Introductory remarks:
Paul's emphasis in this chapter is upon teaching sound doctrine. This is the most important reason families meet together to fellowship in the Word of God, studying doctrine in order to build one another up in grace doctrine. "This teaching sound doctrine should instruct each group of people: Elderly men and women; young men; servants. They should live pure lives and deny worldly lusts with the hope of the coming of Christ, who redeemed us, in mind" (A Survey of Titus - By Brenda). This chapter has only one section: the teaching of sound doctrine: vv. 1-15.
The Teaching of Sound Doctrine
Verse 1, "But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine."
LGT "But speak thou the things that become sound doctrine."
But speak thou the things that become: Paul is telling Titus to speak these grace doctrines that are fitting and accurately suitable and consistent with what he was taught. Sound doctrine: Paul tells Titus to center all his teaching on the true Word of God, and not to speculate on things that might be, or things that were tossed about by the Judaizing Gnostics. "Sound doctrine is so called from the effect produced by it; on the contrary, he says, that unskillful men dote about questions that do no good. Sound, therefore, means wholesome, that which actually feeds the souls. Thus, by a single word, as by a solemn proclamation, he banishes from the church all speculations which serve rather to promote ostentation [flamboyant pretension as seen in the Church at Rome with all their gaudy pomp and disgusting pious displays] than to aid godliness, as he did in both of the Epistles to Timothy" (Calvin).
Verse 2, "That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience."
LGT "The aged men to be sober, grave, discreet, sound in faith, in love, in patient endurance."
The aged men to be sober: this is referring to the age of the men and not elders as for service. The old men are to be sober, meaning thoughtful. Grave: seriously earnest and decisive. Temperate: moderate in all things. This is very necessary when it comes to decision-making. Discreet: judiciously thoughtful, considerate, and understanding. Sound in faith: Stable and not given to snap judgment; prudent, that is, cautious but not irresponsible, they are to be the anchors in the assembly, that are able to give sound advice and comfort. In love: not only in loving the brotherhood, but also in demonstrating divine love. In patient endurance: they are to demonstrate courage under pressure, and are stable, not moved with great emotion in all situations.
Verse 3, "The aged women likewise, that they be in behavior as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things."
LGT "The aged women in like manner in deportment as becomes spiritual ones, not slanderers, not enslaved to much wine, teachers of what is right."
The aged women in like manner: their behavior is as the aged men. In deportment: in their everyday living. As becomes spiritual ones: there are only two ways in which a believer may behave: they may behave carnally, or they may behave spiritually. To behave carnally is to live out side of fellowship with the Father, enjoying sin for a season, awaiting the discipline that shall eventually come, or, living spiritually in fellowship with the Father, enjoying the blessings of the divine riches of grace. Not slanderers: this is being a gossipy woman with nothing to do but stir up trouble in the family. Not enslaved to too much wine: not being a wino. Instead of being modest, they give themselves up to dissipation. Teachers of what is right: not publicly, but privately teaching the younger women the beauty of moderation, chastity, dignity, and how important motherhood is to the family. No family will reach spirituality without a Christian mother. The mother is the center of the home, and without her, there is no home. A stay at home mom, in fellowship with the Father, is the backbone and strength in the home; the Christian Father simply encourages and supports his wife and children's mother, not only monetarily, but spiritually.
Verse 4, "That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children."
LGT "In order that they may train the young women to be lovers of [their] husbands, lovers of [their] children."
In order that they may train the young women: the verb sophronizosi means to make sane or sober-minded; to recall a person to his senses; hence, to moderate, chasten, discipline - Vincent. The older women must not only live a chaste life, but they should be an example by godly instruction in Bible doctrine, the young fickle women that they should also live godly lives. To be lovers of their husbands: women are lovers by nature, and they should be directed by the older women to live modestly and to center their affections on their own husbands first and foremost. The older women should teach by example how to love their own husbands. Lovers of their children: women are naturally inclined to love their children, but if they do not submit to their husbands with love and affection, they may wander about in public places and get caught up in that which is against true godliness. Today there are few stay-at-home moms. They get caught up in materialism and think that a woman must be a professional woman in order to be a 'real women.' In turn, the children are neglected, and they themselves get sidetrack by thinking that the home is more of a burden then a blessing, and they become dissatisfied with being married, and being tied down with children, and they begin to look outside the home for fulfillment. The beginning of all this disruption is that silly liberation in the idea of 'the girls night out.' This idea is straight out of the depths of hell. Training at a young age may prevent these satanic lies.
