Titus
Chapter 2
Christian Practice in the Community
As for you, teach what is consistent with sound doctrine.
Tell older men to be sober, profound, wise, sound in faith, love, and perseverance.
Likewise, older women should behave as fitting holy women, not given to gossip or wine-drinking, teaching what is good,
so that they may train younger women to love their husbands and children,
to be judicious and pure, to take care of their households, to be kind, and to submit to their husbands, so that the word of God may not be discredited.
Encourage the young men to exercise self-control.
Set them an example through your own conduct. Let your teaching be earnest and genuine,
and your preaching beyond reproach. Then, your opponents will feel ashamed and will have nothing to criticize.
Instruct slaves to be obedient to their masters and to satisfy them in all respects, instead of arguing.
They must not steal from them but be trustworthy. In this way, they will draw everyone to adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.
The Grace of Salvation
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all,
teaching us to reject an irreligious way of life and worldly greed, and living in this life with temperance, justice, and piety in this age,
as we await the blessed hope, the manifestation of the glory of our great God and our Savior, Jesus Christ.
He gave himself for us to redeem us from all evil and to purify a people for himself, eager to do what is good.
Teach these things, encourage others, and reprove with full authority. Let no one look down on you.
Commentaries
Christian Practice in the Community.
Sound doctrine is inherently linked to sound Christian practice. A church leader who is an “example of good conduct” (7) must expect the same standards from his community. There is specific advice tailored for everyone, based on their age and circumstances. Interestingly, the leader interacts mainly with young men and women through elderly women, who must be “teaching what is good” (3). Did some of them serve as catechists? (cf. 1:9). One virtue, however, is essential for all groups: moderation—even among the elderly women. Christianity does not introduce a new morality, but instead reveals the power that enables it and the ultimate goal that gives purpose to “living in this life with temperance, justice, and piety” (12). The author accomplishes this by presenting, through Paul, the first doctrinal synthesis of the letter as the foundation for all his exhortations.
The Grace of Salvation.
God’s grace or favor has been revealed through the incarnation of His Son Jesus for the salvation of all (cf. 1 Tim 2:4) and in his death to “redeem us from all evil” (14; cf. Ps 130:8; 1 Pet 1:18f). The ultimate goal is the “manifestation of the glory of our great God and our Savior Jesus Christ” (13). These two epiphanies or manifestations of God mark the entire scope of salvation, which the Christian community lives out in faith and hope as God’s chosen people. Nonetheless, this manifestation of God’s grace is not meant to be possessed exclusively but to be proclaimed and witnessed to all. This is the duty and main purpose of the Church and the authority of its responsible leaders: “teach these things, encourage others, and reprove with full authority” (15). Only by doing so will the Church serve as a servant of the Word of God and as a sacrament of universal salvation.