Monday, July 8, 2024

The book of Titus offers some powerful lessons about the church and leadership. It’s also a short book, providing an excellent opportunity to really dig into it. However, before we begin to study any passage of Scripture, we need to “read the envelope.” Similar to checking the envelope before opening a letter, it’s important to put a book into its proper context to better understand its meaning.

Author: The apostle Paul, formerly Saul, authored this book. He had a radical transformation after encountering the risen Jesus in a vision. Paul went from being a zealous Jew who persecuted Christians to a Jew who died claiming Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah.

Titus 1:1
This letter is from Paul, a slave of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ. I have been sent to proclaim faith to those God has chosen and to teach them to know the truth that shows them how to live godly lives.

Audience: Titus was the original recipient of this letter. He was one of the young Greeks whom Paul had sent to the new church on the island of Crete, located in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Greece and Turkey.

Titus 1:4-5
⁴ I am writing to Titus, my true son in the faith that we share. May God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior give you grace and peace.

⁵ I left you on the island of Crete so you could complete our work there and appoint elders in each town as I instructed you.

Date: It was likely written in the mid-60s A.D.

Literary Style: The book of Titus is an epistle, or letter, specifically a pastoral epistle. It was primarily written to encourage one single person and to aid in their pastoring a local church body. Being a letter, it’s best to read the entire book in one sitting at least once prior to studying. Often, ideas introduced in the beginning are clarified throughout the book.

Purpose: The people of Crete had a reputation for being liars even among non-believers. Titus was placed in a culture that was morally corrupt. False teachers had infiltrated, and Paul wanted to encourage Titus to teach his church how to live as Christians among their secular peers.

As you read this letter, keep these ideas in your mind. Let them shape how you read, and then apply what you learn to your life.

Questions:
What do you know about Paul? He refers to himself as a “a slave of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ.” What do you think that means?

Next Steps:
Set aside some time to read the entire book of Titus before we begin to break it down this week. It is only 3 chapters and should take less than 15 minutes.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you for the opportunity to read this letter written to people long ago. Thank you that it is just as applicable to me today as it was to those ancient Christians thousands of years ago. Give me an open mind to hear what you have for me during this study. Use your Word to strengthen me and help me grow into a Christ-follower who honors you in everything I do. Amen.

Series Theme Verse:

Titus 2:14
“He [Jesus] gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.”

Today’s post was written by Julie Mabus, a regular contributor to the LivingItOut Devotional.