The Adornments To Our Doctrine

The Adornments to Our Doctrine—Titus 2:1-10

Need:

Paul instructed Titus to direct the church in the proper adornment of sound Christian doctrine.

Bare Christian doctrine is adorned/embellished by its adherents/follower.

But How is Christian doctrine embellished/adorned by its followers?

5 Adornments suited to Christian doctrine.

ATTENTION:

A tree brought into the home/Chop it down—Separating it from its root, its ability to sustain life/Prop it up in your front window/Add water to the basin underneath it so it will remain green for a short few weeks/What’s the point?—Meaningless!

BUT we adorn it with Christmons & Voi la! it is a standing declaration to the beauty of Christmas & the power of Christ in the world which we ourselves adhere to.

In an ‘adorning’ sense, the seemingly dead, dry, dusty Doctrine(words only) is redeemed by our personal faith lived out in Christ! People read the Gospel which is in us! You may be the only Christ a person ever experiences!

Background:

:1—“But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine:”

“Speak”—lalew—Strong—To talk, i.e. utter words:-- Preach, say, speak (after), talk, tell, utter.

“Proper/Become/Fitting/In accord”(See :3)—prepw—1) To stand out, to be conspicuous, to be eminent; 2) To be becoming, seemly, fit. Strong— To tower up (be conspicuous), i.e. (by implication) To be obvious, To be suitable or proper (third person singular present indicative, often used impersonally, it is fit or right):-- become, comely.

“Sound”(See :2)—ugiainw—Strong—To have sound health, i.e. be well (in body); figuratively, to be uncorrupt (true in doctrine):-- be in health, (be safe &) sound, (be) whole(-some).

“Doctrine”—didaskalia—Teaching, instruction. Strong—Instruction (the function or the information):-- Doctrine, learning, teaching.

The technical aspects of truth are disseminated(preached, declared,written, compiled, made public, etc.) but the practical outworking of that truth is in the lives of people who hold to that truth.

Without the changed lives of people, the Gospel means nothing. You can teach all day long, but if your teaching is impractical, it is useless.

Argumentation:

Js. 2:14, 17,20-23, 26—READ—“What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?”.....“Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”.....“But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, & by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, & it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works, & not by faith only.”.....“For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”

1—Adornments suited to Christian doctrine are...

GODLY OLDER MEN(:2)

Explanation:(:2)

:2—“that the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience;”

“Older men/Aged men”—presbuthv—n. 1) An old man, an aged man; 2) Ambassador. Used 3X. From where we get the adj.—presbuterov—A term of age OR A term of rank or office(elder).

Titus’ “speaking” is intended, in one aspect, to encourage “the older men” among the Christians toward a certain integrity resulting in behavioral changes. To draw their attentions toward certain aspects of lifestyle which are “proper” for their walk & calling in Christ.

“Sober”

“Sober”—nhfaleov—Sober, temperate. Strong—Sober, i.e. (figuratively) circumspect:-- Sober-minded. Used 3X. From a word meaning To be sober, calm & collected in spirit, temperate, dispassionate, circumspect.

Elder men are to exhibit moderation & clear-headedness.

They are to represent themselves in a dignified manner as those inspiring reverence or awe.

“Reverent”

“Reverent/Grave/Dignified/Worthy of respect”—semnov—adj.—1) August, venerable, reverend; 2) To be venerated for character, honorable. That which inspires reverence or awe. Strong—Venerable, i.e. Honorable:-- Grave, honest.

“Temperate”

“Temperate/Sensible/Self-controlled”—swfrwn—adj.—(See :4, 5, 7)—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):-- Discreet, sober, temperate. Used 4X. From —swzw— To save, keep safe & sound, to rescue from danger or destruction &—frhn—1) The midriff or diaphragm, the parts of the heart; 2)The mind—The faculty of perceiving & judging.

The elder Christians are also to be examples of self-control(“Temperance”) or having their minds free of the influences of worldly thinking.

“Sound in faith, in love, in patience;”

“Sound”(See :1)—ugiainw—Strong—To have sound health, i.e. be well (in body); figuratively, to be uncorrupt (true in doctrine):-- be in health, (be safe &) sound, (be) whole(-some).

Elder Christians are to exhibit godly wellness in relation to their “faith” in Christ, their “agape “love,” & in their “patience.”

“Love/Charity”—agaph—Love, i.e. affection or benevolence; specially (plural) a love-feast:-- (feast of) charity([-ably]), dear, love.

“Patience/Perseverance/Endurance”—upomonh—1) Steadfastness, constancy, endurance; 2) A patient, steadfast waiting for; 3) A patient enduring, sustaining, perseverance. The temper which does not easily succumb under suffering. Strong—Cheerful (or hopeful) endurance, constancy:-- Enduring, patience, patient continuance (waiting).