The Way
Titus Left Behind on Crete
Titus on an island, Timothy in a city
Story
The book of Acts ends in the rented house in Rome, but the letters to Timothy and Titus show Paul traveling freely again. As Paul left for Macedonia, he told young Timothy to stay in Ephesus. He was to correct people who taught a different doctrine or got lost in endless family records.
Some time later Paul sent Timothy a letter. Paul wrote, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, and I am the worst of them. Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young. Be an example to the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity.”
Paul left Titus on the island of Crete. Paul wrote to Titus, “I left you in Crete to set right what was still unfinished and to appoint elders in every town.” At the end of the letter he told Titus to hurry to Nicopolis when he sent Artemas or Tychicus, because he had decided to spend the winter there. He also asked Titus to send Zenas the lawyer and Apollos, who had taught in Corinth, on their way with everything they needed.
Walk this scene on the map →Words of the Lord and of Paul
Here is a saying you can trust, worthy of everyone's welcome: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. And I am the worst of them.
Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young. Be an example to the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity.
I left you in Crete to set right what was still unfinished and to appoint elders in every town, as I told you.
The sayings are fresh renderings of the original meaning in today's language. Text: 1 Tim 1:3–4 · Titus 1:5; 3:12
Background
Acts says nothing about Paul working on Crete. So many scholars think Paul was released after his two years in Rome and traveled again. Nicopolis is thought to be a city on the northwest coast of Greece.
Pause and Reflect
Am I raising up people of faith who can carry on the work I have been given?