Consistent Conduct

Pastorals: Message Forty-Two

Titus 2:1-10

ETS: Paul taught that Christian character and behavior were required for strong Christian witness.

ESS: We should conduct our lives in a manner consistent with the Gospel.

OSS: [MO: Ethical] {SO: I want the hearers to commit to behaving in a manner consistent with the Gospel message.}

PQ: What observations can we make in this passage?

UW: Observations

Intro.: Hayne P. Griffin Jr. wrote, “The effect of individual Christian behavior on unbelievers cannot be underestimated. Inevitably, unbelievers judge the gospel message by the lives of those who embrace it. As we live and identify ourselves as Christians, we can make the Gospel message attractive and credible by our godly attitudes and behavior. However, if we are perceived as unloving and hypocritical, we provide unbelievers with good reason to be skeptical about the power of the Gospel.” (Griffin Jr., 308). Furthermore, Andreas Kostenberger wrote, “While verbal proclamation is essential, believers’ lives play a vital role in the church’s witness.” (Kostenberger, 333). As such, it is important for believers to understand the significance of their conduct and the way they live amongst one another in the world (both with believers and non-believers alike). Tonight, my hope as we study this is that we begin to understand this resulting in a commitment to live in a manner consistent with the Gospel message.

TS: Let us make observations together in this passage:

Titus was instructed to teach things consistent with the Gospel. (v. 1)

Firstly, a grammatical issue is worth noting: the verse begins with Σὺ δὲ (but you)- the conjunction here functions to show a strong contrast between the false teachers of Crete and Titus (and believers in Crete).

Furthermore, the emphatic pronoun Σὺ functioned to show Titus’ personal responsibility to be involved in the instruction.

He was instructed to speak, proclaim, or teach things consistent with sound teaching (which we deemed to refer to the Gospel or Christian tradition, doctrine when we studied 1:9)

Donald Guthrie wrote, “It is hardly correct to claim, as many scholars do, that the writer merely denounces heresy, for in this case he clearly believes that truth is the best antidote to error.” (Guthrie, 213)

APPLICATION: Each believer has the responsibility to instruct with our lives and the example thereof the conduct and behavior which is consistent with the Christian doctrine. This should, as suggested by the grammar, directly contrast the behavior and conduct of the world.

Titus was to teach/address specific groups. (vv. 2-10)

Specifically, there are five groups identified:

Older men v. 2 (likely those who have raised a family and whose families are raising a family)

Older women v. 3 (again, likely those who have raised a family and whose families are raising a family)

Younger women vv. 4-5 (likely those in their twenties and thirties)

Younger men vv. 6-8 (likely those in their twenties and thirties)

Slaves vv. 9-10 (those that were slaves in society- not the same idea as slaves in American history)

APPLICATION: Regardless of the gender, age, or societal group we belong to, we all have obligation as believers to conduct ourselves in a manner consistent of the Gospel.

Specific instructions were to be given to each group. (vv. 2-10)

Older men: self-controlled, worthy of respect, sensible, and sound in faith, love, and endurance. (The characteristics that should define a mature believer)

Older women: likewise^ communicates the former characteristics also apply; reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not slaves to excessive drinking, teaching what is good.

Younger women: love their husband, love their children, self-controlled, pure, workers at home, kind, and submissive to their husbands.

Younger men: self-controlled, an example of good works, incorruptible/integrity/dignified teaching, above reproach message

Slaves: submit to masters, pleasing, not talking back, not stealing (as they would be susceptible to do), demonstrating utter faithfulness.

APPLICATION: Again, regardless of our category, we all have specific characteristics or defining marks that distinguish us and validate our message and claim to embrace the Gospel.

Discipleship was necessary. (vv. 2-8)

Most noticeable in the instruction to the older women to teach the younger women, but certainly alluded to in every relationship mentioned between older men/younger men, older women/ younger women, slaves/masters.

It is obvious in both male and female relationships in this passage when observing the following: older women were specifically tasked with teaching what is good “so that they may encourage the young women” and Titus himself was included in Paul’s instruction to be an example to younger men demonstrated in the emphatic reflexive pronoun σευτὸν (v. 7). This showed that Titus was supposed to, himself, be an example to the young men, and it is also alluded to Titus being among one of the young men.

APPLICATION: We need to intentionally disciple those who are less mature than us (whether speaking of age or spiritual maturity) in order to ensure they know how to conduct themselves in a manner consistent of the Gospel.

Purposes existed behind the instruction. (vv. 3-10)

The Greek conjunction ἳνα appears four times in this passage communicating four purpose statements.

V. 4: The purpose of the older women’s teaching what is good is to encourage young women...

V. 5: The purpose of the characteristics demanded of young women is that God’s word might not be slandered or blasphemed. This is specifically regarding the order of homes ordained by God- with confusion and distortion, Christian women were urged to follow the Biblical patterns of submission to their husbands to avoid any questioning or reason to blaspheme the Word of God by false teachers.

V. 8: The young men were instructed to maintain exemplary character and sound teaching so that the message they proclaimed remained blameless or above reproach with the purpose that those who oppose it might be put to shame having nothing bad to say about those who embrace it.

V. 10: The slaves were instructed to prove themselves totally faithful so that the teaching of God, Savior, might be adorned or made attractive. Donald Guthrie commented, “The Greek word (kosmeo) is used here of the arrangement of jewels in a manner to set off their full beauty (cf. Bernard), and that idea is emphasized here. By exemplary Christian behavior a slave has the power to enhance the doctrine and to make it appear beautiful in the eyes of all onlookers. Such a principle as this is by no means confined to slaved. It is applicable to Christians in all walks of life.” (Guthrie, 218). Regarding this, Griffin Jr. wrote, “Especially noteworthy is the fact that the exemplary behavior of those at the lowest level of society (i.e., slaves) has the effect of “making attractive” (kosmosin, “adorning”) the gospel. Surely the gospel’s transforming power in the lives of those who had every reason to be bitter would stand out clearer and brighter than in those who lived in freedom and dignity unknown to slaves.” (Griffin Jr., 308).

APPLICATION: The purpose behind every set of instruction and exhortation to bear positive characteristics is the purpose related to the upbuilding of the Gospel. Let our lives and behaviors accomplish these purposes for the glory of God!

CONCLUSION:

Kostenberger wrote, “While this series of references to the surrounding culture doesn’t indicate that the instructions regarding proper conduct in God’s household are merely culturally relative, it does show that the first Christians were sensitive to the reception of the Christian message in the larger world around them. These references also demonstrate that believers were determined not to put any unnecessary stumbling blocks into people’s paths that kept them from responding to the gospel.” (Kostenbeger, 337).

Let us commit, today, to being intentional with our conduct. Let us repent of intentionally putting stumbling blocks between us and the unbelieving world by our lives and conduct. May our conduct and behavior adorn the Gospel that those who have yet to embrace it might want to because of the image we present of it for the glory of God!