God's Order in the Church: Members--Titus 2:1-10
In this study, God's Order in the Church is being examined.
On the first web page, consideration was given to The
Messengers--1:1-4. It set forth God's Elect Leader--v. 1, God's Eternal
Life--vv. 2, 3, and God's Earnest Lieutenant--
v. 4.
On the last web page, The Ministers--1:5-16, using that
term to include all church officers, was pondered. This included their
requirements--vv. 5-8 and their responsibilities--vv. 9-15
Now, Examination of The Members in Titus 2:1-10
is made. God starts with:
I. THE OLDER ONES--vv. 1-4a
A. The Men--vv. 1, 2
1. Healthy teaching--v. 1
a. But
(I)
Same word as in 1:15
(II)
In contrast to those just described at end of Chapter 1.
(III)
Could be rendered: on the other hand
b. You speak
(I)
Normally pronoun is included in the verb form.
(II)
When pronoun is express separately, as here, it is usually for emphasis.
(III)
Thus rendered: you yourselves speak
(IV)
To speak
(A) Normal word for speaking
(B) Literally: to utter a sound
(C) In contrast to those in 1:11
(V)
Primarily refers to Titus, but would apply to any church officer, and the
pastor particular
c. Things which become
sound doctrine
(I)
The word which simply introduces the relative clause which serves
as object of the verb speak.
(II)
Become
(A) Means: to stand out, to be conspicuous,
to be becoming or fitting
(B) Cf. 1 Timothy 2;10
(III)
Sound doctrine
(A) Same basic phrase as in 1:9
(B) In 1:9 the emphasis is on teaching--teaching which
is healthy.
(C) Here the emphasis is on soundness--healthy teaching.
2. Healthy faith--v. 2
a. Old men
(I)
Not the same word as for elder, though a related word
(II)
Good example--Philemon 9
b. Be sober
(I)
Following the Greek order, it means temperate, or abstaining from wine.
(II)
Not the same word as in 1:8 (unless you switch order or words)
(III)
Occurs in 1 Timothy 3:2, 11
c. Grave
(I)
Does not mean "long faced"
(II)
Means: venerable or honorable
(III)
Used in 1 Timothy 3:8, 11
(IV)
Used of deeds in Philippians 4:8 (rendered honest)
d. Temperate
(I)
Same word as in 1:8
(II)
Self-controlled
e. Sound in faith,
in love, in patience
(I)
Sound
(A) Similar phrase to that in 1:13
(B) In 1:13, it is in the sphere of; here it is in
reference to, namely, the three things that follow.
(II)
The faith
(A) Same as in 1:13
(B) Refers to the body of doctrine
(III)
The love
(A) Affection, goodwill, or benevolence
(B) The highest form of love
(IV)
The patience
(A) Means: steadfastness, constancy,
endurance
(B) Characteristic of a man who is unswerved from his
deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith and
piety
B. The Women--vv. 3, 4a
1. Their inner life
a. Aged women likewise
(I)
Feminine form of aged men
(II)
Only here
(III)
Likewise--in like manner; verb is understood from v. 2.
(IV)
"After the same general pattern, to which the separate virtues above mentioned
belong." (Alford,
III:415)
b. That they are in
behavior as becomes holiness
(I)
That they are, being in italics, is supplied.
(II)
In the sphere of deportment or bearing
(III)
As becomes holiness
(A) Means: befitting men, places,
actions, or things sacred to God
(B) Reverent
c. Negative aspects
(I)
Not false accusers
(A) Prone to slander, slanderous
(B) The word is the same basic word used of Satan
(II)
Not given to much wine
(A) The word not is neither.
(B) Verb: enslaved to or wholly given up
to
(C) Here much wine
2. The outward works
a. Teacher of good
things
(I)
Only occurs here
(II)
Teaching that which is good or a teacher of goodness
b. That they may teach
the young women
(I)
The word that introduces purpose.
