Titus 2.8b-The Purpose of Titus Exemplifying Godly Conduct was to Silence the Enemies of Christianity
Wenstrom Bible Ministries
Pastor-Teacher Bill Wenstrom
Sunday May 4, 2014
Titus: Titus 2:8b-The Purpose of Titus Exemplifying Godly Conduct was to Silence the Enemies of Christianity
Lesson # 20
Please turn in your Bibles to Titus 2:2.
Titus 2:2 Older men are, as an eternal spiritual truth to be characterized as level-headed, dignified, sound-minded by being characterized as sound in the Christian faith, in the uniqueness of divine-love, in the uniqueness of godly perseverance. 3 Likewise, older women are to be characterized as reverent ones in the area of conduct, not slanderers, not enslaved to much wine, teachers of good 4 in order that they would be able to train younger women to be lovers of their husbands, lovers of their children 5 sound-minded ones, pure ones, homemakers, performers of divine good, those who voluntarily obey their own husbands so that the Word originating from God will not be slandered. 6 Likewise, you continue making it your habit of exhorting younger men to be sound-minded 7 while in each and every circumstance continuing to make it your habit of showing yourself to be an example of integrity, dignity, sound speech, irreproachableness who produces excellent works by means of the teaching 8 in order that the one who is from the opposition would be put to shame because they possess absolutely nothing bad to say about us. (My translation)
The apostle Paul presents to Titus the purpose for which he wants him to continue making it his habit of showing himself to be an example to younger Christian men of integrity, dignity, sound speech, irreproachableness who produces excellent works by means of his teaching.
The purpose of this command is to put to shame those who are hostile toward Christianity.
By Titus exemplifying godliness, he would not only present a living example for other young Christian men to follow but also put to shame those who oppose Christianity.
They would be put to shame because they would possess absolutely nothing bad or evil to say about Christians as a result of Titus exemplifying godliness for younger Christian men.
The Scriptures teach that the pastor-teacher, i.e. the overseer fulfills this office by fulfilling four responsibilities that are the means by which he tends and shepherds the flock of God: (1) Study (2 Tim. 2:15) (2) Teach (1 Tim. 4:13) (3) Pray (Acts 6:1-4). (4) Exemplify the Christian way of life (1 Timothy 4:12; 2 Timothy 3:10).
Not only Titus could bring about this result with his godly conduct but also all Christians could silence the opposition by their godly conduct as well.
Thus, even though Paul is directly addressing Titus here, he also has in mind every Christian on the island of Crete.
Who is Paul referring to when he speaks here in Titus 2:8 of those who were hostile toward Christians and Christianity?
Undoubtedly, the apostle would be referring to unregenerate people or non-Christians who are also described in Christianity as pagan or heathen.
He also would be referring to those who were Christians but were adhering to the legalistic teaching of the Judaizers.
The apostate pastors on the island of Crete which Paul describes in Titus 1:10-14 would definitely be a group which could be described as the opposition by Paul since they rejected the gospel as communicated through the apostolic teaching.
By Titus continuing to make it his habit of exemplifying godliness among the Cretan community, he would not be giving any ammunition for those who oppose Christianity.
His personal conduct was not to provide ammunition for the enemies of Christianity.
This is true in relation to all Christians.
If the conduct of Titus or any Christian was poor among the heathen on the island of Crete, it would reflect badly not only on the apostle Paul but all Christians everywhere.
Ultimately it would cause the heathen to slander the person of Jesus Christ.
The misconduct of Titus or any Christian would have bad consequences for the entire Christian community.
The poor conduct of a Christian leader would especially would give the enemies of Christianity a field day.
Now, Paul is not suggesting that the godly conduct of Titus would keep the adversaries from speaking evil of Christians and Christianity but that his conduct would not give the enemies of Christianity a justified reason to speak badly of Christianity.
In other words, the godly conduct of Titus would prevent the enemies of Christianity from having a justifiable charge against Christianity.
The apostle wants Titus’ godly conduct to provide no basis for a charge or an accusation which is justified and could stick.
If the accusations of those who oppose the apostolic teaching are demonstrated to be false, then the enemies of this teaching would be discredited in the Cretan community.
When one of the enemies of Christianity make an unjustifiable charge against a Christian, the public life of the Christian should be so obvious to the entire community that the accuser is embarrassed by the charges he makes.
True effective evangelism is based upon the godliness of believers whose lives demonstrate the truth of God’s Word and the power of Christ to redeem and transform human beings.
As the old saying goes, you the Christian may be the only Bible someone ever reads.
The apostle Peter also exhorts Christians to conduct themselves in a godly fashion among their heathen neighbors in order that the enemies of Christianity would be put to shame by their good behavior.
1 Peter 2:12 Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation. (NASB95)
1 Peter 3:15 but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; 16 and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame. (NASB95)