The Christian's Responsibility to the Church
As Christians and members of a church, we have a responsibility to that church. In
this chapter, Paul speaks of our responsibility to three groups in that church.
The older people, the younger people and the slaves or servants.
The first 4 verses of this chapter deal with our responsibility to the older
people. While the instructions were written to Titus, the responsibility is for us
as well. Paul had just given instructions on how to deal with a group of people who
professed to know God but denied Him, now he says to Titus, "Teach what
benefits sound doctrine." This kind of ministry will not only aid the false
teachers but it will also aid the rest of their church by teaching them what is
true. Truth is the best weapon against false teachings.
Notice what Titus' message was to be to the "old men".
- They were to be temperate, serious, sensible, sound in the faith,
sound in love and sound in stead fastness.
- Temperate or sober. Matthew Henry says that old men
must not think that the decays of the body which they
experience in old age, can justify them being intemperate.
They must be temperate in all things for health sake, for
them to continue to be worthy to be used by the Lord and
for them to continue to be an example to others.
- Serious or grave. Again, Matthew Henry says that "giggling"
is unbecoming at any age but especially so in old age.
Old men should be composed in habit, speech and behavior.
"Gaudiness" in dress and vanity in behavior is unbecoming
to their years.
- Sensible. Older people must demonstrate sensibility in
all things. They must be one who governs well their
passions, desires and ambitions. Their must demonstrate
sensibility in all of their decisions.
- Sound in the faith. This means that they should
be well versed in the scriptures and well founded
in their faith. They should be an example to others
and a source of reference and leadership to the
younger members. They must know what they believe
and be able to justify it. They will not be swayed
by every wind of doctrine.
- Sound in love and charity. Love, and the result of
of love which is charity, cannot be faked. It must
be sincere and without strings or dissimulation.
- Sound in steadfastness. Patience is asked for here.
Old people tend to be impatient with the young, with
the undecided, with the less grounded in the faith.
Paul is saying that we need to control our patience
and set an example for others. Qualities of leadership
are the products of love and patience.
Notice what Titus' message was to be to "old women".
- They were to be reverent or holy in their behavior, they were not to
slander or falsely accuse, they were not to be slaves to drink or
given to much wine and they were to be teachers of what was good.
- Reverent or holy. The must demonstrate reverence to
God, and to the organization of the church. They were
to learn, in reverence, the Word of God and act
accordingly. Contrary to some previous false
teachings, there was not one way of salvation for
men and another for women. Paul needed to rebuke this
teaching and assure the ladies that all people were
created equal in the eyes of God. This was contrary
to the beliefs of the day and was not an easy thing
for the early church, especially the men, to accept.
So women needed to be reverent and obedient to God
same as the men. If the older women would do this,
it would set an example for the younger women.
- They were not to slander or falsely accuse. This seemed
to be a problem in most of the churches, it primarily
was done by the women. Many believe it was because
it was the only way they had to express themselves
as their "freedoms in Christ" had not been fully
given to them by the men in the early church.
Slander and false accusations is contrary to the
love and justice that our Lord taught us to demonstrate.
- Be not "bibbers" of much wine. The term suggests
they might be addicted to it. Wine addiction was
common in those days particularly amongst the Greeks.
Most water was not drinkable, but this addiction to
wine destroyed many minds and made the women immodest
and shameful. It corrupted their bodies and their
consciences.
- They were to teach the young ladies what was good.
Teach by example and teach by the word. Teaching in
public was forbidden to women but they were to teach
in the home and in private counseling. Proverbs 21
says, "She opens her mouth with wisdom and in her
tongue is the law of kindness."
To the Youth
["Click here for Titus 2:4b-8"]
In Paul's day, it was not the responsibility of the minister to council and
instruct young women. This duty was left to the older women who were considered to
to be more experienced in this. However Paul does, in these verses, give
instructions to the younger women as to their wifely duties. Note:
- They were to love their husbands and their children. Why
would they need to be told this? In Paul's day there were
many "arranged marriages". Women were often "spoken for"
from birth. Marriages were often arranged by families with
dowries agreed to years before the marriage. Most women did
not marry for love but for convenience. This kind of marriage
would require that love for the husband be learned after the
marriage. This would require time and instruction for the
wife and patience for the husband.
- They were to be sensible and discrete. This would be in contrast
to being vain and indiscrete. According to Matthew Henry,
vanity and indiscretion was proponent in that day.
- They were to be chaste. This means not to subject yourself
to temptations. It would be better to do that than to have
overcome temptations or be sorry for succumbing to them.
Paul says that lack of opportunity is lack of temptation.
- They were to be good housekeepers. This, Paul says, does
honor to their husbands. Paul complained about the young
women in Corinth to Timothy. They were wondering about
from house to house, being idle and being tattlers, busybodies,
and speaking things which they ought not. Paul says that
they should stay home and look after the affairs of the home.
