1 Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ for the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness, 2 in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began. 3 In His own time He has made His word evident in the proclamation entrusted to me by the command of God our Savior.

4 To Titus, my true child in our common faith:
Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Vivian Abdala

Titus is one of the personal letters that Paul wrote to an individual ministry coworker. He wrote this to Titus, who Paul had left in charge of the church in Crete, to help him in his role of pastoring the church.

Here are some of my reflections from the opening to the letter.

First, Paul’s purpose is clear: to promote and strengthen “the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness” (v1). What a great thing to be known for! It challenges me to pause and consider whether my own words and actions reflect that same aim. Am I intentionally helping others grow in faith and in their understanding of truth? Am I encouraging my brothers and sisters to live that out in godliness? We often praise Paul for his devotion to God, but what stands out is how selfless he is in his goals. His ministry was never about building his own name—it was about honouring God and strengthening others.

One of the things that struck me when I first began reading the Bible was how intentional God is. His promises were not random; they were planned. That realisation gave me a deep confidence that God’s Word can be trusted. Our hope is rooted in something eternal and deliberate, not uncertain or improvised.

Secondly, there is a deep affection between Paul and Titus that comes through in this passage. His greeting carries warmth and care. It reminds us that Christian faith is relational—it is meant to be lived out together. We are not called to walk alone, but to encourage and spur one another on toward godliness.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Vivian is a member of our Bossley Park Morning congregation.