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Titus 2:11-15
by Samuel E. Ward
Introduction
While Timothy was laboring in metropolitan Ephesus, Titus had his hands full on the island of Crete. Titus was a Greek believer (Gal. 2:3) who had served Paul well on special assignments to the church in Corinth (2 Cor. 7:13-14; 8:6, 16, 23; 12:18). Apparently Titus had been won to Christ through Paul's personal ministry (Titus 1:4) as Timothy had been (1 Tim. 1:2). "As for Titus," Paul wrote, "he is my partner and fellow worker among you" (2 Cor. 8:23, niv). But the people on the island of Crete were not the easiest to work with, and Titus became somewhat discouraged. Like Timothy, he was probably a young man. But unlike Timothy, he was not given to timidity and physical ailments. Paul had been with Titus on Crete and had left him there to correct the things that were wrong. Since Jews from Crete were present at Pentecost (Acts 2:11), it is possible that they had carried the Gospel to their native land. Titus had his share of problems! The churches needed qualified leaders, and the various groups in the churches needed shepherding. One group of false teachers was trying to mix Jewish law with the Gospel of grace (Titus 1:10, 14), while some of the Gentile believers were abusing the message of grace and turning it into license (Titus 2:11-15). By nature, the people of Crete were not easy to work with (Titus 1:12-13), and Titus needed extraordinary patience and love. It would have been easy for Titus to have "heard God's call to go elsewhere," but he stuck it out and finished his work.
--Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Faithful—1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon,
Victor Books: Wheaton, IL
As God's servant as Paul's emissary, Titus embarked on a ministry to solve the problems that were threatening the life of the church in Crete, these being . . .
I. Lack of Qualified Leadership, Titus 1:5-9.
II. The Presence and Influence of False Teachers, Titus 1:10-16.
III. Lack of Good Instruction to Believers Concerning Proper Christian Conduct, Titus 2:1-10; 3:1-3.
Having outlined the spiritual deficiencies of certain groups within the church that needed correcting among
A. The Older Men, Titus 2:1.
B. The Older Women, Titus 2:3-5
C. The Young Men, Titus 3:6-8
D. The Slaves, Titus 2:9-10,
Paul summarizes what should be characteristic behavior for all believers in view of the grace of God that has come to them through Christ. Observe the teaching which is to affect . . .
E. All Men, Titus 2:11-14
1. The gospel's message of salvation is a universal message, Titus 2:11.
(Titus 2:11 NIV) For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.
a. God's grace brings salvation.
b. God's grace has been revealed to all men (through Christ).
2. The gospel's teaching is a call godly living, Titus 2:12.
(Titus 2:12 NIV) It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,
a. Believers are to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions.
b. Believers are to say "Yes" to self-control, upright behavior, and godly living.
c. Believers are to be obedient to these principles in this present age.
3. The gospel's objective is to redeem and purify a people eager to do what is good, Titus 2:12-13.
a. The duration of the believer's mission is until Jesus returns.
(Titus 2:12-13 NIV) It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, {13} while we wait for the blessed hope--the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.
When will Jesus return?
1) At the time God has appointed to restore the work under His complete rule, Acts 3:21.
(Acts 3:17-21 NIV) "Now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. {18} But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Christ would suffer. {19} Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, {20} and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you--even Jesus. {21} He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets.
2) When the Gentiles have completed their allotted time of rule in the world and opposition to God's people, Israel, Luke 21:24.
(Luke 21:23-24 NIV) How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! There will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people. {24} They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
3) When God's work is complete in His church, Phil 1:6.
(Phil 1:4-6 NIV) In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy {5} because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, {6} being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
4) When all the martyrs appointed by God have been killed by the enemies of God, Rev 6:10-11.
(Rev 6:10-11 NIV) They called out in a loud voice, "How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?" {11} Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and brothers who were to be killed as they had been was completed.
5) When the harvest of souls is complete
(Mat 13:38-43 NIV) The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, {39} and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. {40} "As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. {41} The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. {42} They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. {43} Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.
(James 5:7-8 NIV) Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. {8} You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near.
b. The purpose of Jesus' mission is to redeem and purify a people eager to do what is good.
(Titus 2:14 NIV) [Jesus Christ] gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
It is true that we are to be good and not be bad so that believers can be blameless against the charges made by unbelievers. The problem is that a believer can be good and never intentionally do anything wrong and still not do good.
It is not enough that a believer come to the end of a day and merely be satisfied with having been good and not done anything wrong. The question is, have you eagerly done good for the sake of God and toward others. Have you been active with your faith rather than passive. Have you invested the talents God has given to you to bring His kingdom closer to others, or have you hidden them, afraid to use them. You would be satisfied to stand in judgment before Christ and say, "Well, at least I didn't do any harm? Oh really?
(James 4:17 NIV) Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins.
Summary Conclusion for Titus 2
1. According to Paul, all that has preceded in Titus 2 is exactly the prescription for spiritual
healing within the Cretan churches,
(Titus 2:15a NIV) These [Titus 2:1-14], then, are the things you should teach.
2. This is what must be done when the teaching is ignored:
(Titus 2:15b NIV) Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.
a. Encourage right teaching and behavior.
b. Rebuke wrong teaching and behavior.
3. Demand respect from those under your teaching.
(Titus 2:15c NIV) Do not let anyone despise you.
To despise here means to give no thought or respect (Gk., periphroneo) to Titus's teaching or authority. This is where strong rebuke is in order with church discipline to follow if the despising does not change their behavior.
