by Travis Coffey
Paul’s letter to Titus was written in the second half of the first century (approximately 67 AD). Like most of Paul’s letters, it is a short and personal letter written in response to a particular situation in a particular place at a particular time. In other words, this is not a well-argued theological document. It’s an email.
Paul’s letters show us that there’s one strong similarity between church today and the first churches trying to follow Christ: it’s difficult. Titus was the overseer of many churches who had a big reputation for being troublemakers, liars, and thieves. These were groups of Christians who got into petty debates, drank too much, and stepped out of bounds in regards to their spouses.
Despite their obvious moral failings, the key issue for Paul and Titus in most of these churches was preaching and protecting right doctrine. Paul believed right beliefs would lead to right behaviors, so if Titus could correct peoples’ thinking, then their relationships, morality, and testimony would be corrected, also.