Titus

by W. Bunting, Ayr | Category: Fellow-labourers Of The Apostle Paul | May 1968

The absence of any mention of Titus in the Acts of the Apostles has been a cause of wonder to many. At least one commentator, Lightfoot, thinks that he was not important enough to be mentioned. This view is hardly borne out by the facts revealed in some of the apostle Paul's letters. In the second letter to the Corinthians Titus is mentioned no less than nine times, and in 2 Corinthians 8.23 Paul refers to him as "my partner, and my fellow-worker". Titus is found with Barnabas and Paul at a very early stage in the development of the work of God amongst the Gentiles. It is significant that when Paul laid before those of repute in the church in Jerusalem the gospel which he preached among the Gentiles, Titus was by his side (see Galatians 2.1-3.) He is also mentioned in the final words from the Roman prison. It appears that Paul had sent Titus to Dalmatia (2 Timothy 4.10).

Titus was a Greek and probably resided in Antioch in Syria. Following his conversion he became one of the closest and most trusted fellow-workers of the apostle Paul. That he was a comfort to the apostle is borne out by a number of scriptures. There is the unusual statement in 2 Corinthians 2.12,13, "Now when I came to Troas for the gospel of Christ, and when a door was opened unto me in the Lord, I had no relief for my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother: but taking my leave of them, I went forth into Macedonia". On the other hand the apostle was pleased to tell the Corinthians, "Nevertheless he that comforteth the lowly, even God, comforted us by the coming of Titus" (2 Corinthians 7.6).

Titus was a man with an earnest care for the saints, so much so, that Paul found this a cause for thanks to God (2 Corinthians 8.16). His confidence in Titus was such that he was able to leave him in Crete entrusted with a twofold mission, to "set in order the things that were wanting, and appoint elders in every city" (Titus 1.5). In Crete there was evidently much to set in order in the churches, and it required a man strong in the faith to reprove sharply, and to do it with all authority. "These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no man despise thee" (Titus 2.15). It is plain from the guidance which the apostle Paul gave to Titus, that the terms "elders" and "bishops" refer to the same persons. This fact is, of course, borne out in Paul's address to the elders of Ephesus, where the same men who are referred to as elders are also called bishops, or overseers (Acts 20.17 and 28).

Titus was a true fellow-worker with the apostle Paul, able to undertake unpleasant tasks, a man of sound judgement and an example of good works.

Aquila and Priscilla

A delightful tribute to Aquila and Priscilla is expressed in the words of a well-known writer, "They furnish the most beautiful example known to us in the apostolic age of the power for good that could be exerted by a husband and wife working in unison for the advancement of the gospel". The commendation of the apostle Paul is worthy of special note, "Salute Prisca and Aquila my fellow-workers in Christ Jesus, who for my life laid down their own necks; unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles" (Romans 16.3,4).

We are expressly told that Aquila was a Jew who came from Pontus, a remote province in the north-east of the Roman Empire. He was a tentmaker by trade. We are not told much of the background of his wife, Priscilla. Sir William Ramsey is of the view that her name links her with a Roman family of some standing. Aquila had journeyed far from Pontus to the Imperial City. The Emperor Claudius expelled the Jews from Rome and we find Aquila and his wife residing in Corinth. It was in this city that Paul first encountered them: "Because he was of the same trade, he abode with them, and they wrought; for by their trade they were tentmakers" (Acts 18.3). It would seem that it was their common trade of tentmakers that drew them together. The apostle's visit to Corinth extended to a year and six months, and during that period the bond between Paul, and Aquila and Priscilla strengthened. When the apostle left Corinth on his way back to Syria, Aquila and his wife accompanied him as far as Ephesus.

It was at Ephesus that they encountered Apollos, a disciple of John the Baptist, and on hearing him speak boldly in the synagogue, "they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more carefully" (Acts 18.26). The months spent in Corinth in company with Paul and listening to his ministry, enabled them to enlighten this distinguished visitor from Alexandria.

