EXPECTATIONS For GODLY LIVING-I—Titus 2:1-15
Attention:
Use Your Elbows:
A Grandmother was giving directions to her grown grandson who was coming with his wife, to visit her for the first time in her new place:
She told him, “You come to the front door of the apartment complex. I live in apartment 14T.”
On the outside of the building, to the right of the main entrance, you’ll see a big panel with buttons that correspond to each apartment number.
With your elbow, push button 14T & I will buzz you in.
Once inside the door, take the 2nd elevator on your right.
With your elbow, press the up button.
When the elevator arrives, get in, & with your elbow, press 14.
When you get out, turn left & make your way down the hall to 14T.
That’s my apartment, so with your elbow, press my doorbell.”
The grandson asked, “Grandma, that sounds easy, but why am I pressing all these buttons with my elbow?”
Grandma sweetly replies, “Oh honey, surely y’all aren’t coming empty handed ... ?”
Obvious ‘Expectations’ went with visiting grandma!
Likewise, there are obvious ‘Expectations’ that go with committing yourself to God thru Jesus Christ!
Need:
There is an ultimate fulfillment & satisfaction that CAN come to your life...That CAN belong to you...That you CAN possess!
BUT that fulfillment & satisfaction can ONLY come to you thru YOUR participation in GOD’s Expectations for Godly Living!
Titus was exhorted by the apostle Paul, to expose God’s people to the expectations for godly living.
All God’s people are answerable to His expectations for godly living.
What are some expectations for godly living by God’s people?
What are some expectations for godly living?
1—An expectation for godly living is...
APPROPRIATE DIRECTION(:1, 15)
Explanation:(:1, 15)
2:1—“But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine:”
2:15—“Speak these things, exhort, & rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you.”
These verses(:1 & 15) frame the whole of chapter two.
They are directed toward Titus in particular(1:4). Titus is a Gentile minister of the Good News of Jesus Christ, trusted under the tutelage of the apostle Paul.
Thus Titus has great authority as well as a great responsibility. Titus is a representative of the 1st generation of Christian teachers & pastors, who had direct interaction with the apostles’ in the dissemination of the Gospel & the early formation of the Church.
Paul intentionally dispatches Titus to the Cretan church in order to “set in order the things that are lacking” & to “appoint elders in every city”(1:5).
*So a portion of Titus’ responsibility is toward setting up the existing multiple churches for success, thru ensuring that local churches are organized in a way that is Christ-honoring. That is, so the local churches can be considered collectively as ‘the Church.’
1:16 is the lead-in to chapter 2, & tells us that there are people who openly “profess to know God” but whose works deny Him. That denial makes them “abominable”, “disobedient”, & “disqualified” or unfit for Christian service. They are self-deceived & as such are ‘false teachers’ & deceivers. Of particular note are “those of the circumcision”(unconverted Jews)(1:10).
2Tim. 3:1-5—“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!”
*There is one ‘major’ way to approach these ‘false teachers.’....
2:1—“But as for you...”
Titus, other Christian leaders, & those who truly know God, are called to & equipped & directed toward specific service.
2:1—“Speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine:”
Titus & those charged with a faithful Christian witness, are to “speak” such “things” as are “proper” regarding “sound doctrine.”
Therefore anything that goes beyond, or that does not approach that apostolic “doctrine”, is NOT considered “sound”, or acceptable in Christian circles!
The ‘elders’ Titus is to appoint(1:5), are entrusted to maintain that same God-ordained “soundness”!(2Tim. 2:2)
2Tim. 2:2—“And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”
2:15—“Speak these things, exhort, & rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you.”
2:15—“Speak...”
For the Christian, “speaking” is not always a specific reference to ‘preaching’ as it were, but it certainly includes it!
•(Consider: euaggelizw, khrussw, prokhrussw, kataggellw).
•Js. 3:1-2—“My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.”
2:15—“These things”—Refers to everything that is detailed in 2:1-14!
Every Christian is expected to be a witness to the Good News of salvation & life in Christ Jesus! So all Christian “speaking” entails a heavy responsibility. It is never to be taken lightly or indifferently.
•Col. 4:5-6—“Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.”
