Titus: Sound Doctrine and Good Works

Titus at a Glance

Titus is three short chapters to a pastor facing a hard assignment. It is the third of the Pastoral Epistles, and it holds some of the clearest statements of salvation by grace in the New Testament.

• Author. Paul (Titus 1:1).
• Date. About AD 63–65, between 1 Timothy and 2 Timothy. Paul planned to winter at Nicopolis (Titus 3:12).
• Written To. Titus, Paul's own son after the common faith (Titus 1:4). Titus was a Gentile who had worked with Paul for years (Galatians 2:3; 2 Corinthians 8:23).
• Setting. Paul had left Titus on the island of Crete that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city (Titus 1:5). False teachers were upsetting households (Titus 1:10–11).
• Key Verse. the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts and to live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world (Titus 2:11–12).
• Key Word or Theme. Sound doctrine and good works. Paul returns to good works again and again (Titus 1:16; Titus 2:7; Titus 2:14; Titus 3:1; Titus 3:8; Titus 3:14).