The Epistles · Chapter 2 of 3

Titus 2

Paul directs Titus to teach sound doctrine that shapes how every group in the church lives, from older men and women to the young and to servants. He grounds all of it in the grace of God that has appeared, teaching believers to renounce ungodliness while they look for the blessed hope, the glorious appearing of their great God and Saviour Jesus Christ.

What happens in Titus 2

Paul tells Titus to speak the things that befit sound doctrine, then applies it household by household. Older men should be sober, grave, and sound in faith and love. Older women should be reverent, teachers of good things, training the younger women to love their husbands and children and keep the home well. Young men are urged to be sober-minded, and Titus himself is to be a pattern of good works. Servants are to be trustworthy, so they adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour.

Then Paul lifts the teaching to its source: the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all, teaching us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts and to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world. Believers do so while looking for the blessed hope, the glorious appearing of the great God and Saviour Jesus Christ, who gave Himself to redeem and purify a people zealous for good works.

Titus 2 in context

Writing to Titus on Crete, Paul moves from confronting false teachers to building healthy churches through everyday conduct. In a culture that watched and criticized this new faith, how believers lived in ordinary roles either commended or discredited the gospel.

Paul ties practical instruction to the two appearings of Christ, His grace already come and His glory yet to come.

Main themes of Titus 2

Titus 2 (KJV)

1But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: 2That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. 3The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; 4That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, 5To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. 6Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded. 7In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, 8Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you. 9Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again; 10Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. 11For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. 15These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

Verses to carry from Titus 2

“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,”Titus 2:11

“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;”Titus 2:13

“Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”Titus 2:14

Reflection

Grace does more than forgive; it teaches. Consider how the kindness of God is training you to say no to what harms and yes to what is good. And let the blessed hope of Christ's appearing lift your eyes, so that ordinary obedience today is done in the light of His return.

A prayer from Titus 2