Verse 5, "To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed."
LGT "Discreet, chaste, workers at home, kind, subject to their own husbands, in order that the Word of God may not be evil spoken of."
Discreet: she is to be quiet, not loud mouthed. It also means she is to be temperate in all things. Chaste: she is to have a demeanor of virtue that distinguishes her for her moral honesty. Workers at home: this means that she is to be the guardian of the home in all things, especially for the spiritual and physical welfare of her children. Kind: this can be summed up with another word, 'compassionate; she must be sympathetic and lovingly caring for her home. Subject to their own husbands: this means not demanding her own way, but being in subjection to the husband as the spiritual head of the home; of course we are talking about a believing husband; but in any case, the woman should not resist her husbands authority, as long as it is in the best interest of the entire family, and only the Word of God determines this. The word subject means to respond. The woman is to respond to the husband for he is the aggressor. Now this should all be done in accordance with the Word of God. In order that the Word of God may not be evil spoken of: the home will be a castle for the husband with a virtuous woman caring for it, and the Word of God will have its wonderful effect on it. If the woman happens to be married to an unbeliever, he will not be able to cast aspersions at her Christianity. For a virtuous woman is loved even by the world. I thank God often for blessing me with a virtuous wife.
Verse 6, "Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded."
LGT "The younger [men] likewise exhort to be discreet."
The young men are also to be temperate, that is, sober minded in all things, and not loud-mouthed braggers of their self-confidence. Plato said, "Let them be well regulated and obedient to reason." Reason for the believer is all the logic received in the knowledge of grace. Decisions based on grace logic cannot lead a young man wrong. Young men can only have their youthful passions in check by the constant guidance of the indwelling Holy Spirit teaching them in the Word of God.
Verse 7, "in all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity."
LGT "Concerning all things holding forth thyself a pattern for good works, in the teaching uncorruptness, gravity."
Concerning all things: Paul tells Titus that he must not only tell the family how they should live, he should live the good life before them. Holding forth thyself a pattern for good works: Paul tells Titus that he should be a pattern of righteous living before these young men. In the teaching uncorruptness: Titus is to live the doctrines he teaches, and show to these young men that he puts his complete confidence in the doctrines of grace. Gravity: this word means seriousness, and with all sincerity and confidence.
Verse 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."
LGT "Sound speech, not to be condemned, in order that the one who opposes may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say concerning you."
Sound speech: I believe Paul is referring to Titus' everyday communication and not his teaching sound doctrine; for the context here is in how he conducts himself before others. Not to be condemned: Titus' life is to be consistent with what he preaches. In order that the one who opposes: the heathen false teachers who were looking for a reason to oppose Titus, and bring insults down on the Lord Jesus Christ. May be ashamed: not that the adversary will be ashamed, only that he ought to be, for he can find no fault in the godly man, and he must sink to false claims and insults. Having nothing evil to say concerning you: as I said, they will have to speak lies, for they cannot find fault.
Verse 9, "Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; nor answering again."
LGT "Bondmen to be subject to their own masters in everything, to be well-pleasing, not contentious."
Bondmen to be subject to their own masters in everything: in everything the master orders the slave is to do as unto the Lord. To be well pleasing: if the servant serves his master, as unto the Lord, he will please his Lord and his earthly master. We covered this in 1Timothy, so it is redundant to repeat it here. Not contentious: not disagreeable and sassy, but cheerfully, looking unto the Lord for support.
Verse 10, "Not purloining, but showing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things."
LGT "Not purloining, but showing all good fidelity, in order that the teaching of God our Savior, they may adorn in all things."
Not purloining: this means stealing by embezzlement. But showing all good fidelity: this means to be loyal, trustworthy, dependable, and faithful. In order that the teaching of God our Savior: the doctrine of the free grace of God. They may adorn in all things: that the servants may live the doctrine in their service to their masters. The Greek word for "adorn" is kosmeo, and it means to dignify with honor. This is where we get our English word "cosmetic." The servant was to adorn himself with the honor and dignity of the Word of God.
Verse 11, "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men."
LGT "For the grace of God did appear to all men bringing salvation."
For the grace of God did appear to all men: the grace of God did appear in the incarnation of the Lord Jesus Christ. Bringing salvation: the grace of God has offered eternal salvation to every man in every station in life, even to the lowly slave. This salvation that has been offered is also adapted to all men regardless of race or occupation; it is easily believed, and is only rejected by God haters. God so loved the world, that he offered His wonderful saving grace in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ, that all men have to do is believe in the Christ, and they will be saved. Men are not saved by God's love; they are saved by His grace, because of His love.
