CHURCH 08 – Spiritual Leadership NT – Titus

CHURCH 08 - Spiritual Leadership NT: Titus

Titus as a relatively new believer

Gal 2:1-3                         Paul recounting a trip to Jerusalem                            47 AD

I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me … but even Titus, who was with me, was not compelled to be circumcised, though he was a Greek.

  • Titus was a Greek, not a Jew, so not circumcised. He was probably a relatively early convert from paganism (presumably) in the mixed Antioch church.
  • Paul recognizes leadership potential in him, taking him along on the ‘famine relief’, when the church of Antioch sent a donation to the suffering Jerusalem church (famine under Emperor Claudius in 47 AD, mentioned also in Roman history).
  • Paul, Barnabas and Titus were the delegation of the Antioch church, people who were willing to take the risk, travel with money at such a time, and were considered faithful with finances.
Titus as Paul's mediator in the Corinth conflict

1 & 2 Corinthians         Paul and Titus in the Corinthian Conflict                     55 AD

  • Around 55 AD Paul, currently in Ephesus, hears about major problems in the Corin-thian church (1 Cor 1:11, 16:17-18). He sends a letter to them (1 Corinthians), hoping to address the urgent issues up front until he has a chance to go himself.
  • The letter seems to not be accepted well by the church. Paul re-visits the Corinthian church urgently (changing his original travel plans).
  • The problems he encounters in the church are real, indeed, and escalate in such a way, that Paul has to unceremoniously flee Corinth and head back to Asia.
  • In his distress over the wayward church, Paul sends Titus back to Corinth as his representative, in the hope of re-establishing relationships with the Corinthian church.
  • Titus goes into this difficult situation and seems to be able to re-engage with the church and bring a change. Titus leaves Corinth to meet Paul again, bringing the good news about the Corinthians’ change of heart towards Paul.
  • Paul is greatly comforted and sends another letter to the Corinthians (2 Corinthians) by the hand of Titus. This letter as well as Titus’ further visit is to prepare the way for Paul to come back in.

2 Cor 2:13        But my mind could not rest because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I said farewell to them and went on to Macedonia.
2 Cor 7:6-7      But God , who consoled the downcast, consoled us by the arrival of Titus, and not only by his coming, but also by the consolation with which he was consoled about you, as he told us of your longing, your mourning your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced still more.
2 Cor 7:13-15  In this we find comfort. In addition to your own consolation, we rejoiced still more at the joy of Titus, because his mind had been set at rest by all of you. 14 For if I have been somewhat boastful about you to him, I was not disgraced; but just as everything we said to you was true, so our boasting to Titus has proved true as well. 15 And his heart goes out all the more to you as he remembers the obedience of all of you, and how you welcomed him with fear and trembling.

  • 2 Cor 7:14 seems to indicate that Titus didn’t know the Corinthians before this very difficult story. Why would Paul send him to Corinth, him specifically, over for example Timothy, who knew them and was the co-church planter of Corinth?
  • Clearly Paul thinks very highly of Titus and trusts him like few people. Otherwise he would not send him into what probably was one of the major ministry crises in Paul’s life. When all goes wrong, when he himself can’t go anymore he sends Titus.
  • What does this say about Titus? He must be a very trusted, trustworthy, diplomatic and sensitive person. He is of the same mind and heart as Paul, yet has a character qualities that allows him to be more ‘acceptable’ than Paul. He must be an excellent relator, a good listener, have a sense of fairness about him, easily winning people’s trust, careful in speech, probably skilled at counseling, somebody who sees the good in people, an encourager.
  • He must also have been very courageous, concerned, caring faithful, at peace with himself, hopeful for people to even engage in a situation as volatile as this. The chances of ‘burning his fingers’ are huge. Yet he goes. This is no job for a ‘softie’, though, the battle lines are hard, the slander enormous, the stakes high.
  • Titus seems to believe Paul’s ‘basically positive view’ of the church (2 Cor 7:14), and he is willing to give it his best. Maybe it’s also simply loyalty to Paul and the church in general. He has to be fully realistic, but not easily believing the worst. A cynic would not do good in this situation, neither a naive person. He has trust in God, he has trust in restoration and in people. He rejoices when things move the right direction (2 Cor 7:15), a good man rejoicing with the good. A trustworthy man willing to trust.

2 Cor 12:17-18       ‘Did I take advantage of you through any of those whom I sent to you? 18 I urged Titus to go, and sent the brother with him. Titus did not take advantage of you, did he? Did we not conduct ourselves with the same spirit? Did we not take the same steps?’

  • Paul, in his last words of this letter, makes himself accountable to the Corinthians for himself, and those he sends. He calls them to evaluate Titus’ character and behaviour.
  • This again shows just how high Paul’s trust in Titus is. He is utterly convinced that Titus’ behaviour was above reproach even in a very difficult, contentious and potentially volatile mission.

