FOREWORD

The person and character of Titus provide a fascinating theme for study of the young man Titus. It would appear that he and Timothy were probably of the same age. Timothy was not to let anyone despise his youth and Titus was not to let anyone despise him (I Tim 4:12; Titus 2:15). Titus was of Gentile parents, but unlike Timothy, was not compelled to be circumcised (Gal. 2:3). Whilst he is not mentioned in the Book of Acts, we can work out quite a biography of him from the Epistles, and of course from the Epistle addressed to him by Paul. In the text of this present commentary, we have contrasted him with Timothy and so we will not enter into the subject here, except to say he seems 'to be a stronger character than Timothy (cf. I Cor. 16:10; II Cor. 7:15)—for the Corinthians received Titus with 'fear and trembling'.

Certainly Paul depended quite a lot on him. Calling him 'my true child in a common faith; Paul shows us that Titus came to the truth through him. Like Timothy he must have learned much from his spiritual father and older brother, yet it is his appointment as an 'apostolic delegate' to the Island of Crete which is impressive. There, he was to appoint elders in every town, he was to 'amend what is defective; i.e. in doctrine and practice, and he was to take a people who were quarrelsome by nature, and mould them–through the word of grace–into a loving community.

It is precisely here that the Epistle is of value today. especially to those in pastoral ministry. Directions for the choice of elders, advice to the different levels of the social community and directions for discipline within the community of Christ, are as relevant for today as they were then. Behind it all is the sweet and wholesome ‘word of grace' which was to transform and domesticate–in the good sense of that term–a difficult race of persons whom Paul, quoting a Cretan poet, called 'liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons'. If Titus could do that in his day, then how close to the mark is it for our day!

I trust that this simple little commentary may be of use to pastors, teachers, leaders of study groups and to those of us who love the word of God, and who are grateful to Paul the Apostle on so many levels for his clarity of thought, his keen discernment of the human dilemma and his boldness of exhortation.