Verse 12, "Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world."
LGT "Instructing us, that having denied ungodliness and worldly desires, discreetly and righteously and piously, we should live in this present age:"
Instructing us: the saving grace of God instructs us how to love. The Greek word for "instructing" is paideuousa, and it means, "child training." Once we accept Christ as Savior we become His children, and He trains us: having denied ungodliness: when we accept Christ we are no longer God haters. You may say, "I have never hated God, how can this be." Well, you either love God or you hate God; there is no middle ground. When we become family members, He sheds His love abroad in our hearts, so we now are able to love Him. And worldly desires: this is fulfilling the lusts of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. Discreetly and righteously and piously, we should live in this present world: the grace of God is the motive for our living righteously, and the Holy Spirit is the power in us to live righteously, that is, in accordance with divine viewpoint; we now are able to adjust our lives to Grace Doctrine. McGee has a paragraph I would like to share with you:
"God is not trying to reform this world; He is redeeming men who accept Christ. The gospel does not appeal to Christ-rejecting men to do better. When a person says, "I am going to try to do better," I think he is a liar. If you have rejected Jesus Christ, you might as well try to get all you can out of this life, because this life is all that you are going to get. Today our government is trying to get people to stop smoking; they're trying to educate people to the dangers of cigarettes. However, God is not asking you to do such things. You might as well eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow you'll die. God doesn't want to reform you; He wants to redeem you."
Verse 13, "Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ."
LGT "Awaiting the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ."
Awaiting: that which has been accepted by faith is awaited for expectantly (Vincent). The blessed hope: one of the reason Paul calls this blessed is, "Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing" (2 Tim. 4:8). And appearing of the glory: it is not a glorious appearing, but correctly translated the emphasis is on the glory of the One appearing. Of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ: Paul stresses the deity of Christ by the fact that Christ is God, and He is our blessed Savior. "Paul wishes that believers may now contemplate by faith that which shall be manifested on the last day, and therefore that God may be magnified, whom the world either despises, or, at least, does not esteem according to His excellence" (Calvin).
Verse 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."
LGT "Who gave Himself on behalf of us, in order that He might redeem us from all lawlessness, and might purify to Himself a people peculiar, zealous of good works."
Who gave Himself on behalf of us: Christ died for our sins so that we might not die. The reason is given in the next clause: In order that He might redeem us: Christ purchased us with His own blood out of the slave market of sin. From all lawlessness: in our unbelieving state we sinned lawlessly [gr. anomias], that is, we sinned as a way of life; now that we are believers we sin 'missing the mark' [harmatia]. Before we were redeemed we had no mark to shoot at, so we sinned lawlessly, that is, without restraint. And might purify to himself: Christ has cleansed us from all sin: past, present, and future. We have been justified by His blood, and we now stand perfect in the sight of the Father; Christ has not only purchased us with His blood, He has also justified us as if we had never sinned lawlessly. Christ has imputed on us through this cleansing with His perfect righteousness (2 Cor. 5:21). A people peculiar: the Greek word for "peculiar" is periousin, and it means "possessed over and above", that is, selected for His own. We are no longer our own, for we have been purchased out of the slave market of sin, with the precious blood of Christ, and we have been purified, and justified, and have been imputed with the perfect righteousness of Christ, so that we should walk around in newness of life. Zealous of good works: now that we are His possession we have the motive to be passionate and fervent in our living in fellowship with Him. We need to learn more every day about this love He has shed abroad in our hearts, and this can only be, as we study the Word of God daily.
Verse 15, "These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee."
LGT "These things speak, and exhort, and convict with all command: let no one despise thee."
These things speak: Paul tells Titus to speak with authority all that I have just taught you, and these things I am about to teach you. And exhort: this means to encourage, for nothing would be of any value to the assembly if Titus did not encourage them. And convict with all command: Titus had the gift of the Holy Spirit to teach, and Paul tells him to teach with the authority given him to teach; he was to take control of the assembly in the respect of his teaching, that is, he was teaching the uncontested Word of God, and he was to teach it as such, and not let the false teachers bully him. Let no one despise thee: because Titus was a young man, he was to be careful that his life was consistent with his teaching. He was not to teach in a bullying way, but in a way that would encourage them, and built them up in the Word, but he was not to ever compromise the Word.
Paul continues this theme in the next chapter.
Share freely but cite the source: http://bbbiblehelps.epizy.com