Read or listen Epistle to Titus chapter 2 online (ESV, Bible Gateway)

Right Example – Titus 2:1-10

It is important to remember that Christian faith is always about life, not just about speech or words. That is why Paul urges Titus not only to speak (verse 1) but also to set a right example (verse 7).

"But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine."
(verse 1)

Titus must act differently from the false teachers described at the end of chapter 1. "Sound doctrine" is one of the central themes of the pastoral letters (see 1 Tim 1:10, 6:3, 2 Tim 1:13, 4:3, Tit 1:9, 2:8). There are several characteristics of sound doctrine: it lacks nothing essential, it has nothing superfluous, it has nothing false, damaged, or defective.

Paul gives Titus advice for three groups of people: older men (verse 2), older women (verses 3-5), and younger men (verses 6-7). Young women are missing, because their teaching was entrusted to the older women (verse 4). Even today, there are churches where men are forbidden to teach young women. This is done to prevent sexual temptations from arising.

The importance of sobriety is emphasized for both older men (verse 2) and women (verse 3). Alcohol was a problem in the society of that time as well (see also 1 Tim 3:2,11).

Dignified and self-controlled (verse 2) are found in the lists of requirements for church ministers in the pastoral letters (1 Tim 2:4,8,11: worthy, 1 Tim 3:2: chaste, see also 1 Tim 2:2,9,15). "Reverent in behavior" in verse 3 is actually “fit for holy places”. For example, in southern Europe, churches today still require that people dress with sufficient dignity: the holy place must be respected also externally. Coming to church is also coming before God.

Notice in verses 3 and 4 that Paul did not want to forbid women from all teaching, even though he was clearly against women serving as church leaders and teachers (1 Cor 14:33-40).

The instructions given to the older men (verse 2) could be summarized as: be good examples to the younger ones.

The problem with the older women seems to have been speaking ill of others (verse 3). Life experience can sometimes turn into over-criticalness towards others.

A person can become a slave not only to wine (verse 3) but also to many other things. Sin easily entangles and binds (compare Romans 6:16-17).

Paul not only urged women to love their husbands (verse 4) but also men to love their wives (Ephesians 5:25). "Submission" (verse 5) is not popular today, although the whole society is ultimately built on submission; a leader is a leader and an employee is an employee, even in modern companies.

The testimony of life (verse 5) is especially important in the eyes of outsiders. Many people cannot bear to listen to speeches about Christ, but the life of Christians can be such a strong testimony that it draws them to Jesus (verse 10, see 1 Peter 3:1).

Young people are often enthusiastic, which can lead to excessive reformism and criticism of traditions, even contempt (verse 6). For example, in the Lutheran Church in Australia, it is a practice that a new employee is not allowed to make major changes until he has been in the church for at least a year.

Modern secular leadership training also emphasizes leading by example (verse 7). Paul also gave the same instruction to Timothy (1 Tim 4:12). When war veterans and their perceptions of officers were studied, it was found that officers who were with the men were valued, while officers who led from behind the lines, from headquarters, were criticized.

Paul has been criticized for demanding that slaves be subject to their masters (verse 9). Shouldn’t Paul have demanded that slavery be abolished? Christianity brought about a change in the West that eventually meant the abolition of slavery, but we must remember that the entire Roman Empire was built on slavery; its sudden abolition would have brought enormous problems. The entire society would probably have collapsed. The slaves’ lives as Christians were also a testimony to their masters (verse 10; compare Col 3:17). One could even say that the change in their lives could make their new faith attractive, interesting, and appealing to their masters.

Already now - not yet – Titus 2:11-15

It is important to note in these verses that the word "appear" is used in two senses. Verse 11 speaks of Jesus' coming into the world as a man, and verse 13 of his coming a second time as king and judge. In Greek, the appearance is "epiphany," which is another name for the Epiphany: after all, that is when we talk about how God's glory came among people.

A Christian should constantly look, on the one hand, to Jesus' work on Calvary - that is the foundation of our faith, and on the other hand, to wait for Christ's return and the end of this age - that is the fulfillment of our faith.
Christians have often been accused of forgetting the present moment: living only in the past or only in the future. If this happens, the Bible's instructions have not been followed. In these verses too, Paul urges Christians to do good with all their might (verse 14): it happens in this time, not in the past or in the future.

Note that grace is the basis of all good deeds (verse 11, compare Eph 2:10 and Phil 2:13). Man is evil in himself, only God’s grace can turn evil into good. Grace teaches and educates us day by day (verse 12). This education has two aspects: renouncing evil and committing to good (verse 12). Simply emptying oneself does not work: voids are always filled with something; therefore, renouncing evil must be followed by committing to good (compare Matt 12:43-45).

Christians have always been waiting for Christ’s return (verse 13). However, even here extremes can be taken. When you read Paul’s two letters to the Thessalonian church, you will notice that in the second letter the apostle has to restrain his overly eager expectation of Christ’s return.

Verse 14 uses figures of speech that in the Old Testament were associated with Israel as God’s chosen people. Christians are the new Israel (Gal 6:16), God’s own, chosen people.

Verse 15 has been interpreted to mean that Titus was also young, like Timothy (1 Tim 4:12). After all, it is not age, experience, or education that is important, but that the church leader and teacher wants to commit himself to sound, sound doctrine (verse 1).