The key to understanding Titus chapter 2 is found in verses 11 & 12. Rather than a series of rather random and possibly restrictive or even discriminatory rules - Titus 2 teaches us how to live our lives in relation to the gospel - what it has meant to us and how it shapes our lives as we relate to others.
In our society today we are so consumed with individual rights that we lose perspective on what is really important - reaching the lost for Jesus and growing young believers into mature warriors. We think that because we have a right to do something then anything that seems to "take away" that right is downright un-American and perhaps ungodly.
I liken it to driving along the freeway. As a person coming up on an onramp you actually have no "right" to enter the road unless someone moves out of the way. If I’m going along at 65 miles an hour and I see you coming up - I could justify myself saying "I have every right to drive here and I’m not going to move because I don’t want to speed up or slow down or go into another lane." Then that person simply can’t get on the freeway - instead they go off and crash into the bushes. You were within your "rights" but would it really have been that difficult to make a few modifications in your driving to allow someone else to have a clear shot at getting where they needed to go?
We think freedom in Christ is the freedom to do anything. But it is also the freedom NOT to do things that we have a "right" to do. That’s what the Corinthian believers faced when they had to choose whether to go to idol feasts. They knew all foods were clean and that there is only one God - but for them to go would have stumbled young believers and turned off the unsaved from Christ altogether - "Oh, I guess there really is no difference between Jesus and all our pagan gods."
In Crete you had a culture of independence, immorality, and laziness that worked against forming Christian character through the power of the Spirit. In chapter 1 Paul tells Titus to straighten up some things - including appointing good models of leadership and rebuking those that taught that Christians must become Jews before coming to Jesus Christ.
Now he turns his attention to everyday living - some guidelines for these people to consider if they want to live lives that mirror Jesus Christ in a debauched culture.
We aren’t as different from the Cretans as we’d like to think. Our independence is legend, as is the immorality that surrounds us, and our unwillingness to be inconvenienced. So here’s the key verse:
Verse 11-12 says: 11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. 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"
This is the overarching value that should lead our lives - unmerited favor that changes our behavior in order to reach others. Jesus said "you are the salt of the earth - but if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?" (Matthew 5:13). If you are indistinguishable from the unsalty culture around you, you won’t be any good at giving people a taste of what life can really be like in Christ - so remember as we make our way through the chapter.
1 You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine.
"Sound doctrine" means "uncorrupted instruction or information." Paul contrasts this verse with the last verse of chapter 1. Rather than a deceptive message - Titus must be sure to have the truth.
To have "sound doctrine" you must study the Word. Paul told Timothy to be a journeyman in the Word - "cutting straight" to the truth. In his second letter to Timothy he said "Keep as the pattern of sound teaching." That means an outline - Paul was given the gospel by Jesus Christ and he passed that outline on to Timothy, and to us. It doesn’t mean he filled in every single detail - but values and principals to lead a godly life. Without that outline you can go off into all kinds of silly and destructive doctrine - but inside the outlines we need to be free to do what is best in each situation - that’s why for the Cretans the detailed instructions are different than for the Corinthians - and for us, but the outline is the same.
Now Paul gives practical instructions for five groups of people - older men and women, and younger men and women, and slaves. Throughout this section the common theme is "self control." The Cretan culture was known for the opposite - give in to every possible desire. Paul tells them to be different from their culture - through the power of the gospel that washed their sins and gave them the power of the Holy Spirit in their lives.
2 Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance.
What are you an example of? When other people look at your life - do they see a mirror of the cultural values in the world or the values of the character of God?
The more senior members of the church (in chronological age, not maturity in Christ) were to be "temperate" which can mean "balanced." They had their priorities down and knew what they were about. It can also mean they are clear-headed. After you’ve spent some time in the Lord you start to get a sense of what’s important - and what’s not.
It’s not important to look cool and be blown around by every fad that comes through - both in the culture and in the church. You know that you are going to face adversity and you know what it’s about - being transformed into Christ’s character.
They were to be "worthy of respect" - something men in their culture were not normally worthy of. It’s like where I used to live - in White City, Oregon. White City was known as place of low rent rendezvous and timber mills. People that lived in the larger towns used to say "can any good thing come from White City?"
Well in Crete it was much worse - I sure wouldn’t like to be known as "liars, evil brutes and lazy gluttons." So they had a lot to overcome.
To be self controlled meant they were not given to following the passions and paths of the culture - they could say "no". So too - they needed to be "sound" in three key areas: faith, love, and endurance. They needed to have an active relationship with the Lord, be a loving (not bitter) person, and stick with the Lord through hard times. We should all strive to be that kind of person!
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 train 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.
Verses 3 - 5 were actually pretty radical for the day. To suggest that women teach anything was very different from what they were used to. The older women were to be role models - not relegated to the back rows.