“Speak/Teach”(See :1)—lalew—Present Active Imperative 2nd Sing.—1) To utter a voice or emit a sound; 2) To speak—2a) To use the tongue or the faculty of speech, 2b) To utter articulate sounds; 3) To talk; 4) To utter, tell; 5) To use words in order to declare one's mind & disclose one's thoughts—5a) To speak. Strong—To talk, i.e. Utter words; a prolonged form of an otherwise obsolete verb.?Lalew means an extended or random harangue, while legw means to relate, in words[usually of systematic or set discourse; whereas epw & fhmi generally refer to an individual expression or speech respectively; while rew is properly, to break silence merely].
2:15—“...Exhort, & rebuke...”
It is Titus’ responsibility to “exhort”(parakalew) others regarding God’s truth(see :1-10, 12), in the same spirit & manner as does the Holy Spirit(paraklhtov)—our ever-present Counselor.
Titus is NEVER to ‘skirt over’ real issues in the church!
He is charged with “rebuking” or calling out errant beliefs & behaviors of church leadership & among the congregational membership! To “rebuke” is to ‘bring personal shame’ to a person(either directly or indirectly) so that they come under conviction in regard to their involvement in sin!
2:15—“...With all authority.”
Titus is to “exhort” & “rebuke” “with all authority” that is available to him. That “authority” which Titus is expected to wield, is ‘apostolic’ in nature.
Your pastor, your headship, your leadership, your church, is to likewise rely upon apostolic “authority” in all their endeavors!
Titus is to do this so that others of the Christian faith—particularly those in Christian leadership—will be personally & corporately ‘directed’ in God’s truth. And only in & thru God’s truth, with the faithful execution & administration of it, can they be personally free in their accountability to God.
“Exhort/Encourage”(See :6)—parakalew—Lit. = ‘call near/beside’—Present Active Imperative 2nd Sing.—1) To call to one's side, call for, summon; 2) To address, speak to(call to, call upon), which may be done in the way of exhortation, entreaty, comfort, instruction, etc.—2a) To admonish, exhort, 2b) To beg, entreat, beseech—2b1) To strive to appease by entreaty, 2c) To console, to encourage & strengthen by consolation, to comfort—2c1) To receive consolation, be comforted, 2d) To encourage, strengthen, 2e) Exhorting & comforting & encouraging, 2f) To instruct, teach. Strong—To call near, i.e. Invite, invoke(by imploration, hortation or consolation).?From—para—From, of at, by, besides, near. Strong—properly--Near, i.e. From beside; At(or in) the vicinity of; To the proximity with; Beyond or opposed to; On account of.—&—kalew—To call(properly--aloud).
“Rebuke/Reprove”—elegcw—Present Active Imperative 2nd Sing.—1) To convict, refute, confute—1a) Generally with a suggestion of shame of the person convicted, 1b) By conviction to bring to the light, to expose; 2) To find fault with, correct—2a) by word, 2a1) To reprehend severely, chide, admonish, reprove, 2a2) To call to account, show one his fault, demand an explanation, 2b) by deed—2b1) To chasten, to punish. Elegcw means to rebuke with sufficient cause, & also effectually, so as to bring the one rebuked to a confession or at least a conviction of sin. In other words, it means to convince. Strong—of uncertain affinity; To confute[prove to be wrong], admonish. RWP—To correct a fault, to reprove, to convict. Used 17X.
“Authority”—epitagh—Noun Fem.—1) An injunction, mandate, command. Strong—An injunction or decree; by implication--Authoritativeness. Used 7X.?From—epi—1) Upon, on, at, by, before; 2) of position--On, at, by, over, against; 3) To, over, on, at, across, against. Strong—Over, upon, etc.; of rest(with the dative)--At, on, etc.; of direction(with the accusative case)--Towards, upon, etc.—&—tassw—To arrange in an orderly manner, i.e. Assign or dispose(to a certain position or lot); a prolonged form of a primary verb(which latter appears only in certain tenses).
2:15—“...Let no one despise you.”
It is Titus’ responsibility to present God’s truth, so that it is taken seriously. In order for God’s truth to be taken seriously, the “speaker” of that truth must be ‘unfazed’ by humanly-derived authority.
Why?
Because God’s truth undoes & ‘goes against the grain’ of humanly devised desire, direction, & authority.
*Ps. 27:1—<<A Psalm of David.>> “The LORD is my light & my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?””
Gen. 15:1—After the capture & rescue of Abram’s nephew Lot—“After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.”