1 & 2 Corinthians         Titus conducts money matters at a difficult time           55-56 AD

  • At the same time where this conflict with Corinth blows up and a virtual take over of the church by some self-styled ‘super apostles’ is happening, a rather large money collection is also happening. Maybe that’s one reason some of these ulterior motivated ‘super apostles’ (2 Cor 11:5) were so so interested in this church.
  • Corinth (and Achaia) had started a money collection for the needy Jerusalem church over several months (2 Cor 9:2). The Macedonian churches had joined in enthusiastically and given sacrificially (2 Cor 8:3-4).
  • With the influence of false teachers Corinth’s generosity had waned. Maybe these
    teachers had not encouraged giving money away, maybe they had gotten their hands on some of it, or maybe false rumors against Paul had stifled generosity.
  • Paul still holds the project to be a godly venture (2 Cor 8:19), but is determined not to touch the money in any shape of form (2 Cor 8:20-21, 8:16). He had instructed regular giving earlier (1 Cor 16:2), not collections when he comes and could influence it. Also he has the donation be hand-carried to Jerusalem by people from Macedonia and Achaia (1 Cor 16:3).
  • At this time of much broken trust, misunderstandings, doubts and slander, Paul does not think it wise to touch a money project, especially not of this size. He delegates it to Titus.
  • Again we can see just how high Paul’s trust in Titus is. He is utterly convinced that Titus’ behavior will be above reproach in this matter as well:

 

2 Cor 8:1-6        ‘Churches of Macedonia … 4 begging us earnestly for the privilege of sharing in this ministry to the saints – 6 … so that we might urge Titus that, as he had already made a beginning, so he should also compete this generous undertaking among you.’
2 Cor 8:16-17    ‘But thanks be to God who put in the heart of Titus the same eagerness for you that I myself have. 17 For he not only accepted our appeal, but since he is more eager than ever, he is going to you of his own accord.’
2 Cor 8:23        ‘As for Titus, he is my partner and co-worker in your service; as for your brothers, they are the glory of Christ.’

  • This shows another aspect of Titus’ character and behavior: Paul considers him wise, skilled and trustworthy also with money. Titus is Paul’s partner and co-worker, but also a person of obvious integrity, someone easily proven trustworthy in their eyes.
Titus as church-planter, discipler and releaser

Titus 1:5                   Titus entrusted with the Cretan churches                      63-64 AD (?)

  • We do not know the exact time of Paul planting churches in Crete together with Titus, as this event in not recorded in Acts. The most likely date is 63-64 AD, after the time Acts covers, when Paul seems to be released once more and continues to do church planting.
  • It seems something necessitated Paul’s earlier than hoped for departure, since the church planting work is still in the beginning stages, but Paul with full confidence (and a letter for instruction and authorization) leaves his trusted co-worker Titus in Crete ‘to put in order what remained to be done, and appoint elders in every town’ (Tit 1:5).
  • Paul tasks Titus to: appoint elders in every town (Tit 1:5), to silence false teachers, mostly of the Jewish brand (Tit 1:11), to teach sound doctrine (Tit 2:1), to be a model of good works in every respect (Tit 2:7), to teach showing integrity, gravity and sound speech, that cannot be censured (Tit 2:7-8), to remind them to be obedient to authorities (Tit 3:1), to admonish those causing controversy and – if necessary – to apply church discipline (Tit 3:9-11). All this was to be done in yet very un-discipled churches that are influenced by an ungodly Cretan culture as well as the Jews. This
    is no small task of discipleship!
  • Paul affirms Titus’ authority to do all this (Tit 2:1, 2:25). Where does Titus’ authority come from? He is a person who lives out the truth he preaches.
  • Titus is a person with good judgment, able to see character, able to spot good attitude, to recognize gifting and release people into leadership. He has sensitivity, realistic judgment, encouragement and hope.
  • This situation and the tasks given to Titus shows just how much Paul appreciated and trusted Titus to take care of difficult situations and crucial decisions. He thinks Titus reliable and a true representative of himself.
  • Titus is most definitely Paul’s ‘fix-the-church-man! A visual of the ‘Cretan challenge’:
Titus as an apostle-pioneer

2 Tim 4:10                          Titus at the end of Paul’s life                                       64-65 AD

  • Paul at the end of his life and at the end of his last letter (2 Timothy) has to share a rather sad current situation with his beloved co-worker Timothy. Paul feels rather isolated.
  • Paul is particularly disappointed with how little local support he is getting (2 Tim 4:16), but also with workers like Demas that leave (2 Tim 4:9) or non-believers that oppose him, like Alexander (2 Tim 4:14).
  • But he also simply feels the pressure of being quite alone: only Luke is with him (2 Tim 4:11) and he asks Timothy to come (2 Tim 4:9), well knowing that he will be executed soon (2 Tim 4:6-8).
  • Positive for Paul – though their absence is felt – are workers he has been able to send somewhere or who have gone to places on their own accord: Crescens has gone to Galatia (2 Tim 4:10), Tychicus he has sent to Ephesus (2 Tim 4:12) and Titus has gone to Dalmatia (2 Tim 4:10).
  • It’s unclear whether Paul specifically sent him, or whether Titus is launching out on his own here.
  • But what we do know: At the end of Paul’s life, when he knows he won’t leave the prison alive any more (2 Tim 4:6-7), his disciples and co-workers go on: Titus is pioneering into a new area called ‘Dalmatia’ (North of Greece, East shore of Adriatic sea), which we have no record of Paul or anybody else reaching before him.
  • The long years of discipleship, co-work, faithfulness and trust have created another excellent pioneer, who will go where even Paul never managed to set foot!
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