The letter of Titus was written by the Apostle Paul to his disciple and fellow minister Titus. This letter was written around the early to mid 60’s AD. Paul wrote with the intention of instructing his child in the faith (Titus), so that Titus could help to carry on the church without him. Paul’s time on this earth would soon be over. Within a couple of years from writing to Titus Paul would see the Lord and was no longer with Titus and the rest of the Church. As such, Paul lays out the guidelines of ministry and standards for those who are in ministry.
Paul starts off with his greeting and the announcement of his Apostleship. Then in verse five Paul charges Titus to appoint elders in every city. He quickly starts into explaining the qualifications of an elder. Paul explains an elder must be above reproach, a husband of one wife, having faithful children, who are not rebellious, not self-willed, not quick tempered, not addicted to wine, not pugnacious or fond of wrongful gain, loving what is good, sensible, just and devout, holding fast the truth of God. Paul goes on to say there are many rebellious men who are empty in speech and deceitful. He states that these men must be silenced because they are upsetting families. Paul quotes a Cretan who said “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons”. For this reason, Paul says to Titus to “reprove them severely so that they maybe sound in the faith”.
In chapter two Paul tells Titus to speak what is “fitting for sound doctrine”. Paul once again in his epistles shows that doctrine mattered to him. Doctrine may divide but doctrine is what keeps us as a body right before the Lord. However, we cannot read these words of Paul while neglecting his words in 1 Corinthians reminding us all things must be in love. The rest of chapter two Paul explains what an older man and women should be like and tells Titus to urge bondslaves to be subject to their master. He ends chapter two with telling Titus to speak with all authority and to let no one disregard him. Paul is telling Titus to speak as he (Paul) does and with authority. Note, Paul is instructing his disciple whom he knows well to speak with authority.
Chapter three Paul tells Titus to remind the people to live godly lives. He starts off with telling them to subject themselves to rulers. Paul finishes with a request of Titus to come to him after Artemas or Tychicus arrives.
This letter is simple yet a cornerstone to the Church providing guidelines for ministry. Paul provides the qualifications for an elder, how an older man and women should be, and he instructs Titus in a few topics. The requirements Paul places on elders is an encouragement for us to live a godly life and to strive to fulfill those requirements so that we maybe free to serve the Lord wherever He calls us without disqualifying ourselves. However, it is not a requirement that all desire to be an elder. Many of us have a long way to go, but Paul’s list in Titus and 1 Timothy provides what to work towards. This letter also shows Paul’s love and care for Titus.