Marginalized people of any age - but especially the more mature - can lead to despair - and the bad combination of addiction to substances and the addiction to slander.
The word here is - just because you are getting older does not mean your usefulness in the kingdom of God is over. Your role shifts to that of training the younger ones in how to live successful lives in Christ.
In this case - probably because of a special case in Crete - the older women needed to reinforce to the young married women to love their families.
How? 1. By being self controlled - and in particular in the area of sexual purity. The word "pure" in verse 5 means "chaste." Apparently there were too many wandering eyes and passions among some of the younger women.
They are to be good managers of their households - creating a kind and loving atmosphere - and be submissive to their husbands. Now the Greek word for "submit" does not mean subjection. In fact, it doesn’t even mean "obedient" as it says in the King James. The idea is for wives to voluntarily accept their God-given role and to work alongside their husbands.
God gave husbands the responsibility to be the leader - to bear the weight of ultimate responsibility - not as a slave driver but as a servant. The word is a military one that means "to rank under." It’s like the President and his Joint Chiefs - the President has ultimate responsibility, but the Joint Chiefs wield the power and together they solve huge problems.
Women - you may not know how much power you wield in your husbands life. Use that power wisely - support him and help him - don’t undermine him and make him feel small.
Finally, Paul says to do this so that "no one will malign the Word of God." That’s really an important word to all of us. Our chief aim in life is to glorify God and show His love to the world - to do that we need to be an example of servant-leaders in our homes and marriages. Especially here, but for us as well, living a chaste and loving life was an important witness to the unsaved and a protection against the accusations of the enemy.
6 Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled.
Paul seems to have few words for the young men - but what he says is so vital - self control again. Young men have a hard time with this. It was true then and it’s true now.
It’s likely that Paul here is referring to young men who are married. If a wife is practicing submission but the husband is a tyrant or irresponsible - it will ruin her attempts and both they and their kids will suffer.
To be a nurturing example of Jesus Christ in your home would have been totally alien to a first century Greek man. Unfortunately, some of those same character traits have come down to us today. Fathers who are distant, husbands who are bullies, men who show no restraint or balance in their lives have brought no glory to God - only heartache to those around them. Break the cycle!
So now Paul includes Titus in the category of young men - but turns his attention to how he should perform as an overseer to this young flock:
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.
Don’t just say - do! You can’t tell people to live a life for Christ unless you show them that you yourself are living such a life.
What Titus taught was also important. It’s a big responsibility to teach others - both at home, as you live your lives, and to a church. Be correct about interpreting the Scriptures - but reverent about the seriousness of teaching God’s Word and ready to convey those truths in a way that matches the example of your life - so that those that oppose you won’t have any ammunition.
That’s a mistake that many of us Christians make - we are sometimes are own worst enemy by not taking our lives in Christ seriously enough to know the truth, teach the truth, live the truth.
Now I am not saying that we have to be perfect - far from it. But is our desire to continue to be transformed into the image of God and then communicate that to others? Or do we let our natural desires rule?
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.
This same sort of idea goes for the working class (the "slaves" of that day). Are you working for "the man" or "the suits?" The tendency is to look at them as the enemy. Paul wants us to have a broader view of life than just our daily responsibilities. Instead, think about the eternal effects you life has on others. In this case - be a good, honest, amiable, obedient employee - not so your company’s stock holders will make a bigger profit while you make pennies - but so that everyone around you, including the CEO will be attracted to the gospel!
So now we come to the key of the chapter:
11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. 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 glorious appearing 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.
15 These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.
Verses 11 - 14 are all one sentence. You could say it this way: "Jesus, our God and Savior, gave Himself to redeem us from the wickedness that pervades our world. He gave us this free gift of redemption that demands (like disciplining a child - Greek word) that we say "no" to the fleshly desires that call for our attention and say "yes" to living a life like a person that obeys God for His purposes while we wait for Him to come back for us."
Taking this kind of a stand is not going to be popular with everyone. Paul tells Titus not to be afraid to be bold in this, and not to let other’s disapproval dissuade you from breaking from your culture to be Christ-like.
Conclusions
1. Living a Christ-like life might appear simple, but it’s not easy.
Saying "no" is harder than it might first appear. We are bombarded on every street corner, in every TV show, and in everything we read to become like our culture. But having Jesus in your life makes it possible for you to say "no."
1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
2. Living as a powerful example of the Lord means being weak
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
3. You can make a difference for the kingdom of God in your everyday life.
You don’t have to stand up on a Sunday and preach - your life can proclaim the gospel on the job, at home, in your marriage, in line at the grocery store. Souls are won or lost for Christ based on how you appear to others. That might seem pretty heavy - but you are their entrée into the kingdom - don’t take that responsibility lightly.
