Titus 2:1-10

1 But speak thou those things that beseem wholesome teaching; [Forsooth speak thou the things that become wholesome teaching;]
2 that old men be sober, chaste, prudent, whole in faith, in love, and patience;
3 also old women in holy habit, not slanderers [not backbiters, or saying false blame on other men], not serving much to wine, well-teaching, that they teach prudence.
4 Admonish thou young women, that they love their husbands, that they love their children;
5 and that they be prudent, chaste, sober, having care of the house, benign, subject to their husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.
6 Also admonish young men, that they be sober.
7 In all things give thyself ensample of good works, in teaching, in wholeness, in firmness. [+In all things give thyself example of good works, in teaching, in holiness of living, in firmness of virtues.]
8 An wholesome word [An whole word], and unreprovable; that he that is of the contrary side, be ashamed, having none evil thing to say of you.
9 Admonish thou servants to be subject to their lords; in all things pleasing, not again-saying,
10 not defrauding, but in all things showing good faith, that they honour in all things the doctrine of God, our Saviour [that they adorn in all things the doctrine of God, our Saviour].

Titus 2:1-10 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO TITUS 2

In this chapter the apostle exhorts Timothy to the discharge of his office with respect to all sorts of persons, of every age, sex; and condition, he was concerned with, giving reasons for it, taken from the nature of the Gospel of Christ: he exhorts him in general to insist in his public ministry on those things, which were agreeable to sound doctrine, Tit 2:1 and particularly what became aged men and aged women, and young men and young women, Tit 2:2-6 in all which, both with respect to doctrine and practice, he desires him to be a pattern to them, that so even his very adversaries may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of him, Tit 2:7,8. And next he charges him to exhort servants, to obey their masters, and seek to please them, and not contradict them, and to be faithful to them; that so the doctrine of God their Saviour, professed by them, might be adorned in all things, Tit 2:9,10. And the reasons why the apostle would have duty urged on persons of every age, sex, and state, are taken from the nature of the Gospel being a doctrine of grace and salvation, which was preached to all sorts of persons, Tit 2:11, and from the efficacy of it, in teaching men to deny sin, and live a holy life and conversation, Tit 2:12 and from an expectation of eternal glory and happiness at the appearance of Christ, which the Gospel encourages to, Tit 2:13; and from the end of Christ's giving himself for his people, and redeeming them from sin, the sum and substance of the Gospel, which was, that they might be purified, and be zealous of good works, Tit 2:14 and these exhortations were to be delivered by Titus with authority, and in such a manner, that he might not be despised, Tit 2:15.

Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.