Titus

Paul's true child in the faith

L’Église primitiveLeaderServantc. 30–100 AD

Titus was a Greek Christian who became one of the apostle Paul's most trusted coworkers and envoys. He played an important role in resolving conflicts in the church at Corinth and was later appointed as leader of the churches on Crete. Paul wrote a letter to him that is preserved as one of the Pastoral Epistles in the New Testament.

Événements clés

Participated in the apostolic council in Jerusalem

Titus traveled with Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem to discuss the issue of circumcision for Gentile Christians. As an uncircumcised Greek, he became living proof that salvation is by faith alone.

1Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along as well.
Ἔπειτα διὰ δεκατεσσάρων ἐτῶν πάλιν ἀνέβην εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα μετὰ Βαρναβᾶ συμπαραλαβὼν καὶ Τίτον·
2I went up in response to a revelation, and I laid before them the gospel I proclaim among the Gentiles — privately, though, before those held in esteem — to make sure I was not running, or had not run, in vain.
ἀνέβην δὲ κατὰ ἀποκάλυψιν· καὶ ἀνεθέμην αὐτοῖς τὸ εὐαγγέλιον ὃ κηρύσσω ἐν τοῖς ἔθνεσιν, κατʼ ἰδίαν δὲ τοῖς δοκοῦσιν, μή πως εἰς κενὸν τρέχω ἢ ἔδραμον.
3Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, Greek though he was.
ἀλλʼ οὐδὲ Τίτος ὁ σὺν ἐμοί, Ἕλλην ὤν, ἠναγκάσθη περιτμηθῆναι·

Envoy to Corinth

Paul sent Titus to Corinth to handle conflicts in the church and organize the collection for the poor in Jerusalem. His mission was successful and brought joy to Paul.

6But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the arrival of Titus—
ἀλλʼ ὁ παρακαλῶν τοὺς ταπεινοὺς παρεκάλεσεν ἡμᾶς ὁ θεὸς ἐν τῇ παρουσίᾳ Τίτου·
7and not only by his arrival, but also by the comfort he had received concerning you. He told us of your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced all the more.
οὐ μόνον δὲ ἐν τῇ παρουσίᾳ αὐτοῦ, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐν τῇ παρακλήσει ᾗ παρεκλήθη ἐφʼ ὑμῖν, ἀναγγέλλων ἡμῖν τὴν ὑμῶν ἐπιπόθησιν, τὸν ὑμῶν ὀδυρμόν, τὸν ὑμῶν ζῆλον ὑπὲρ ἐμοῦ, ὥστε με μᾶλλον χαρῆναι.
13This is why we have been comforted. And besides our own comfort, we rejoiced still more at the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by all of you.
διὰ τοῦτο παρακεκλήμεθα. Ἐπὶ δὲ τῇ παρακλήσει ⸀ἡμῶν περισσοτέρως μᾶλλον ἐχάρημεν ἐπὶ τῇ χαρᾷ Τίτου, ὅτι ἀναπέπαυται τὸ πνεῦμα αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ πάντων ὑμῶν·
14For if I boasted to him about you, I was not put to shame. Just as everything we said to you was true, so our boasting to Titus has proved true as well.
ὅτι εἴ τι αὐτῷ ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν κεκαύχημαι, οὐ κατῃσχύνθην, ἀλλʼ ὡς πάντα ἐν ἀληθείᾳ ἐλαλήσαμεν ὑμῖν, οὕτως καὶ ἡ καύχησις ἡμῶν ⸀ἡ ἐπὶ Τίτου ἀλήθεια ἐγενήθη.
15And his affection for you is all the greater as he remembers how obedient you all were, receiving him with fear and trembling.
καὶ τὰ σπλάγχνα αὐτοῦ περισσοτέρως εἰς ὑμᾶς ἐστιν ἀναμιμνῃσκομένου τὴν πάντων ὑμῶν ὑπακοήν, ὡς μετὰ φόβου καὶ τρόμου ἐδέξασθε αὐτόν.

