The big picture
Titus, a leader serving groups of believers, has received warnings about false teachers. Paul, the messenger of Jesus Christ who addresses him, now describes healthy teaching at work in daily life. Jesus is the Saviour whose return gives these groups hope. Paul speaks to older people, younger people, and enslaved people within the same churches. He expects conduct to support what they profess. The final part explains why: God has shown kindness that both rescues people and trains them to leave wrong behind.
In this chapter
- Older People Teach by Example Titus 2:1-5
Paul tells Titus to teach what fits sound belief.
- Titus Must Model His Teaching Titus 2:6-8
Young men also need self control.
- Faithfulness Under the Power of Masters Titus 2:9-10
Paul next addresses servants, here people enslaved under masters.
- Saving Kindness Trains a New Life Titus 2:11-15
Paul says God's saving kindness has appeared for all people.
Central truth
God has shown saving kindness that teaches his people to live with self control and eager care for others.
Scripture beside the summary
Titus · King James Version · 15Titus 2:1-5
Older People Teach by Example
Paul tells Titus to teach what fits sound belief. Older men should be clear headed, steady, and strong in faith, love, and patience. Older women should live with respect for God. They must avoid false charges against others and too much wine. Their good example should train younger women to love their husbands and children. Paul also names sexual faithfulness, care for the home, kindness, and obedience to husbands. He connects this conduct with the reputation of the message about God. Christians differ over how these household roles apply in different times and places.
In everyday life
An older tenant folds clothes in the apartment laundry as a young mother sorts a muddled pile. She shows her how to mend a loose seam and shares the work without gossiping about neighbours. The advice carries weight because her help is visible. Paul addresses Christian household duties, which involve more than passing on practical skills.
Notice
Titus 2:3 Older women receive a teaching role here. Their conduct gives that work credibility, and Paul expects their wisdom to shape the lives of younger women.
Titus 2:1-5
King James Version1But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:
2That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.
3The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;
4That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,
5To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.
Titus 2:6-8
Titus Must Model His Teaching
Young men also need self control. Paul tells Titus that his own life must show what good work looks like. His teaching should be honest, serious, and free of corrupt aims. He must use speech that stands up to fair criticism. Paul has opponents in view, people ready to find fault with the believers. If Titus lives and speaks well, they will lack a sound charge to make. The point is not clever speech that hides poor conduct. His words and his actions must give the same clear account of his faith.
In everyday life
A climbing coach checks her own harness before asking a new group to check theirs. An impatient visitor watches for a shortcut and finds none. She explains each knot without boasting and repeats the checks on her next climb. Her practice supports her words. Titus must model a whole life of faith, not a single safety procedure.
Notice
Titus 2:7 Titus is told to provide a pattern through good works. His task is more than giving correct advice to other people while remaining out of view.
Titus 2:6-8
King James Version6Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded.
7In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,
8Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.
Titus 2:9-10
Faithfulness Under the Power of Masters
Paul next addresses servants, here people enslaved under masters. He tells them to obey, seek to please their masters, and avoid answering back. They must not steal but show full trustworthiness. He says this conduct can make the teaching about God their Saviour attractive to others. These are demands placed on people who lack the freedom of paid workers. Paul does not order their release in these verses. The stated concern is how they bear witness to their faith within that unequal and coercive relationship.
In everyday life
One furniture porter checks the estate storeroom list before loading a valuable chair. No supervisor stands nearby. He reports an extra item instead of slipping it into his own van, then signs the corrected sheet. His honesty becomes visible through a small task done under little scrutiny. Unlike an enslaved person, this paid porter can leave his job.
Notice
Titus 2:10 Trustworthiness is set against secretly taking goods. Paul connects visible honesty with the public reputation of the teaching, even within the harsh limits of slavery.
Titus 2:9-10
King James Version9Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again;
10Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.
Titus 2:11-15
Saving Kindness Trains a New Life
Paul says God's saving kindness has appeared for all people. Salvation means rescue from sin. This kindness teaches people to refuse godless conduct and selfish desires. Their lives now should show self control, right action, and devotion to God. They also wait with hope for the glorious appearing of Jesus Christ. He gave himself to free them from wrong and make them his own people. Their eagerness for good works is part of that purpose. Titus must teach this, urge people forward, and correct them with the authority entrusted to him.
In everyday life
A rehabilitation trainer welcomes an injured worker back into the gym after his treatment is paid for. The gift opens the door, but the trainer also guides him through new habits of movement. He leaves with a plan for the next stage of recovery. In Titus, God gives rescue from sin and hope of Christ appearing, not physical therapy.
Notice
Titus 2:14 Christ gives himself not only to release people from wrong but to form a people of his own. Their desire for good works belongs to that aim.
Titus 2:11-15
King James Version11For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
12Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
13Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
14Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
15These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Titus 2:1 begins with “But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:”
Where the chapter turns
Titus 2:1 forms a natural hinge: “But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:”
The final note
Titus 2:15 leaves the reader with “These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words good, doctrine, exhort, shewing, sober, sound help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
KJV words made clear
- grave
- Serious and worthy of respect, rather than careless in conduct.
- purloining
- Secretly taking or keeping property that belongs to someone else.
- peculiar people
- A people who belong especially to God as his own possession.
Music and video connected to the passage
No exact media match is cataloged for this passage yet. New material can be connected when it becomes available.