Titus 2:1-8

Tit 2:1 But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:


Tit 2:2 That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.

Tit 2:3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;

Tit 2:4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,

Tit 2:5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

Tit 2:6 Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded.

Tit 2:7 In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,

Tit 2:8 Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.
 
Your observations about anything in this passage are welcome.

Titus was a Greek convert to Christ, and a companion of the apostle, Paul. This letter, called Titus was written to him while he was in Crete as Paul's representative, and contains instructions on church matters.

 At this point, I must emphasise that these instructions were given to those who had become members of the Lord's church. The teachings were intended for the members of the church. I dont think they were imposed on the society around them. They were specifically for guiding the behaviour of those who had obeyed the gospel.  Christians would be starkly different from the society around them. They would be an example. Their purpose was to draw others to the way of God by the good way they lived. In the church, people were to be the opposite of the world. In the period of time this was written, teachers often taught false doctrines and lead unholy lives. This happens today, too, and that is why this chapter is so important.

Those who are not followers of our Lord will need to look at the teachings of Titus 2 in perspective:  they apply to those who have taken up the cross of Jesus and want to willingly follow him. They apply to those who have turned their back on the way the rest of the world lives and are focusing forward to eternal life in Christ. The unbeliever does not need to protest about the principles that the believers live by. Maybe you are  not really a believer and do not want to follow these instructions to women. No one is going to force it on you. In fact, no one is going to force it on Christian women, either.  Christians believe that followers of God must come to him willingly and whole heartedly.  Believers will not always follow the Word. Some people are in different stages of growth and understanding. Some need to study it some more. There are Christian women who have never really been taught this aspect of their walk with God, or who have never read it in the scriptures for themselves.  While no one will force women in the church to be keepers at home, the older women are instructed to develop certain qualities (listed in the 2nd and 3rd verses), so that they may be qualified to instruct the younger women, the older women  will never force the younger women to do it. They are obligated to teach it, though. So, if you are a Christian woman and you have reservations about Titus 2, there is no reason to be resentful. It is there for your learning, and hopefully before too much time is gone, you will see the joy in it and want to shed the shackles of the workplace and run to the freedom offered in Christ, at home. These teachings just will not apply to some people.

Guardian of Light

by James Lee

 If you are an athiest and you are looking to object to these teachings: they were not directed to you in the first place. They were written to those who had made the decision to leave their old way of life and follow the Lord. They do not apply to you, and you should have no objection to others wanting to raise their daughters this way.

Girls and women who have been saved should be very happy to know that God has provided, through this chapter, a way for them to live.   They are  not left to wonder what they will do,  to follow the dictates of society, or  be confused as to how they can be fulfilled.  They have a responsibility described in this chapter; one that gives them a place of importance.

It seems like the knowledge contained in Titus 2 would be a relief to many women who feel uncertain about what they should do with their lives, or who are being guided by the rest of the world to get a student loan to prepare for a career. The women in the church have been given the privilege of being in charge of the home and the family, to see that it is guided right. No mention of the world's plan for women is contained in this chapter. Just imagine the non-believers doing the opposite, and you will get an idea of the prevailing culture.

  Tit 2:1 But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:  Sound doctrine is teaching that follows the will of Christ.  You would know when the teachings you hear are not sound, if they are opposite or different from that which is written in the Bible.

Tit 2:2 That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.  It makes sense that the aged men in the church are instructed to have these qualities.  No one takes a foolish person seriously. One can understand the foolishness in youth, but expects it to be corrected by the time a man is aged.  Our culture is youth-driven, when it should be age-focused, but we need older men to have these qualities listed in this 2nd verse, so that young people will be drawn to them and take them seriously. 