Lk. 12:4, 5—Jesus said,—“And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, & after that have no more that they can do. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!”
1Tim. 4:12-13—“Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.”
Jer. 1:7-8, 17—“But the LORD said to me: “Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ For you shall go to all to whom I send you, And whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of their faces, For I am with you to deliver you,” says the LORD.”.....“Therefore prepare yourself & arise, And speak to them all that I command you. Do not be dismayed before their faces, Lest I dismay you before them.”
Dan. 3:1-2, 4-6, 8, 12-13, 16-18—“Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits[90ft.] & its width six cubits[9ft.]. He set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. And King Nebuchadnezzar sent word to gather together the satraps, the administrators, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, & all the officials of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.”.....“Then a herald cried aloud: “To you it is commanded, O peoples, nations, & languages, “that at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, & psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, you shall fall down & worship the gold image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up; “& whoever does not fall down & worship shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.”.....“Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans came forward & accused the Jews.”[before the king].....“‘There are certain Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, & Abed-Nego; these men, O king, have not paid due regard to you. They do not serve your gods or worship the gold image which you have set up.’” Then Nebuchadnezzar, in rage & fury, gave the command to bring Shadrach, Meshach, & Abed-Nego. So they brought these men before the king.”.....“Shadrach, Meshach, & Abed-Nego answered & said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. “If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, & He will deliver us from your hand, O king. “But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”
*Rom. 8:31-39—“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, & furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
“Despise/Disregard”—perifronew—Present Active Imperative 3rd Sing.—1) To consider or examine on all sides i.e. Carefully, thoroughly; 2) To set one's self in thought beyond(exalt one's self in thought above) a person or a thing; 3) To contemn, to despise. Strong—To think beyond, i.e. Depreciate(contemn). Used 1X--Titus 2:15?From—peri—1) About, concerning, on account of, because of, around, near. Strong— properly, Through(all over), i.e. Around; figuratively--With respect to.—&—fronew—To exercise the mind, i.e. Entertain or have a sentiment or opinion; by implication--To be(mentally) disposed(more or less earnestly in a certain direction); intensively--To interest oneself in(with concern or obedience).
Argumentation:
Prov. 3:5-6—“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.”
Prov. 16:3—“Commit your works to the LORD, And your thoughts will be established.”
Rom. 12:1-2—“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good & acceptable & perfect will of God.”
Php. 4:6-7—“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer & supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; & the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts & minds through Christ Jesus.”
Ps. 25:9—“The humble He guides in justice, And the humble He teaches His way.”
Js. 1:5-6—“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally & without reproach, & it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven & tossed by the wind.”
Eph. 2:19-22—“Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers & foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints & members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles & prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.”
•When you are “fellow citizens with the saints & members of the household of God”, & you are being built on the proper foundation “of the apostles & prophets”, & you have become “a dwelling place of God”, THEN you you have all you need to remain in God’s Appropriate Direction.
Illustration:
Suppose I’m working for an architectural firm. My team is charged with erecting a multi-story rectangular building, enclosing multiple-thousands of square feet, that will house the company’s base of operations, in central Florida. It’s hot in central Florida during most of the year. The client specifies both of the ‘long sides’ of the building’s rectangle, to be entirely of glass...
The way the building is situated North-to-South & East-to-West, is very important to the overall cooling efficiency & thus the long-term expense of the building. Because the sun is so brutal in that area, the fully-glassed long-sides of the building will face North-South, so that the short ends will face East-West, in order to prevent direct sunlight & undue heat build-up. APPROPRIATE DIRECTION.
We regularly use Google Maps when we travel in unfamiliar territory. They have done a great job at having mapped most places, & continue to re-map those places, particularly the ever-changing road systems of large cities. Unnervingly, Google Maps uses satellite Global Positioning Systems to provide moment-by-moment location information for my wife & I as we travel. WITHOUT Google Maps there would be a lot of unknowns. WITH Google Maps the world is a little more familiar than it ever would be without it. APPROPRIATE DIRECTION.
*Application:
?Is YOUR DIRECTION APPROPRIATE for ‘godly’ living?
?Are YOU meeting God’s expectations for honoring Him with YOUR life??
*NOT ONLY are there expectations for godly living thru APPROPRIATE...
