Handbook:Titus
From Door43
| [[Image:|center|280px|]] | |
| Article Sources: | Easton's Bible Dictionary = ISBE - International Standard Bible Encyclopedia |
|---|---|
Several events of his life are mentioned in the New Testament. First, he was with Paul and Barnabas at Antioch, and accompanied them to the Council at Jerusalem. Though his name is not mentioned in the telling of this event found in Acts 15, his presence at the Council is mentioned in Galatians 2:1-3. His role at the Council was important, because he was an uncircumcised Greek, and the Council was meeting to decide whether the Gentile believers had to follow Jewish customs such as circumcision in order to be followers of Jesus. The decision of the Council, as recorded in Acts 15:13-29, was that the Gentile believers such as Titus did not have to follow Jewish laws.
In the book of 2 Corinthians, some of his service for the kingdom of God is recorded. Paul sent him and another Christian man to work in the church at Corinth (2 Corinthians 12:18). His work there included the collecting of offerings for the poor Christians in Jerusalem (2 Corinthians 8:6). He returned to Paul after this trip to Corinth with a good report of his time there (2 Corinthians 7:6-7 and 2 Corinthians 7:13-15). At one point, Paul went to Macedonia to meet Titus (2 Corinthians 7:5). After this, Titus was sent to the Corinthian church a second time and he was again given responsibility for the offerings of the churches (2 Corinthians 8:16-24).
Titus went with Paul to Crete, where Paul later left him in charge of the churches (Titus 1:5). Some time after that, Paul planned to send someone to take Titus' place in Crete so Titus could join him (Titus 3:12).
Titus was with Paul in Rome, and was sent from there to Dalmatia, which now is known as Albania or Yugoslavia. It is believed that he went there as a missionary. This is the last information given in the New Testament about his life. No one knows how or when he died.
It is clear from these events in his life and from the great responsibilities that Paul gave Titus, that he was a wise and faithful man, and a good leader. Paul considered him to be a trusted friend and a valuable partner in the evangelistic work. (2 Corinthians 8:23).
