Titus

Titus (Greek Titos, "honorable" or "pleasing") was a Gentile believer and one of the apostle Paul's most trusted co-workers — a capable troubleshooter and church-organizer whose career became a living demonstration that the gospel saves Gentiles apart from the law of Moses. Though never mentioned in Acts, he appears in several of Paul's letters as an emissary entrusted with delicate and weighty missions, and as the recipient of one of the Pastoral Epistles.

Titus first emerges as a test case for the gospel's freedom. Paul took him, an uncircumcised Greek, up to the Jerusalem council, and pointedly refused to have him circumcised, so that "the truth of the gospel might be preserved" for the Gentiles (Galatians 2:1–5). His very person thus embodied the principle Paul defended — that righteousness comes by faith in Christ, not by works of the law. Paul calls him "my true child in a common faith" (Titus 1:4), suggesting Titus may have been one of his converts.

Titus proved especially valuable in the painful affair between Paul and the Corinthian church. Paul sent him to Corinth amid deep conflict, and was so anxious for news that he "had no rest" until Titus returned (2 Corinthians 2:13); the report of the Corinthians' repentance and renewed affection brought Paul great comfort (2 Corinthians 7:6–7). Paul then entrusted Titus with completing the collection for the poor saints in Jerusalem, commending his earnestness and integrity in handling the money (2 Corinthians 8:16–17; 2 Corinthians 8:23), where he calls him "my partner and fellow worker for your benefit."

Later Paul left Titus on the island of Crete to "put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town," amid a difficult population and false teachers (Titus 1:5). The letter to Titus instructs him in appointing qualified elders, refuting error, and teaching "sound doctrine" that bears fruit in godly living among every group in the church, all grounded in the grace of God that "has appeared, bringing salvation for all people" (Titus 2:11). Paul asked Titus to rejoin him at Nicopolis (Titus 3:12), and in his final imprisonment notes that Titus had gone on to Dalmatia (2 Timothy 4:10). Across these missions Titus stands as a model of the faithful Gentile servant — trustworthy with people and money alike, and proof that in Christ the wall between Jew and Gentile has come down.