Titus, chapter 2, comments

 

Titus, chapter 2

Titus 2:1 ¶  But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: 2  That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. 3  The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; 4  That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, 5  To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. 6  Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded. 7  In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, 8  Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you. 9  Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again; 10  Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.

As he did in the letters to Timothy Paul has advice for Titus on how to instruct the elders, as in elder in age, in the church. These admonitions need little explanation and we have already been over them in great part in Paul’s letters to Timothy. Two things of note in understanding here. First in Proverbs 7 we have this referring to the harlot;

11 (She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house:

In both testaments we have the idea of a “keeper at home” which some people mistakenly think to mean that a woman’s only proper employment is to be a housewife. Actually keeping at home is applied to a man in Habbakuk 2:5 Yea also, because he transgresseth by wine, he is a proud man, neither keepeth at home, who enlargeth his desire as hell, and is as death, and cannot be satisfied, but gathereth unto him all nations, and heapeth unto him all people:

We had a saying down South “gadabout” which was a person of either sex who was always out looking to start trouble either at a bar or going house to house gossiping and destroying reputations. This person more fits the context of “keepeth at home” in Habbakuk 2:5 and “keepers at home” in Titus 2:5. To say that the only employment fit for a woman is a housewife is to accuse Lydia, the benefactor of Paul in Philippi, of sin. And yet, there is no condemnation of her in the word of God.

Secondly, not answer again and purloining refer to talking back to and to stealing from your employer or, in this case, master.

The idea here is that the Christian woman or the Christian man or woman who is a servant should be a witness for Christ, not a carnal person carelessly and casually doing wrong. Paul’s understanding throughout his letters was that time was short so these commands, much like Jesus’ commands to His disciples who accompanied Him on His way to the Cross was that there was no time to concern one’s self with carnal, selfish things of this life as time was short. Well, it was short for Christ’s mission on earth but human-centered history did not come to a conclusion in Paul’s lifetime and may not in ours. Do not mistake Paul’s letters for justifying or encouraging slavery. Virtually every great movement against slavery in the last few hundred years was started and pushed forward by Christians. Paul’s emphasis here is not in supporting the social order but in making the main the thing the main thing, that Christ was returning soon, possibly in their lifetimes. Keep that in mind when you read his comments on servants and read Philemon again understanding that, to a truly Christian master, his slave was his brother in Christ, and nothing could remain the way it had been before they were saved.

Slavery still exists in the world today and some say there are more slaves in the world today than ever at any given time in history. It is a deplorable condition that we would do well, like many of our Christian forebears did, to fight it when we know of it. Still, the point here is not your freedom or bondage but to your devotion to Christ and representing Him to a fallen world.

Titus 2:11 ¶  For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12  Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13  Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14  Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Humankind has no excuse for rejecting God’s plan of salvation, His free gift. His abundant grace has entitled them to a lot of room and time in order to give them every opportunity to come to Christ. In Paul’s letter to the Romans he explains this very well.

Romans 1:19 ¶  Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20  For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

God’s forbearance is said to have a particular reason.

Romans 2:4  Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

God’s grace that brings salvation appeared to the world through Jesus Christ. Salvation is very inclusive and is open to all men and women. High and low, bond or free, they are all welcome.

Galatians 3:28  There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

We are called to live right, to good works, as followers of Christ, with His Spirit inside of us. And we are to look up for His appearing, our God and Saviour, who in His physical form, is Christ. He will return at His time.

John 14:9  Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?

Colossians 1:15a  Who is the image of the invisible God,

Hebrews 1:3a  Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person,

And…

John 14:1 ¶  Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2  In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

Acts 1:10  And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; 11  Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

1Corinthians 15:51 ¶  Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52  In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

 

1Thessalonians 4:16  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Christ died for us to redeem us.

Romans 5:8  But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9  Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

And we are called to good works.

Ephesians 2:10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Titus 2:15 ¶  These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

Titus is to be bold, confident, and authoritative in his speech to the Cretans. He is to let no one treat him with contempt. He is to be a leader.