(Unedited)
Don't stop with teaching doctrine!
(An Introduction to Titus 2:1-10)
Titus 2:1
Sunday, March 28, 2010
We are studying the apostle Paul's God-inspired letter to a younger minister of the Gospel whose name is Titus. Before he wrote this letter, Paul left Titus behind on the island of Crete with instructions on how to deal with the great concerns in the churches that were established in the different towns on Crete. In order to encourage him and establish his authority for such a difficult task, Paul writes him this letter. In case the churches questioned Titus why he was doing what he was doing, he would only have to show them this letter from Paul and they would understand. This letter most probably contains the most part of Paul's instructions.
In chapter 1:5 we see the general instruction of Paul to Titus: "This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order." And throughout the rest of chapter 1 we see some of the details that are included in that instruction:
· It involved the appointing of spiritually qualified and doctrinally competent elders to shepherd the local churches - Tit 1:5-9.
· It also included the task of silencing and rebuking false teachers and those whom they have influenced. (Tit 1:10-16)
This is what we have been spending our time on for several months already. We saw that these two instructions are very much connected. Spiritually qualified and doctrinally competent elders had to be appointed because many false teachers had infiltrated the local churches and were causing Christian families to depart from the faith.
As we move to chapter 2, we see a third element in Paul's instruction to Titus. We will find here Instructions for the Different Groups in the Local churches. These are very practical and very specific instructions given to every segment of the church in order that they might be spiritually healthy and prepared to become God's instruments for the salvation of others.
An Outline of Chapter 2:
· v. 1 - An introduction of the general duty of Titus.
· vv. 2-10 - Instructions for the different groups in the local churches
· vv. 11-14 - The ground of these instructions
· v. 15 - A summary of the duty of Titus
I will however focus out study this morning only on verse 1 with some remarks to prepare us for our study of the details. I will show you:
1. The Backdrop of the Instruction in Chapter 2
2. The Content of the Instruction in chapter
3. The Method of Instruction in chapter 2
4. The Different Groups Addressed in the Instruction (vv. 2-10
5. The Purposes of the Instruction
I. The Backdrop of the Instruction in Chapter 2
"But as for you"
The opening phrase of chapter 2, "But as for you," is emphatic in the Greek text. The Greek sentence actually begins with an emphatic pronoun, then an adversative conjunction, followed by a verb. (You but you speak). Normally in Greek, the verb already includes the person doing or receiving the action. For example, the word "speak" is can be translated "you speak" because if you examine the verb "speak" in Greek it is in the Active Voice, Imperative Mood, Second Person, Singular number. But if the writer wanted to give emphasis on the person doing or receiving the action, he added another pronoun such as the case here in verse 1. And so when Paul added a pronoun separate from the verb it is a indicator that there is some emphasis to be noted here. With the emphatic pronoun and the adversative conjunction "but," Paul is setting a strong contrast between Titus and his sound teaching on one hand and the false teachers and their sickly doctrines on the other hand.
You will remember that in chapter 1 and verses 10-16 how Paul identified the false teachers and showed how they should be dealt with. The false teachers were evil and their teachings were producing negative results on the moral conduct of the Christians at Crete, especially in the realm of the home.
· Verse 10, the false teachers were "insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers."
· Verse 11, they were upsetting the faith of whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach.
· Verse 12, they fit the general description of Cretans who are "always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons."
· Verse 14, they were preoccupied with teach Jewish myths and commands of men that were contrary to the truth.
· Verse 15, they were defiled and unbelieving; they see everything as impure; their minds and their consciences are defiled.
· Verse 16, they profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for any good work.
That is the backdrop of the instruction in chapter 2: The Judaizing teachers taught false doctrine which resulted in unholy life.
And so, what Paul is saying in here in verse 1 is this: "Titus, I have described the false teachers and their diseased doctrines. I showed you the impact of their teachings in the lives of the Christians. Now I am telling you, you are to be different from them. Your lifestyle should be totally opposite from theirs. And you are to teach things that are in accordance with doctrine that produces spiritual wellbeing. You must proclaim the truth and illustrate that truth. The people must not only be well instructed, but they must be holy in their lives. Principle and practice must go hand in hand."
II. The Content of the Instruction in chapter 2
"teach what accords with sound doctrine."
"Sound" doctrine means teaching that produces spiritual health and growth. Paul uses this word nine times in the Pastoral Epistles, including five times in Titus (1:9, 13; 2:1, 2, 8; see also 1 Tim. 1:10; 6:3; 2 Tim. 1:13; 4:3). Whereas Titus 1:9 focused on the teaching of sound doctrine and the refutation of error, the focus of 2:1 is more on the practical application of sound doctrine.
