You, however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine. Titus 2:2
Paul here does not see teaching as drilling believers until they master information. His focus is on the application of truth to reshape the lifestyle of believers, until lives are in fullest harmony with the doctrines that Christians believe.
An Attractive Gospel; 2:1-10
1 You, however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine. 2 Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance. 3 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. 4 Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, 5 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.
6 Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. 7 In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness 8 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.
9 Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, 10 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.
Paul’s stress on behavior is in part to make the teaching about God our Savior attractive. In a society marked by depraved self-centeredness, Christian character and interpersonal relationships will stand out in bright contrast. What will make the gospel attractive is the beauty of the lives of those who are transformed by it!
The Gospel’s Impact; 2:11-14.
11 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 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.
15 These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.
The Gospel of grace makes salvation available to all men. But it also brings with it the power and obligation to say “No” to ungodliness. God’s people, their hope fixed on Jesus’ appearing, are called to live upright and godly lives. This moral imperative flows from theology. Christ gave himself for the express purpose of ransoming us from our life of wickedness. As his possessions now, we are to be “eager to do good.” Thus “good works” and the beauty of a life committed to goodness, is basic to the life itself! One cannot be “doctrinally orthodox” without a full commitment to a loving lifestyle.
[I should be attractive to others. My lifestyle and what I do should be beautiful to others so that I may take them to Christ who is the source of the beauty I am reflecting.
Attractive people — grandpa, missionaries (Swallon) Bruce Hunt. Monuments]
