By Jay T. Robertson, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Christian Studies, University of Mobile
LIVING WITH INTEGRITY
Titus 2:1–15
Spoken (1)
Paul urged Titus to complete the organization of the churches on the island of Crete in order that by the work of consecrated elders the voice of people teaching false doctrine might be silenced. That was the substance of chapter one.
In chapter 2, Paul focused on individual and family life. “But you” in verse 1 was emphatic denoting the sharp contrast between the false teachers and Titus. Paul commanded Titus to preach things consistent with sound doctrine. We must be true to the gospel of Jesus Christ and the word of God both in belief and behavior.
Acted (2–10)
The gospel makes a difference. Indeed the gospel requires a difference in how we think and live. The gospel calls people within the church to pursue godliness, whether old or young, male or female, slave or free.
Paul instructed Titus to teach older men to be “self-controlled.” They need to be wise in decision-making and careful when making judgments. They should be levelheaded. The older men should be “worthy of respect” and “sensible,” exercising mature judgment and proper restraint. Older men need to be sound in the faith, loving and patient, not losing heart and throwing in the towel.
Paul instructed Titus to teach older women to be “reverent in behavior,” their lives marked by holiness. They are not to be “slanderers” who make false and unfounded accusations. The word for “slanderer” is diabolos, which is used 34 times in the New Testament to refer to the devil.
A godly woman will not be devilish in her speech. Older women need to be levelheaded not “slaves to excessive drinking.” They should teach the younger women in their homes and in the church. This teaching was to be one-on-one or small group instruction as the older women taught the younger women the basics of life in Christ and about marriage, family and child-rearing. This biblical pattern of older women mentoring the younger women has too often been neglected in our churches today.
Paul instructed Titus to tell the older women to teach the younger women and encourage them “to love their husbands and to love their children.” This is the only instance in the Scriptures where a woman is encouraged to love her husband.
Paul was concerned that a woman’s first commitment under the lordship of Christ was to her husband and her family. The younger women were to be taught to be “self-controlled, pure, workers at home, kind and in submission to their husbands.” They were to exercise balance and wisdom in their lives, and they were to have a moral life above reproach.
The younger women were to be taught to make their home their primary responsibility. They were to be gentle and considerate and yield to the leadership of their husband. They were to live their lives so God’s word would be honored.
Paul instructed Titus to teach the slaves to be obedient to Christ by obeying their masters in all things. The gospel contains implications for every person and every area of life.
Empowered (11–14)
In these verses Paul explained the power of the gospel to change lives. No one ever meets Jesus and stays the same. God’s grace teaches us how we should live. No matter what our position in life might be the grace of God is continually shaping us more and more into the image of Christ. We are to be encouraged to live godly lives as we anticipate the return of Jesus.
Authority (15)
Paul wrote to encourage Titus to step up and lead with authority. He was to continue teaching sound doctrine and rebuking the false teachers in order that these churches become gospel outposts in enemy territory.
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