NOTES FOLLOW THE VIDEO FOR THE HEARING IMPAIRED.

Titus 2:2-6 NLT

[2] Teach the older men to exercise self-control, to be worthy of respect, and to live wisely. They must have sound faith and be filled with love and patience. [3] Similarly, teach the older women to live in a way that honors God. They must not slander others or be heavy drinkers. Instead, they should teach others what is good. [4] These older women must train the younger women to love their husbands and their children, [5] to live wisely and be pure, to work in their homes, to do good, and to be submissive to their husbands. Then they will not bring shame on the word of God. [6] In the same way, encourage the young men to live wisely.

            Paul now instructs Titus on what to teach to the older and younger men and women in the churches on the island of Crete.  The older men were to be taught to live in such a fashion that their conduct would demonstrate wisdom, self-control, faith in the gospel, patience and love for others. 

            The older women were to abstain from slandering others and from being heavy drinkers.  It’s also interesting that Paul specifically states that older women should train younger women to live with wisdom and good works, to love their husbands, and to submit to the authority in the family that is held by the husband. 

            Titus was to also teach the younger men to live with wisdom, just as the older men were to live.  Paul seems to emphasize that Titus should teach living with wisdom to all ages in the congregations.  There had to be a reason for this emphasis.

            In Lesson 1, Part 4 the inhabitants of Crete were described by one of their own prophets as being less than desirable in their social behavior.  To be called gluttonous, lying, animals by a member of their own people was a serious condemnation about their general way of living.  The modern term “Cretan” is occasionally used to refer to a vulgar, insensitive (sometimes-stupid) person.

            Titus is to counteract this behavior in the new believers by giving them a new standard for their daily life.  He is to instruct them in the gospel, but he is to also instruct them in displaying better social interactions.  Their new lives as followers of Jesus were to be established on Christ’s teachings, which Paul had shared with Titus, and Titus was to share with the congregations on Crete.  Those teachings would show the people how to live in truth, self-control and civility with others.

            We’ll continue with the teachings Titus was to share with the new believers in the next video.