Who Was Titus?

Titus was a beloved missionary and pastor who served with the Apostle Paul. Not much is known about his life except what can be derived from Paul's letter to him bearing his name and a few other isolated references. He was Greek (Gal. 2:3) convert to Christianity. There is no specific reference in Scripture as to how they met. But Titus may have been led to Christ through Paul's ministry since he referred to Titus as "a true son in our common faith" (Titus 1:4, NIV).

In Paul's missionary journeys, we see Titus as an early ministry partner with Paul and Barnabas (Gal. 2:1). He was threatened with circumcision to placate the Jewish circumcision group, but Paul insisted that he not sink to their level (Gal. 2:3-4). He was missed in Troas by the Apostle Paul (2 Cor. 2:12-13). Later, he met Paul in Macedonia bringing news of the spiritual state of the church at Corinth (2 Cor. 7:6-7). Titus was filled with joy and affection for the people at Corinth (2 Cor. 7:13-15). This affection was similar to Paul's for this church (2 Cor. 8:16). Paul was delighted that Titus decided on his own to go back to Corinth and receive the offering for the saints who suffered in Jerusalem that was promised by the Corinthians (2 Cor. 8:6-12; 16-24).

Paul praised Titus as "my partner and fellow worker" (2 Cor. 8:23, NIV) having a like spirit and conduct (2 Cor. 12:18). Ordained as a pastor, he was appointed by Paul as senior pastor at the church in Crete (Titus 1:5). Paul considered Titus a trusted fellow worker (2 Cor. 8:23). So he left Titus to set things in order, establishing elders in every city on the island. Since Cretans were lazy and lacked integrity, Paul trusted Titus to select men of the highest character to bring integrity and discipline to the churches there (Titus 1:5-16). His emphasis to Titus was to proclaim sound doctrine in word (Titus 2:1) and deed (Titus 3:1,8).

The last reference to Titus is from Paul's last letter (2 Timothy) where he notes that Titus has gone to Dalmatia, the area occupied by the former Yugoslavia and Albania (2 Tim. 4:10).