Titus, Part OneSample

A letter from Paul

“Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ” (Titus 1:1).

The Bible contains all kinds of books, including many letters. Most of these letters were written by Paul. Today, we read how he introduces himself in his letter to Titus.

When we write a private letter or e-mail, we usually just sign it with our name. In formal letters, we include our title or position if relevant. For example, when a researcher writes a report about her research and publishes the results in the media, she won’t present herself as “Emma” but as “Prof. Dr. E.A.G. Daniels, professor of biomedical sciences at the University of Amsterdam.” This title and position make clear this woman knows what she is writing about, and this gives her message authority.

Paul describes himself as “a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ.” With this phrase, he is actually saying two things. First, Paul is not interested in his own honor. He is only “a servant.” Second, he is “an apostle.” He has met Jesus Christ in person and received the commission to spread the Gospel. So, Paul speaks with the authority of Jesus. This lends great weight to his words! Even now, about 2,000 years later, Paul’s letter is authoritative for believers worldwide.

Do you accept the biblical letters as words from God?