Bible History
Picture Study Bible with Maps and Background Information
5. I left thee--"I left thee behind"
[ALFORD] when I left the island: not
implying permanence of commission (compare
1Ti 1:3).
in Crete--now Candia.
set in order--rather as Greek, "that thou mightest
follow up (the work begun by me), setting right the things that
are wanting," which I was unable to complete by reason of the shortness
of my stay in Crete. Christianity, doubtless, had long existed in
Crete: there were some Cretans among those who heard Peter's preaching
on Pentecost
(Ac 2:11).
The number of Jews in Crete was large
(Tit 1:10),
and it is likely that those scattered in the persecution of Stephen
(Ac 11:19)
preached to them, as they did to the Jews of Cyprus, &c. Paul also was
there on his voyage to Rome
(Ac 27:7-12).
By all these instrumentalities the Gospel was sure to reach Crete. But
until Paul's later visit, after his first imprisonment at Rome, the
Cretan Christians were without Church organization. This Paul began,
and had commissioned (before leaving Crete) Titus to go on with, and
now reminds him of that commission.
ordain--rather, "appoint," "constitute."
in every city--"from city to city."
as I . . . appointed thee--that is, as I directed
thee; prescribing as well the act of constituting elders, as
also the manner of doing so, which latter includes the
qualifications required in a presbyter presently stated. Those called
"elders" here are called "bishops" in
Tit 1:7.
Elder is the term of dignity in relation to the college
of presbyters; bishop points to the duties of his office
in relation to the flock. From the unsound state of the Cretan
Christians described here, we see the danger of the want of Church
government. The appointment of presbyters was designed to check idle
talk and speculation, by setting forth the "faithful word."
JFB.
The Book of Titus
Titus 1:4 - To Titus, [mine] own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, [and] peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.
Titus 3:5 - Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Titus in The New Testament - A Brief Overview
Painting of Paul the Apostle by Rembrandt - 1657
Introduction to The Book of Titus
Brief Summary. The Apostle Paul wrote to Titus an epistle to help him in leading the church against false teaching, and how to lead the church, as well as Christian living.
Summary of The Book of Titus
Purpose. Paul wrote his epistle to Titus because there was false teaching that had crept in to the church, and Paul desired to counsel Titus so that he could take the right course of action. He instructed Titus regarding the qualifications of an elder, how to deal with false teachers and the dangers they bring, and Paul also encourages him on living the Christian life.
Titus. Titus was a Gentile convert of the apostle Paul (Titus 1:4). There was a big debate in Jerusalem regarding Judaism and Christianity. The Jews in Jerusalem who were followers of Christ demanded that Titus be circumcised, and Paul resisted them because he wanted Titus to be an example of how Christ frees the believer from the law of Moses. Titus made two trips to Corinth to collect a contribution for the poor saints in Jerusalem and Paul commended him as a faithful helper (2 Corinthians 7-8).
Crete. When the apostle Paul was released from prison Titus had accompanied him, and Paul sent Titus to the island of Crete to help with the church there. The Cretans had a reputation of dishonesty, piracy, and loose morality. It is interesting to note that men from the island of Crete were in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost when God poured out his Spirit and the church was born (Acts 2). Paul had visited the island of Crete and observed all the immorality of the people there, and even the church was difficult to organize.
Author. Paul the apostle
Date. Shortly after 1 Timothy, about AD 64 or 65. The epistle was written in either Nicopolis, Thessalonica, or Philippi, or somewhere on the road to Nicopolis.
Outline of the Book of Titus
Church Organization - Chapter 1
Church Living - Chapter 2
Pastoral Ministry - Chapter 3
The Name Jesus In Ancient Hebrew Text
"Yeshua" in First Century Hebrew Text. This is how the name "Jesus"
would have been written in ancient Hebrew documents. The four letters or
consonants from right to left are Yod, Shin, Vav, Ayin (Y, SH, OO, A).
Jesus is the Greek name for the Hebrew name Joshua or Y'shua which means
"The LORD or Yahweh is Salvation".
Titus Maps and Resources
Map of the Roman Empire (14 A.D.) - This map reveals the Roman Empire during the time shortly after the birth of Jesus, in 14 AD at the time of the death of Augustus. The order which prevailed in this extensive empire, the good military roads, and the use of Koine Greek as the general language of culture throughout the area were among the factors which multiplied the rapid spread of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. (Color Map)
Map of Paul's First Missionary Journey (48 A.D.) - This map reveals the areas in Asia Minor where Paul visited in his first missionary journey. Around 48 AD, in the springtime, Paul and his companions Barnabas and Mark were sent on a mission from the church in Antioch. This would be the first of Paul's Missionary Journey's. (Color Map)
Map of Paul's Second Missionary Journey (51 A.D.) - This map reveals the areas in Asia and Greece where Paul visited in his second missionary journey. Paul re-visits a couple cities in Asia, one of which was Lystra where he was stoned and left for dead a few years earlier. He later has a vision that leads him over to Greece and Paul and his companions travel and minister in various cities in Greece (Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, Athens and Corinth. Later Paul returns to Ephesus and finally to Caesarea and Antioch. (Color Map)
Map of Paul's Third Missionary Journey (54 A.D.) - This map reveals the areas in Asia and Greece where Paul visited in his third missionary journey. On Paul's third missionary journey he returned to the cities he had first visited on his first missionary journey. During this time he decided to remain in Ephesus for about 3 years, and this city was the main focus of his activities and an important Christian community (Acts 19). (Color Map)
Map of the New Testament World - This map reveals the "Nations" within the ancient world during the first century A.D., the time of the New Testament. The map includes the areas of Israel, Asia, Greece, and Italy. (Color Map)
Map of New Testament Greece This map reveals the cities within Greece in the ancient world during the first century A.D.,The map includes the principal cities of Greece like: Athens, Corinth, and Thessalonica, and provinces like Macedonia and Achaia. (Color Map)
Map of New Testament Asia - This map shows the cities within
Asia Minor during the first century A.D., the time of the New
Testament. The map includes the principal cities of Asia
including Tarsus, Ephesus, and Colossae, and provinces like
Galatia and Pamphilia. (Color Map)