INTRODUCTION
Author
1:1 The writer called himself Paul.
He saw himself as a servant of God.
He was an apostle of Jesus Christ.
His work was in the interest of the faith of God’s elect and the knowledge of the truth.
1:3 He preached the word that was entrusted to him by the command of God.
1:5 He left Titus in Crete to complete work he did not get done.
1:10, 11 He believed that rebellious deceivers should be silenced.
1:16 He believed that a person’s deeds proved whether they knew God or not.
2:1-10. He believed that some doctrine is sound and other is not sound, and that sound doctrine set forth a pattern for Christian conduct.
2:11 Subjected himself to the word of God, and did not subject it to himself.
2:13 He waited for the coming of Christ.
2:15 He believed a preacher had authority to teach, encourage, and rebuke.
3:3 He acknowledged that he also was once foolish, disobedient, deceived, and enslaved to passions, and that only by God’s mercy he was saved.
3:12 He planned to send Artemas or Tychicus to Titus, so Titus could join him at Nicopolis, where he planned to winter.
3:13, 14 He encouraged the support of missionaries.
3:15 He was sensitive to the love of the brethren.
Interpretive Summary: The writer was Paul. Paul described himself as an apostle and servant of God (1:1). He had the message of God entrusted to him by God (1:3). He believed in absolute truth, that there is truth and whatever is contrary to it is error. He treated sound doctrine as a pattern for Christian conduct. He also felt that rebellious deceivers should be silenced by those who love and teach the truth. He believed this so strongly that he subjected himself to the word of God; he did not subject it to his control and change it. He acknowledged that he was once a foolish, disobedient sinner who had been deceived, and that he was saved only by the mercy of God. He not only loved truth, but he loved the brethren and wanted them to love him.
Recipient
1:4 – Paul wrote to Titus.
Titus was Paul’s son in the faith.
He was apparently under the training of Paul as a minister.
2:1, 3, 6, 9, 15; 3:1 – He was charged to teach God’s form of conduct to Christians.
3:3, 4 – He was also himself a sinner, and was saved by the mercy of God.
3:9 – He was to avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, arguments, and quarrels about the law, and such unprofitable activity.
3:10 – He was to avoid rebellious people.
3:11 – He could be sure about the character of people–know them by their activities.
3:12 – He was to go to Paul at Nicopolis.
3:13 – He was to encourage missionaries.
3:13, 14 – He was to teach the church to be mission minded.
Interpretive Summary: The letter was written to Titus, who was apparently under Paul’s guidance as a minister (1:4). Paul considered Titus as his son in the faith (1:4). Titus was charged to teach God’s form of Christian conduct (2:1, 3, 6, 9, 15; 3:1). He was to avoid controversies, genealogies, arguments, and quarrels about the law, and all unprofitable activity (3:9). He was also charged to avoid rebellious people (3:10). Finally, he was to be a promoter of mission work (3:13-14).
Occasion
1:5 Some work in Crete had been left unfinished.
1:5-9 Crete needed elders appointed to instruct and refute some who opposed sound doctrine.
1:5-9 The church needed guidance concerning God’s plan for church organization and leadership.
1:10, 16 There were rebellious people who were deceivers called the “circumcision group.”
1:16 These deceivers claimed to know God, but denied Him by their deeds.
2:1 The church in Crete needed to be instructed in sound doctrine.
2:2 The older men needed instruction in Christian conduct.
2:3 The older women needed instruction in their proper conduct.
2:6 The young men needed instruction in Christian behavior.
2:9 Christian slaves needed instructions in conduct toward their masters.
2:12 Some appear to have been slipping into ungodliness, worldly passions, a lack of self control, and ungodly behavior.
3:1 Some appear to have been insubordinate to rulers and authorities.
3:1, 2 Some were apparently disobedient, not performing good works, slanderous, not peaceable and considerate, and not humble.
3:3 There appears to have been some who were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by passions and pleasure, living in malice and envy, and hating one another.
3:10 There appears to have been some divisive activity going on.
