In the last part of our series we looked at how the Apostle Paul guided Timothy in addressing problems in churches that often cause divisions (schisms). Let’s move next to Paul’s letter to Titus to see what he shared with him.

Keep in mind that the purpose of this series is to glorify God and finish the work He has given us to do. We want to help the Church come together wherever and whenever it can to accomplish those great goals of our Lord and Savior, King Jesus (John 17).

Training Elders to Face Challenges

Even as Paul’s letters demonstrate how an apostle faced challenges in churches, his letters to Timothy and Titus taught them how to train elder/overseers to do the same.

Titus

Whereas Timothy was Jewish from his mother and Gentile from his father, Titus was a full Gentile –

Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and also took Titus with me. And I went up by revelation, and communicated to them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to those who were of reputation, lest by any means I might run, or had run, in vain. Yet not even Titus who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. Galatians 2:1-3

Titus accompanied Paul and Barnabas from Antioch, Syria, to the Jerusalem Council that we read about in Acts 15. Paul called Titus ‘a true son in our common faith’ (Titus 1:4). Paul would probably have met Titus after Barnabas brought Paul to Antioch to help lead and teach the young church (Acts 11:25-26). Followers of Christ were first called ‘Christians’ in Antioch.

The Holy Spirit called Paul and Barnabas to leave Antioch and begin a journey to other parts of the Roman Empire (Acts 13). There is no mention of Titus accompanying Paul and Barnabas. John Mark went with them as an ‘assistant,’ but left them to return to Jerusalem after a brief time.

At the conclusion of Paul’s first missionary journey (Acts 14) he and Barnabas returned to Antioch, Syria, ” they reported all that God had done with them, and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. So they stayed there a long time with the disciples.”

Some men came from Judea to Antioch and taught the brethren, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” (Acts 15:1) Paul and Barnabas ‘had no small dissension and dispute with them.’ Why? Because what the men from Judea taught was contrary to what Jesus had given Paul to teach. The church at Antioch, Syria, faced a very serious challenge. How would Paul and Barnabas solve it? They went to Jerusalem to meet with the other apostles and the elders to discuss a solution. They took Titus with them.

After some heated discussion from all parties involved, the decision was made that Gentile believers did not need to be circumcised or obey the Law of Moses to be followers of Christ. That was the importance of what Paul said about Titus earlier – “Yet not even Titus who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised.” You can read the full story of how the apostles and elders solved the potential division in Acts 15 and Galatians 2. Through obedience to the Holy Spirit, the apostles and elders understood the mission of the Church going forward –

 But on the contrary, when they saw that the gospel for the uncircumcised had been committed to me, as the gospel for the circumcised was to Peter (for He who worked effectively in Peter for the apostleship to the circumcised also worked effectively in me toward the Gentiles), and when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that had been given to me, they gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. They desired only that we should remember the poor, the very thing which I also was eager to do. Galatians 2:7-10

According to the timeline of the Book of Acts, Paul met Titus before he met Timothy (Acts 16:1), but they were both some of the apostle’s earliest disciples. Both of them played a vital role in what God was doing in bringing eternal life to Gentiles and Jews living in the Roman world.

Titus and the Corinthians

Titus was involved in many missions with Paul, even as was Timothy. They were both very important in supporting Paul’s apostolic ministry to the Church. Titus was especially helpful in handling some delicate issues at the church in Corinth. He may have delivered 2 Corinthians to the elder/overseers, which was a follow up to 1 Corinthians. The church at Corinth had many divisions and Paul wanted to get them resolved so the church could glorify God and complete the work He had given them to do. Titus was a great help in working personally with the church leaders and members do that –

For indeed, when we came to Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were troubled on every side. Outside were conflicts, inside were fears. Nevertheless God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, and not only by his coming, but also by the consolation with which he was comforted in you, when he told us of your earnest desire, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced even more. 2 Corinthians 7:5-7

Therefore we have been comforted in your comfort. And we rejoiced exceedingly more for the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all. For if in anything I have boasted to him about you, I am not ashamed. But as we spoke all things to you in truth, even so our boasting to Titus was found true. 2 Corinthians 7:13-14

In the context of raising an offering for suffering believers in Jerusalem, Paul wrote this to the Corinthian church –

But thanks be to God who puts the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus. For he not only accepted the exhortation, but being more diligent, he went to you of his own accord. And we have sent with him the brother whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches, and not only that, but who was also chosen by the churches to travel with us with this gift, which is administered by us to the glory of the Lord Himself and to show your ready mind, avoiding this: that anyone should blame us in this lavish gift which is administered by us— providing honorable things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men. And we have sent with them our brother whom we have often proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, because of the great confidence which we have in you. If anyone inquires about Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker concerning you. Or if our brethren are inquired about, they are messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ. Therefore show to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love and of our boasting on your behalf. 2 Corinthians 8:16-24

Paul also mentioned Titus in the context of the apostle’s love for the Corinthian church –

Now for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be burdensome to you; for I do not seek yours, but you. For the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children. And I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved. But be that as it may, I did not burden you. Nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you by cunning! Did I take advantage of you by any of those whom I sent to you? I urged Titus, and sent our brother with him. Did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not walk in the same spirit? Did we not walk in the same steps? Again, do you think that we excuse ourselves to you? We speak before God in Christ. But we do all things, beloved, for your edification. For I fear lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I wish, and that I shall be found by you such as you do not wish; lest there be contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, backbitings, whisperings, conceits, tumults; lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and I shall mourn for many who have sinned before and have not repented of the uncleanness, fornication, and lewdness which they have practiced. 2 Corinthians 12:14-21

Titus and the Cretans

After Paul was released from imprisonment in Rome, he proceeded on what some have called his ‘fourth missionary journey.’ Those journeys are not recorded in the Book of Acts, but we know some of what he did through his letters to Titus and Timothy.