1— DIRECTION(:1, 15)
BUT:
2—Another expectation for godly living is...
APPROPRIATE MATURITY(:2, :3-4, :6-8)—
A.-OLDER MEN(i)(:2)
Explanation:(:2, 3-4)
2:2—“that the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience;”
2:3—“the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things--“
2:4—“that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children,”
*These & the following verses of chapter 2, lay out & expose us to the “things which are proper for sound doctrine”, & that are to be shared with all of God’s authority!(2:1, 15)
2:2—“The older men”
Generally, among all Christians, with age comes an expectation of experiential spiritual wisdom.
In God’s plan/economy, “men” are charged with headship of the family & headship of the church. That is, Christian “men” are to lead in those capacities with Christian maturity.
“Older men/Aged men”—presbuthv—Noun Accusative Plural Masc.—1) An old man, an aged man; 2) Ambassador. Strong—An old man. Used 3X--Lk. 1:18; Titus 2:2; Phm. 1:9.?From the same as—presbuterov—Older; as noun--A senior; specifically--An Israelite Sanhedrist(also figuratively, member of the celestial council), or Christian--“Presbyter.”; comparative of presbuv(elderly).
2:2—“that the older men be...”
“The older/aged” Christian “men” are to “be.”
If they are truly godly people, then what they ‘do’—their actions—will also be godly.
•But that’s where many people associated with the church can get messed up...They put-the-cart-before-the-horse—supposing that, ‘If I do what Christians ‘do’, then ‘I am’ a Christian!
They imitate Christian service, supposing that ‘It’s the boundaries within which I ‘work’ that make me a Christian.’...
*While the reality is: A God-ordained Return to God(AKA-Repentance), & that overhall of commitment to Christ, is what makes you capable of & equipped for service to God within His boundaries!
So, “older/aged” Christian “men” are to have their hearts so directed toward God’s desire, that they readily, willingly, & continually belong to & seek out God & His desire, & live it out in practical manners.
•The purpose/intention of what Titus is to “speak”(2:1), is to draw the attentions of “the older/aged” Christian “men”, toward the relational integrity of their lifestyle. That is, “older/aged” Christian “men” are to live individually & corporately in a godly manner that exhibits their calling in Christ thru a ‘proper’ walk with Him.
•The purpose/intention of what Titus is to “speak”(2:1), is to encourage “the older/aged” Christian “men” toward a personal integrity that manifests itself in a God-directed personal & relational lifestyle.
“Be”—einai—Present -X-Neuter—1) To be, to exist, to happen, to be present. Strong—To exist; present infinitive from eimi.
2:2—“that the older men be”.....
2:2—“Sober”
“Older/aged” Christian “men” are to avoid ‘beverage alcohol.’—Not that they should be tee-totalers per se, but rather that “older/aged” Christian “men” knowingly remain cautious of & free from anything that can negatively effect their ability to think rationally!
•That would include ANY substance that would effect your ability to reason clearly.
•Prov. 31:4-5—“...It is not for kings to drink wine, Nor for princes intoxicating drink; Lest they drink & forget the law, And pervert the justice of all the afflicted.”
Eph. 5:18-21—“And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms & hymns & spiritual songs, singing & making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God.”
So the clear-headedness of being “sober” is a Christian virtue, & NOT just for Christian leadership!
*Kings(Prov. 31:4-5), pastors/elders, deacons, older Christian women(:3), & here, older Christian men(:2) are cautioned to be those who are: “not” to “drink wine” or “intoxicating drink”, “not” to “be drunk with wine”, “not given to wine” & “not given to much wine.”(1Tim. 3:2, 8).
“Sober/Temperate”(See :6—swfronew--“sober-minded)—nhfaleov, OR--nhfaliov—Adj. Accusative Plural Masc.—Sober, temperate—1a) Abstaining from wine, either entirely or at least from its immoderate use, 1b) Of things free from all wine, as vessels, offerings. Strong—Sober, i.e. figuratively--Circumspect. Used 3X--1Tim. 3:2, 11; Titus 2:2.?From—nhfw—1) To be sober, to be calm & collected in spirit; 2) To be temperate, dispassionate, circumspect. Strong—To abstain from wine(keep sober), i.e. figuratively--Be discreet; of uncertain affinity.
2:2—“that the older men be”.....
