3Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, 4so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, 5to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.
6Likewise urge the young men to be sensible; 7in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified, 8sound in speech which is beyond reproach, so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us.
9Urge bondslaves to be subject to their own masters in everything, to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, 10not pilfering, but showing all good faith so that they will adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in every respect.
Interesting Words
fitting
(πρέπω – Greek) – prepó ► to be fitting, to be proper, to be suitable, to tower up (be conspicuous), especially in a way that is suitable (“fitting”), acting appropriately in a particular situation – Matt 3:15; Heb 2:10, 7:26;
temperate
(νηφάλιος – Greek) – néphalios ► Sober, temperate, self-controlled, (figuratively) circumspect, not intoxicated, free from negative influences (intoxicants) – 1Tim 3:2, 11; Gal 5:22-23; Prov 14:29;
dignified
(σεμνός – Greek) – semnos ► Noble, honorable, dignified, worthy of respect, venerable, i.e. Honorable – 1Tim 3:8, 11; Phil 4: 8
sensible
(σώφρων – Greek) – sóphrón ► Sober-minded, self-controlled, temperate, prudent, discreet, from the base of sózó, “saved” and that of phrén, “thinking” – 1Tim 3:2; Titus 2:2, 5;
sound
(ὑγιαίνω – Greek) – hugiainó ► To be sound, to be healthy, to be well, safe, to be uncorrupt, true in doctrine, in good health, root of the English term, “hygiene”) – Luke 5:31; 1Tim 1:10, 6:3; 2Tim 4:3; Titus 1:13; 3John 1:2;
reverent
(ἱεροπρεπής – Greek) – hieroprepés ► Reverent, befitting holiness, (from hieron, “a sacred place, a temple,” and “fitting”), suited to being in God’s presence – Used once in the NT.
malicious gossips
(διάβολος – Greek) – diabolos ► false accuser, devil, slanderer, Satan (Hebrew, verb, to oppose, to obstruct) – John 8:44, 13:2; Eph 6:11; Rev 12:9, 12;
dishonored
(βλασφημέω – Greek) – blasphémeó ► To blaspheme, to speak evil of, to slander, to revile, refusing to acknowledge good (worthy of respect, veneration); hence, to blaspheme which reverses moral values – Jude1:10; Rev 16:9, 11;
adorn
(κοσμέω – Greek) – kosmeó ► To adorn, to decorate, to put in order, to arrange, decorate – 1Peter 3:5;
Cross References
▪︎ Subject to one another and to Christ – Eph 5:21, 24
▪︎ Fitting, proper – Eph 5:3-4; Col 3:18; 2Thes 1:3;
Discussion Questions
1. How would you paraphrase the concepts in Titus 2:1?
▪︎ We need to teach and discuss things that are appropriate to sound doctrine – 1Tim 1:3;
▪︎ No unwholesome words are to come out of our mouths – Eph 4:29;
▪︎ Rise above the endless chatter of the world – 1Tim 1:4;
▪︎ Discipline yourself to speak only what advances godliness – 1Tim 4:7;
2. What group does Paul address in Titus 2:2? What actions does he call for and what are the hoped-for results?
Group: Men (older)
Actions:
▪︎ Temperate <
▪︎ Dignified
▪︎ Sensible <
▪︎ Sound in faith <
▪︎ Sound in love
▪︎ Sound in perseverance
Results:
▪︎ Required for leadership
3. What group does Paul address in Titus 2:3-5? What actions does he call for and what are the hoped-for results?
Group: Women (younger and older)
Actions:
▪︎ Reverent behavior
▪︎ Not malicious gossips <
▪︎ Not enslaved to wine
▪︎ Love your husband <
▪︎ Love your children <
▪︎ Be sensible
▪︎ Pure
▪︎ Kind
▪︎ Workers at home <
▪︎ Submissive
(men too – Eph 5:21)
Results:
▪︎ Able to teach other women
▪︎ Word of God will be honored
4. How about Titus 2:6-8?
Group: Men (young men)
Actions:
▪︎ Be sensible
▪︎ Be a good example always <
▪︎ Pure in doctrine <
▪︎ Dignified
▪︎ Sound speech
▪︎ Beyond reproach <
Results:
▪︎ Opponents put to shame
▪︎ Nothing bad said about us
5. How about Titus 2:9-10?
Group: Bondslaves
Actions:
▪︎ Subject to your own masters
▪︎ Well-pleasing to God always <
▪︎ Not argumentative <
▪︎ Not pilfering
▪︎ Exhibiting good faith
Results:
▪︎ To adorn the doctrine of God at all times and every respect
6. What aspects (actions and/or results) of these groups are really shared with others?
▪︎ See arrows (<) in each list.
▪︎ Actually all are shared actions.
▪︎ Submissiveness (Eph 5:21-33)
▪︎ Love, dignity, sensibility.
▪︎ Sound behavior.
▪︎ All contribute to results which are also shared by all.
7. How would you rank the various actions? List your top three or four as to importance.
▪︎ Love, dignity, sensibility
▪︎ Subissiveness (Eph 5:21-33)
▪︎ Exihibiting good faith
▪︎ Fitting to Christian behavior
8. What is the real challenge here for the Church?
▪︎ Everyone wants to please God in every aspect of life
▪︎ Leadership in the church wants to encourage and foster growth in that
▪︎ However, not everyone sees everything the same way or with the same criteria.
▪︎ Not everyone speaks clearly and makes their point according to what they really intended to say; consequently, interpersonal relationships can be strained within the church.
▪︎ Pastors have an increasingly difficult time to discern to guide their church thru the troubled waters that lay before as we move deeper into the end times. It is much more difficult as they seem to be simply herding cats.
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