The Text-Driven Podcast is walking through a new series entitled, "Why You Need a Pastor.” Therefore, every Tuesday, the accompanying article series will provide essential commentary on the various passages handled in each episode through the Book of Titus. This week's passage is Titus 2:1-15 (Episode 179: A Healthy Church Member).
Essentially, the big idea of Titus 2:1-15 is “Say It!”
The Structure
The structure of Titus 2:1-15 has one main idea and then five sub-points. Paul uses an inclusio to give the main idea in verses 1 and 15. In verse 1, Paul says to Titus, "Speak the things…" and in verse 15, he says, "Speak these things." "The things" are what is proper for sound doctrine. λάλει in verses 1 and 15 is the controlling verb. The imperatives of παρακάλει, in verses 6 and 15, and ἔλεγχε, in verse 15, relate to and describe λάλει. The main idea is that Titus, and today’s modern-day pastor, is to "speak the things." An explicit command for one person to "speak" carries with it an implicit command for other people to "listen." Therefore, the principle for healthy church members is that they should listen to the things that the pastor speaks. The use of the phrase "Say It!" has a double meaning or double entendre to communicate both principles. The principle for the pastor is the straightforward exhortation of "Say it," meaning "speak it." The principle for the church member is more subtle in that "Say It!" is a phrase used in "talking back" to a preacher to communicate that what's been said is biblical truth. So, the principle of "Say It!" for the church member means that the church member must desire to hear what the pastor is commanded to preach.
Out of the main idea of verse one, Paul explains more precisely what "the things" are. Paul divides these statements into four groups: older men, women, younger men, and bondservants/workers. It is necessary to remember the forest when observing the trees. In each section, Paul gives specific instructions to each group but instructs Titus to instruct those people. The principle of the instructions to Titus in the modern-day is to pastors. As Titus was to instruct these four groups in first-century Crete, pastors are to instruct these four groups in their 21st-century context.
These four groups are explanatory of "the things" because Πρεσβύτας (older men) and πρεσβύτιδας (older women) are in the accusative case. Since these words are in the accusative case, this means that the verb must be found in a preceding clause. For these clauses, the verb is found in verse 1 and is the imperative λάλει (speak). Verses 1-5 are actually one sentence in the Greek. The combination of older women and young women in the structure is because the instructions to young women proceed from Paul's instructions for the older, or more spiritually mature women, at the end of verse 3 and the beginning of verse 4.
Verse 6 uses a new imperative, παρακάλει (exhort). Grammatically, this could mean that a new controlling verb and new main idea are being introduced, but the repeat of παρακάλει in verse 15 following λάλει seems to communicate that Paul is using these words synonymously. If this new imperative is used to separate the structure of the text into two main ideas instead of one, then the inclusio Paul is using is broken. Therefore, the instructions for the young men still refer back to Paul's command for Titus to "speak the things." Lastly, Δούλους (bondservant) in verse 9 is in the accusative case, deriving its verb from verse 6 in παρακάλει.
After explaining to Titus the instructions to be given to the four groups, Paul's fifth sub-point, starting in verse 11, is an explanation of why these instructions must be given. γαρ is a coordinating conjunction that explains that the necessity of godly living is because "the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men." Verses 12-14 explain what this grace does for those who accept this grace that has appeared to all men.
Paul then finishes his inclusio in verse 15, bringing back the words λάλει and παρακάλει and adding the imperative ἔλεγχε (rebuke). He exhorts Titus to "Say It Again" and to do so with all authority. He further commands Titus to let no one despise him for speaking what he is commanded to speak. The structure of the text, then, is enclosed by verse 15, which is a final command to speak what Paul has commanded to speak.
Similar to Titus 1:5-16, the length of the pericope must be justified given the amount of content found in verses 2-10. There are two reasons why all of Titus 2 should be handled together. First, the inclusio Paul uses is designed to be kept together. To divide the inclusio is to separate what Paul clearly meant to be one unit of thought. Secondly, it is to keep in focus that the instructions found in verses 2-9 are primarily for Titus and pastors to know what they are to teach these four groups. The instructions are not per se directed at each group. The structure then of Titus 2:1-15 is as follows:
Say It!