2:2—“Reverent”
“The older/aged” Christian “men” are also to “be” “reverent.”
They are to represent themselves in a dignified & honorable manner in Christ. They are to represent themselves in a manner that will inspire “reverence” or awe for God, as well as “reverence” or awe for God’s ‘economy’/kingdom/plan, as it relates to others.
“Reverent/Grave/Dignified/Worthy of Respect”(See :3—ieroprephv)—semnov—Adj. Accusative Plural Masc.—August, venerable, reverend; 2) To be venerated for character, honorable—2a) Of persons 2b) Of deeds. Semnov is that which inspires reverence or awe. In classical Greek it was often applied to the gods. But frequently it has the lower idea of that which is humanly venerable, or even refers simply to externals, as to that which is magnificent, grand, or impressive. Strong—Venerable, i.e. Honorable. Used 4X--Php. 4:8; 1Tim. 3:8, 11; Titus 2:2.?From—sebomai—To revere, i.e. Adore; middle voice of an apparently primary verb.
2:2—“that the older men be”.....
2:2—“Temperate”
“The older/aged” Christian “men” are also to be examples of ‘self-control’—or having their minds & actions free of the influences of worldly thinking & temptation.
•They readily/easily submit ‘control’ of their fleshly urgings, to God.
“Temperate/Sensible/Self-controlled/Discreet”—swfrwn—Adj. Accusative Plural Masc.—1)Of a sound mind, sane, in one's senses; 2) Curbing one's desires & impulses, self-controlled, temperate. Strong—Safe(sound) in mind, i.e. Self-controlled(moderate as to opinion or passion). Used 4X--1Tim. 3:2; Titus 1:8; 2:2, 5.?From—swzw—To save, i.e. Deliver or protect(literally or figuratively).—&—frhn—1) The midriff or diaphragm, the parts of the heart; 2)The mind—The faculty of perceiving & judging. Strong—The midrif(as a partition of the body), i.e. (figuratively & by implication--of sympathy) The feelings(or sensitive nature; by extension[also in the plural]--The mind or cognitive faculties). English = ‘Frenzy’/‘Frenetic’(wild/uncontrolled)
2:2—“that the older men be”... “Sound”.....
“Older/Aged” Christian “men” are to exhibit godly ‘wellness’(“sound”) in relation to their “faith” in Christ, their ‘agape’ “love,” & in their “patience.”
“Sound”(See :1)—ugiainw—Present Active Participle Accusative Plural Masc.—1) To be sound, to be well, to be in good health; 2) metaph.--2a) Of Christians whose opinions are free from any mixture of error, 2b) Of one who keeps the graces & is strong. Strong—To have sound health, i.e. Be well(in body); figuratively--To be uncorrupt(true in doctrine). Used 12X.?From—ugihv—Healthy, i.e. Well(in body); figuratively--True(in doctrine).
2:2—“sound in Faith”
The “faith” of “older/aged” Christian “men” always has potential to be skewed, biased, redirected, or wooed AWAY FROM Jesus Christ as it’s center.
So this is a stern warning for “older/aged” Christian “men” to ACTIVELY guard & keep their Christian “faith” within the boundaries of God’s will.
This means that “older/aged” Christian “men” are directly responsible for guarding & keeping their Christian “faith” “sound” within themselves, their families, & within their churches!
* ‘If you don’t fall for Christ, you’ll fall for anything!’
“Faith”—pistiv—Noun Dative Sing. Fem.—1) Conviction of the truth of anything, belief; in the NT of a conviction or belief respecting man's relationship to God & divine things, generally with the included idea of trust & holy fervor born of faith & joined with it; 2) Fidelity, faithfulness. Strong—Persuasion, i.e. Credence; moral conviction(of religious truth, or the truthfulness of God or a religious teacher), especially reliance upon Christ for salvation; abstractly--Constancy in such profession; by extension--The system of religious(Gospel) truth itself.
2:2—“that the older men be”.....
2:2—“sound” “in Love”
The “love” of “older/aged” Christian “men” always has potential to be skewed, biased, redirected, or wooed AWAY FROM Jesus Christ as it’s center.
So this is a stern warning for “older/aged” Christian “men” to ACTIVELY guard & keep their Christian “love” within the the boundaries of God’s will.