(II)
The verb
(A) Used only here
(B) To admonish, to exhort earnestly, or to train
II. THE YOUNGER ONES--vv. 4-8
A. The Women--vv. 4, 5
1. You have just observed the older women
are to train the younger women.
2. Lovers of their families
a. Younger women
(I)
Meaning of the word younger is new.
(II)
Thus: young or youthful, but obvious from the context not children
b. Lovers of their
husbands
(I)
Occurs only here
(II)
Compound of two words
(A) Friendly or lover of
(B) Man--a male
(III)
Thus, as in Authorized Version.
c. To love their
children
(I)
One word occurring only here
(II)
Compound of two words
(A) The word Friendly or lover of
(B) Offspring or children
(III)
In the light of today's treatment by some mothers of their children,
this exhortation is certainly needed.
3. Worthy women
a. Discreet--same
word as in verse 2 (self-controlled)
b. Chaste--pure from
carnality
c. Keepers at home
(I)
Only occurs here
(II)
Carers for the house; or workers at home
d. Good--excelling
in any respect
e. Obedient to their
own husbands
(I)
Obedient
(A) To arrange under, to subject, or put in subjection
(B) Here in middle voice; thus, to subject oneself
(C) Used again in 2:9 and 3:1
(D) Notice that this middle voice suggests voluntary subjection
not forced.
(II)
To their own husbands
(A) "Inserted to bring out and impress the duties they owed
to them." (Alford, III:416)
(B) Husbands--common word thus, simply man
(III)
This subjection is a matter of God's order.
(A) 1 Corinthians 11:3
(B) Ephesians 5:21-25
(C) 1 Peter 3:1-5
(D) No suggestion of inferiority in person
f. That the word of
God be not blasphemed
(I)
The word that introduces the reasons for the subjection of the
wife to her husband.
(II)
The Word of God
(A) Primarily it refers to the Bible, the written Word of
God.
(B) Secondarily, It could refer to Jesus Christ, the Living
Word.
(III)
Blasphemed
(A) To speak reproachfully, to be evil spoken of, revile
(B) Cf. 3:2
B. The Men--vv. 6-8
1. Sober of mind
a. Young men
b. Likewise--same
word as in verse 3
c. Exhort
(I)
Literally: to call to one's side
(II)
Thus to summon
(III)
Hence to admonish or exhort
d. Sober
(I)
Sound of mind
(II)
Same word as in 1:8; 2:2, 5
2. Pattern of good works
a. In all things showing
thyself a pattern of good works in doctrine
(I)
Preposition
(A) Around
(B) Has to do with position
(C) Thus, around everything or in everything
(II)
Showing yourself
(A) Verb: to offer, show, or present
oneself
(B) Yourself
(1) Notice switch in person
(2) Paul tells Titus to exhort young men and
then switches as if he is exhorting them.
(III)
A pattern of good works
(A) Pattern--literally: mark of a stroke
(B) Thus, pattern or example
(C) The word from which we get the word type
(D) Of good works--same phrase as in 1:16
(IV)
In doctrine
(A) In the sphere of
(B) Usual word for teaching or doctrine
(C) This phrase shows the importance of correct teaching
to correct action.
b. Uncorruptness
(I)
only occurrence
(II)
Compound of two words
(A) Not
(B) Corruption or perishing
c. Gravity
(I)
Same basic word as in verse 2
(II)
That characteristic of a person or thing which entitles to respect
d. Sincerity
(I)
Omitted by a great many texts but is in the Textus Receptus
(II)
Similar in meaning to uncorruptness
(III)
Carries here more the idea of purity
e. Sound speech that
cannot be condemned
(I)
Sound speech
(A) Literally: sound words
(B) The word sound is similar to the one in 1:9 and 2:1.
(II)
That cannot be condemned
(A) One word
(B) Not plus find fault with
f. That he that is
of the contrary part may be ashamed
(I)
The word that introduces reason for the foregoing
(II)
Phrase means literally: one out of the opposite--referring
to anyone who opposes the gospel.
