Titus 2

1-5 6-10 11-15

1-5

1

Paul starts off with “But as for you” this is contrasting Titus with the false teachers and false prophets he was talking about in the previous section. Titus is to teach sound doctrine never straying from the word given by God through the writers of the Old Testament and what had been penned until that time of the New Testament, and not for filthy lucre or any kind of shameful gain but for the sake of the elect, so that they can be taught and edified with the power of the Holy Spirit.

2

So far Paul has mentioned raising up elders and avoiding and rebuking false teachers, now he starts to give his council on the rest of the church members. The older men, like those who would be elders are to be sober minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. Acting like someone who is a member of God’s church, and not as a demon during the week and a saint on Sunday. All of the members of the church are a reflection of the church and as Christianity as a whole and this should be evident in our lives at all times and not just when we are at the meetings.

3

Older women, women who are past the child-bearing and rearing age, are likewise to be in their behavior as the older men are, sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and steadfastness. Paul adds not slanderers or slaves to much wine. Slanderers is Diabolos in the Greek, and of its 37 appearances in the New Testament 34 times it is translated as the devil, who is the arch or chief-slanderer. Calvin says that “Talkativeness is a disease of women, and it is increased by old age”

4-5

Older women are not to go from house to house drinking wine and gossiping, they are to teach other young women what is good, biblically good and strengthen them in loving their husbands and children, teaching them to be self-controlled and pure. Teaching the younger women that working at home is good and respectful despite what the world may say, and to be submissive to their husbands as the leader of the family, not forsaking the roles for men and women that God put in place from creation.

6-10

6

The young men don’t get a pass, we are not to say boys will be boys, we are to urge the younger men to be self-controlled, the Greek word translated here urge can also be translated as implore or plead. Strongly encourage the younger men, those over 12, to not follow the way of the world but stay under control in all things.

7

Paul tell Titus to himself be a roll model for the young men, someone for them to look up to, let the fruits of his salvation and the good works made possible by the Holy Spirit show. Let his integrity and dignity shine through in his teaching.

8

Always being biblically sound whenever he teaches, preaches, or talks to anyone, letting the gospels do the heavy lifting as to shine the bright light of truth onto the sin of the unrepentant so they may hopefully feel the weight of their sin and shame.

9

Bondservants are to be submissive to their own masters. We may like to think that this is not relevant today, but I think we can replace the bondservants and masters with employees and employers, we are to be good employees, working hard for our employers, doing our best to please our employer and not being argumentative.

10

And pilfering can mean much more that stealing money or physical things, we can also take it as not wasting our time when we are on the clock. When we are at work we are still Christians and our attitude, behaviour, and work ethic should reflect that. Our co-workers and supervisors should be able to tell that we are Christians just from our behavior and attitude, they should be able to tell that we adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.

11-15

11

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people” There is the good news of the Gospels condensed into one short sentence. The grace of God has appeared, Christ came down from on high by the grace of God, born into this world as a man while also retaining his full Deity. Bringing salvation for all people, living the perfect life, fulfilling the law so he could take our punishment as our substitute because he was due none of his own, paying for all that the father had given him before the ages began. Dyeing on the cross but defeating sin and death by rising again, the firstborn of the dead, so that we can have salvation and eternal life in heaven with our God.

12

And while Jesus was with us bodily He was showing us, training us, to forsake this fallen world, its passions and desires, He equipped us, showed us, and commanded us to live self-controlled, honorable, and godly lives while we are still here on this Earth

13

Being sanctified in our earthly lives as we wait for our blessed hope, our sure and God promised hope of the second coming of Christ as conqueror and Lord. And whether we are still alive or have passed on when He comes again, we will all see the second coming of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ either bodily or as a spirit.

14

Because, just as verse 11 so succinctly put it, Jesus gave himself for us. He was not coerced or forced into it, he gave himself up, took our punishment for all our lawlessness, to redeem us, so that we could be purified and washed clean by His blood, so that we could be His people, His possession, bought and paid for, and be a people who are zealous for good works, passionate, eager, enthusiastic for good works.

15

Declare these things, shout from the roof tops the good news of the gospels, rebuke every false teacher and slanderer with all of the authority granted by God and let no one disregard or belittle you, be strengthened by the Holy Spirit in you till the end.