Titus 2: Grace That Trains Us
Titus is to teach each group in the church to live well, because the grace of God that brings salvation also trains us in godliness.
Titus 2 (WEB)
1 But say the things which fit sound doctrine,
2 that older men should be temperate, sensible, sober minded, sound in faith, in love, and in patience:
3 and that older women likewise be reverent in behavior, not slanderers nor enslaved to much wine, teachers of that which is good;
4 that they may train the young women to love their husbands, to love their children,
5 to be sober minded, chaste, workers at home, kind, being in subjection to their own husbands, that God’s word may not be blasphemed.
6 Likewise, exhort the younger men to be sober minded;
7 in all things showing yourself an example of good works; in your teaching showing integrity, seriousness, incorruptibility,
8 and soundness of speech that can’t be condemned; that he who opposes you may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say about us.
9 Exhort servants to be in subjection to their own masters, and to be well-pleasing in all things; not contradicting;
10 not stealing, but showing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God, our Savior, in all things.
11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men,
12 instructing us to the intent that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we would live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world;
13 looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ;
14 who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify for himself a people for his own possession, zealous for good works.
15 Say these things and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no man despise you.
Titus 2 (KJV)
1 But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:
2 That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.
3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;
4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,
5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.
6 Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded.
7 In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,
8 Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.
9 Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again;
10 Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.
11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.
Titus 2 (ASV)
1 But speak thou the things which befit the sound doctrine:
2 that aged men be temperate, grave, sober-minded, sound in faith, in love, in patience:
3 that aged women likewise be reverent in demeanor, not slanderers nor enslaved to much wine, teachers of that which is good;
4 that they may train the young women to love their husbands, to love their children,
5 to be sober-minded, chaste, workers at home, kind, being in subjection to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed:
6 the younger men likewise exhort to be sober-minded:
7 in all things showing thyself an ensample of good works; in thy doctrine showing uncorruptness, gravity,
8 sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of us.
9 Exhort servants to be in subjection to their own masters, and to be well-pleasing to them in all things; not gainsaying;
10 not purloining, but showing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.
11 For the grace of God hath appeared, bringing salvation to all men,
12 instructing us, to the intent that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly and righteously and godly in this present world;
13 looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
14 who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a people for his own possession, zealous of good works.
15 These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no man despise thee.
Summary
Paul turns from confronting error to teaching what fits sound doctrine. He tells Titus to instruct each group in the church how to live. Older men are to be temperate, dignified, and sound in faith, love, and patience. Older women are to be reverent, not slanderers or addicted to wine, but teachers of good who train the younger women to love their husbands and children and to manage their homes with kindness and integrity, so that God's word is not blasphemed. Younger men are likewise to be self-controlled, and Titus himself is to be a model of good works, showing integrity and seriousness in his teaching so that opponents have nothing bad to say. Even servants are to be honest and trustworthy, adorning the doctrine of God their Savior by their conduct. Then Paul gives the reason behind all of it: the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation, and that grace trains us to renounce ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously, and godly in this present age. We do all this while looking for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people of his own, eager to do good. Paul ends by telling Titus to declare these things with full authority and to let no one despise him.
Key Figures
- Titus — Paul's coworker, charged to teach sound doctrine to every group and to be himself a model of good works, integrity, and serious, sound speech.
- The household of the church — Older men and women, younger women and men, and servants—each called to live in a way that fits sound doctrine and adorns the gospel.
- The grace of God — The saving grace that has appeared in Christ, which not only forgives but trains believers to renounce ungodliness and live godly lives in the present age.
- Christ our Savior — Our great God and Savior, whose glorious appearing is our blessed hope, who gave himself to redeem and purify a people zealous for good works.
Key Verse
Titus 2:11 (WEB)
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men,
Lessons Learned
- The gospel speaks practically into every age, gender, and station of life.
- Mature believers are called to teach and model godliness for those coming behind them.
- How we live can either adorn the gospel or cause God's word to be slandered.
- Saving grace is also training grace; it teaches us to say no to ungodliness and yes to holy living.
- We live godly lives now while we wait expectantly for the glorious appearing of Christ.
- Sound doctrine shapes daily life. Paul tells Titus to “say the things which fit sound doctrine” (Titus 2:1, WEB), then describes ordinary conduct. True teaching always touches how we actually live.
- Our conduct commends the gospel. Believers are to live so “that God’s word may not be blasphemed” (Titus 2:5, WEB) and to “adorn the doctrine of God, our Savior, in all things” (2:10). Our behavior either beautifies or obscures the message.
- Grace trains as well as saves. The grace of God appeared, “instructing us… that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we would live soberly, righteously, and godly” (Titus 2:12, WEB). Salvation enrolls us in God's school of holiness.
- We live in hope of his appearing. We are “looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13, WEB). The coming of Christ fuels godly living now.
- Christ redeems us for good works. He “gave himself for us, that he might redeem us… and purify for himself a people for his own possession, zealous for good works” (Titus 2:14, WEB). We are saved not only from sin but for service.
- Paul gives tailored instructions to older men, older and younger women, younger men, and servants. What does this variety tell us about how the gospel works in real life?
- How is Titus himself supposed to teach, and why does Paul stress that he be a personal “example of good works” (2:7)?
- What does it mean to “adorn the doctrine of God” (2:10), and how can ordinary conduct beautify the gospel?
- Verse 11 says grace has “appeared.” According to verses 11-14, what does this grace do beyond forgiving us?
- What is the “blessed hope” we are looking for (2:13), and how should waiting for Christ's appearing shape the way you live this week?
- Paul addresses every group because the gospel is not abstract; it reshapes marriages, homes, work, and aging (2:2-10). The variety shows that sound doctrine is meant to be embodied in the concrete relationships and responsibilities of ordinary believers.
- Titus is to teach with integrity, seriousness, and sound speech, and to be himself “an example of good works” (2:7). Paul knows that teaching carries weight only when the teacher's life matches the message; godly example gives credibility and silences critics.
- To adorn the doctrine is to make the gospel attractive by the beauty of a changed life (2:10). Paul even applies this to servants, the lowest social rank, showing that anyone's faithful conduct can make the message of God appealing. Discuss how integrity at work or home can commend Christ.
- Grace not only saves but trains us to renounce ungodliness and to live soberly, righteously, and godly, while it points us toward Christ's return (2:11-13). It is active and forming, redeeming us and purifying a people “zealous for good works” (2:14). Salvation and transformation come together.
- The blessed hope is the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ (2:13). This is a personal-application question; invite members to consider how living in light of his return reorders today's priorities, and let the certainty of his coming bring joy rather than mere duty.