose: “for the sake of the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life.”Gospel ministry seeks to produce faith, knowledge, and hope.

Faith.

• Why had God made Paul his servant? 
• Why had Christ made Paul his apostle? 

 Verse 1 answers, “For the sake of the faith of God’s elect.” In the Old Testament, God chose Israel to be his people by his grace and for his glory. On this side of Christmas, Good Friday, and Easter, those in Christ are God’s elect. We are saved by God’s sovereign prerogative. How do we know who the elect are? By faith in Christ. Paul proclaimed the gospel with confidence that God’s elect would put their faith in Christ for salvation. 

Acts 18:9-10 says, “And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, ‘Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.” The Lord also has many in this city who are his people. He calls them to himself as we get the gospel right and get the gospel out. Who are you witnessing to for the sake of the faith of God’s elect? 

Knowledge. Faith and reason are allies, not enemies. Paul worked “for the sake of the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness.”

We need to know how to think biblically. Knowledge is not an end in and of itself. It is a means to an end. What is the proper end of knowledge? “Knowledge of the truth.” “The truth” is shorthand for the gospel. It is the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. John 17:17 says, “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.”

We need to know how to act biblically. Knowledge of the truth “accords with godliness.” False teachers in Crete claimed that grace was a license to do your own thing. Paul asserts that knowledge of the truth accords with godliness. Any truth claim that does not promote godliness is not the truth. Being godly is more than being religious!

Hope 

• Evangelism is “for the sake of the faith of God’s elect.” 
• Edification is about “knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness.” 
• Encouragement is found in “in hope of eternal life.” 

People need hope. The gospel provides true hope. It is not wishful thinking. It is blessed assurance, great expectation, and unwavering confidence. Ephesians 2:12 describes sinners as “having no hope and without God in the world.” That’s the tragedy of life without Christ. In Christ, we have “hope of eternal life.” Eternal life begins when you turn from your sins and trust in Christ. John 17:3 says, “And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” Eternal life lasts forever. John 5:24 says, “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.” Only the crucified but risen Savior offers living and lasting hope. 

A Faithful Preacher

A church inscribed 1 Corinthians 1:23 on the brick wall of their building: “We Preach Christ Crucified.” Over time, ivy grew and blocked the final word. Only the words, “We Preach Christ,” remained visible. Without the congregation noticing, the ivy covered the next-to-final word. The passerby could only see the words, “We Preach.”

That is a sad parable of the contemporary church. There’s a lot of sermonizing going on. Yet there is a famine in the land for truth-driven, gospel-saturated, Christ-exalting preaching. Verses 2-3 stress the what and why of faithful preaching. 

What We Preach. How can we live in the hope of eternal life? Verse 2 answers: “God.” Why trust God? Because God is a God“who never lies.” This term, used only here, literally means “the non-lying God.” The KJV says God “cannot lie.” Praise God for what he cannot do! Titus 1:12 calls the Cretans notorious liars. Numbers 23:19 says, “God is not man, that he should lie.” John 8:44 calls Satan “a liar and the father of lies.” Hebrews 6:18 says, “It is impossible for God to lie.” Charles Spurgeon said, “Brethren, if it be so that God cannot lie, then it must be the natural duty of all his creatures to believe him.” 

The Non-Lying God “promised before the ages began.” The plan of redemption is not heaven’s crisis management.  God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world. Verse 3 says it was “at the proper time manifested.” In his perfect timing, God manifested, revealed, and disclosed his only begotten Son. In the incarnation, crucifixion, and resurrection of Christ, God fulfilled his redemptive promises. How can we see God’s manifested promise today? “In his word.” Romans 10:17 says, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”

Why We Preach. The saving message of Christ is revealed in his word. How does the word get out? Verse 3 answers: “through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior.” “Preaching” refers to the content, not the function.

• The question is not, can he preach? 
• The question is, what does he preach?  

2 Timothy 4:2 says, “Preach the word.” Paul was “entrusted” with a message to preach. Valuables are entrusted. The unsearchable riches of Christ do not need improvement or innovation. We are stewards of the mystery of the gospel. 1 Corinthians 4:2 says, “Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.” When I was a boy preacher, my father admonished me, “If you can keep from preaching, do it.” Preaching is a calling you heed, not a vocation you choose. Paul preached by “the command of God our Savior.” 1 Corinthians 9:16 says, “For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!”

A Spiritual Father 

Verses 1-3 identify the author of this letter. Verse 4 states the intended recipient and announces a benediction. Yet in verse 4, Paul is still doing what he was doing in verses 1-3 – to advance the gospel. Note two strategic ways Paul moves the ball down the field in this verse. 

The Succession Plan. Paul had a band of brothers who shared his gospel work. More specifically, Paul poured himself into younger men who would carry on the work after his death or departure. This letter was a key part of his succession plan. Verse 4 says, “To Titus, my true child in a common faith.” Titus is one of the most enigmatic personalities in the New Testament. He is not mentioned in Acts. Galatians 2 tells us he accompanied Paul to the Jerusalem council. He was Paul’s proof that a Gentile need not submit to Jewish circumcision to be a true Christian. Titus is featured more prominently in Paul’s letters to the Corinthians. Titus was Paul’s “fixer” who knew how to get things done. It was for this reason that Paul left Titus in Crete. 

To affirm and confirm Titus, Paul calls him, “My true child in a common faith.” “Child” denotes affection. As with Timothy, Paul most likely led Titus to Christ and nurtured his faith to maturity. “My true child” distinguishes Titus from others who started with Paul but forsook him along the way. “In a common faith” may be read subjectively or objectively. I believe it’s the latter. In one sense, Titus was Paul’s child. In another sense, he was Paul’s brother who contended for what Jude 3 calls “the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.” Christianity is catholic in that it binds together all who share a common faith. We must rebuke and reject those who profess to be Christians but hold to an uncommon faith. 

The Divine Resources. Verse 4 ends with a benediction: “Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.” “Grace” is God’s unmerited favor. Ephesians 2:8 says, “By grace you have been saved through faith.” This prayer-wish is not about saving grace. It is sustaining grace, strengthening grace, suffering grace. Paul gave Titus a hard assignment. But he assured Titus there was grace for his gloom and peace for his problems. Romans 5:1 says, “We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” This prayer-wish is not about peace with God. It is about the peace of God that surpasses all understanding. Isaiah 26:3 says, “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” 

You can trust these resources because of their source: “from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.”Paul calls Titus, “My true child.” Then he reminds Titus that God is the Father. The best of men are men at best. Our heavenly Father is worthy of your worship, trust, and obedience. Grace and peace also come from Christ Jesus our Savior. Verse 3 calls God our Savior. Verse 4 calls Christ our Savior. Paul uses the term six times in Titus, twice in each chapter. Three of the six refer to God the Father; the other three refer to God the Son. 

• God the Father is the author of our salvation. 
• God the Son is the mediator of our salvation. 

John 10:28-30 says, “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”