Titus 2
Shawn Bumpers / General
Titus
Introduction
Since the early days of the church, Christians have had a hard time agreeing on every issue.
And there are certain issues that really should be non-issues because they are not what we would refer to as first order doctrinal issues.
• First-order doctrines are the core claims of Christianity that define true faith from counterfeit faith …
Think the Trinity, the incarnation, substitutionary atonement, salvation by grace through faith, and bodily resurrection.
• Second-order doctrines lead to different denominational traditions …
Think baptism, church government, miraculous gifts, and something else we are going to talk about today, the roles of men and women in the church.
• Third-order doctrines are those theological opinions that Christians can disagree about and yet still be a part of the same church or group of churches …
Think the rapture of the church, the worldwide flood, and the age of the earth.
John 14:15 ESV
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
The written Word of God tells us that sound doctrine is important.
In scripture, there are numerous references to truthful doctrine:
• Sound doctrine (Titus 2:1)
• Wholesome words and doctrine conforming with godliness (1 Timothy 6:3)
• Words of faith and good doctrine (1 Timothy 4:6)
• Doctrine of Christ (2 John 9)
• Doctrine of God our Savior (Titus 2:10)
• Teaching of the Lord (Acts 13:12)
• The apostles’ doctrine (Acts 2:42)
• The gospel of Christ (Romans 1:16)
• The truth (John 17:17)
• The faith (2 Corinthians 13:5)
• The word (2 Timothy 4:2)
1 Timothy 4:13 NKJV
Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
1 Timothy 4:16 NKJV
Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.
2 Timothy 1:13–14 NKJV
Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.
2 Timothy 2:15 NKJV
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Titus 2:10 NKJV
not pilfering, but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.
Jude 3 NKJV
Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.
Titus 2:1 NKJV
But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine:
Mark 16:15 NKJV
And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
Titus 1:11 NKJV
whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain.
Jesus Himself warned against false teachers and false doctrines.
Matthew 7:15 NKJV
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.
Matthew 15:8–9 NKJV
‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ”
Matthew 24:4–5 NKJV
And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.
The Greek word Χριστός Christos, from which we get Christ, literally means “One who has been anointed.”
What were the false doctrines these men of God were contending against?
The False Doctrine of Jewish Legalism.
The False Doctrine of Gnosticism.
Acts 15:1 NKJV
And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”
Philippians 3:2 NKJV
Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation!
Hebrews 13:9 NKJV
Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them.
Since we started the Pastoral Epistles 4 months ago, we’ve been talking about false teachers and the importance of sound doctrine.
By this time, I’m feeling like Jude who wanted to talk about our common salvation, but was compelled to instead contend and exhort for the faith.
Titus 2:1 NKJV
But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine:
2 Timothy 2:2 NKJV
And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
v1
Greetings over, Paul gets straight down to business.
Titus has been left behind on Crete because certain things need to be put in order.
Titus 1:1 NKJV
Paul, a bondservant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect and the acknowledgment of the truth which accords with godliness,
v2
Paul starts out with the “older men.”
The word used here for “older men” is πρεσβύτης presbytēs and, though it sounds like the word for Elder, presbyteros (and is related to it), “older men” is the correct translation.
The older men were to be respectable not only for their age, but also for their character.
Reverent is the Greek word σεμνός semnos which means “dignified.”
That does not mean “no fun.”
BUT there are boundaries … they are not to act like fools.
Temperate means prudent.
It describes an attitude of mind that leads to one being wise and judicious, discreet and circumspect.
Next we have “Sound in faith, in love, in patience” and these all go together.
Sound in faith is “Sound in the expression of faith.”
The Baptist pastor, John Benton makes this observation: “There is solidity and commitment to what is right which inspires younger men to secretly say to themselves ‘I want to be like him.’”
v3-5
The word likewise in verse 3 means that the older women were to have the same qualities as the older men, PLUS the additional ones listed.
Reverent here is not “dignified” as in the older men, but is a different Greek word that has “Holy” as it’s root.
This is the Greek word, διάβολος diabolos which means devil and speaks of a false accuser.
The Greek word here is δουλόω douloō which means “slave.”
And so we get to the final words of verse 5: “That the Word of God may not be blasphemed.”
The Greek word for Blasphemed is βλασφημέω Blasphēmeō and it means reviled and slandered.
This sharpens Paul’s exhortations toward older men and women of the church … it gives us his point.
One reason is that older men and women will be an example to those who are younger.
And this is another reason why maturity of age should be matched by spiritual maturity:
Then you have bad doctrine not only being taught but being handed down not only in word, but also in the improper behaviors.
v6-8
Titus himself was a young man.
He was to let older women minister to younger women, lest he get himself into a difficult situation.
Matthew 23:3 NKJV
Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do.
The Greek word for pattern is τύπος typos from which we get our English word type.
Titus 1:11 NKJV
whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain.
v9-15
In that time, the slave, as much as anyone else, was a part of the fabric of society.
And so, often, slaves are mentioned because slavery existed and many slaves received the Gospel.
Ephesians 6:5–9 NKJV
Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free. And you, masters, do the same things to them, giving up threatening, knowing that your own Master also is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him.
1 Timothy 6:1 NKJV
Let as many bondservants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and His doctrine may not be blasphemed.
But here, Paul is talking about how Christian slaves are to behave in relation to their masters.
And we see here that Paul linked doctrine and duty.
Colossians 3:22 NKJV
Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God.
Christian slaves were to be honest and not to steal from their masters.
In closing for this morning, Paul reminds us that sound doctrine is important.
1 Timothy 4:16 NIV84
Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.
2 Timothy 2:15 NKJV
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Ephesians 4:14 NKJV
that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,
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