Titus 2:1-5
 
Titus 2:1 (KJB)
But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:
 
Speak - Say or proclaim
Become - To be fitting or suitable
Sound - Wholesome or being in good health
 
On the heels of 1:16 when Paul is speaking of the reprobates who profess to know God and do not, Paul now encourages Titus to proclaim the things which are suitable to become sound doctrine. The false teachers would bring teachings that would be perverted doctrines, just as modern false teachers do today. They take the doctrines of the Bible and they twist them and pervert sound doctrine. (2 Pet 3:16 KJV) As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. Peter even mentioned Paul concerning the Scriptures he penned under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Some of the things which Paul wrote were very hard to understand and those who were the false teachers had given wrong interpretations of those passages and because of that, had perverted the true meanings. Whenever anyone perverts the true meaning of Scripture, they do it to their own destruction as well as those who hear and believe them. Paul says to Titus that he must do the opposite and proclaim things which become sound and edifying doctrine so those who hear will become edified and not confused.
 
Titus 2:2 (KJB)
That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.
 
Paul now turns to the subject of the aligning of Christian profession with Christian behavior. He specifically focuses on those who have some years under their belt simply because it is those who are older will be the examples to the younger Christians and the younger men of the community. Sometimes our Christian walk, when done in sincerity, and not for the eyes of the world, will affect even those who are unbelievers. The Scriptures give six primary ways which an elderly man can keep and present his testimony to others.
 
Sober - This characteristic is one of a man being temperate in all things and not taking things to the extreme. This trait also means that one is sober in the terms of abstaining from alcoholic beverages. When a younger person sees a professing Christian with a beer in his hand, they are not going to ask how many he has had but will take it as license to drink as much as they want. It is important that a man’s Christian testimony and his actions are in concert.
 
Grave - This trait is one of a man being respectable or honorable. He will not be the village idiot but he will also not walk around with his head in the clouds either. He will be a man who is worthy of respect by the Christian community and even the world. (Prov 16:7 KJV) When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him. This trait would also mean the man takes responsibilities serious, especially those of the spiritual nature. He will have a seriousness about the gospel and will not use it as a forum for jokes but for the edifying of the brethren and the evangelizing of the unsaved.
 
Temperate - This trait carries with it the idea of being chaste which would be purity in both thought and deeds. He would be prudent, having much wisdom in affairs and self-controlled in his life. He would also be discreet about things and not be the town or church gossip. What is told to him would remain with him. This trait would recognize boundaries and would not cross them knowing his testimony, once ruined, may not be reclaimable.
 
Sound in Faith - This trait makes sure that what they are teaching from the Scriptures are the truth and that no twisting of the meaning of the Scripture is taking place. They are to teach only what is wholesome to the health of the Christian and are to build them up and to make sure they do not confuse their hearers. To be sound in the faith is to possess a stability in the Scriptures and in your Christian walk. It is not trusting God one day and then playing the lottery the next. It is a stable walk each day.
 
Charity - This trait represents the agape love in flesh. The term charity is a great term since it denotes the giving of love and expecting nothing in return. When we give to charity, we are giving with the idea of receiving nothing in return. This is a true trait of a mature Christian. We saw the Apostle Paul give and give and expect nothing in return. The fruits of his labor were many Christians in many areas of Asia Minor plus many churches. The idea of unconditional love is a hard one but when a person is regenerated, this type of love can be accomplished because it is already in us by means of the indwelling Holy Spirit.
 
Patience - This trait is one of endurance steadfastness. As a man adds years to his Christian walk, he tends to build up a high tolerance level, especially for new Christians. He also builds up tolerance and understanding toward those who would persecute him for being a Christian. This endurance would give him the strength to undergo long periods of persecution without a desire for retribution. (Rom 12:19 KJV) Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
 
Titus 2:3 (KJB)
The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;
 
Now Paul turns to the aged women and uses the term “likewise” which carries with it the idea that the aged women should carry the same moral fiber as the aged men. He uses the word behaviour which carries with it the idea of “conduct or demeanor.” It is used once in the New Testament and it described as a condition or a state.
 
Holiness - In the Greek the root word is for holy but this word carries with it the meaning of “worthy of reverence.” This means they must be reverent in behavior but that does not mean they walk around all day with their head facing the ground. It means the make-up of their life must exude a true holiness which would mean a detachment from the world system and the desire to get involved with worldly situations.
 
