Doing Good for the Sake of the Gospel - Study 7/12-19/12
Doing Good for the Sake of the Gospel
By Bobby Harris
Titus 2
1 You, however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine.2 Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance.
3 Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. 4 Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.
6 Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. 7 In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness 8 and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.
9 Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, 10 and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.
11 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
15 These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.
Titus had to teach the Christians who lived in Crete. The false teachers had taught the Christians many wrong things. Titus was different from the false teachers. He had to teach what was true. He taught the different groups of people how to behave in the right way.
In Paul's letters to Timothy and Titus he frequently challenges them with the words "but thou," or some similar phrase, indicating that a faithful pastor must be the kind of person Herbert Hoover called "a rugged individualist." He must not drift with the tide of permissive thought and practice; he must stem it. And
certainly he must not be "carried about with every wind of doctrine," but must be sound and strong in the faith. Six times, in his epistles to Timothy and Titus, the Apostle uses these words, "but thou," challenging his pastor-sons to true spirituality and godliness.
In Chapter 2 of the epistle, the Apostle gives instructions as to godliness for aged men and women, for young women and men, and also for servants. He does not, however, deal directly with each of these classes as he does with the various classes mentioned in the epistles to the Ephesians and the Colossians.
Rather he instructs Titus as to how he may help these various persons to walk consistently with their profession.
A man may wear a suit that becomes him, i.e., that fits well his size, build, complexion, personality. Thus Titus is exhorted to "speak those things which become sound doctrine," and these things are the very opposite of what the world looks upon as vital. They promote self confidence, an aggressive attitude, self-service, their "rights," etc., while God urges love, patience, discretion, chastity, faithfulness, sincerity, etc. And the latter is sound, healthful doctrine. Were these virtues practiced today our society would not be so widely called "a sick society." But unregenerate men do not only live wrong; they think wrong, their doctrine is "sick," or unsound; they teach what can only produce moral and spiritual corruption.
Pauls begins to address Character in the male and female community. "That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity,in patience. "The aged women, likewise, that they be in behavior as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things" (Tit. 2:2,3).
Again we come upon the word "sober," in Ver. 2, but here it is not the Greek sophron, which might be defined as being mentally under control - the opposite of intoxication - as we use the word today.
Likewise, In that society, most of the young women were married. Some were widows. But Paul suggested that the widows should marry again (1 Timothy 5:14-15).
• The young women should learn how to control themselves. They should be sensible. They should behave well.
• They should obey their husband. A wife knows that her husband is the head in their home (Ephesians 5:22-24). It is much easier for a wife to obey her husband if she loves him. And she should respect him too.
• Women and men must behave in these ways so that no one can say evil things about the Christian message.
• This may refer to wives whose husbands are not Christians. Their husbands might believe the good news if their wives made a safe and happy home. And they would be more likely to believe if their wives obeyed them (1 Peter 3:1-2). It could also mean that the Christian good news would attract other people.
Note even in Timothy...Paul says that "In all things showing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine showing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, "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" (I Tim. 2:7,8).
--- AGAIN---
"Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please
them well in all things; not answering again;
"Not purloining, but showing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the
doctrine of God our Savior in all things" (Titus 2:9, 10).
Note the element of godly sincerity here: they are to serve their masters well, heartily obeying their instructions, and without "backtalk." Further they are not to purloin or pilfer, deciding for themselves that certain of their master's goods are due them. Rather they should show "all good fidelity," so meriting their master's
trust and "adorning the doctrine of God our Savior in all things."
Challenge questions
What do you pattern your life after?
Are you an example others could follow?
Where would you lead them?
Best Regards,
Bobby
By Bobby Harris
Titus 2
1 You, however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine.2 Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance.
3 Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. 4 Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.
6 Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. 7 In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness 8 and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.
9 Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, 10 and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.
11 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
15 These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.
Titus had to teach the Christians who lived in Crete. The false teachers had taught the Christians many wrong things. Titus was different from the false teachers. He had to teach what was true. He taught the different groups of people how to behave in the right way.
In Paul's letters to Timothy and Titus he frequently challenges them with the words "but thou," or some similar phrase, indicating that a faithful pastor must be the kind of person Herbert Hoover called "a rugged individualist." He must not drift with the tide of permissive thought and practice; he must stem it. And
certainly he must not be "carried about with every wind of doctrine," but must be sound and strong in the faith. Six times, in his epistles to Timothy and Titus, the Apostle uses these words, "but thou," challenging his pastor-sons to true spirituality and godliness.
In Chapter 2 of the epistle, the Apostle gives instructions as to godliness for aged men and women, for young women and men, and also for servants. He does not, however, deal directly with each of these classes as he does with the various classes mentioned in the epistles to the Ephesians and the Colossians.
Rather he instructs Titus as to how he may help these various persons to walk consistently with their profession.
A man may wear a suit that becomes him, i.e., that fits well his size, build, complexion, personality. Thus Titus is exhorted to "speak those things which become sound doctrine," and these things are the very opposite of what the world looks upon as vital. They promote self confidence, an aggressive attitude, self-service, their "rights," etc., while God urges love, patience, discretion, chastity, faithfulness, sincerity, etc. And the latter is sound, healthful doctrine. Were these virtues practiced today our society would not be so widely called "a sick society." But unregenerate men do not only live wrong; they think wrong, their doctrine is "sick," or unsound; they teach what can only produce moral and spiritual corruption.
Pauls begins to address Character in the male and female community. "That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity,in patience. "The aged women, likewise, that they be in behavior as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things" (Tit. 2:2,3).
Again we come upon the word "sober," in Ver. 2, but here it is not the Greek sophron, which might be defined as being mentally under control - the opposite of intoxication - as we use the word today.
Likewise, In that society, most of the young women were married. Some were widows. But Paul suggested that the widows should marry again (1 Timothy 5:14-15).
• The young women should learn how to control themselves. They should be sensible. They should behave well.
• They should obey their husband. A wife knows that her husband is the head in their home (Ephesians 5:22-24). It is much easier for a wife to obey her husband if she loves him. And she should respect him too.
• Women and men must behave in these ways so that no one can say evil things about the Christian message.
• This may refer to wives whose husbands are not Christians. Their husbands might believe the good news if their wives made a safe and happy home. And they would be more likely to believe if their wives obeyed them (1 Peter 3:1-2). It could also mean that the Christian good news would attract other people.
Note even in Timothy...Paul says that "In all things showing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine showing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, "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" (I Tim. 2:7,8).
--- AGAIN---
"Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please
them well in all things; not answering again;
"Not purloining, but showing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the
doctrine of God our Savior in all things" (Titus 2:9, 10).
Note the element of godly sincerity here: they are to serve their masters well, heartily obeying their instructions, and without "backtalk." Further they are not to purloin or pilfer, deciding for themselves that certain of their master's goods are due them. Rather they should show "all good fidelity," so meriting their master's
trust and "adorning the doctrine of God our Savior in all things."
Challenge questions
What do you pattern your life after?
Are you an example others could follow?
Where would you lead them?
Best Regards,
Bobby
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