(GNB) But you must teach what agrees with sound doctrine.
(GW) Tell believers to live the kind of life that goes along with accurate teachings.
(ISV) But as for you, teach what is consistent with healthy doctrine.
(NAB) As for yourself, you must say what is consistent with sound doctrine, namely,
(NLT) But as for you, promote the kind of living that reflects right teaching.
(NET) But as for you, communicate the behavior that goes with sound teaching.
MacArthur:
Now let me make it very clear what he is saying. He is not saying speak sound doctrine. That's already been covered basically back in verse 9 of chapter 1 where the leaders of the church are instructed to hold fast the faithful Word and exhort with sound doctrine. What he is now saying is you must speak the things which are properly to be associated with sound doctrine, that is those things which issue in the matter of daily living. Teach the practical requirements for every day life that suit true doctrine. You can't just fill people's head with theology. You must be truly useful by teaching the required behavior that is consistent with sound doctrine. Healthy teaching, yes. And then instruction about healthy living. You can't just teach it without forcing the application, to some degree.
...You tell them the things they need to do that fit the doctrine they believe. It calls for behavior, it calls for action. It calls for living what is in complete accord with the truth. And obviously, any student of the Bible knows that it never divorces doctrine from duty.
When Paul comes in to Romans chapter 12 and says, "I beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God that you," and then launches in to talking about a living sacrifice and rolls on for several chapters of Christian duty, he's building it all in the first eleven chapters of doctrine...therefore because all these mercies of God are true, all these mercies that God has given you in salvation are true, therefore live like this.
As Paul writes to the Ephesians after three chapters of doctrine, he simply says that I'm going to now urge you therefore to walk worthy of the calling to which you're called. That's the calling, here's how you live.
In Colossians chapter 3 after two chapters of doctrines, he says now that you've been raised with Christ, seek the things which are above. Here's how to live your life.
In Philippians after three chapters of dealing with doctrinal issues he says, "Therefore I'm urging you to live this way," and he goes through chapter 4 with a list of required behaviors. This is basic. This is absolutely central. The Lord wants churches to know His truth and then to live it.
... Holy living is inseparable from sound doctrine. That's the point. So we are called then as those who lead the church to teach you lifestyle that is "in accord with sound doctrine." It involves temperance, sound faith, love, honesty, caring for husbands and children, self-control, submissiveness to masters, etc. Christian ministry is concerned with developing godly men and women. And the focus that Paul calls for here is one of nurturing believers, to help each become all he or she can be in Christ.
III. The Method of Instruction in chapter 2
"Teach"
MacArthur
[T]he word "speak" from the Greek verb laleo ... just means to talk. It's not the word kerusso, to preach, it's not the word didaskaleo, to teach, it's just to talk. And it's a present tense: "just keep on talking concerning things which are suitable as associates of healthy doctrine, continually be talking about the kind of behavior that fits the truth." And he's saying to him, stay on track, don't feel any resistance and capitulate. Don't get intimidated, don't slow down, don't deviate no matter what resistance you may feel, as he told Timothy in ... 2 Timothy 4, the time will come when they won't endure sound doctrine, they'll want to have their ears tickled with the things that strike their own imagination. But you continue to preach and reprove and rebuke and exhort and do it patiently and do it with careful instruction. Obviously there's going to be resistance to these calls for holy living, but you must not equivocate. Keep on talking about these things.
And the idea here... is not so much preaching and not so much teaching in the formal role as in the normal conversation of life. You're talking now about pastoral work. Oh sure there's a component of that in preaching and teaching, but it comes down out of the pulpit. Help people see the truth face to face, help them apply it in their lives.
Chapter 2 contains many different words describing that activity.
· 1 But as for you, teach [laleō, speak; to use words to express but the context can mean to teach, preach, or say with authority]
· 3 to teach what is good [kalodidaskalos, to instruct in what is good; to show, demonstrate, explain.],
· 4 train [sōphronizō, to discipline, train to think and act soberly, discreetly, and in moderation; It was used in secular Gk. of advice that focused on personal moral improvement.]
· 6 urge [parakaléō, exhort, urge, encourage; it implies a close personal relationship, with personal exhortation and encouragement to live a godly life.]
· 7 Show [parechō]... teaching [didaskalia, the act of instructing]
· 12 training [paideuousa. It implies giving parental guidance and daily instruction, as to a child, in order to lead a young person to maturity.]
