Titus 2 - Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

What Our Behaviour Should Be Towards Outsiders In View Of The Fact That We Are Looking For The Lord's Coming (Titus 2:9 to Titus 3:2).

Two main aspects of behaviour towards outsiders are in mind here, both of which are unavoidable to those concerned. The first is the position of a bondservant to his usually non-Christian master, and the second is the position of all towards authority. And both of these are put in juxtaposition to the Lord's coming. Because Christians are not of this world, but are seeking to win this world to Christ, they are to behave in an exemplary way so that no discredit or blame comes on either Christ or the church. They must recognise that in the end it is what they are in Christ that matters, as those who are experiencing the work of the Saviour, not what their earthly status is, which is not of prime importance.

Analysis.

a Exhort servants to be in subjection to their own masters, and to be well-pleasing to them in all things; not gainsaying, not purloining, but showing all good fidelity (Titus 2:9-10 a).

b That they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things (Titus 2:10 b).

c For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us, to the intent that, denying (renouncing) ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly and righteously and godly in this present world (Titus 2:11-12).

d Looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ (Titus 2:13).

c Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify to himself a people for his own possession, zealous of good works (Titus 2:14).

b These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no man despise you (Titus 2:15).

a Put them in mind to be in subjection to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready unto every good work, to speak evil of no man, not to be contentious, to be gentle, showing all meekness toward all men (Titus 3:1-2)

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Note that in ‘a' bondservants are to be in subjection to their masters, to be well pleasing, and not to speak against them, and in the parallel we are to be subject to the authorities who are over us, to be ready for every good work, speaking evil of no one. In ‘b' they are to adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour, and in the parallel Titus is so to speak that he is not despised. In ‘c' God's gracious activity in salvation has appeared in order to transform us, and in the parallel our Saviour Jesus Christ has given Himself for us in order to redeem us and transform us. Centrally in ‘d' is our need to look for our blessed hope, the glorious appearing of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ.

SECTION 2.

God's People Must Live In The World As Those Who Are Looking For His Coming, And As Those Who Have Experienced His Saving Work (Titus 2:9 to Titus 3:11).

Overall Analysis.

a Christian bondservants are to be in proper subjection and are to conduct themselves towards their masters in a way that is well-pleasing (Titus 2:9).

b They must not be speaking against them or appropriating for themselves what is their master's (2:10a).

c For their behaviour is to be such as will adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour (Titus 2:10 b).

d For God is working out His saving purpose so as to(Titus redeem us through the One Who gave Himself for us and, as we turn from sin, make us righteous in life as we look for the blessed hope of the coming of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ (Titus 2:11-14).

e Titus is to speak and exhort and reprove with all authority, not behaving in such a way that men will despise him (Titus 2:15).

f The Cretans are to be put in mind to be in subjection to rulers and authorities and to be obedient to every good work (Titus 3:1).

e The Cretans are to speak evil of none and to be positively gentle and humble towards all (Titus 3:2).

d For when we were sinful God our Saviour revealed His kindness and love towards us, regenerating us not according to our deserts but saving us in accordance with His mercy through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit which He poured out richly through Jesus Christ our Saviour, so that being put in the right by grace we might have hope of eternal life (Titus 3:3-7).

c Their behaviour is to be such as befits those who have believed God (Titus 3:8)

b Titus must shun foolish questions and strifes and fighting (Titus 3:9).

a While promoters of dissension are to be rejected after two admonitions (Titus 3:10-11).

Note that in ‘a' bondservants are to be in subjection and well pleasing, while in the parallel anyone who promote dissension is to be rejected as not well pleasing. In ‘b' The bondservants are not to be argumentative or dishonest, and in the parallel Titus is to shun foolish questions, strife and fighting. In ‘c' their behaviour is to be of such as will adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour, and in the parallel their behaviour must be that of those who believe in God. In ‘d' we have described the great saving activity in the Name of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ, and in the parallel we have described that that great saving activity is through Jesus Christ our Saviour. In ‘e' Titus is to speak good and not let men despise him, and in the parallel the Cretans are not to speak evil of any but to reveal good. In ‘f' we have the central fact that Cretans are to be in subjection to rulers and authorities and to be obedient to every good work

This section then divides into two parts.