Titus 2:6-8

v The spiritual wardrobe for younger men, 1:6.  Younger men were to be:

·        Sober-minded.  This instruction is common to all (cf. 1:8; 2:2,5,12).  Again, it is to be in one’s right mind, having self-control or the curbing of one’s desires and impulses.  This is critical in Crete but let’s be honest: every society encourages us to push our limits.  We are told not to settle for yesterday’s experience today but to seek new ways to satisfy our urges.  The stereotype of young men is that they are wild and crazy.  They are expected to sow their wild oats.  Thus the emphasis on this trait makes a lot of sense for young men.

This might seem strange, having only one word for young men.  But Paul goes on to instruct Titus who is also a young man.  Perhaps Paul meant for Titus to set a pattern for the young men that were drawn to him in the fellowship.

v The spiritual wardrobe for Titus, 1:7-8.  Titus was to be:

·        A type (pattern) of good works.  This is a general statement about example but the emphasis on good works certainly was important for the young men.  In our youth we often consider it a time when we need not be making important contributions in life.  We wait our time.  But that should not be the case in the Body of Christ.

·        Showing integrity, reverence and incorruptibility in his teaching.  We put these together because there are manuscript differences.  However each term is vital so we will consider each.  Notice how important is his teaching.  Titus is a prophet (saying what God has said), a watchman who warns the people, a steward passing on to the family of God what Christ has given him, and a shepherd who leads and protects the flock.  He does all this with his teaching ministry.  It is critical that he maintain …

·        Integrity.  His arguments and reasonings, his explanations, his conclusions must be true, not corrupted.  The word of God is life to those who trust and obey; the one who declares that word will lead people away from that life if his teaching is not sound.  He must keep back nothing that is helpful (Acts 20:20); he must teach the whole council of God (Acts 20:26-27).

·        Reverence.  For the third time in Titus 2 the NKJV uses this word but each is different.  The idea here is that in teaching Titus must be serious.  The word of God is life and death for those who hear; it is not entertainment.  I remember as a child attending a service at a campground in the Sierra Mountains of California.  The visiting preacher was a crackup, telling one funny story after another.  As our family left I mentioned how funny he was to my father who responded that the man had nothing to say.  Even as a teenager I knew dad was right.  He entertained us; he did not teach us.  Stories can have their place as they did in Jesus’ ministry; but we cannot waste our time on that which does not build up the Body of Christ.