3:12 Paul was planning to winter at Nicopolis and wanted to see Titus there.
3:14 The Christians seemed to lack commitment to missions.
Interpretive Summary: The book reveals that the writer was training and guiding a young man in Christian ministry. As a minister Titus faced many problems. Paul had left him in Crete to appoint elders and to oppose false teachers who were working (1:5-16). There were rebellious people who formed a “circumcision group,” so the church needed instruction in sound doctrine (1:10, 16; 2:1). There were also Christians who needed instruction regarding proper Christian conduct (2:2-12). Various groups needed special instruction concerning how to best serve God. Some seem to have been drifting into ungodliness. There appears to have been divisions developing among them (3:3). There also seems to have been a lack of missionary zeal among these Christians (3:14).
Purpose
1:5, 6 Paul wrote to instruct Titus concerning how to perform his work in Crete: to tell him how to perform what was left undone and whom to appoint as elders.
1:6ff Paul gave a plan or pattern concerning who should be appointed as elders.
1:11 Paul wanted the rebellious and deceivers of the circumcision group to be silenced.
2:1 Paul wanted Titus to teach sound doctrine about the conduct of older men, older women, young men, an slaves.
2:14 Paul wanted the Christians to know that the grace of God taught proper conduct.
2:15 Paul wanted Titus to teach, encourage, and rebuke.
3:8 Paul wanted Titus to stress proper conduct.
3:9 Paul wanted Titus to know to avoid particular sins.
3:10 Titus was to warn and discipline divisive teachers.
3:14 Paul wanted Christians to learn to support missions.
3:15 Paul sent greetings to those who loved them.
Interpretive Summary: Paul wrote to instruct Titus concerning how to perform his work in Crete (1:5-6). Thus, he told him how to perform the work he had left undone (1:5-16). Paul also wanted the deceivers of the “circumcision group” to be silenced. Moreover, he wanted Titus to know how to conduct his life and to teach others by word and example in godly living. He charged him to discipline divisive teachers. Finally, he wanted Timothy to teach the church to support missions.
A Structural Analysis – Formed by (1) summarizing each paragraph in one sentence, (2) grouping paragraph summaries into groups that relate to common themes, (3) writing more general summaries of groups summaries, and writing even a more general summary of all group summaries. Thus, we arrive at the thesis, the major-points that support the thesis, and the sub-points that support the major-points.
OUTLINE
PAUL’S LETTER TO TITUS
One-Sentence Summaries of Paragraphs (NIV)
¶ 1 Paul greeted Titus as he wrote to exercise his apostleship by promoting faith and knowledge (1:1-4).
¶ 2 Paul left Titus at Crete to complete work that was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town (1:5-9).
¶ 3 Paul wanted Titus to silence deceivers who were troubling the churches by rebuking them sharply (1:10-16)
¶ 4 Paul wanted Titus to teach the older men their duties (2:1, 2).
¶ 5 Paul wanted Titus to teach the older women their duties (2:3-5).
¶ 6 Paul wanted Titus to teach the young men their duties (2:6-8).
¶ 7 Paul wanted Titus to teach the slaves their duties (2:9-10).
¶ 8 Paul wanted Titus to teach all Christians their duties (2:11-14).
¶ 9 Paul wanted Titus to stress that all Christians were all involved in foolishness, disobedience, and slavery to passion in the past, but we are now saved by mercy so all will be devoted to doing good (3:1-8).
¶ 10 Paul wanted Titus to avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, arguments, and q uarrels about the law because these are unprofitable and useless (3:9-11).
¶ 11 Paul told Titus about his plans to winter at Nicopolis and his desire to come there (3:12-15).
Paragraph Summaries Grouped and Summarized into One-Sentence Summaries
¶ 1 Paul greeted Titus as he wrote to exercise his apostleship by promoting faith and knowledge (1:1-4).
Summary of Thematic-Group 2 (paragraphs 2 & 3): Paul left Titus at Crete to set in order some matters left unfinished (1:5-16).
¶ 2 Paul left Titus at Crete to complete work that was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town (1:5-9).