Led the collection for Jerusalem

Titus was entrusted with completing the collection for the saints in Jerusalem from the church in Corinth, and proved himself to be a zealous and reliable coworker.

6So we urged Titus that, as he had already begun, he should also bring this act of grace to completion among you.
εἰς τὸ παρακαλέσαι ἡμᾶς Τίτον ἵνα καθὼς προενήρξατο οὕτως καὶ ἐπιτελέσῃ εἰς ὑμᾶς καὶ τὴν χάριν ταύτην·
16But thanks be to God, who put the same devotion for you into the heart of Titus.
Χάρις δὲ τῷ θεῷ τῷ ⸀διδόντι τὴν αὐτὴν σπουδὴν ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ Τίτου,
17For he not only welcomed our appeal; he is so eager that he is going to you of his own accord.
ὅτι τὴν μὲν παράκλησιν ἐδέξατο, σπουδαιότερος δὲ ὑπάρχων αὐθαίρετος ἐξῆλθεν πρὸς ὑμᾶς.
23As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker on your behalf; as for our brothers, they are messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ.
εἴτε ὑπὲρ Τίτου, κοινωνὸς ἐμὸς καὶ εἰς ὑμᾶς συνεργός· εἴτε ἀδελφοὶ ἡμῶν, ἀπόστολοι ἐκκλησιῶν, δόξα Χριστοῦ.

Appointed as Leader in Crete

Paul left Titus in Crete to set in order what was left and appoint elders in every town. This shows the great trust Paul had in him.

4To Titus, my true son in our common faith. Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.
Τίτῳ γνησίῳ τέκνῳ κατὰ κοινὴν πίστιν· χάρις ⸀καὶ εἰρήνη ἀπὸ θεοῦ πατρὸς καὶ ⸂Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ⸃ τοῦ σωτῆρος ἡμῶν.
5I left you in Crete for this reason: that you might set right what still needed to be done and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you.
Τούτου χάριν ⸀ἀπέλιπόν σε ἐν Κρήτῃ ἵνα τὰ λείποντα ἐπιδιορθώσῃ, καὶ καταστήσῃς κατὰ πόλιν πρεσβυτέρους, ὡς ἐγώ σοι διεταξάμην,

Received Guidance on Church Leadership

Paul wrote a letter to Titus with instructions on how he should choose leaders, handle false teaching, and teach the congregation about a godly life.

1You, however, must teach what agrees with sound doctrine.
Σὺ δὲ λάλει ἃ πρέπει τῇ ὑγιαινούσῃ διδασκαλίᾳ.
7In everything, make yourself a model of good works. In your teaching show integrity and dignity,
περὶ πάντα σεαυτὸν παρεχόμενος τύπον καλῶν ἔργων, ἐν τῇ διδασκαλίᾳ ⸀ἀφθορίαν, ⸀σεμνότητα,
8and let your message be sound and beyond reproach, so that any opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us.
λόγον ὑγιῆ ἀκατάγνωστον, ἵνα ὁ ἐξ ἐναντίας ἐντραπῇ μηδὲν ἔχων ⸂λέγειν περὶ ἡμῶν⸃ φαῦλον.
15These are the things you are to teach; encourage and rebuke with full authority. Let no one look down on you.
Ταῦτα λάλει καὶ παρακάλει καὶ ἔλεγχε μετὰ πάσης ἐπιταγῆς· μηδείς σου περιφρονείτω.

Planned Meeting in Nicopolis

Paul asked Titus to come to him in Nicopolis, which shows their close cooperation and friendship in ministry.

12As soon as I send Artemas to you, or Tychicus, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there.
Ὅταν πέμψω Ἀρτεμᾶν πρὸς σὲ ἢ Τυχικόν, σπούδασον ἐλθεῖν πρός με εἰς Νικόπολιν, ἐκεῖ γὰρ κέκρικα παραχειμάσαι.

Mentionné dans la Bible (8)