On the island of Crete, Titus traveled from city to city to “make appointments of elders,” as Paul had instructed him. (Tit 1:5) Paul had left Titus on Crete to “correct the things that were defective” in the Christian congregations. Sometime later, Paul wrote an inspired letter to Titus. The letter apparently provided Titus with spiritual guidance and with apostolic backing to carry out his assignment in connection with the congregations in Crete. Among other things, the letter contains a list of qualities that Titus should look for in men who were under consideration for appointment as elders. (Tit 1:6-9) The letter also contains counsel on the importance of “wholesome speech,” on the need to “maintain fine works,” as well as on how to deal with “rebellious men” in the congregation.—Tit 1:10, 11, 13, 14; 2:8; 3:14.

Shown here is a small papyrus fragment called P³². It contains Tit 1:11-15 on one side and Tit 2:3-8 on the other side. This codex leaf is commonly dated to about 200 C.E. It is housed at the John Rylands University Library in Manchester, England. The text of this fragment agrees very closely with the authoritative Greek manuscript Codex Sinaiticus, which was produced about 150 years later.​—See Glossary, “Codex Sinaiticus.”

Slavery was part of everyday life in the Roman Empire. Roman law regulated certain aspects of the relationship between slaves and their masters. Slaves performed much of the work in the homes of wealthy families occupying the territories of the Roman Empire. Slaves cooked, cleaned, and cared for children. Other slaves worked in factories, in mines, or on farms. Those who were better educated served as doctors, teachers, or secretaries. In fact, slaves worked at every occupation except in the military. In some cases, slaves could be emancipated. (See Glossary, “Freeman; Freedman.”) First-century Christians did not take a stand against governmental authority in this matter, nor did they advocate that slaves revolt. (1Co 7:21) Christians respected the legal right of others, including fellow Christians, to own slaves. That is why the apostle Paul sent the slave Onesimus back to his master, Philemon. Because Onesimus had become a Christian, he willingly returned to his master, subjecting himself as a slave to a fellow Christian. (Phm 10-17) Paul encouraged slaves to work honestly and diligently.—Tit 2:9, 10.

Highlighted on the map is the Roman city of Nicopolis in the Epirus region of what is today northwestern Greece. Several ancient cities were named Nicopolis, which means “City of Conquest [Victory].” However, this is probably the Nicopolis that the Bible mentions in connection with Paul’s travels sometime after his first imprisonment in Rome. (Tit 3:12; see map “Paul’s Journeys After c. 61 C.E.”) Octavian (later known as Caesar Augustus) founded Nicopolis after 31 B.C.E. Many people from other areas were resettled here, and this new city became a trading center. Paul may have thought that this city would provide ample opportunity for witnessing during the winter that he was planning to spend there. Some think that while Paul was living in Nicopolis, he was arrested and sent back to Rome for his second and final imprisonment. (See study note on Ac 28:30.) The photos show different scenes from the site of ancient Nicopolis.

1. Roman aqueduct; construction may have started during Caesar Nero’s reign (54-68 C.E.)

2. View toward one of the harbors of Nicopolis with the Odeum (small theater) in the foreground, probably built during the first half of the second century C.E.