In this chapter, Paul is directing Titus how to minister in the office he has been appointed to. In addition, he tells him how to instruct others to minister, and how to teach them to live lives that are godly and holy.
Doing Good for the Sake of the Gospel
1 You, however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine. 2 Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance.
In the chapter prior to this one, Paul was directing Titus about how to set the church in order. He had just warned him about the corrupt teachers who were teaching things that were vain and of no profit. So Paul says “You, however must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine.” And even though he is to teach others to minister, he is never to neglect his calling to minister. He is to teach others with sound doctrine and teach them to teach it as well. He is to instruct the older men to be men worthy of being an example to the younger ones, since they would be the ones who disciple them. Some theologians would translate this to mean the men who were more mature in Christ, but this is not the case. It literally means the older men. As we age, we have a tendency to take less care of ourselves, seeing the natural decay of our bodies and not being willing to put the effort forward to stay self-disciplined in our eating, activities, and even in our words. Aged people tend to worry more, hold grudges longer, have shorter patience, and care less about how their words affect others. This is specifically why Titus was being told to instruct the older men. Paul knew these tendencies needed to be addressed so the older men would be good examples to the younger ones.
3 Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. 4 Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.
In the same way, Titus is told to teach the older women to live lives that are worthy of God, so that they too can be held as an example to the younger women. When people live lives that are a testimony to the God they serve, outsiders can find no fault or reason to speak against that God. It is true that actions speak louder than words – and Paul knew this and instructed Titus to teach the people accordingly.
6 Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. 7 In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness 8 and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.
Righteousness stands for itself and against it there is no defense. Those who try to lie and destroy cannot stand against those who live blameless. The truth is always revealed.
9 Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, 10 and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.
Even in our jobs we must set an example of God and let our lives show the goodness of God.
11 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
The world thinks that when we deny ourselves of the passions of this world that we are restricting ourselves to a boring life without job or fun. What they do not understand is that we are told to discipline ourselves because those things cause us harm. They separate us from God, they destroy our witness, they pull us into sin…. and all of those things cause us to live as less than we are designed. We were created by God to be overcomers, to succeed, to rule above the powers of darkness. Jesus died to give us access to those blessings, and living as less gives us the undeniable feeling that something is missing. We feel unfulfilled…. because we are!
15 These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.
Since there will always be those who will try to get a teacher to compromise, there will always be someone to question your authority or speak hateful things about you… Paul encourages Titus not to be swayed by these things, but to continue in doing what is right in the eyes of God.
Leave a Reply