This means that “older/aged” Christian “men” are directly responsible for guarding & keeping their Christian “love” “sound” within themselves, their families, their church family, & within their ‘sphere of influence’!
“Love/Charity”—agaph—Noun Dative Sing. Fem.—1) Brotherly love, affection, good will, love, benevolence; 2) Love feasts. Strong—Love, i.e. Affection or benevolence; specially(plural)--A love-feast. R.H. Mounce—Agaph is selfless love, which cannot be turned in on itself. J. MacArthur—‘...one of the rarest words in Greek literature, but one of the most common in the New Testament.’
2:2—“that the older men be”.....
2:2—“sound” “in Patience;”
The “patience” of “older/aged” Christian “men” always has potential to be skewed, biased, redirected, or wooed AWAY FROM Jesus Christ as it’s center.
•So this is a stern warning for “older/aged” Christian “men” to ACTIVELY guard & keep their Christian “patience” within the boundaries of God’s will.
This means that “older/aged” Christian “men” are directly responsible for guarding & keeping their Christian “patience” “sound” within themselves, their families, & within their churches!
“Patience/Perseverance/Endurance”—upomonh—Noun Dative Sing. Fem.—1) Steadfastness, constancy, endurance—1a) in the NT--The characteristic of a man who is not swerved from his deliberate purpose & his loyalty to faith & piety by even the greatest trials & sufferings, 1b) Patiently, & steadfastly; 2) A patient, steadfast waiting for; 3) A patient enduring, sustaining, perseverance. Upomonh is the temper which does not easily succumb under suffering, makroyumia is the self restraint which does not hastily retaliate a wrong. The one[makroyumia] is opposed to cowardice or despondency, the other[upomonh] to wrath & revenge. Strong—Cheerful(or hopeful) endurance, constancy.?From—upo—1) By, under. Strong—Under, Beneath, or Through; Whither, Underneath, or Below, or At; a primary preposition.—&—menw—1) To remain, abide; 2) To wait for, await one. Strong—To stay(in a given place, state, relation or expectancy); a primary verb.
Application(OLDER MEN(:2)):
?Are YOU exhibiting the Christian MATURITY APPROPRIATE for an OLDER/AGED Christian MAN?
?Are YOU an example of godly living?
(CONT...)2—An expectation for godly living is...
APPROPRIATE MATURITY(:2, :3-4, :6-8)—
A.-OLDER WOMEN(ii)(:3-4)
2:3—“the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things--”
2:4—“that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children,”
2:3—“the older women likewise,...”
Another aspect of Titus’ “speaking” is to be directed toward & involves the “older” Christian “women” of the Church.
“The “older” Christian “women” are to have their hearts so directed toward God’s desire, that they readily, willingly, & continually belong to & seek out God & His desire, & then live it out in practical ways that glorify God.
* “Older” Christian “women”, as with the older men(“likewise”)(:2), are to be conspicuously holy in their demeanor.
“Likewise”—wsautwv—Adverb—In like manner, likewise. Strong—As thus, i.e. In the same way. Used 17X.?From—wv—Adverb—1) As, like, even as, etc. Strong—probably adverb of comparative from ov, h, o; Which how, i.e. In that manner(very variously used).—& an adverb from—autov—The reflexive pronoun self, used(alone or in the comparative eautou) of the third person , &(with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons; from the particle au[perhaps akin to the base of ahr through the idea of a baffling wind] (backward).
2:3—“the older women likewise”.....
2:3—“Reverent in behavior”
“Older/Aged” Christian “women” are to live lives that match their ‘sacred’ calling, to their ‘God-ordained role’ & station in life.
•The ‘deportment’ of “older/aged” Christian “women”—the way they ‘carry’ themselves—is vital to their Christian witness.
•That is sometimes difficult & challenging when constantly bombarded by opposing societal & cultural hurdles!
