Titus 2:1

DeWelt said that "The care of individual members of the church is the subject of Titus 2."[1] Throughout there is a strong emphasis upon the family which is the basic unit of every worthwhile society ever to appear on earth. The five particular classes of individuals mentioned are aged men, aged women, young married women, young men, and slaves. Despite the fact of Paul's emphasis in this chapter being upon correct moral and ethical behavior, there are nevertheless doctrinal declarations of immeasurable significance. Plummer was incorrect in the declaration that sound doctrine "relates almost exclusively to conduct";[2] because it is only in the dogmatic, doctrinal and theological frame of reference that acceptable human behavior is possible. All of the practical admonitions of this chapter are related "to the doctrine of God our Saviour" (Titus 2:10), "the grace of God" (Titus 2:11,12), "the Second Advent of Christ" (Titus 2:13), "the atoning ransom of the blood of Jesus Christ" (Titus 2:14), and the "purification unto himself' (conversion) of the redeemed, Titus 2:14, and also the bond of unity in Jesus Christ of all the faithful who are the Lord's "own possession" (Titus 2:14)! Therefore, the notion that "there is scarcely a hint in the whole chapter" of Christian doctrine must be rejected.

[1] Don DeWelt, Paul's Letter to Timothy and Titus (Joplin: College Press, 1961), p. 154.

[2] Alfred Plummer, One Volume New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House, 1972), in loco.

But speak thou the things which befit the sound doctrine: (Titus 2:1)

"The word rendered thou is emphatic."[3] The Cretans may be liars and some of the believers empty talkers, but Timothy is to teach the sound doctrine. It is "the proper ethical consequences which must ever flow from the Christian truth"[4] which Paul was about to stress, but Titus must never leave off teaching the sound doctrine. Everything depends upon that. "Titus should instruct them in the behavior that accords with belief."[5] Although Titus was addressed directly, "Through him Paul was instructing the whole church of Crete";[6] and even beyond that he was instructing the church of all ages to come.

Sound doctrine... is described as "wholesome" or "healthful"; but perhaps the best definition is "Scriptural, accurate and dependable." As Tasker said:

It is hardly correct to claim as many scholars do, that the writer merely denounces heresy, for in this case he clearly believes that truth is the best antidote for error.[7]

[3] J. Glenn Gould, Beacon Bible Commentary, Vol. IX (Kansas City: Beacon Hill Press, 1969), p. 676.

[4] Ibid.

[5] Alan G. Nute, A New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House, 1969), p. 527.

[6] Wilbur B. Wallis, Wycliffe New Testament Commentary (Chicago: Moody Press, 1971), p. 886.

[7] R. V. G. Tasker, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, The Pastorals (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1957), p. 191.