The apostle Paul, in his letter to Titus, the pastor of the churches on the island of Crete, speaks plainly and truthfully about the Cretans' well-known traits with the purpose of imparting helpful instructions for Christians to overcome and grow in the image of Christ. In the short span of three chapters, Paul includes twelve lists comprising 67 items of actions the Cretans need to take. For elders, in Titus 1:6-7, they should be blameless, husbands of one wife, fathers of faithful children, morally upright, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, and not greedy. In Titus 1:8, ministers should also be hospitable, lovers of good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled, and holding fast. Older men, in Titus 2:2, are to be sober, reverent, temperate, and sound in faith, love, and patience. Older women, in Titus 2:3, should be reverent, not slanderers or drunkards, and teachers of good things. Young women, in Titus 2:4-5, are instructed to love their husbands and children, and to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, and obedient to their husbands. Young men, in Titus 2:6-8, are to be sober-minded, show a pattern of good works, integrity, reverence, incorruptibility in doctrine, and use sound speech. Servants, in Titus 2:9, are to be obedient to their masters, well-pleasing, not talking back, and not stealing. To the general population, in Titus 2:12-13, Paul admonishes them to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, live soberly and righteously, be godly in this present world, and look for Christ. In Titus 3:1, 3, and 9, brethren are to be subject to rulers, obedient, helpful, speak ill of no one, be peaceable, gentle, humble, avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law, having once been foolish, disobedient, deceived, and full of malice, envy, and hate. These instructions fall into five general categories for the Cretans to set in order the things that are lacking, as noted in Titus 1:5. Under family, with seven items, Paul emphasizes loving spouses and children, being faithful to mates, raising faithful children, women as homemakers, and teaching children and others. Obedience, with nine items, includes being subject to authority, not self-willed or disobedient, and submitting to God, Jesus Christ, parents, employers, ministers, and government officials. Self-control, with thirteen items, involves not being quick-tempered or violent, being sound in patience, discreet, avoiding foolish disputes, and being peaceable, gentle, and humble. Good character, with nineteen items, includes being blameless, morally upright, moderate in desires, just in actions and words, and not speaking ill of anyone, applicable to elders, ministers, spouses, old and young men and women, servants, and brethren. Righteousness, also with nineteen items, encompasses being lovers of good, holy, reverent, sound in faith and love, holding fast, having integrity in doctrine, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, looking for Christ, and not being deceived, traits acquired through the work of the Holy Spirit. Paul's admonitions to Titus are clear, urging focus on these areas to achieve strong families, obedience, self-control, good character, and righteousness.

In the book of Titus, the apostle Paul employs direct and unapologetic language as he instructs Titus, a gentile convert left on the island of Crete to work with the churches there. Paul tasks Titus with setting in order the things that are lacking among a congregation described as tough to teach, requiring a measure of bluntness. Although Paul commands in Titus 3:2 to speak evil of no one, he uses strong words about the Cretans, quoting their own prophet Epimenides from Titus 1:12, who called them always liars, evil beasts, and idle gluttons. This reflects a widely held view in the ancient world of the Cretans as immoral, fierce, and deceitful, a reputation noted by historians like Livy, Polybius, and Diodorus Siculus. Paul's words are not blasphemy or evil-speaking but truthful assessments meant to guide Titus effectively. His instructions remain relevant, as we too are called out of a world akin to ancient Crete, surrounded by similar immoral influences, and must maintain vigilance to set things in order as Paul advised Titus.