Titus 2:1-12

Teach Sound Doctrine

1 But as for you, teach what accords with 1sound[a] doctrine.
2 Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, 2sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness.
3 3Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, 4not slanderers 5or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good,
4 and so train the young women to love their husbands and children,
5 to be self-controlled, 6pure, 7working at home, kind, and 8submissive to their own husbands, 9that the word of God may not be reviled.
6 Likewise, urge 10the younger men to be self-controlled.
7 Show yourself in all respects to be 11a model of good works, and in your teaching 12show integrity, 13dignity,
8 and 14sound speech that cannot be condemned, 15so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.
9 16Slaves[b] are to be submissive to their own masters 17in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative,
10 not pilfering, 18but showing all good faith, 19so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.
11 For 20the grace of God 21has appeared, bringing salvation 22for all people,
12 training us to renounce ungodliness and 23worldly passions, and 24to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in 25the present age,

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Titus 2:1-12 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.

Cross References 25

  • 1. See 1 Timothy 1:10
  • 2. [See ver. 1 above]
  • 3. [1 Timothy 2:9]
  • 4. 1 Timothy 3:11
  • 5. [1 Timothy 3:8; 1 Timothy 5:23]
  • 6. 1 Peter 3:2
  • 7. [1 Timothy 5:14]
  • 8. See Genesis 3:16
  • 9. See 1 Timothy 6:1
  • 10. 1 Timothy 5:1
  • 11. 1 Timothy 4:12; 1 Peter 5:3
  • 12. [2 Corinthians 11:3]
  • 13. 1 Timothy 2:2
  • 14. [1 Timothy 6:3]
  • 15. Nehemiah 5:9; 1 Timothy 5:14; 1 Peter 2:12; 1 Peter 3:16
  • 16. See 1 Peter 2:18
  • 17. [Colossians 3:22]
  • 18. [1 Timothy 3:11]
  • 19. Matthew 5:16; Philippians 2:15
  • 20. Titus 3:7; See Acts 11:23
  • 21. Titus 3:4
  • 22. [Psalms 67:2]; See 1 Timothy 2:4
  • 23. 1 Peter 4:2; 1 John 2:16
  • 24. 2 Timothy 3:12; [Acts 24:25]
  • 25. 1 Timothy 6:17; 2 Timothy 4:10

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. Or healthy; also verses 2, 8
  • [b]. Or servants; Greek bondservants
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.