- They should be submissive to their husbands. This is a hard one.
Paul says in first Timothy, "I permit no woman to teach or to
have authority over men." Why? Apparently, because Adam was
created first, then Eve. Adam was not deceived by Satan, Eve
was. Therefore being deceived, she was the transgressor.
"She was given as a helper but proved to be a hindrance, even
the instrument of Adam's fall." In Gen. 3:16 , it says. "Your
desire shall be for your husband and he shall have rule over
you." In Ephesians, Paul writes, "Wives, submit to your husbands
as unto the Lord, for the husband is the head of the wife even as
Christ is the head of the church. Matthew Henry says, "This is
not an absolute or unlimited or lavish subjection that is required,
but rather a loving subordination to prevent disorder and confusion."
Then Paul gave instructions to the young men.
- They shall practice self-control. Young men are apt to be eager,
thoughtless and act without thinking. Therefore, they should be
taught to be considerate, to be in control of their passions and
their lives. They should not be "headstrong", but be humble and
considerate.
- They are to use their youthful energies for good. Direct their
efforts to the doing of good deeds.
- They are to study and determine sound doctrines. They are responsible
for the spiritual well being of the family and this should be
accomplished by study and prayerful consideration.
- They are to show dignity in all that they do or say. Young men
tend to be irresponsible until they mature in years. Paul suggests
that they strive for dignity as a sign of early maturity.
- They should be honest and reliable in their speech. They must be
dependable and truthful in all their relationships.
Why did Paul think that these were good instructions for young men to follow?
- Because this would lay a good foundation for their life and
let then look back in their later years with pride and not
sorrow.
- Because this would put their opponent to shame, having nothing
evil to say about them.
Paul was probably speaking as much to Titus as he was to anyone else because of
Titus' youth.
To Christian Slaves or Servants
["Click here for Titus 2:9-15"]
In these verses we have instructions to slaves or servants, a statement concerning
the "universality" of Christ, our position in this world as Christians and a stern
set of goals for Titus.
First, lets look at the instructions to slaves or servants. It might be well, at
this time, to note that almost 50% of the members in Crete were either slaves or
indentured servants. So these instructions were very important to Titus.
- Be submissive to your masters. The same instruction is given
to all Christians relative to Christ. As servants to Christ,
we must be submissive and obedient to Him. This is not just
a show of outward obedience with words or actions, it is a
sincere inward subjection of the heart. The Master's will
must be their will. Paul applied this both ways. The slave
to his master and the Christian to Christ.
- Give satisfactory work in every respect. All areas of labor.
They were not to question their masters. They were not to
steal from them. They were to show true fidelity and produce
satisfactory work. God calls all Christians to render this
to their employers, to their families, to their fellow
Christians and to the Lord. Matthew Henry says that we are
called to give satisfactory work in all areas that are
lawful and within our ability. We, as Christians, must render
this to the Lord so that "in everything we may adorn the doctrine
of God our Savior." "Also, so that our actions will recommend
the Gospel of Christ to all by our sincerity, humility and
obedience plus faithful conduct in all things." That's what it
means by adorning the Gospel of Christ.
Then Paul gets into the "universality" of Christ. That simply means that the Grace
of God through Jesus Christ, is for all men. Christ is a "Universal Savior". We
can get into a discussion of God's calling and man's free will, but basically,
Christ came to save all mankind. Who-so-ever CAN, who-so-ever is called,
who-so-ever is enlightened by the Holy Spirit, may come. The CALL is not limited
to Jew or Gentile.
The CALL, when accepted, produces salvation for the believer. This salvation gives
the ability to renounce sin and ungodliness. Through the indwelling of the Holy
Spirit, we have the ability to renounce that which is evil, but do we do it?
Paul said of himself, "The good that I would do, I do not, and the evil that I
would not do, I do." "Who can separate me from this?" Paul knew the answer and he
tells us that it is Christ that gives us victory over sin. "He, Christ, will allow
us to live sober, upright and Godly lives as we 'wait' for our 'blessed hope', the
eternity with Christ promised to those who believe."
Finally, in these verses, Paul instructs Titus to declare or preach all the things
that we have been talking about and to do so with authority. "Let no man
disregard you." He was not to preach "Jewish fables" or "Greek tradition", but he
was to preach the truths found in the Gospel. "When you speak, speak only the
Words of God, not the figments and imagination of the brain."
And how was Titus to do this? He was to do it with "authority". Ministers should
not be humble or timid in the preaching of the Gospel of Christ. They have the
authority of God and should preach with assurance and force. "Let no one sleep
through your sermons." Do whatever it takes. Be loud, be forceful, be interesting
and be demanding, whatever it takes. let no one disregard your message.
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