“Reverent/Becometh holiness/Becomes Sacred Ones”(See :2—semnov)—ieroprephv—Adj. Accusative Plural Feminine—Lit -=- ‘to ‘tower up’ sacredness’—1) Befitting men, places, actions or sacred things to God; 2) Reverent. Used 1X--Titus 2:3.?From—ierov—Sacred; of uncertain affinity.—& the same as—prepw(See :1) Strong—To tower up(be conspicuous), i.e. by implication--To be suitable or proper(third person singular present indicative, often used impersonally, it is fit or right). =‘Conspicuously holy’
“Behavior/The Way They Live/Deportment”—katasthma—Noun Neuter—1)Demeanor, deportment, bearing. Strong—properly,--A position or condition, i.e. subjectively--Demeanor. Used 1X--Titus 2:3.?From—kata—1) Down from, through out; 2) According to, toward, along. Strong—prepositionally--Down(in place or time), in varied relations(according to the case [genitive case, dative case or accusative case] with which it is joined); a primary particle.—&—isthmi—1) To cause or make to stand, to place, put, set; 2) To stand. Strong—To stand(transitively or intransitively), used in various applications(literally or figuratively); a prolonged form of a primary staw(of the same meaning, used for it in certain tenses).
2:3—“the older women likewise,”....
2:3—“Not slanderers”
It is generally thought that, women use way more words in a given day than do men, depending upon the circumstances.
•Using more words, ‘naturally’ gives a person more opportunity to say something that they wish they hadn’t said.
•But more words is not necessarily the problem!...
The NIV translates this as “Malicious Gossips.”
To “slander” describes a fleshly & evil intent of the heart!
Therefore it is unbecoming to “older/aged” Christian “women” to succumb to, & be characterized by. “slanderous” speech.
“Not”—mh—Particle—1) No, not lest. Strong—adverbially--Not, conjunctionally--Lest; also--Whether(as an interrogative implying a negative answer[whereas ou expects an affirmative one]); a primary particle of qualified negation(whereas ou, ouk, ouc expresses an absolute denial).
“Slanderers/False accusers/Malicious gossips”—diabolov—Adj. Accusative Plural Fem.—= ‘Thru Throwing/casting” OR--Throwing/casting throughout’—1) Prone to slander, slanderous, accusing falsely—1a) A calumniator, false accuser, slanderer; 2) metaphorically--Applied to a man who, by opposing the cause of God, may be said to act the part of the devil or to side with him. Satan the prince of the demons, the author of evil, persecuting good men, estranging mankind from God & enticing them to sin, afflicting them with diseases by means of demons who take possession of their bodies at his bidding. Strong—A traducer; specially--Satan[compare Njs].?From—dia—Through, With, In, Throughout, During, By, the means of; The ground or reason by which something is or is not done; On account of, Therefore. Strong—Through(in very wide applications, local, causal, or occasional); a primary preposition denoting the channel of an act.—&—ballw—1) To throw or let go of a thing without caring where it falls. Strong—To throw(in various applications, more or less violent or intense); a primary verb.?English = ‘Diabolical.’
2:3—“the older women likewise,”....
2:3—“Not given to much wine”
This is not an outright prohibition against the use of alcohol, but rather an urging to maintain self-control thru strictly limiting it’s use.
•Our society thinks nothing of adding alcohol to most any drinkable liquid & excitedly advertises it as wonderful!
Elder women are not to be enslaved to “much wine.” Enslavement to much wine would ensure that one is uncommitted to the Lord Jesus. We are instead to be enslaved to Jesus.
Women of God—& any of God’s people for that matter—should NEVER succumb to such mentality.
‘Party-all-the-time’ does NOT characterize a woman of God, much less an “older/aged” Christian “woman”, who has grown in her relationship with Jesus!
Her/Our fleshly desire is to be in a steady state of submission to God!
“Given to/Enslaved to/Addicted to”—doulow—Noun Accusative Plural Fem.—1) To make a slave of, reduce to bondage; 2) metaphorically--Give myself wholly to one's needs & service, make myself a bondman to him. Doulow represents the servant in servile relation to a person. Strong—To enslave(literally or figuratively). Used 8X.
CONCLUSION:
Visualization:
Just like Grandma had ‘Expectations’ for her grandson & family when they visited!....
...So, God has ‘Expectations’ for those who commit themselves to Him thru Jesus Christ!
Action:
Some expectations for godly living are...
1—APPROPRIATE DIRECTION(:1, 15)
2—APPROPRIATE MATURITY(:2-8)—
A.-OLDER Christian MEN(i) & WOMEN(ii)(:2-3)
Installment #1—Pt#s 1-2A— presented 01/15/2023am—‘Trial Sermon’/‘In View Of A Call’— to:
Salem Baptist Church
1618 Salem Rd.
Bennettsville, SC 29512
