Titus, verse-by-verse

Session 3 | Titus 1:14-2:6

Titus 1:10-16 | Dealing With Unconvinced Gainsayers

Verses 10-13, see session 2
Verse 14 -- Blue
- The grammatical subject is the them and they of verse 13, those Judaizers that must be rebuked. The goal is that they may be sound in the faith (v. 13). Paul then elaborates on what this soundness would entail, namely avoiding two things (things which must have been a problem with these men).
- First, they are to avoid giving heed to Jewish fables. While much of Judaism was (and is) built on a literal understanding of the Hebrew Scriptures, Judaism also had (and retains) a mythical“Honi“Honi the circle-drawer." The benefit of Jewish fables for Judaizers is that they can find support for their theories without having to resort to the Scripture and without having to build credibility for the source.
- Second, they are to avoid commandments of men“eleventh commandments" of “thou shalt...," and of far too many people willing to sacrifice to follow these man-made commandments.
- Both have one thing in common: they cause people to turn from the truth. “right division" among Christians is so difficult to find. Verse 15 -- Blue
- Paul moves to giving a general truth about good -vs- bad people. “state of the heart" that becomes so pervasive within a person that the mind and conscience is defiled. Since Paul has been giving instruction on convincing the gainsayers (v. 9), with the goal that they may be sound in the faith“passed the point of no return." However, in trying to set-straight those whose mind and conscience is defiled one should recognize that the corruption runs deep.
Verse 16 - Blue
- It is important to recall that the context is Judaizers, thus their profession that they know God is not that they have, by grace through faith accepted the gift of God. By works it becomes evident that these teachers **deny **God. The men are unto every good work reprobate. That is, unqualified, using the Greek ἀδόκιμος [adokimos], lacking approval“good for nothing."
- Once again, one should be careful not“works proves salvation" doctrine out of these words. The men profess that they know God, they do not profess to have placed their faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior.

Titus 2:1-6 | Sound Doctrine for A Believer's Behavior

Verse 1 -- Blue
- In contrast to the Judaizers of chapter 1, Titus is to speak in order to lead to sound doctrine. As an elder/bishop/pastor Titus must speak“beyond obvious," there is a framework of thinking which believes that love or actions“They don't care how much you know until they know how much you care." Or they old saying “Preach the Gospel always. When necessary, use words." (This quote is most often attributed to Frances of Assisi, but there is no evidence he actually said it).
- His speech is to be of the things which become sound doctrine. The word sound is ὑγιαίνω [hugiano], from which we get *hygiene, *thus gives the idea of a clean or pure doctrine. It is easy to see that much of the confusion among Christians today is due to dirty doctrine, soiled by mixing that which cannot be mixed.
Verse 2 -- Blue
- Paul goes through a list of those receiving exhortation, and the behavioral goal of each group. He begins with the aged menπρεσβύτης [presbyutes], which is used in its adjectival form in other places as a title for the elders (see Titus 1:5). In Scripture, when used in its noun form, it is always an older man. In the adjectival form it speaks more of positional authority.
- When Paul says that the aged men are to be sober, he uses the word νηφάλιος [nephalios], which is different from the word in Titus 1:8 σώφρων [sophron] and Titus 2:6 σωφρονέω [sophroneo]. The latter two are thinking words. The former, in use in this verse, is a word which is used much more in the sense that the word would be used today, as a temperance of use wine.
- The older men are also to be grave, that is, *dignified *or respectable. They are to be temperate, where Paul uses the word σώφρων [sophron] mentioned in the previous paragraph.
- Finally, the men are to be sound in three areas. The word **sound **is the same as verse 1.
  - In faith - having a faith that is clean and unencumbered.
  - In charity - expressing godly love in a manner that avoids confusion.
  - In patience - not known for quitting prematurely.
Verse 3 -- Blue
- Paul uses the feminine version of the same word for aged men (v. 2) to speak to older women. These women should have behavior as becometh holiness. For holiness the word is ἱεροπρεπής [hieropreptes]. We get the word hierarchy from the root hieros“holy" or “reverent." This word speaks of behavior more than the status.
- The women should not be false accusers. Here Paul uses the colorful word διάβολος [diabolos], which in etymology is literally thoroughly throwing. The word is translated devil 37 of the 38 times it is used.
- Paul instructs that the older women should take not much wine (a literal translation). Furthermore, using a broad-brush statement, they should be teachers of good things.
Verses 4-5 -- Blue
- The young women are to be taught by the older women. They are to be sober (using the word that concerns wise thinking). They should love their husbands and their children. Paul wants them to be discreet (v. 5). Here he uses the word σώφρων [sophron] which is related to σωφρονίζω [sophronizo], translated sober in verse 4. They are also to be chaste, using a form of the word typically translated holy (positionally), ἁγνός [hagnos].
- Finally, in order that the word of God be not blasphemed, the young women are to be keepers at home, literally, *house workers. *Also **good **and obedient to their own husbands. It is interesting that Paul says that sound doctrine (v. 1) leads to these things. In communities in which such doctrine has been rejected, these things are considered old-fashioned if not offensive. Furthermore, in places where sound doctrine is taught, the things of verses 4-5 are commonplace.
Verse 6 -- Blue
- One wonders why the list for Young men is so short. Paul simply says they should be exhorted to be sober minded. Perhaps Paul felt that the teaching to young men was throughout the book, Titus himself presumably being of their company.

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