Having established the need for qualified elders, Paul now turns to the content of the teaching itself. Sound doctrine must be applied to every station of life — older men, older women, younger women, younger men, and servants. The theological foundation is the grace of God that has already appeared, bringing salvation and training the people of God to live godly lives while looking for the blessed hope.
1 But say the things which fit sound doctrine, 2 that older men should be temperate, sensible, sober minded, sound in faith, in love, and in perseverance, 3 and that older women likewise be reverent in behavior, not slanderers nor enslaved to much wine, teachers of that which is good, 4 that they may train the young wives to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 to be sober minded, chaste, workers at home, kind, being in subjection to their own husbands, that God’s word may not be blasphemed.
6 Likewise, exhort the younger men to be sober minded. 7 In all things show yourself an example of good works. In your teaching, show integrity, seriousness, incorruptibility, 8 and soundness of speech that can’t be condemned, that he who opposes you may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say about us.
9 Exhort servants to be in subjection to their own masters and to be well-pleasing in all things, not contradicting, 10 not stealing, but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God, our Savior, in all things. 11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, 12 instructing us to the intent that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we would live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present age; 13 looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people for his own possession, zealous for good works.
15 Say these things and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one despise you.
Source: ebible.org
Sound doctrine is not abstract. It takes shape in the concrete stations of life. Older men are called to temperance and perseverance. Older women are to teach what is good and train the younger women. Younger men are to be sober-minded, and Titus himself is to be an example. Servants are to adorn the doctrine by faithful service. Every part of the household of God is addressed.
The theological heart of the chapter is the grace of God that has already appeared. That grace brings salvation to all people and trains those who receive it. The training is negative and positive: denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, and living soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age. The people are already being purified. They are already Christ’s own possession. They are already to be zealous for good works. The blessed hope is the appearing of the glory of the great God and Savior — the same appearing the churches of that generation were taught to await.
Titus is to speak these things with all authority. No one is to despise him. The teaching is not optional advice; it is the shape of life under the grace that has appeared.
The grace has appeared. The training is present. The people are already being purified as Christ’s own possession. We live in the present age as those who have already received the salvation that grace brings, looking for the appearing that completed the transition.
How does the fact that grace has already appeared change the way you approach both denial of ungodliness and the pursuit of good works?