They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. (Titus 1:16)
But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine. (Titus 2:1)
Idea #1: The character of self-control is necessary for every age.
Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. (Titus 2:2)
Older men:
Be sober-minded
Be dignified
Be self-controlled
Be sound in Faith
Be sound in Love
Be sound in steadfastness
Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much mine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women…to be self-controlled. (Titus 2:3-5)
Older women:
Be reverent in Behavior
Don’t be a Slanderer
Don’t be a Slave to much wine
Teach was is good
Train younger women to be self-controlled
and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. (Titus 2:4-5)
Young Women:
Love husband and children
Be self-controlled
Be pure
Be domestic
Be kind
Be submissive to your own husband
Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech. (Titus 2:6-7)
Younger Men:
Be self-controlled
Titus (Model for the young men):
Be a good model of good works
Teach with integrity and dignity
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled…lives (Titus 2:11-12)
Idea #2: Our character is the foundation of the missionary effort of Jesus and His church.
and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. (Titus 2:4-5)
“That Paul has given more attention to the young women and has been more specific in his exhortations suggests that the behavior of this group was creating more problems for the Cretan church than perhaps the behavior of other groups designated in 2:2-10. This observation is also suggested by the “so that” (hina) clause that concludes this section on the young women. It expresses that the purpose of these specific exhortations is ‘so that no one will malign the word of God.'”
– Lea and Griffin, New American Commentary: 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus
Bondservants are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior. (Titus 2:9)
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing up salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. (Titus 2:13)
Idea #3: The gospel transforms us so that we’ll be zealous f0r good works.
waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. (Titus 2:14)