¶ 3 Paul wanted Titus to silence deceivers who were troubling the churches by rebuking them sharply (1:10-16)
Summary of Thematic-Group 3 (paragraphs 4-7): Paul wanted Titus to teach sound doctrine by teaching specific groups their special duties (2:1-10).
¶ 4 Paul wanted Titus to teach the older men their duties (2:1, 2).
¶ 5 Paul wanted Titus to teach the older women their duties (2:3-5).
¶ 6 Paul wanted Titus to teach the young men their duties (2:6-8).
¶ 7 Paul wanted Titus to teach the slaves their duties (2:9-10).
Summary of Thematic-Group 4 (paragraphs 8-10): Paul wanted Titus to perform his ministerial duties by teaching Christians in general their duties (2:11-3:11).
¶ 8 Paul wanted Titus to teach all Christians their duties (2:11-14).
¶ 9 Paul wanted Titus to stress that all Christians were all involved in foolishness, disobedience, and slavery to passion in the past, but we are now saved by mercy so all will be devoted to doing good (3:1-8).
¶ 10 Paul wanted Titus to avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, arguments, and q uarrels about the law because these are unprofitable and useless (3:9-11).
¶ 11 Paul told Titus about his plans to winter at Nicopolis and his desire to come there (3:12-15).
Titus
One-Sentence Summary of All Thematic Groups
Summary of Group 1 (just paragraph 1) Paul greeted Titus as he wrote to exercise his apostleship by promoting faith and knowledge (1:1-4).
Summary of Group 2 (paragraphs 2 & 3): Paul left Titus at Crete to set in order some matters left unfinished (1:5-16).
Summary of Group 3 (paragraphs 4-7): Paul wanted Titus to teach sound doctrine by teaching to specific groups their special duties (2:1-10).
Summary of Group 4 (paragraphs 8-10): Paul wanted Titus to perform his ministerial duties by teaching Christians in general their duties (2:11-3:11).
¶ 11 Paul told Titus about his plans to winter at Nicopolis and his desire to come there (3:12-15).
Summary of all Group Summaries: Paul charged Titus to set the church in order by appointing elders, stopping the work of false teachers, and instructing the Christians in how to carry out their (1:1-3:15).
Titus
All Summaries Compiled into a Paragraph Outline
Introductory Greeting: Paul greeted Titus as he wrote to exercise his apostleship by promoting faith and knowledge (1:1-5).
INTRODUCTION:
I. Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, wrote this letter to Titus.
II. Paul wrote this letter to Titus (5).
III. Thesis: Paul charged Titus to set the church in order by appointing elders, stopping the work of false teachers, and instructing the Christians in how to carry out their work (1:1-3:15).
DISCUSSION:
I. Paul left Titus at Crete to set in order some matters left unfinished (1:5-16).
A. Paul left Titus at Crete to complete work that was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town (1:5-9).
B. Paul wanted Titus to silence deceivers who were troubling the churches by rebuking them sharply (1:10-16).
II. Paul wanted Titus to teach sound doctrine by teaching to specific groups their special duties (2:1-10).
A. Paul wanted Titus to teach the older men their duties (2:1, 2).
B. Paul wanted Titus to teach the older women their duties (2:3-5).
C. Paul wanted Titus to teach the young men their duties (2:6-8).
D. Paul wanted Titus to teach the slaves their duties (2:9-10).
III. Paul wanted Titus to perform his ministerial duties by teaching Christians in general their duties (2:11-3:11).
A. Paul wanted Titus to teach all Christians grace teaches duties (2:11-14).
B. Paul wanted Titus to stress that all Christians were all involved in foolishness, disobedience, and slavery to passion in the past, but we are now saved by mercy so all will be devoted to doing good (3:1-8).
C. Paul wanted Titus to avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, arguments, and q uarrels about the law because these are unprofitable and useless (3:9-11).
CONCLUSION: Paul told Titus about his plans to winter at Nicopolis and his desire for Titus to meet him there (3:12-15).
