Titus 2
CHAPTER 2
Commands to men and women, old and young
But you must teach what accords with sound doctrine: 2 That older men be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, in patience. 3 That older women likewise be reverent in demeanour, not slanderers nor enslaved to much wine, teachers of that which is good; 4 so that they may train the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind and submissive to their own husbands; that the preaching of the word of God may not be mocked.
6 The younger men likewise exhort to be self-controlled. 7 In all things show yourself as an example of good works. In your teaching show integrity, dignity, 8 sound speech, that cannot be condemned; so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.
9 Encourage servants to be submissive to their masters, and to be pleasing to them in all things. Not argumentative, 10 not petty thieves, but showing integrity in everything; that they in all things may make attractive the doctrine of God our Saviour.
11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men. 12 It trains us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and Godly lives in this present age, 13 as we look for the blessed hope: The manifesting of the glory of the great God, and of our Saviour Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify to himself a people for his own possession, zealous of good works.
15 These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one despise your teaching.
Commentary
2:3 “Slanderers” here translates the Greek word diabolos, elsewhere translated “devil”. This word simply means a slanderer; it doesn’t of itself mean a cosmic, supernatural evil being. It can be used about ordinary people, as it was about Judas (Jn. 6:70,71).
2:4,5 Loving a Christian husband and submitting to him are here paralleled. Submission within marriage can never be demanded; it is motivated by love.
2:10 The doctrines of the Gospel are made attractive to others by our examples, as we translate them into practice. Doctrine as theology will not immediately attract secular people.
2:12 We cannot be passive to God’s grace (v. 11)- God’s free gift of salvation to us trains us, as we experience and reflect upon it, in a life of good works.
2:14 The giving of Jesus in His death makes us “zealous of good works” in that the sensitive, reflective believer cannot be passive to the cross of Christ. We have to respond in practice to such love and grace.
