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Introduction
When Paul wrote this letter Titus was working in [a very difficult] difficult field: Crete. This island, 160 miles long and 35 miles wide, lies in the Mediterranean southeast of Greece. Once it had been the center of a great culture but the Cretans had become known in the ancient world as a depraved and intractable people. In this letter Paul quotes the poet Epimenides, who about 600 B.C. observed that "Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons" (1:12). Yet Paul expresses no concern for Titus. He simply gives advice, which has been rightly valued by young leaders throughout the Christian era, and expects Titus to successfully lead the Cretan church to "devote themselves to doing what is good" (3:8).
--Lawrence O. Richards, The Bible Reader's Companion: Titus
Thus, Titus was Paul's trouble-shooter and problem-solver for the churchs on the island of Crete. The problems seem to have originated from . . .
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.
(Titus 2:1 NIV) You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine.
The first to receive Paul's attention due to this third issue are. . .
A. The Elder Men.
Who would thing that older men could ever be a problem? That was my question until I read this memo a department store sent to the wife of an older man who had just retired and started going shopping with his wife.
The Story of The Retired Husband at Tesco
Dear Mrs. Marsh,
Over the past six months, your husband, Mr. Joseph Marsh has been causing quite a commotion in our store. We cannot tolerate this type of behavior and have considered banning your entire family from shopping in any of our stores nationwide.
We have documented all incidents on our video surveillance equipment. Three of our workers are attending counseling from the trouble your husband has caused. All complaints against Mr. Marsh have been compiled and are listed below:
Memo: re – Mr. Joseph Marsh
Complaints - Things Mr. Joseph Marsh has done while his wife was shopping in our store:
1. July 4: Set all the alarm clocks in household department to go off at 5 minute intervals.
2. July 9: Made a trail of tomato ketchup on the floor leading to the toilets.
3. July 21: Walked up to an employee and told her in an official tone, 'Code 5' in fruit and vegetables..... and then watched what happened.
4. September 14: Moved a ' CAUTION - WET FLOOR' sign to a carpeted area.
5. September 17: Set up a tent in the camping department and told other shoppers he' d invite them in for a cup of coffee if they would bring pillows from the bedding department.
6. September 29: When a shelf stacker asks if they can help him, he begins to cry and demands, 'Why can't you people just leave me alone?'
7. October 31: Looked right into the security camera; used it as a mirror, and picked his nose in a disgusting fashion.
8. December 2: Darted around the store suspiciously loudly humming the ' Mission Impossible' theme tune.
9. December 18: Hid in a clothing rack and when people browsed, yelled ' Pick me! Pick me!'
10. December 23: When an announcement came over the loud speaker, he assumes the fetal position and screams, 'NO! NO! It's those voices again!'
11. And; last, but not least!
12. December 24: Went into a fitting room in the clothing department, shut the door and waited awhile; then, yelled, very loudly, 'There is no toilet paper in here!'
http://www.guy-sports.com/jokes/retirement_jokes.htm
So, maybe Paul has cause to write to older men because of what they might do if they become bored . . .
(Titus 2:2 NIV) Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance.
The first instruction "to teach what is in accord with sound doctrine" is meant for all members of the churches. Beginning with the older men, Paul then addresses different groups with specific areas which he felt needed to be emphasized to each.
There are six areas in the lives of these older men which needed attention. One set of three had to do with their character. The second set related to soundness (Gk. hugiaino , healthy or uncorrupt).
1. What the older men need to be taught
a. To be temperate: Older men are to have minds that are clear and alert. This word when used in its literal sense means to abstain from wine with the intent of keeping control of one's wits. The older men are presumably the leaders in the churches and are charged with protecting the church from anything harmful to the body life of the church.
This same quality was in a list of spiritual requirements for overseers (bishops, elders, and pastors as is noted in 1 Timothy 3:2.
(1 Tim 3:2 NIV) Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach.
b. To be worthy of respect: Older men are also to be characterized by their honesty and integrity in all areas of their lives. This is a trait that is developed over time by the consistency of honest practices and remaining true to Christian values even under difficult and costly circumstances.
The word which translates "worthy of respect" in Titus 2:2 is the word translated "noble" in Philippians 4:8.
(Phil 4:8 NIV) Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble [worthy of respecting], whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.
c. To be self-controlled: Older men are expected have developed minds that are unlikely to be led by their fleshly passions and able to discern that which edifies from that which destroys.
