Titus 2
Outline
1-2 | Older men
3-5 | Older women → younger women
6-8 | Young men
9-10 | Bondslaves → masters
11-14 | All believers to live “sensibly, righteously, and godly” … “zealous for good deeds”
15 | Titus instructed to teach these things
Reflections
This theme of one generation teaching the next is a common theme throughout God’s Word. It is especially highlighted in Deuteronomy 6:4-9, or the Sh’ma, where parents are instructed to teach their children about God as they go about their everyday tasks. Proverbs is a collection of proverbs from a father who is a king to teach his sons how to live, lead, and honor God. I John includes instructions to generations. Paul and Peter both address the role of family members in a Christian family (I Corinthians, Ephesians, I Peter) and James gives some practical instructions that can apply to any generation.
Paul in this letter is addressing the concerns of how people in the church ought to conduct themselves. At the end of the previous chapter, Paul urged Titus to “reprove them severely” so that they might live godly lives. Now He gives some practical instructions on how to go about doing that.
| Group | Conduct and Behavior | Purpose |
| Older men | Temperate, Dignified, Sensible, Sound in Faith, Sound in Love, Sound in Perseverance | |
| Older women | Reverent in behavior, not malicious gossips, nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good to Younger women | |
| Younger women | love their husbands, love their children, be sober, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands | so that the word of God will not be dishonored |
| Young men | Sensible, Be an example of good deeds, purity in doctrine, dignified, sound in speech which is above reproach | so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us |
| Bondslaves | Be subject to their own masters in everything, to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, not pilfering, but showing all good faith | so that they will adorn the God our Savior in every respect |
The main reason for all this instruction is given in v11-14.
Titus 2:11-14 NASB For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, 12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, 14 who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.
Finally, Paul again urges Titus to speak, exhort, and reprove with all authority and to not let anyone disregard him. This I merely a precursor to the next chapter that includes further instructions in godly living. We would do well to heed the message of this book today in our churches.
Lord God, You have given us Your Word that has been written by faithful men through the ages being led by Your Spirit so that we might know how to live to honor You. We pray that Your Spirit would stir in us a greater desire to live to honor Your. May Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Titus_2_RL_ResponsibilitiesOfOneGenerationToTheNext.pdf
