Titus

Titus is one of the three epistles known collectively as the pastoral letters (1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, and Titus) - which is to say they are Paul's letters to church leaders. The Apostle Titus was born into idolatry on Crete, though he was of Greek origin. Having believed in Christ through the Apostle Paul, he became Paul's disciple and follower and labored with him greatly in the preaching of the Gospel. He was one of the Seventy Apostles (read in Acts if curious).

The importance of the role and qualifications of leaders (pastors, bishops, elders) should not be understated. Paul realized that if Satan were to defame a leader, he could destroy the whole church.

One of the secular peculiarities of the Epistle to Titus is the inclusion of text which has become known as the Epimenides paradox. According to the World English Bible translation, Titus 1:12-13 reads (in part) "One of them, a prophet of their own, said, 'Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, and idle gluttons.' This testimony is true." The statement by a member of a group that all members are liars is now a famous logic problem. He leaves the character judgment of the people on Crete up to their own prophet.