Many of the issues in the texts are inter-related so it is instructive at the start to lay out

a proposed sequence of events, to show that an internal consistency is possible. The

following reconstruction is tentative in places, and is not the only sequence that is

consistent with the Titus-Timothy view.

Titus was a native of Syrian Antioch. His mother was a Jew and his father was a

gentile, and he probably attended synagogue and learned the scriptures. He became a

convert of Paul. He traveled with Paul to Jerusalem where he was not compelled to be

circumcised, though he presented himself as a Greek. Some 'false brothers' infiltrated a

confidential meeting and found out that Titus was uncircumcised. Titus was sent to

South Galatia, probably to encourage the churches there to lay aside money for a

collection for the poor in Jerusalem. At some point Titus was given the name 'Timothy'

(meaning 'honoring God'). When Paul arrived Titus-Timothy happened to be in Lystra.

Timothy had fulfilled his mission so the brothers spoke well of him. Paul wanted him to

join him on his missionary journey. Timothy had not wanted his father’s gentile identity

to be known, but the information had been revealed by the ‘false brothers’. Paul then

circumcised Timothy because of the Jews, because, by then, they all knew that his

father had been a Greek. When Paul wrote Galatians he made it clear that the way the

'false brothers' had found out that Titus’s father was a Greek was thoroughly

unscrupulous: they had sneaked in and spied.

Journeys of Paul and Titus

1. Paul, Barnabas, and Titus

travel from Antioch to Jerusalem

I went up again to Jerusalem with

Barnabas, taking Titus along with

me. (Gal. 2:1)

Paul and Barnabas and some of the

others were appointed to go up to

Jerusalem (Acts 15:2)

2. Titus is named 'Timothy' and sent

to south Galatia, probably to

organize a collection for

Jerusalem.

They asked only one thing, that we

remember the poor, which was actually

what I was eager to do. (Gal. 2:10)

Now concerning the collection for the

saints; you should follow the directions

I gave to the churches of Galatia. (1 Cor.

16:1)

Paul and Barnabas return to

Antioch, accompanied by Silas and

Judas Barsabbas

Then the apostles and the elders, with the consent of the whole church, decided to choose men from among their members and to send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas...(Acts 15:22)

3. Paul travels with Silas to Lysta,

where he meets Titus-Timothy

But Paul chose Silas and set out, the

believers commending him to the grace

of the Lord. He went through Syria and

Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

Paul went on also to Derbe and to

Lystra, where there was a disciple

named Timothy (Acts. 15:40-16:1)

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