Titus was a Gentile convert to the Christian faith who became one of Paul’s assistants in his missionary work. The letter was written while Titus was a pastor on the island of Crete in the Mediterranean. Paul had left Titus on the island to supervise the gospel work there.
The letter expresses three concerns of Paul.
- First, church leaders must have a high and trustworthy character in contrast to the characters of many residents on the island.
- Second, Titus is given some ideas on how to teach the various groups in the church—the older men and women, the younger men, and the slaves.
- And third, Paul gives Titus some general advice about the need to be peaceful and friendly avoid such things as hatred, endless arguments, and the various divisions that sometimes sprang up in the church.