In the movie the Secret Life of Walter Mitty we see Walter who works at Life Magazine developing pictures. He is leading a very boring life. Because his life is so boring he daydreams of having exciting adventures where he is at the center of danger and excitement. But then back at work he finds himself in the position of taking the last photograph for the print of Life Magazine. With this new twist his life becomes one exciting adventure after another. Walter goes to a live volcano, he skateboards down a mountain and swims with the sharks in the North Sea.
We might think that Titus has a boring life. He is never mentioned in the book of Acts and he has one of the “pastoral letters” addressed to him. When we piece together the life of Titus from Galatians, 2 Corinthians, 2 Timothy and the book of Titus we realize that despite never being mentioned in the book of Acts Titus had one of the most adventure filled ministries of anyone we find in the Bible.
The ministry adventures of Titus took him from Jerusalem to Rome and even beyond to the remotest places of the then known world. Titus had his adventures while tackling some of the biggest problems we find in the new Testament.
Titus the champion of Freedom in Christ
Galatians 2:1-5
When we read Galatians 2 we see that Titus had an extremely important role in the Acts 15 Jerusalem council. He was not mentioned in Acts 2, of course because he is not mentioned at all in Acts. One option is that Galatians 2 is talking about a different Jerusalem council. If it is a different council then it is the same figures working out the same issues a second time. Early on in my ministry I did hold to a view that Acts 15 and Galatians 2 were two separate events. I switched on that one and I consider Acts 15 and Galatians 2 detailing the same council, but Acts from Luke’s view and Galatians from Paul’s view.
At the Jerusalem council Titus finds himself facing the Judaizes and the Apostles; James, Peter and John. This it Titus in the North Sea with sharks. The whole of the Christian leaders have been drawn in to the ways of legalism and spiritual bondage. Paul is standing alone and only Titus is with him to stand up to the most influential leaders and apostles.
Acts 15:1-29, Galatians 2:1-21
It was Titus’s role to stand for freedom in Christ. Even Barnabas was influenced by the Judaizes but Titus made the stand with Paul. Titus never lost his nerve. He stood before the leaders at Jerusalem as living proof that the uncircumcised Christians are accepted and used of the Lord.
Paul said he and Titus did not give into these intimidating church leaders even for a moment (Galatians 2:5). In all this Paul had to rebuke Peter to his face about the hypocrisy in Antioch (Galatians 2:11). Then even Barnabas was led astray by the hypocrisy (Galatians 2:13), but not Titus, he stood in Jerusalem with courage. What an adventure Titus had with Paul in Antioch and in Jerusalem.
Standing against licentiousness in the church
Now if the Jerusalem council was the ultimate showdown with legalism, then Corinth was the opposite extreme as a battle against sin in the church. Titus took Paul’s harsh letter to Corinth and stayed there to confront the sin and lax moral standards in the Corinthian church. Amazingly he did it.
Titus straightened out the problems in the most problem filled church in the New Testament. He confronted sin head on and came out refreshed. It was a huge encouragement for Paul that Titus took on this challenge and turned things around at the Corinthian Church.
Taking this challenge on is like going into a live volcano. Titus is two for two in going for the extreme tests in ministries.
Now when I came to Troas for the gospel of Christ and when a door was opened for me in the Lord, 13 I had no rest for my spirit, not finding Titus my brother; but taking my leave of them, I went on to Macedonia. (2 Corinthians 2:12-13)
But God, who comforts the depressed, comforted us by the coming of Titus; 7 and not only by his coming, but also by the comfort with which he was comforted in you, as he reported to us your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me; so that I rejoiced even more. (2 Corinthians 2: 7:6-7)
For this reason we have been comforted. And besides our comfort, we rejoiced even much more for the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all. 14 For if in anything I have boasted to him about you, I was not put to shame; but as we spoke all things to you in truth, so also our boasting before Titus proved to be the truth. (2 Corinthians 7: 13-14)
So we urged Titus that as he had previously made a beginning, so he would also complete in you this gracious work as well. (2 Corinthians 8:6)
But thanks be to God who puts the same earnestness on your behalf in the heart of Titus. 17 For he not only accepted our appeal, but being himself very earnest, he has gone to you of his own accord. (2 Corinthians 8: 16-17)
As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you; as for our brethren, they are messengers of the churches, a glory to Christ. (2 Corinthians 8: 23)
Appointing elders at Crete
We do not know just when Paul went to Crete and started a church in “every city” of Crete. What we do know is that he sent Titus to go to every city and get a leader in place for each church.
The most widely accepted view is that following Paul’s release from his Roman prison he completed a fourth missionary journey. This is based on Acts 28:30 And he stayed two full years in his own rented quarters and was welcoming all who came to him,
The books of Titus, I Timothy and 2 Timothy are considered the three books that Paul wrote after his release as implied from Acts 28:30.
From Titus 1:5 it then seems that Paul and Titus left Rome together and had an extremely fruitful church planting ministry. Then Paul left Titus to finish what they started and appoint elders in every city.
For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you, (Titus 1:5)
The whole of the book is about what Titus is to teach and do in Crete. Titus is to stay in Crete and teach the churches and strengthen them until Artimus or Tychicus arrive and then Paul requests Titus to do everything he can to join him at Nicopolos.
Titus the Team player
Rome and Nicopolis
for Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica; Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. (2 Timothy 4:10)
12 When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, make every effort to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there.13 Diligently help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way so that nothing is lacking for them. (Titus 3:12-13)
Titus 3:15, Titus is helping Zenas and Apollos and to help them on their way.
Ends of the earth
One of the last things ever written by Paul in the New Testament is that Titus was going to the ends of the earth to take the gospel where Christ had never been named. 2 Timothy is the last book for Paul and Timothy’s plans to take the Good News to Dalmatia was one of the last things mentioned.
After decades of ministry since standing with Paul against the Judaizes in Jerusalem Titus has plans to go to Dalmatia. This is the area we know now as Serbia, Croatia and Bosnia. There were no churches there. This same Titus who was unwavering at the Jerusalem council and courageous against the sin at Corinth was going to the ends of the earth to take the gospel to a new place.
for Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica; Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. (2 Timothy 4:10)
Conclusion
In the end of the movie Walter Mitty realized what he did all along was significant and part of an exciting life. Don’t lose your perspective and what the Lord has giving you in Jesus Christ.
Just serving the Lord in ministry is something no one should take for granted. Every New Testament believer is in such an exciting position that Isaiah, Jeremiah and Amos would be happy to trade places with you. You have what they longed for, Christ in you the hope of glory.
If you ever think your Christian life is boring then read 2 Corinthians chapter 3 to see that you have a greater experience than Moses when he met the Lord face to face on Mt Sinai and had to cover his face because of the Shekinah glory. What you have as a believer in Christ is far surpassing.