(III)
The verb to be ashamed
(A) Literally: to turn one about upon himself
(B) Thus, to shame, or as here, to be ashamed
g. Having no evil
thing to say of you
(I)
No evil thing
(A) Two words are involved.
(B) Nothing
(C) Worthless, or of no account,
wicked, or base
(D) Thus, nothing worthless
(II)
Of you
(A) Many texts say of us
(B) Would include Paul, Titus, and all believers which may seem
to be more appropriate
(C) Preposition: around or concerning
(III)
Phrase would read having nothing concerning us to say that is worthless.
(IV)
The Authorized Version is perfectly all right for the word you would
not necessarily exclude Titus and
other
believers; it might not include Paul, but that is not necessarily the case.
III. THE EMPLOYED ONES--vv. 9, 10
A. Responsibility to Employers--vv. 9, 10a
1. Obedience to them
a. Exhort servants
to be obedient unto their own masters
(I)
The word exhort is supplied by the translators, and here it is certainly
understood.
(II)
Servants--bondslaves as in 1:1
b. To be
obedient--discussed in connection with young women--v. 5
c. Unto their own
masters
(I)
Own--pertaining to one's self
(II)
The word master is that from which we get despot.
d. Phrase is literally:
Servants to their own masters to be obedient.
2. Pleasing them
a. To please them
in all things
(I)
All things
(A) First and thus emphatic
(B) Preposition: in the sphere of
(II)
Well-pleasing
(A) Combination of well plus pleasing or
agreeable
(B) Thus, well-pleasing or acceptable
(C) Cf. Ephesians 5:10
b. Not answering
again
(I)
Two words
(A) Not
(B) Speaking again
(II)
Word discussed in 1:9
3. Not purloining
a. Two words
(I)
Not
(II)
To set apart
b. Here in the middle
voice
(I)
Thus, to set apart for oneself
(II)
Therefore, to withdraw covertly, or embezzle
4. Showing fidelity
a. Showing
(I)
Means to point out
(II)
Only in the middle voice; thus, to show one's self
b. All good fidelity
(I)
Normal words for all and good
(II)
Fidelity--usual word for faith
(III)
Here takes on the force of faithfulness--the character of one
who can be relied upon.
B. Reason for Responsibility--v. 10b
1. The phrase itself
a. The word
that introduces the reason.
b. The word
doctrine
(I)
The common word for teaching or doctrine
(II)
Occurs first in the clause; thus, emphasizes doctrine
(III)
Word was discussed in 1:9
c. Of God our
Savior
(I)
Phrase occurs in 1:3.
(II)
The doctrine is God's not man's.
(III)
The phrase occurs also in 1 Timothy 1:1
d. Adorning
(I)
From verb meaning to put in order
(II)
Thus to ornament or adorn
(III)
It can mean embelish with or gain honor.
2. The meaning
a. A clue can be seen
in 1 Timothy 2:9.
b. Our conduct should
be such a nature as to bring honor upon God's doctrine.
c. Some of the
details are covered later in the epistle which will be consider next time.
Others were already
mentioned.
God through His servant the Apostle Paul has set forth
His order in the Church concerning The Members. He has exhortation
for the older ones: the men--vv. 1, 2 and the women--vv. 3,
4a. Then he exhorts the younger ones: the women--vv. 4b,
5 and the men--vv. 6-8. Finally, he exhorts the employed ones:
responsibility to employers--vv. 9, 10a and reason for the responsibly--v.
10b.
You that are older men, have healthy teaching and healthy
faith; women, be holy inwardly, and outwardly have good works.
You younger ones: ladies, be right in the home
and worthy outwardly; men, inwardly be sober-minded; and outwardly, be a
pattern of good works.
Those of you who are employed, you have a
responsibility to your employer--to give a full day's work for a full day's
pay; you have the reason to be responsible--honoring God's truth.
This writer has been speaking to believers; but you who
are unsaved can only measure up after you have received Jesus Christ as your
personal Savior. He makes the life possible; yea, enables it.
You as members of your assembly, prayerfully consider
these qualities. Then, by God's grace go forward in your walk with Him.