They are to be fair and balanced in their opinions and not given to extremism in thoughts or actions.
Consider the danger to anyone who does not learn self-control, especially in the area of their sexuality.
(1 Th 4:3-6 NIV) It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; {4} that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, {5} not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; {6} and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you.
Paul recognized the need to have models who can represent well what the younger men are to become. It is probably due to the lack of this kind of male role models in our present society that has extended what might be termed psychological adolescence past the teen years into one's thirties or forties. Our society is paying a heavy price for men who continue to live as "Peter Pans" and refuse to "grow up."
The second set of qualities that are . . .
2. What the older men need to possess
a. A (sound) healthy faith
Paul has already shared with Timothy that the direct result of not possessing sound faith is that error will creep in and the teaching of the doctrines of devils will replace of the doctrine of Christ. The former leads to death; the latter to eternal life.
Paul wrote to Timothy that the prevalence of such unsound teaching due to the lack of sound teaching in the church will be an identifying characteristic of the end times.
(1 Tim 4:1-2 NIV) The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. {2} Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.
Paul also listed some of the things that false teachers have sought to bring into the church by twisting what the Scriptures mean by spiritual freedom. Accepting the grace of God through Christ does not mean that we are suddenly free from any constraint or restraint in our behavior. Do not be led astray. For the things in this list will never have the approval of Christ in His Church.
(1 Tim 1:9-11 NIV) We also know that law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious; for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, {10} for adulterers and perverts, for slave traders and liars and perjurers--and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine {11} that conforms to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me.
b. A (sound) healthy love
First Corinthians 13:1-8 gives insight into what is unhealthy (unsound) love as well as healthy (sound) love:
1) If you are involved in a relationship with a person that is envious of you, tries to make you feel inferior to them, never admits to being wrong, is rude towards you, thinks of themselves before you, is easily angry with you, keeps reminding you of your wrongs, is enamored by evil acts and entertainment, leaves you to defend yourself in a crisis, suspects you without cause, degrades you privately or in public, runs away from problems rather than seeking to correct them, fails you at critical times and situations—they most assuredly do not love you.
2) If you are involved in a relationship with a person who supports you in your achievements, considers you at least their equal, accepts responsibility when wrong, enjoys those things that are wholesome and right, is with you in your battles, always gives the benefit of the doubt, lifts you up privately and publicly, is ready to work through problems in the relationship, is a faithful supporter at critical times and situations—they probably have in deep healthy love with you.
c. A (sound) healthy determination (endurance)
1) Is determined to grow spiritually, Luke 8:15
(Luke 8:15 NIV) But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.
2) Is determined to remain true to Christ, Luke 21:16
(Luke 21:16-19 NIV) You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. {17} All men will hate you because of me. {18} But not a hair of your head will perish. {19} By standing firm you will gain life.
3) Is determined to do good, Rom 2:6-7
(Rom 2:6-7 NIV) God "will give to each person according to what he has done." {7} To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life.
4) Is determined to persevere through persecutions and trial, 1 The 1:4
(1 Th 1:3, 6 NIV) We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. . . {6} You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.
5) Is determined to faithfully complete his life's race, Heb 12:1
(Heb 12:1 NIV) Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
6) Is determined to become spiritually mature and complete, James 1:4
(James 1:4 NIV) Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Conclusion
Men are naturally achievers. If they experience achievements, even simple age and ability appropriate achievements when they are young, this is enough to spur them on to greater things. However, if parents and others concentrate on what their young men cannot do more than on what they can, often they will give up and opt out of seeking to achieve and focus on escapes and pleasure instead. This is a subject that will come up later in this epistle to Titus.
One reason those who have not become the spiritually mature persons we would like them to become may have not done so because they have not yet seen it. The most important teacher of spiritual maturity is not the pastor or Sunday school teacher, it is the father. With fathers being absent in as many as 1/3 of all American homes, it is little wonder that many boys never grow up to be men of principle. Paul was concerned that this had happened in the churches of Crete so he instructed Titus on the things that must be required of older men in the church in order to protect its faith and integrity and the young men who will be growing up in it. That is why he focused, and we must also, on teaching the older men to be:
1. Temperate (clear and alert minds)
2. Worthy of respect (good reputation for doing right)
3. Self-controlled (Led by the Spirit of God rather than worldly pleasures)
And then to have:
4. A healthy faith in God and His Word
5. A healthy love for people
6. A healthy determination to be God's Man
