Titus 2, Teaching with Authority and Integrity

An important part of growing a church is creating a consistent caring community.  Paul emphasizes this while urging Titus to teach truth and sound doctrine.

Titus 2: 1-6, Training believers

You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine.

Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance.

Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.

Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled.

The church should display a certain consistency and maturity among the believers. Both older men and women are to set examples for those who are younger, both in age and in their faith.

Titus 2: 7-10, An example of integrity
In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.

Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.

Titus is to be the ultimate example of maturity and faith.  His teaching is to "show integrity".  It would not be manipulative or self-promoting.

Once again we have instructions to slaves that is not radical, but within the social norms.  The primary goal of the gospel is to change hearts and lives, and so there is no attempt to here to overthrow the first century culture of slavery.

Titus 2: 11-14, Living upright lives in the present age

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope--the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

God's grace should be obvious in our own lives and hearts.  The life of a Jesus-follower includes a certain future expectation of an eternal kingdom.

Titus 2: 15, Teach with authority

These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.

Titus is to be a teacher, speaking with confidence and authority. This emphasis on confidence and authority echoes instructions to Timothy.