Introduction

By Matt Wallace

Titus was a busy young man. There are several indications in Scripture which show he was an active part of the gospel work in Macedonia (2 Corinthians 7:6), Corinth (2 Corinthians 8:6), Greece (Titus 3:12), and Dalmatia (2 Timothy 4:10; Dalmatia is modern day Croatia), to name a few.

He is primarily associated with Paul’s work among the Gentiles, as he himself was a Greek convert, Galatians 2:1-5.

He seemed to be very close to Paul and is generally considered a vital part of his ministry and the early church.

The book which bears his name is Paul’s letter to Titus while on mission to the island of Crete.

Questions for Discussion

1. When is it important to be a good listener? When do you want people to listen to you?

2. Who are some people that you listen to?

a. What qualities do they possess that make you want to listen to them?

b. Why are those qualities meaningful to you?

3. Read Titus 1:1-9

a. What kind of work was Titus to do in Crete?

b. What role would the people described play in Titus’s ministry? How would they help him?

c. How important was this to the early church?

4. Read Titus 1:10-2:1

a. What were some of the challenges to Titus’s work?

b. How is this similar to issues that we face today? How was it different?

c. Titus’s church was segmented primarily between Jews and Gentiles. How is our church segmented today, if at all? What about THE Church?

5. Read Titus 2:1-10

a. What is ‘sound doctrine’? Why does it apply for Titus’s situation? What role does sound doctrine play in our lives?

b. Why does Paul emphasize these groups (old men/women, etc.) and their qualities in this situation?

c. Who is the opposition party mentioned in verse 8?

6. Read Titus 2:11-15

a. How does Paul expect the people of Crete to react to Titus? Are they going to listen to him?

b. Who is our opposition today? Why should they listen to anything we have to say?

c. If you were in this situation, what about Paul’s instruction would be comforting? What would be intimidating?

7. Read Titus 3:1-11

a. Why should Titus emphasize good works over ‘debates, genealogies, quarrels, and disputes about the law’? Do actions really speak louder than words?

b. After reading the above verses, was Titus’s work only to establish elders?

c. Do you think it is important to know our elders, interact with them regularly, and/or support them? Why?

d. What is the significance of verses 3 through 7? I encourage you to read it again. How does this tie the letter together?