Personal Meditations

Titus - The Epistle of Good Works

The little epistle to Titus contains such a strong emphasis on works that some have questioned the Pauline authorship. Those who have done this have overlooked the clear 'grace message' of Titus 3:5. We cannot miss, however, the stress that is placed on the good works that result from the salvation that comes to us by grace. In 1:16, he shows that regardless of our verbal testimony, unless we practise the good works that God has before ordained that we should walk in (Ephesians 2:10), our works will deny God.

In 2:7, we are taught to be a pattern of good works to others, while in 2:14 we are urged to be zealous of good works. The admonition in 3:1 is to be ready for every good work, while in 3:8 and 3:14, we are told to be careful to maintain good works. Many who like to refer to themselves as 'grace' Christians might well spend some time with this little epistle that shows so clearly that the grace that saves us also teaches us to live lives of good works (2:11.13).