Paul and Titus apparently traveled together through various cities on the Ancient Greek island of Crete. It was located in the Eastern Mediterranean. After preaching the Gospel and establishing churches in various cities on the island, Paul traveled to other areas and left Titus on Crete –

For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you. Titus 1:5

We looked at the qualifications for elder/overseers in the last part of our series. What I’d like to share here is what Paul expected those leaders to do in each of the churches. Keep in mind that the members of 1st century churches are not unlike members of 21st century churches. People are people. Different times, but similar challenges. Take note of what Paul told Titus to tell the elder/overseers to do. It’s what today’s leaders need to do as well –

  • For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain.
  • rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn from the truth.
  • speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine
  • the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience
  • the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things— that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.
  • exhort the young men to be sober-minded
  • in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you.
  • Exhort bondservants to be obedient to their own masters, to be well pleasing in all things, not answering back, not pilfering, but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.
  • denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age
  • looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.
  • Speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you.
  • Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work
  • to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men. 
  • those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.
  • avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless.
  • Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned.
  • let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful.

I think you’ll agree with me that this is quite a list for God’s people to do. One of the primary reasons established the elder/overseer system was because multiple leaders would be necessary in every church to lead people to obey God’s will.

Jesus Christ is our ‘Pattern.’ The apostles followed Christ’s pattern and became a pattern for the early church. The apostles gave authority to people like Titus and Timothy to select the men who would become leaders in each church. Those elder/overseers were to be ‘patterns’ of how Jesus wanted His people to believe and behave.

It really is fairly simple system. Just follow the pattern. Follow Christ. Follow the teachings of the apostles. Easy to say, but difficult to do. Why? Because our ‘human nature’ rebels against being told what to believe and how to behave. God knows that and established an ‘orderly’ path for Christians to follow.

Finishing the Race

Paul wrote Titus that he would send Artemas or Tychicus to Crete to continue the work Titus had started. Once they arrived, Paul wanted Titus to join him at Nicopolis, “for I have decided to spend the winter there.” We know that at some point Paul was arrested again and returned to Rome where he would die a martyr’s death.

We read about that in Paul’s second letter to Timothy. Paul was in prison and knew that his time to ‘depart’ was near at hand. The apostle had glorified God and finished the work Jesus had given him to do –

For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 2 Timothy 4:6-7

Paul told Timothy to “Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 1:13).

Paul asked Timothy to be diligent in coming to him as quickly as he could. Demas had forsaken Paul, “having loved this present world.” Only Luke was with Paul at the time. Where was Titus? Paul had sent him to Dalmatia. Paul sent Tychicus to Ephesus. Paul also asked Timothy to bring John Mark with him. It is so good to know that the division that Mark had caused between Paul and Barnabas years earlier had apparently been resolved.

It was time for Paul to depart for Heaven. He did what Jesus called him to do back in Acts 9 –

… he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. 

Paul’s Legacy

Paul left the Church a great legacy, a ‘pattern’ for living Christian in the present age. He didn’t just talk or write about it. Paul lived it. He lived it in private as well as public. Titus, Timothy, and others who worked closely with Paul saw how he lived out the commands of Christ. They watched as Paul carried the deep concern of all the churches (2 Corinthians 11:28). They knew that Paul was the ‘real deal.’

We have Paul’s apostolic commands, his letters, his openness and honesty about being sold out to Jesus Christ. We know how he resolved serious divisions in local churches; how he brought about repentance and healing. We witnessed how important ‘unity and order’ were to both Paul and to God. The Church needs to reconsider what Paul taught then and what he continues to teach now. Remember, Paul wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Paul wasn’t ‘making stuff up’ as he traveled from town to town, church to church. The Spirit of Almighty God spoke to Paul in a way that only a small number of men have ever experienced. Paul saw things and heard things that God would not allow him to reveal (2 Corinthians 12:4).

Elders/overseers – check your qualifications. Are they what God demands? Check your responsibilities? Are they what God demands? If so, that is wonderful. Your people are blessed to have you in church leadership. If not, then ask yourself a serious question. Are you willing to become the man God wants to use in His Church? If you are, what do you need to do or change to qualify for the work God has given you to finish? What steps are you ready to take to be able to say with Paul one day?

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing. 2 Timothy 4:7-8

Next Time

There is one more division concerning elder/overseers that I think we need to address. I came across it early in my Christian life and it drove me to the Scriptures to find the answers. You may wonder about it as well. Can women serve the church as elder/overseers? We’ll take a look at that in the next part of our series, Order in the Court of the King!

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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