King James Version
Titus
Titus in the King James Version (1769), public domain in the United States.
Background and History
The chapters above are the King James text. This essay is the setting of Titus: who is said to have written it, when and where, what happens in it, and how the text has been copied.
At a Glance
| Author | Paul, in the letter’s own words and early tradition. Many critical scholars group it with the Pastorals as later. |
|---|---|
| Date | About AD 62–64 in one survey. The same survey gives AD 90–110 if pseudonymous. |
| Place written | Not named. Paul plans to winter at Nicopolis, often identified with Nicopolis near Preveza, Epirus, Greece. |
| Genre | A pastoral letter of instruction. |
| Chapters | 3 |
| Verses | 46 in the King James Version |
| Key verse | Titus 2:13Titus 2:13 · King James VersionLooking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;Titus 2:13 · King James VersionOpen the Source |
Who Wrote It
Titus 1:1–4Titus 1:1–4 · King James Version1:1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;
1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;
1:3 But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;
1:4 To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.
Titus 1:1–4 · King James VersionOpen the Source (1) names Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, writing to Titus, mine own son after the common faith. Eusebius, the Muratorian fragment, and Athanasius receive it. (2) (3) (4) The critical debate about the Pastorals is set out on the 1 Timothy page.
Who It Is Not
Titus is the recipient. Artemas, Tychicus, Zenas, and Apollos are named in Titus 3:12–13Titus 3:12–13 · King James Version3:12 When I shall send Artemas unto thee, or Tychicus, be diligent to come unto me to Nicopolis: for I have determined there to winter.
3:13 Bring Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey diligently, that nothing be wanting unto them.
Titus 3:12–13 · King James VersionOpen the Source as travelers, not writers.
When and Where
Bible Gateway gives AD 62–64, or AD 90–110 if pseudonymous. (5) Titus 1:5Titus 1:5 · King James VersionFor this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:
Titus 1:5 · King James VersionOpen the Source says Paul left Titus in Crete, a mission Acts does not describe.
Audience and Setting
Titus, organizing the churches on Crete. The purpose is to appoint elders, silence false teachers, and teach good works rooted in grace.
Rulers at the Time
Titus 3:1Titus 3:1 · King James VersionPut them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,
Titus 3:1 · King James VersionOpen the Source says to be subject to principalities and powers without naming any. This page adds none.
| When | What |
|---|---|
| Mission in Crete | Titus is left to set things in order. Titus 1:5Titus 1:5 · King James VersionFor this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:Titus 1:5 · King James VersionOpen the Source |
| The letter | AD 62–64 in one survey. (5) |
| Plans | Paul will winter at Nicopolis. Titus 3:12Titus 3:12 · King James VersionWhen I shall send Artemas unto thee, or Tychicus, be diligent to come unto me to Nicopolis: for I have determined there to winter.Titus 3:12 · King James VersionOpen the Source |
Places in This Book
| Ancient name | Modern-day location | References |
|---|---|---|
| Crete | The island of Crete, Greece. | Titus 1:5Titus 1:5 · King James VersionFor this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:Titus 1:5 · King James VersionOpen the Source |
| Nicopolis | Probably the ruins near Preveza, Greece. Other towns had the name, and this page treats the identification as likely, not certain. | Titus 3:12Titus 3:12 · King James VersionWhen I shall send Artemas unto thee, or Tychicus, be diligent to come unto me to Nicopolis: for I have determined there to winter.Titus 3:12 · King James VersionOpen the Source |
What Is Happening
Titus 1 gives qualifications for elders and warns against false teachers. Titus 2 instructs various groups and grounds good works in the appearing of grace. Titus 3 calls for good conduct, recalls regeneration, and closes with travel plans.
Key Themes
Sound doctrine leading to good works in Titus 2:1Titus 2:1 · King James VersionBut speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:
Titus 2:1 · King James VersionOpen the Source and Titus 3:8Titus 3:8 · King James VersionThis is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.
