Titus chapter 2

 

Memory verse: Titus 2:11-13

 

This book is the third of Paul’s pastoral letters. It was written Titus, who is not mentioned in the book of Acts, but was apparently with Paul (2Corinthians 2:13, 2Corinthians 7:6 & 13-14, 2Corinthians 8:8 & 16 & 23, 2Corinthians 12:18, Galatians 2:1-3, 2Timothy 4:10). Paul sent him to Crete like he sent Timothy to Ephesus to set things in order (Titus 1:5). Crete was an island city. Some of its inhabitants were there on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:11). Paul passed by on his boat trip to Rome (Acts 27). The Cretians had a bad reputation (Titus 1:12).

 

Day 1 – the aged men

Verses 1-2

Sound doctrine includes more than foundational issues of how to be saved. In this chapter it includes telling the elders to “be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience”. Sober not only means abstaining from alcohol, it means being temperate – always having self-control. Grave does not mean stone-faced and never showing joy. It means to be reverend and honorable. Temperate means in control of your faculties and of sound mind. Sound in faith is to be spiritually healthy by keeping himself doctrinally pure. Charity is the Greek word agape, which was coined in the Bible. It is putting others first. It is self-sacrifice. It is more than brotherly affection or sexual desire. Patience is remaining steadfast in faith no matter what adversity comes.

 

Day 2 – the aged and the young women

Verses 3-5

The older ladies should conduct themselves in a way that reflects reverence for the things of God, not making false allegations, not slaves to alcohol, teaching goodness. They should teach these things to the younger women, and teach them to love their families, to inspire holiness, to take care of the house, and to obey their own husbands. This runs diametrically opposite to the recent trend of the world on what a woman should be; but God created us, and knows what our roles are. The spirit of the so-called feminist movement should have no place in a Christian woman. It does no honor to women to attempt to cast off their God-given role. It is a disservice to real femininity which is valuable, essential, and honorable to God and to men who understand what their Biblical role in their relationship to women is (Ephesians 5:22-33, 1Peter 3:7).

 

Day 3 – the young men

Verses 6-8

Young men are also to have control of themselves. All the groups – aged men and women, and young men and women – are given this instruction using the same word. Titus was to be an example to them of good works, sound doctrine, respect, purity, teaching true things that cannot be found fault with. That way the critics will be ashamed, having nothing to pick at.

 

 

 

 

 

Day 4 – adorn the doctrine of God

Verses 9-10

Although these verses are directed towards servants, the principles apply to everyone in their relationships with authority, and to employers. All authority comes from God (Romans 13:1-7). We are to be respectful and obedient to authority unless they are ordering us to violate the word of God. If someone in authority is abusing their position, we are to pray about it and maintain our good behavior (1Timothy 2:1-3, Hebrews 13:7). We are not to argue with them. God will bless His people when they do the right thing regardless of what others are doing. God took care of David when Saul was persecuting him (1Samuel 17-26). David refused to violate the principles governing those under authority, even though it endangered his life at least 20 times. God delivered him, and promoted him. He passed the test. We must not forget that God is over all, and can handle situations. We must not steal from our employers, but be faithful. Following this behavior is like putting a decorative ornament on the doctrine of God. It gives honor to God.

 

Day 5 – the grace of God teaches us

Verses 11-15

The grace of God did not appear to a select few. He gives everyone a chance to be saved (John 1:9, John 3:16, Matthew 9:13, Luke 24:47, John 6:37, Acts 11:18, 2Peter 3:9). He casts His word on everyone regardless of their spiritual state (Matthew 13:3-9 & 18-23). Grace is not to allow us to continue in sin (Romans 6:1-2). It teaches us to deny not only sin, but lust – the desire for sin. If lust is not given the chance to conceive, it cannot reproduce (James 1:13-16). That does mean we never get tempted. Jesus was tempted (Matthew 4:1-11, Luke 22:28, Hebrews 4:15). The difference was He never yielded to it (2Corinthians 5:21, 1Peter 2:22, 1John 3:5). It teaches us to “live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world”. It teaches us to look up from this world toward the hope of the return of our Savior, “who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works”.

This is what the church should be teaching grace does.