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The Gospel has been preached and communities established for several decades; it is now that the first real problems begin. Some Christians, doubtless of Jewish origin, are mingling with the Gospel some theories propagated by rather marginal Jewish groups. The relaxed morals of paganism are also infiltrating the communities. It has become necessary to remind people that Christian salvation has been brought by the coming of Christ. It has also become necessary to sketch the main lines of proper behavior in everyday private and social life. Finally, it has become necessary to provide the Churches with an organization.
The First Letter to Timothy and the Letter to Titus deal with the same problems. The tone is sometimes peremptory in reminding people that Christian convictions must be translated into practical behavior.
If we accept the attribution of this Letter to Paul, it would date from A.D. 64 or 65 and be addressed to Titus, Paul’s personal delegate on the island of Crete. Paul relies on Titus to give the communities a solid organization and to combat those who are falsifying the word of God.
Titus was a Gentile Christian converted by Paul (see Tit 1:4) who became one of his most helpful coworkers. The Apostle took him along to Jerusalem when he went there to meet the leaders of the Church and discuss his Gospel (see 2 Tim 2:8). The leaders accepted Titus as a Christian without imposing circumcision on him, thereby vindicating Paul’s teaching (see Gal 2:3-5).
There is no reference in Acts to Titus, but he is mentioned 13 times in the rest of the New Testament. Titus worked with Paul at Ephesus on his Third Missionary Journey and possibly his Fourth (see Introduction to First Timothy). From there the Apostle sent him to assist the Church at Corinth (see 2 Cor 2:12f; 7:5f; 8:6), where he courageously and tactfully carried out his mission of reconciliation (see 2 Cor 7:6-16).
Upon Paul’s release from his first Roman imprisonment, he and Titus worked in Crete (see Tit 1:5). When Paul departed, he left Titus behind to continue the work (Tit 1:5; 2:15; 3:12f).
In the present Letter, Paul asks Titus to bring his ministry in Crete to a close. To do so, Titus must organize the churches (Tit 1:5-9), oppose the false teachers (Tit 1:10-14; 3:9-11), and instruct the churches on genuine Christian conduct (Tit 2:1—3:8). When his replacement arrives, Titus is to meet Paul at Nicopolis on the west coast of Greece (Tit 3:12).
The Letter to Titus may be divided as follows:
I: Salutation (1:1-4)
II: Church Organization (1:5-16)
III: Proper Conduct for Christians (2:1—3:11)
IV: Conclusion (3:12-15)