 When you find one of these men, it is a joy to be in his presence and to sit at his feet and listen to him talk. That kind of man has no foolishness and no idle words. He exhibits the stability and soundness of mind that is a result of practicing the instructions to Christians. He is not swayed by modern doctrines, the latest emerging church on the block, or the new hyped up religious activities. His faith is stable and totally in line with the scriptures, he is serious about life, and is able to teach with great patience, what is right and good. In doing so, he can turn many away from their folly, to the right way of living.

This verse seems to have nothing to do with the woman's role in the church, but the next sentence is closely connected to it:

Tit 2:3 The aged women likewise,  If there is one thing women should memorize, it is these four words: the aged women likewise.  Everything the aged men are supposed to be, applies to the aged women. You might say that this is true fairness and true equality in the eyes of GOD, for it is one thing that is required of both men and women. 

 Aged, of course, was usually a reference to anyone the age of threescore, or 60 years old.  That of course does not mean that you should be silly when you are young and expect to suddenly change when you become aged. You reap what you sow, and if you sow careless living all your life, it will be difficult to overcome when you are aged.  However, it is never too late for a person to change and get their life in line with the precepts of the Lord. There are many things that could be discussed regarding these four words: the aged women, likewise!!

that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;  It is obvious that women around them in the culture of the time, did not embrace these teachings, but the main point, I think, is that those who follow the Lord, must, not just because it works or because it is better for them, but because it sets them apart from what the non-believers are doing, and because it shows their obedience to the word of God. 

 These items in Titus 2 are an area in which those converted to our Lord can shine and be distinct, but most importantly, it shows a trust and reliance on the Lord for His provision. It also sets the believer apart from the world, in that she will be home, minding her own business, not out in the working world minding other business, gossipping, snooping, working up jealousies and resentments, going out drinking with the girls, teaching fables and worldly wisdom to others, etc. 

While there is no denying  that many women can make it by working outside the home, the point is, that it is God's special instruction to women who are converted, to set them apart, as followers of His. It is, in a sense, an opportunity to obey and to exercise her faith.

An interesting article here illustrates the world's contempt for the idea of full time wives and mothers and homemakers. But the world's approval or the world's contempt should not make a difference in the mission of the Christian woman to be at home.

Tit 2:4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,   An older woman would need to have a sound mind, unclouded by drinking, gossip, or any other vice, in order to see her way clearly to teaching the younger women. Teaching the younger women to love their husbands involves a careful learning of scriptures, particularly those that teach about love. First Corinthians 13 comes to mind. Younger women need to learn to be patient, kind, and to overlook a fault.  Older women, having already experienced a good marriage and obedient children, need to pass on their knowledge and help make family life easier for the younger ones. They dont have to make the same mistakes, if there is someone older to warn them.  I believe that the word "sober" means not to drink, but also not to behave as though you are drunk, full of ridiculous behaviour, wasting time, or making bad decisions that will effect the home. Being sober means to be serious minded and sensible.

Older women need to teach the younger women how to treat their husbands, and how to teach their children. It is natural for the young to immitate the older, so the older women should be an example of  sober behaviour to the younger.  They should teach young mothers to stay home and raise their own children. These children will learn from their raising, to raise their own children. Young women should tell their children, "I am teaching you this, so that you will be able to teach your own children." It gives them a greater motivation to learn, because they are going to reproduce their learning in the lives of their own children. 

If women want to love their children, they must take charge of them, and not turn them over to the government or to other people to be taught and cared for. If you want to have a compliant child, train that child yourself.  The child needs to learn to follow the teachings of the parents.

God chose parents to raise the children. Dueteronomy 6:6-8 and Ephesians 6, both instruct the parents to teach and nurture the children. There is a growing trend to find nannys for children rather than raise them yourself. One purpose of teaching your own children is for the growth and maturity of the parents. Parents who homeschool will be learning how to teach, and developing parenting skills. If you turn your job over to someone else, you will give up your authority, and then, when you do want to teach something important to your child, the child may be thinking that his parent is not a "real teacher" and that the schools ,or their other guardians,know better.

