Something For Everyone (2:1-15)
Neal Pollard
When you think “sound doctrine,” your mind might go to church organization, worship, difficult but important moral issues, the distinctive nature of the church, the plan of salvation, and the like. While these would certainly be found under this large umbrella, I find it interesting how that in the “Pastoral Epistles” we find the word “sound” nine times (1 Tim. 1:10; 6:3; 2 Tim. 1:13; 4:3; Ti. 1:9,13; 2:1,2,8). The word unequivocally means “healthy.” In 1 Timothy 1:10, it is in the context of moral uprightness. In 1 Timothy 6:3, it is tied to greed and materialism. In 2 Timothy 1:13, it relates to general instruction of various kinds. In 2 Timothy 4:3, it is tied to reproving, rebuking, and exhorting relative to gospel matters. In Titus 1:9, it has to do with refuting Judaism and greed. In Titus 1:13, it has to do with addressing the immorality of Cretan-like behaviors. In Titus 2, all three instances have to do with various demographics being sound in faith, love, steadfastness, and speech.
Have you ever known anyone who “stands” where they should on the identity and worship of the church, but whose lives give evidence of greed, materialism, intemperance, sinful anger, or some similar character flaw? Such individuals are as contrary to “sound doctrine” as the false teacher watering down the plan of salvation. Neither departure from divine instruction is healthy.
Titus’ challenge was to help the Christian inhabitants of Crete to stand out in difficult moral circumstances (1:12). To that end, Paul encourages him to focus on six specific groups followed by a focus on the group as a whole. Notice.
Sound doctrine for older Christian men (2). Paul shares six attributes these men should have. They are qualities mature individuals should have mastered, but at all costs must exhibit. They must think seriously about life, be respectable, be even-tempered, be worthy of respect, and models of faith and love as well as perseverance. A long walk with Christ will show, and the longer we’ve walked the more clearly it should show. Ill-tempered, fearful, cold older Christian men exhibit an incongruity. They are spiritually sick. These brothers are to be encouraged to exhibit for the world the hope, confidence, and transforming power of the gospel.
Sound doctrine for older Christian women (3-4a). Notice the kind of self-control Christian women should demonstrate. They were to have great self-control, shown in a reverent life, a righteous tongue, and a restrained appetite. But, she’s not just “playing defense,” preventing sinful habits from taking hold. She is proactive, accepting the mantle of responsibility of sharing her wisdom and discernment with the next generation. She does not have to stand in front of a classroom of women, but she is to “teach what is good” (3).
Sound doctrine for younger Christian women (4-5). As in 1 Timothy 2:13-15, Paul gives emphasis to the integral role the Christian wife and mother must play in the home. She is to learn to live the kind of life that prevents another from “maligning the word of God” (5). How? By loving and being subject to her husband, loving her children, exercising self-control, being busy at home, and being kind. Society at large places different expectations on her, but she pursues “sound doctrine” for her life and role.
Sound doctrine for younger Christian men (6). Paul summarizes the young man’s Christian responsibility with one, all-encompassing word. What can be the young man’s biggest battle? Controlling self! Think about the sin struggles of young men–pornography, fornication, temper, impulses, etc. One moderating governor for the Christian young man is reigning over his body and mind (1 Cor. 9:27).
Sound doctrine for gospel preachers (7-8,15). If anything, Paul places higher expectations over Titus as a proclaimer of the Word. He represents Christ to the people. So what is his obligation? First, he is to be a general example of doing good in everything (7)! That would include matters like those directed at the first four groups. Second, his teaching was to be characterized by integrity, implying holding back nothing profitable and essential. It was to be characterized by seriousness, a word denoting this balance which “stands between caring to please nobody and endeavoring at all costs to please everybody” (Zodhiates, np). The idea is of not letting himself obstruct the hearer from seeing God. Then, it was to be characterized by sound speech. This is exercising intelligence in what is said and how it is said. Loose, thoughtless, or reckless speech will hurt the cause of Christ! The preacher will avoid being an impediment at all costs, being one who instead will “encourage and rebuke with all authority” (15). The upshot of that, according to Paul, is that none will despise (look down on) him. If they do, it will be their own fault.
Sound doctrine for Christian slaves (9-10). These “bondservants,” roughly equivalent to employees today, were to operate from a general ethic of pleasing their boss in “everything” (9). How, specifically, did that look? Trying to please them, not talking back to them, not stealing from them, but showing themselves trustworthy in every respect (9-10). What would that do? It would preach a powerful, persuasive, and pretty sermon about the doctrine of Christ. The sound doctrine of a righteous life would underscore the truth of sound doctrine on every subject!
Sound doctrine for “us” (11-14). Moved by our gratitude for a grace that reaches every single person, all of us are pupils of that grace. It teaches us to say no to the sins of society and live “self-controlled, upright and godly lives” (12), to wait for the realization of our hope (13), and to be holy people who are eager to do what is good (14). All the specific instructions for each sub-group leads us all, as Christians, to be described as Paul describes “all” saved “people” in these verses.
What category do you fall into? Look closely at it and set about to work on the qualities called for. In this way, you will be obeying “sound doctrine.”
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