Titus 3:8 · King James VersionOpen the Source. Salvation by mercy in Titus 3:5Titus 3:5 · King James VersionNot by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Titus 3:5 · King James VersionOpen the Source.
Apologetics Questions
Titus 1:12Titus 1:12 · King James VersionOne of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.
Titus 1:12 · King James VersionOpen the Source quotes a Cretan prophet calling Cretans liars, and readers ask how that fits charity. Paul is quoting a known saying to address false teachers. The Granville Sharp construction in Titus 2:13Titus 2:13 · King James VersionLooking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
Titus 2:13 · King James VersionOpen the Source is central to the deity of Christ debate.
How the Book Points to Christ
Titus 2:13Titus 2:13 · King James VersionLooking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
Titus 2:13 · King James VersionOpen the Source speaks of the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ. Many Greek scholars read the phrase as one person, as the English Standard Version does. Others read two. This page states both readings. Jesus is God.
Text and Manuscripts
Codex Sinaiticus contains the letter. (6) No major variant changes the argument.
Canon Reception
Received in the early lists. (2) (3) (4)
Further Reading
References
- Letter to Titus, 1:1–5; 3:12Titus 1:1–5 · King James Version1:1
Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;
1:2In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;
1:3But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;
1:4To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.
1:5For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:
Titus 1:1–5 · King James VersionOpen the Source. King James Version - Church History, Book 3, 3.3.5; 3.25Papias, in Eusebius, Church History 3.39.15 · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, New Advent
Mark, having become the interpreter of Peter, wrote down accurately, though not in order, whatsoever he remembered of the things said or done by Christ. For he neither heard the Lord nor followed him, but afterward, as I said, he followed Peter, who adapted his teaching to the needs of his hearers, but with no intention of giving a connected account of the Lord's discourses, so that Mark committed no error while he thus wrote some things as he remembered them. For he was careful of one thing, not to omit any of the things which he had heard, and not to state any of them falsely.
Papias, in Eusebius, Church History 3.39.15 · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, New AdventOpen the Source (Eusebius, Church History 3.3, 3.24–25, and 3.39, Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, second series, vol. 1, on New Advent. Chapter 25 sorts books into acknowledged, disputed, and rejected. Chapter 39 reports Papias on Mark and Matthew.) - Muratorian fragment, TitusMuratorian fragment, on Acts · Roberts-Donaldson, Ante-Nicene Fathers 5
Moreover, the Acts of all the Apostles are comprised by Luke in one book, and addressed to the most excellent Theophilus, because these different events took place when he was present himself; and he shows this clearly-i.e., that the principle on which he wrote was, to give only what fell under his own notice-by the omission of the passion of Peter, and also of the journey of Paul, when he went from the city-Rome-to Spain.
Muratorian fragment, on Acts · Roberts-Donaldson, Ante-Nicene Fathers 5Open the Source (Roberts-Donaldson translation, Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 5. The Latin is damaged and the English follows restorations. The fragment lists the books read in the church and those rejected.) - Festal Letter 39, 39.4–5 (Athanasius of Alexandria, AD 367, Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, second series, vol. 4, on New Advent. The letter lists twenty-two Old Testament books and the twenty-seven books of the New Testament, and places Esther among books to be read rather than in the canon.)
- When Was Each Book of the Bible Written?, Titus (Jacob Edson, Bible Gateway, 16 September 2024. The survey gives Titus as AD 62–64 (or AD 90–110 if pseudonymous). It is one editor’s approximation, not a manuscript date.)
- Codex Sinaiticus, About the manuscriptCodex Sinaiticus: content · Codex Sinaiticus Project
Codex Sinaiticus, a manuscript of the Christian Bible written in the middle of the fourth century, contains the earliest complete copy of the Christian New Testament.
Codex Sinaiticus: content · Codex Sinaiticus ProjectOpen the Source (The Codex Sinaiticus project’s description of the manuscript, a fourth-century Greek Bible with the earliest complete copy of the New Testament.)
The King James Version (1769) is in the public domain in the United States.