If  you really love your children, you will not give them their own way all the time, and not let them run the home.  They are to be in a submissive role, obeying,  and this trains them to be good parents.  Then, their role changes: they become the parents and can train their own children.  If you do not teach your children to obey, you do not love them. If you love them, you dont want harm to come to them. A disobedient child gets in all kinds of trouble. A parent can be accused of being "too strict," but  if that child is not taught and not nurtured in the admonitionof the Lord, he will be disciplined further by the agencies of the government. The police will be strict, and so will the courts, when the adult that was not trained in his youth, gets into trouble.  Older women are to teach the younger women to love their children. Love involves personal sacrifice. Do everything in your power to stay home with your children and to homeschool them. Then, even if it does not turn out perfectly the way you envisioned, you will at least have a clear conscience, knowing you followed what was good and right.

Tit 2:5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.  There is much to be explored in this part.  It is easier to be discreet and chaste if one is in a place that encourages it. Home is a refuge from the world's voices to be otherwise. Being home, without the distraction of other people, women do not have the peer pressure to follow the trends of the world.  You increase your chances for success in these other areas, just by staying home.


keepers at home: It seems to be easier to learn to sweep a floor or wash a sink full of dishes, than it does to develop things like patience or soundness in doctrine. Those sort of things take more time and study and sometimes are only developed over a period of time. Housekeeping, and modest dressing, on the other hand, can be changed in very short time.  The scriptures include both the character qualities and the physical efforts of keeping house.  It does take some time to blend the two aspects together. One is physical and the other is more spiritual, but over time, you will see that taking care of a husband and children, and  housekeeping, become a spiritual act of kindness.

The other observation that many older women have, is that in order to really keep the home, you have to be in it, not in someone else's house all day. If you want to train or teach your children, they have to be with you, not somewhere else, during the teachable moments of the day.  If you love your husband, you guard his money and make it benefit him by providing a wonderful home life for him.  It may take some men awhile to appreciate it, but at least the wife will be doing God's will, and in so doing, the entire family is blessed.

That the word of God be not blasphemed:  Adam Clarke, (1762-1832) commented on this phrase, the following:

That the word of God be not blasphemed - The enemies of the Gospel are quick-eyed to spy out imperfections in its professors; and, if they find women professing Christianity living an irregular life, they will not fail to decry the Christian doctrine on this account: “Behold your boasted religion! it professes to reform all things, and its very professors are no better than others! Our heathenism is as good as your Christianity.” These are cutting reproaches; and much they will have to answer for who give cause for these blasphemies."


I thought this, written so many years ago, was interesting, in its emphasis about the shame of giving God's word a bad reptuation by taking it lightly.


The housekeeping aspect of this scripture is huge, and volumes could have been spoken and taught about it over the spans of centuries. Each era would have required different knowledge about housekeeping. Just look at the old housekeeping books from the 18th century: how to make candles, trim the wicks, care for them, etc. or how to wash clothing by hand. Each generation would need different instructions on housekeeping. God wisely told the older women to provide that knowledge to the younger ones, and each era would have its own teachers. 

There could be volumes written on marriage and child rearing. It would take a life time of lessons  to teach younger women the different aspects of marriage or child care. That is why it is so important to keep reading the Bible for yourself, as you glean lesson after lesson that provides the wisdom you need. In doing so, read it with the attitude that if you find something you are not doing that is wise to do, you will do it, and if you find something that you are doing,  that is not wise, you will not do it.  Some times people read the Bible looking for an exception or looking for a way to justify doing something, rather than opening their hearts to what God has to say to them.  The book of Proverbs contains much wisdom about the parent-child relationship. The Bible was written so that the followers of the Lord will have the comfort and the direction they need. Pray that you may  follow it. It is easy to follow the prevailing culture: the doors are always open and the path is wide. It might not seem possible to follow God's word, because it requires more effort, but with each sacrifice you make, comes a huge blessing.







































Please be sure to comment on each verse, if you desire.