Titus was a Gentile convert to the Christian faith who became one of Paul’s assistants in his missionary work. The letter was written while Titus was a pastor on the island of Crete in the Mediterranean. Paul had left Titus on the island to supervise the gospel work there.

The letter expresses three concerns of Paul.

• First, church leaders must have a high and trustworthy char­acter in contrast to the characters of many residents on the island.
• Second, Titus is given some ideas on how to teach the various groups in the church—the older men and women, the younger men, and the slaves.
• And third, Paul gives Titus some general advice about the need to be peaceful and friendly avoid such things as hatred, endless arguments, and the various di­visions that sometimes sprang up in the church.