Book: Titus

Fifteen years ago I read the Old Testament (King James Version) and blogged it as I went. I always meant to keep on trucking, but, well, I didn’t.

Now, in January and February of 2026 I am going to read all 27 books of the New Testament (I have a passing familiarity with the Gospels, thanks to secondary school, and I did read the Book of Revelations at some point (fever dream, innit?)

The plan is to read at most ten pages a day, with rest days more frequent than old “1-in-7” for the Gospels through Romans, but then, because it all gets somewhat shorter, one a day for most of February.

Crucially, am blogging as I go.

Well, no, I haven’t been – I am behind on my scraping and snarking. I haven’t put anything up since, well, Acts, and here I am now near the end of the Pauline epistles!!  Will try to go to the end, and then go back and fill in the blanks…

Oh, and I am going to read Gore Vidal’s 1992 “Live from Golgotha” as soon as I am done with John…

Summary: 

The Epistle to Titus^[a] is one of the three pastoral epistles (along with 1 Timothy and 2 Timothy) in the New Testament, historically attributed to Paul the Apostle. It is addressed to Saint Titus and describes the requirements and duties of presbyters/bishops.

Historical – when written, by whom

Authorship of the Pauline epistles – Wikipedia

Most poetic bits

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Most quotable bits

3: 3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.

Most “wtaf” bit(s)

3: 10 A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;

My eyes glaze over these bits now, so I am not the best person to ask…

What it reminds me of (books/plays/jokes etc)

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Further reading

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Chapter 1

Er, promised who, since the world was not there

1: 2 2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

Bad people, poetic af

1: 10-11 10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: 11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.

All Cretians are liars

1: 12 12 One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, the Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.

“One of the secular peculiarities of the Epistle to Titus is the reference to the Epimenides paradox: “One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, ‘Cretans are always liars’.”^[20]”

Epistle to Titus – Wikipedia

Yeah, because rebuking also works

1: 13 13 This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;

1: 15 15 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.

1: 16 16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

Chapter 2

Wait, is this who I am supposed to be(come)?

2: 2 That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.

Ah yes, the rebuke despise nexus… The beatings will continue until morale improves

2: 15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

Chapter 3

Ah, yes, the good old days.

3: 3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.

3: 9 But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.

Two strikes and your out?!3: 10 A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;