Titus 1

What’s Happening?

The island of Crete was a strategic port for the Roman Empire. People from all over the world visited this island. So the apostle Paul started a church there and left his protege Titus in charge. But Crete was also notorious for its rebellious, violent, and immoral culture (Titus 1:12). And in Paul’s absence, a group of Cretan teachers began to influence Titus’ church.

These teachers were making money off a false understanding of what it means to be godly in an ungodly world (Titus 1:10-11). Among other things, they claimed that faith is not enough to become a godly follower of Jesus, but being circumcised is. In a culture where public bathhouses and restrooms were common, this would have a fairly public display of a man’s religious conviction. It would be public proof you were more godly than your culture. 

But Paul tells Titus to correct them sharply (Titus 1:13). This doctrine is a denial of the salvation that appeared in Jesus (Titus 1:3). God has already revealed the truth that circumcision is not necessary to become a godly member of his family (Titus 1:1-2). And public displays of religious identity aren’t how God transforms cultures. These teachers are liars. Their teachings prove that they truly don’t know God or what he wants (Titus 1:15-16). Despite their claim that circumcision marks you as godly, Paul understands performative circumcision as a denial of Jesus and his message. This makes these teachers just as immoral as the Cretan culture they claim they’re different from (Titus 1:12).

Titus must appoint capable leaders to both teach against these false teachers and demonstrate true godliness (Titus 1:5). They should be known for their blamelessness and faithfulness to their families (Titus 1:6). Unlike their opponents, these leaders should not use their leadership to get rich, but as a public opportunity to be rich in gentleness, self-restraint, and hospitality (Titus 1:7). But most importantly, these leaders must also confidently teach the truth that both salvation and godliness are found in Jesus alone (Titus 1:9).

Where is the Gospel?

We have no shortage of teachers today who suggest, often with good intentions, that the mark of a godly follower of Jesus in an ungodly world is something more than trusting Jesus. And public displays of our godliness is not the way God intends us to combat the ungodliness of our world. The truth is Jesus has appeared to save us and our ungodly world all on his own (John 3:16). Adding any necessary behavior to this message is to make the same mistake as the Cretan teachers. The message that our salvation and godliness has appeared in Jesus is enough. And believing and teaching that this is true is what it means to be godly in an ungodly world.

That means, like Titus, we also should choose leaders for our churches that believe and teach this. We should refuse to put people in power who claim that certain religious practices or political beliefs are necessary to be godly in our ungodly world. Instead we should choose pastors, ministers, and church leaders who refuse to dilute the good news of Jesus and who live public lives that reflect that fact.

Jesus is the true leader of God’s global Church. He won’t fail to sharply correct leaders who compromise his message with moral performance. And as our ultimate good leader, he will not fail to teach us the truth even when others refuse (John 16:13). His salvation has appeared and he offers eternal life that makes us godly by trusting him alone.

See for Yourself

I pray that the Holy Spirit will open your eyes to see the God who saves. And may you see Jesus as the one who freely appeared to make his people godly in an ungodly world.