Say It to the Older Men
Say It to the Women
Say It to the Young Men
Say It to the Workers
Say It for the Lost
Say It Again!
The Spirit
The spirit of the text, which is the tone of the text, is one of simple instruction. Paul, in verses 1 and 15, is giving a charge to Titus and every pastor to "speak the things that are proper to sound doctrine," which comes with a tone of firm resolve and excitement. Paul's tone in verses 11-14 is one of serious reasoning, as Paul relays why all the instructions given in verses 2-9 are necessary and further, because Paul is speaking of a lost world. The bulk of the text is found in verses 2-9, though, and these verses carry the tone of a teacher giving basic instructions to students. The tone is not one of rebuke or correction, but one of preventative instruction.
The Substance
In studying the substance of the text, key phrases will be addressed instead of the entirety of the passage. For a precise explanation of the text, make sure to listen to Episode 179 of the Text-Driven podcast.
Verse 1: "Speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine."
Πρέπει: Another translation is "fitting." The content that is spoken must fit with "sound doctrine."
τῇ ὑγιαινούσῃ διδασκαλίᾳ: Sound doctrine can also be translated as "the healthy teaching." This phrase is a way to speak of all of Scripture. At the time of the writing of Titus, Scripture was the Old Testament and the teaching of the apostles. Paul commands that the things Titus "speaks" are to be "fitting" to "the healthy teaching" of the Old Testament and the teaching of the Apostles. The command, then, is that a sermon should only say the things that a proper, fitting to, aligned with, and derived from Scripture. Anything that is not "fitting" to Scripture should not be spoken.
Verse 5: "Homemaker."
οἰκουργοὺς: This word is a hapax legomenon. This is a compound word of οικος, meaning house, and εργον, meaning work. It pertains to carrying out household responsibilities. The command of Paul is that the older women should teach the younger women to be workers in the home.
Verse 9: "They may adorn the doctrine of God."
κοσμῶσιν: This word means "to embellish with honor." The reason the worker should work hard for his boss is so that his boss would speak highly of the things of God.
Verse 12: "We should live."
ζήσωμεν: This word is in the subjunctive mood. The subjunctive is the mood of possibility. Paul is saying that the grace of God has taught us that we should live "soberly, righteously, and godly," but he is also saying that the grace of God has taught us that we may live "soberly, righteously, and godly." Paul's reason for giving Titus so many things to instruct is that Christians living out those commands demonstrate that people can have a changed life and no longer live under the slavery of sin.
Translation
The following translation is done by Klayton Carson with an attempt at hyper-literalism and exposing the concepts that lie behind each Greek word. For balance, reference NKJV, CSB, ESV, and NASB95.
Titus 2:1-15
1 But you, speak what is fitting to healthy teaching: 2 Older men are to be level-headed, dignified, self-controlled in action, healthy in the faith, healthy in love, healthy in steadfastness, 3 likewise older women reverent in demeanor, not slanderous, not enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, 4 in order that they may instruct in prudence the young women to love their husbands, love their children, 5 be self-controlled in action, pure, being busy at home, good, submitting to their own husbands, so that the word of God may not be defamed. 6 Likewise, exhort the young men to be focused on self-control, 7 concerning all things showing yourself an example of excellent works, in doctrine—soundness, dignity, incorruptibility, 8 sound beyond reproach message, so that the opponent may be put to shame, have nothing to say concerning evil of us. 9 Bondslaves to submit to their own master in everything, being well-pleasing, not backtalking, 10 not stealing, but demonstrating all good faithfulness, so that they may adorn the doctrine of our Savior God in everything. 11 For the grace of God has appeared bringing salvation to all men, 12 educating us, so that, denying the profane, and worldly desires, we may live self-controlled in action, and righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking forward to the blessed expectation and glorious appearance of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave Himself on our behalf, so that He might redeem us from all lawlessness and He may cleanse to himself special people, zealous for good works. 15 Speak these things and exhort and rebuke with all authority; let no one despise you.
Written by Klayton Carson
The "Why You Need a Pastor" series is also on the Text-Driven Podcast. You can listen to the Text-Driven Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or at www.textdriven.org/podcasts. New episodes are released every Monday, just in time for your morning commute.