Not false accusers - The root word in the Greek means “slanderer” and is the same Greek word for “devil.” So when someone is making a false accusation against someone, they are being just like the devil. The devil is one who makes false accusations against the Brethren and the aged women, when they make false accusations against another Christian are doing the same work as Satan. This principle can be applied to anyone who makes a false accusation but it is more revolting when a Christian does it.
 
Not given to much wine - This trait means that a person is enslaved to wine but can be applied to any other alcoholic drink. If an aged woman is enslaved to alcohol, she will pass that trait down to others in her family and to those who see her will doubt if she really is a Christian. In Crete, drunkenness and slander were common among the women. In today’s society, it has made a vicious comeback. Women can be just as cruel as men and as much a drunkard as a man as is evidenced by today’s society.
 
Teachers of good things - These aged women would be teaching the younger women, especially their daughters. They would be teaching them in the home and not in a church setting. The term actually means “teach what is good.” They are to train the young women in family matters. They were to teach by instruction and by example. The aged women could take those younger women who had no family or mother and help them in their growing up.
 
Titus 2:4 (KJB)
That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,
 
Sober - This trait is to be taught to the younger women. It carries with it the idea of “good judgment, prudence, and moderation.” All three are necessary ingredients for maintaining a proper Christian home.
 
To love their husbands - A good marriage is based upon mutual love. If one party does not love the other one, it makes for a very unhappy marriage. In the ancient culture marriages were arranged so sometimes the bride and groom didn’t see each other until the wedding and if one was not pleased with the other, then it made for a rocky start to the marriage. This is why the aged women had to pass down guidelines on how to love their husband.
 
To love their children - If a woman does not like the husband which was picked for her, she may tend to mentally abandon the children that they have. This would lead to a coldness in the relationship and children pick up on these things very quickly. Just as the woman had to be taught how to love her husband, she must also be taught how to love her children to prevent any divisions in the family. One way a Christian woman can love her children is to bring them up in the fear and nurture of the Lord. Spiritual upbringing must be part of the raising of children. In today’s society, parents say they will let their children grow up and make up their own mind about “religion.” Will they let them make up their own mind about going to school?
 
Titus 2:5 (KJB)
To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.
 
Discreet - This trait carries with it the idea of “being sensible and chaste.” They must have a purity in heart concerning their family and toward the Lord. They must have a desire to avoid any situation which could compromise their morality.
 
Keepers at home - The word carries with it the meaning of “taking care of household affairs or domestic.” This primary ministry of the woman has all but been abandoned in our day. It seems they are more concerned with their careers than their family. My mother was a “June Cleaver” mother and we always had a good nourishing meal and clean clothes. She was always home when I came home from school. Today many career women are raising their children on the empty calories of fast food and using the TV or computer as a babysitting tool so they will not be bothered. The mother’s responsibility is to take care of the home and that includes the raising up of the children. Their ministry is to raise the children in the fear of the Lord. The old saying that “the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world” is very true. The first morality or amorality the children learn will be from their mothers.
 
Good - This word carries with it the idea of “upright, kind, benevolent, and good deeds.” The younger women are to adopt a giving mindset. She is to have this benevolent outlook in all her relations whether it be with believers or unbelievers but especially with her family.
 
Obedient to their own husbands - God had created an order of authority in the family and the husband is the head of that family and that means he is also the head of the wife. (Col 3:18 KJV) Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. This does not mean the husband is the all knowing dictator, unfortunately many women have suffered because of the attitude of the man thinking he is some kind of king. If a woman has the traits which are mentioned in these verses, she will have no problem being sought out for counsel from her husband. Sometimes the wives may bring the problem on themselves when they try to usurp the authority of the husband and this could cause a rift in the family. A Christian husband will respect his wife if she is obedient to him. (Col 3:19 KJV) Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them. This does not mean she obeys him slavishly but obeys him in wisdom and in fear of the Lord.
 
That the word of God be not blasphemed - If there is one thing that unbelievers look for and that is inconsistencies in the lives of Christians. The word “blasphemed” carries with it the meaning of “discredited or spoken evil of.” The unbelievers will look at these women who are disobedient and will claim that the word of God is too weak to control them or they may accuse them of some different thing but nevertheless, a fragmented Christian life will always bring scorn by the world and that is why God lays down rules for each of us to follow so the world will have nothing to say concerning our testimony and about Christianity. In Crete, if a Christian was considered a hypocrite, the accusing party may hold up their false god and say that their god has more power than the real God, thus bringing shame and reproach to God’s name. It is the same in modern times, when people know we are Christians and see us doing something inconsistent with our testimony, they will definitely chide us and state that Christianity is false.

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