TITUS, BOOK OF

Titus was a Gentile co-worker of Paul's whom the apostle had left on the island of Crete to "set in order" certain matters and to work toward the ordination of elders within the local congregations. Titus was to build upon an earlier work that Paul had done in this region. It emphasizes that Christians must be "sound" in doctrine, faith, and speech, and that brethren must be diligent to maintain "good works" (four times this phrase is employed). The book also warns of false teachers and urges that those of a sectarian mentality be rejected (3:10).