A Biblical Theology of Titus
The letter to Titus, one of the three Pastoral Epistles, provides a concise yet powerful picture of how the Gospel shapes church life and public witness. Written to Paul’s co-worker on the island of Crete, it emphasizes leadership, godly living, and the grace of God revealed in Christ. A biblical theology of Titus highlights the way salvation produces transformation, leading to both personal holiness and communal stability. The letter shows how the Gospel equips the church to live faithfully between Christ’s first appearing and his future return.
1. Authorship and Context
Titus begins with Paul identifying himself as “a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ” (1:1). Early Christian tradition consistently attributed the letter to Paul, though modern scholarship has debated this. The setting is clear: Paul left Titus in Crete to “put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town” (1:5).
Crete was known in the ancient world for moral corruption (1:12). Against this backdrop, Paul’s instructions aim to establish healthy churches marked by sound teaching and godly leadership. The context shapes the biblical theology of Titus: the Gospel must not only save but also reform lives in a culture prone to dishonesty and immorality.
2. Leadership and Sound Doctrine
A major emphasis of Titus is the appointment of qualified leaders. Elders must be above reproach, faithful to their families, hospitable, self-controlled, and firmly committed to sound teaching (1:6–9). Unlike worldly leaders, their authority is grounded in character and fidelity to the Gospel.
The emphasis on sound doctrine is vital because false teachers were already present in Crete, spreading myths and stirring up division (1:10–14). Leaders must “hold firm to the trustworthy word” so they can give instruction and refute opponents (1:9).
In biblical theology, Titus underscores that leadership in the church is not optional but necessary for preserving the truth of the Gospel and guiding God’s people in holiness.
3. The Grace of God and Salvation
At the heart of Titus is the proclamation of God’s saving grace. In 2:11–14, Paul declares: “The grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people.” This grace trains believers to renounce ungodliness and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives as they await “our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.”
Here the Gospel is both past and future: Christ’s first appearing brought redemption, and his second appearing will bring final glory. Between these two epiphanies, the church lives in holiness.
Titus 3:4–7 further summarizes salvation: “He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit.” This passage highlights justification by grace and the Spirit’s transforming work. Biblical theology in Titus centers salvation in God’s initiative, fulfilled in Christ, and applied by the Spirit.
4. Godliness and Good Works
A striking feature of Titus is the repeated call to good works. Believers are to be “zealous for good works” (2:14) and to “be ready for every good work” (3:1). Paul stresses that these works do not save—salvation is by grace alone (3:5)—but they flow naturally from the new life in Christ.
Good works serve two purposes in biblical theology. First, they express gratitude for God’s grace. Second, they provide a compelling witness to the surrounding culture. In Crete, where dishonesty and immorality were common, the church’s godliness was a testimony to the transforming power of the Gospel.
This shows the covenant pattern of redemption: God redeems his people by grace, and they respond by walking in holiness, displaying his character before the nations.
5. The Church’s Public Witness
Titus emphasizes that the church’s conduct shapes how outsiders view the Gospel. Older men and women, younger men and women, and slaves are all exhorted to live in ways that “adorn the doctrine of God our Savior” (2:10). Believers are to be submissive to rulers, gentle, and courteous to all (3:1–2).
This concern reflects the eschatological role of the church as God’s covenant people in the world. By living in holiness, the church previews the coming kingdom and bears witness to the salvation that will one day be revealed in fullness.
Biblical theology in Titus reminds us that the Gospel is not only a message to be believed but also a life to be embodied. The church, as God’s household, demonstrates the reality of salvation by its public conduct.
6. Christ as God and Savior
One of the most significant theological statements in Titus is found in 2:13, which speaks of “our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.” Here the full deity of Christ is affirmed explicitly. The same Lord who appeared in humility will appear again in glory, bringing final redemption.
This confession ties the letter’s teaching directly to the larger biblical story: Jesus is the divine Savior who fulfills God’s promises and secures salvation for his people. His identity grounds the church’s mission and its hope.
In biblical theology, Titus thus contributes to Christology by presenting Jesus not only as the mediator of salvation but also as God himself, worthy of worship and obedience.
Conclusion
A biblical theology of Titus highlights the centrality of grace, the necessity of godly leadership, and the call to good works as the fruit of salvation. It portrays the church as God’s household, entrusted with the truth of the Gospel and called to display that truth through holy living.
Titus reminds the church that salvation is entirely by grace, but that grace transforms lives and communities. The letter holds together doctrine and practice, faith and works, past redemption and future hope. In this way, Titus reveals the Gospel as the power of God that brings salvation and equips his people to live faithfully until the appearing of Christ.