When Paul wrote his first letter to the Corinthians, apparently from Ephesus, he was able to add the salutation, "The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Prisca salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house" (1 Corinthians 16.19). The home of this delightful couple was the meeting place of the church. They were not only faithful but hospitable.

Amongst the last words written by Paul from the Roman prison as he awaited the verdict of the Emperor were those to Timothy, "Salute Prisca and Aquila" (2 Timothy 4.19). His thoughts went out to those two whom he had learned to esteem highly, and who were prepared to lay down their lives for him.

It is worthy of note that in two instances the apostle mentions Priscilla before Aquila. He refers to her as a fellow-worker. She also had a part in the instructing of Apollos. These facts seem to support the view that she was an educated woman and energetic in the things of the Lord. However, the outstanding fact is that Aquila and Priscilla are always mentioned together, and they have an honoured place in the New Testament.

Apollos

We have observed the wide field from which Paul's fellow workers came - from Judaea, Cyprus, Syria, Pontus, Galatia, and now we examine briefly, the record of a remarkable man who had his roots in Alexandria of Egypt. Alexandria was a university city which vied with Athens and Tarsus as a centre of culture and learning, and a great seaport. The Diaspora had led many Jews to leave the land of their fathers and settle in Alexandria and elsewhere. Indeed, this fact greatly facilitated the spread of the gospel. The earliest of all translations of the Hebrew scriptures, the Septuagint or Greek version was carried out by seventy-two learned men in Alexandria and this translation was in general use during apostolic times. Many of the quotations in the New Testament are from the Septuagint.

Apollos, was a Jew and for some reason he left the city of his adoption, and we find him at Ephesus. There are certain facts about him worth noting. We are told that he was a learned man and mighty in the Scriptures. He had been instructed (or taught by word of mouth) in the way of the Lord. He was fervent in spirit. He spake and taught carefully the things concerning Jesus, knowing only the baptism of John (Acts 18.24,25). Piecing these items together we see a man of God in the mould of the apostle Paul himself, but with some different characteristics.

One can well imagine that when Priscilla and Aquila heard Apollos speak boldly in the synagogue in Ephesus they were at once drawn to him. The tentmaker and his wife took Apollos unto them, and presumably in the quietness of their home, they expounded unto him the way of God more carefully. Thus the learned Alexandrian obtained a fuller understanding of the will and purpose of God in the coming of Christ, and also that Jesus was the Christ. Shortly after this, Apollos was minded to cross the Aegean to Achaia, and in this he was encouraged by the brethren, and given letters of commendation. Once in Achaia he threw himself wholeheartedly into the work and "powerfully confuted the Jews, and that publicly, showing by the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ" (Acts 18.28). Paul wrote to the Corinthians, "I planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase" (1 Corinthians 3.6). The outworking of this is confirmed in the statement that when Apollos was come "he helped them much which had believed through grace" (Acts 18.27).

While God was giving the increase, and Apollos was seeking to confirm the work of Paul amongst the Corinthians, there developed, alas, a party spirit in that church, and some were aligning themselves with Apollos, some with Paul and others with Cephas. The apostle asks the pertinent question, "Is Christ divided?" It would seem that the eloquence and learning of Apollos had caused some to hold him up as a rival to Paul, though Apollos himself neither encouraged nor tolerated such a spirit. Apollos returned to Ephesus where Paul was then residing. Towards the close of the first letter to the Corinthians we are informed of the reluctance of Apollos to return to Corinth. "But as touching Apollos the brother, I besought him much to come unto you with the brethren: and it was not at all his will to come now; but he will come when he shall have opportunity" (1 Corinthians 16.12).

The last glimpse of Apollos is a word to Titus in Crete, "Set forward Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey diligently, that nothing be wanting unto them" (Titus 3.13). No doubt he was then continuing to show by the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ and helping those who ha4 believed through grace.

W. Bunting, Ayr | May 1968
Fellow-labourers Of The Apostle Paul