· 15 Declare [laleō, speak]... exhort [parakaléō] ... rebuke [elencho, to "point out, convince, and reprove''] with all authority. Let no one disregard you.
The Bible Reader's Companion:
"Taken together we see that the ministry of teaching to shape lives is not simply repetition of words. Christian teaching calls for an intimate involvement of the teacher with the learner, and involves instruction, encouragement, advising, urging, exhorting, guiding, exposing, convincing, and perhaps most important, providing a living example."
Illustration:
Share how I shared with my kids on how to make a wise decision. My daughter Charis Jane had outgrown her bike. What was she to do with it?
· We brainstormed her options: Throw away, trade in, Store, Give away.
· We looked at positive and negative reasons for each of the options using the 60 character traits of Jesus and other biblical principles.
· When we finally saw that giving away was the best option, all that was left was to find out who would be the blessed recipient of the bike. Again we listed the possible beneficiaries and found reasons if they were qualified. Friend who were well off were crossed out. Others were poor but they thought that their neighbors would fight over it. We ended up giving to our neighbors.
IV. The Different Groups Addressed in the Instruction (vv. 2-10)
Paul addresses five groups in the church: older men (2:2); older women (2:3); young women (2:4-5); younger men (2:6); Elders or Pastors (2:7-8); and, slaves (2:9-10).
Matthew Henry says,
"Ministers must be particular as well as practical in their teaching. Ministers must not stay in generals, but must divide to every one his portion, what belongs to his age, or place, or condition of life. Here is an excellent Christian directory, accommodated to the old and to the young; to men and women; to the preacher himself and to servants."
We will begin to look at the various groups one by one next time but let me just give some comments which I borrowed from Steven Cole in connection with this:
1. There are legitimate age and gender distinctions in the church.
Cole: Paul has different counsel for different ages of men and women, and he does not lump everyone into the same category. Radical feminism, which has infiltrated the church, argues that there are no gender distinctions in the body of Christ. While it is true that there are no distinctions regarding salvation (Gal. 3:28 in context), many Scriptures show that there are distinct roles for men and women in the church and in the home. Men are to be the loving leaders in both spheres. Women are to be subject to their own husbands (2:5; also, Eph. 5:22-23; Col. 3:18; 1 Pet. 3:1-6). It should not need to be said, but if God created you as a male, you should not seek a sex-change operation to become a female (or vice versa). Men should be masculine and women should be feminine. God designed the sexes to complement one another. There should not be any competition between the sexes. Men should affirm the value of women and women should affirm the God-given role and strengths of men.
Also, we are to relate to different ages and genders in appropriate ways. In 1 Timothy 5:1-2, Paul says, "Do not sharply rebuke an older man, but rather appeal to him as a father, to the younger men as brothers, the older women as mothers, and the younger women as sisters, in all purity."
2. There is to be interaction, not complete separation, between the various ages in the church and family.
Cole: The church is the family of God, and in the family there are all ages for the benefit of the entire family. The older have wisdom and experience to impart to the younger. The younger have idealism, energy, and enthusiasm that can encourage the older. Yes, having the older and younger together, whether in the church or at home, can create tension. But God's design is that we learn to live harmoniously and learn from one another.
3. There are different opportunities and different weaknesses and temptations at different stages in life.
Listen to what 16th century English Pastor Richard Baxter says to younger pastors In the book which he wrote, The Reformed Pastor. Baxter says,
See also that when you are [ministering to individuals] your own manners reflect the character of what you are communicating. So speak appropriately, and therefore differently, to each one. To the dull and the obstinate, be blunt and earnest. To the tenderhearted and the fearful, be gentle, and insist on the need of their spiritual direction. To the young, lay more stress on the enticements of sensual pleasures and of the great need to have control over their passions. To the old, prepare them for death and for the need to withdraw from the foolish ways of this present world. To the young, be free; and to the old, be respectful. To the rich, preach self-denial and the deceitfulness of prosperity. To the poor, show the glory of the Gospel. Note, too, the temptation of each group, each sex, each profession, and each one's employment. Be as simple and humble before them as you can. Give them scriptural evidence for all that you may say. Then they will see that it is not just you, but God who is speaking to them. Be serious in all things, but especially in the way that you apply the truth to their specific needs."
V. The Purposes of the Instruction
To show God's people that the building up of their inner lives is the best antidote against error.
For different groups in the local church to know the truth that leads to holy living that pleases God.
To show God's people how they can have an effective witness to unbelievers.
· Titus 2:5 - to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.
· Titus 2:8 - and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.
· Titus 2:10 - not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.
