Sermon Tone Analysis

TEACHING IS ...

 

Titus 2:1-15

 

 

 

John W. Worley, Ph.D.

Guest Preacher

Lisbon, Portugal

 

April 11, 1997

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

\\ TEACHING IS ...

 

Titus 2:1-15

*1 **But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: *

*2 **That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.

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*3 **The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; *

*4 **That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, *

*5 **To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

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*6 **Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded.

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*7 **In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, *

*8 **Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.

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*9 **Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again; *

*10 **Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.

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*11 **For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, *

*12 **Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; *

*13 **Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; *

*14 **Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

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*15 **These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority.

Let no man despise thee.*

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*1 **But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:*

\\  

*A**Teach what is in accord with sound doctrine**@** Titus 2:1-15.*

* *

 Here as in Timothy */A/**/sound/**/@/* doctrine is healthy doctrine.

God=s truth has a vitality, that is not only healthy itself but that produces health and well being in the believer.

In a way, Christian truth is a wonder drug.

Kept in the laboratory, or the theologian=s dissertation, truth may be fascinating and worthy of study.

But the real value of truth is when it is given to suffering human beings, and then it makes us well.

When Paul said, */A/**/Teach what is in accord with sound doctrine,/**/@/* he put the emphasis on the truth=s application to life.

He did not say, */A/**/Teach sound doctrine,/**/@/* as though truth were to be examined only in the classroom.

He said*, **A**Teach what is /in accord with/ sound doctrine**@* (italics added).

Christian teaching is to emphasize the healthy lifestyle that is produced in believers by God=s health-giving Word.

*2 **That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.

**3 **The aged women likewise, that /they be /in behavior as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; **4 **That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, **5 **/To be /**discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

*

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*6 **Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded.

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*2:6 Titus was to address the young men with one message: **A**Be soberminded!**@**

He was to **A**exhort**@** (encourage, urge) them to this one objective.*

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*/Sophronein /**(**@**soberminded, self-controlled, prudent**@**) is a word often found in this letter to Titus (see 1:8; 2:2,4).

It stresses the need for self mastery./

/*

 

*7** **In all things shewing thyself a **pattern **(5179)of good works: in doctrine /shewing /uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,*

 

* 5179 tupos {too'-pos}*

*from 5180; TDNT 8:246,1193; n m*

\\ *AV - ensample 5, print 2, figure 2, example 2, pattern 2, fashion 1,*

*     manner 1, form 1; 16*

*1) the mark of a stroke or blow, print*

*2) a figure formed by a blow or impression*

*   2a) of a figure or image*

*   2b) of the image of the gods*

*3) form*

*   3a) the teaching which embodies the sum and substance of religion*

*       and represents it to the mind, manner of writing, the contents*

*       and form of a letter*

*4) an example*

*   4a) in the technical sense, the pattern in conformity to which a*

*       thing must be made*

*   4b) in an ethical sense, a dissuasive example, a pattern of warning*

*       4b1) of ruinous events which serve as admonitions or warnings*

*            to others*

*   4c) an example to be imitated*

*       4c1) of men worthy of imitation*

*   4d) in a doctrinal sense*

       *4d1) of a type i.e. a person or thing prefiguring a future*

*            (Messianic) person or thing*

/tupos/ is rather the impress which makes an impress, so that in context the teaching can be described as the mould and norm (Aas the stamp which impresses on man a specific character moulded by it@) which shapes th whole personal conduct of the one who is delivered up to it and has become obedient thereto.

/Tupos/ = Aearthly copy@.

Exodus 25:40 Heavenly origional of the tabernacle is called /tupos/.

*7** **In all things shewing thyself a pattern** **of good works: in doctrine shewing/ /uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,*

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*2:7 Having given instructions regarding young men, Paul now charged Titus (who may be considered a **A**young man**@**) to proclaim the gospel by his life.

The word **A**pattern**@** is /tupos/ (**A**example, model**@**).

Literally it means **A**an impress of a die**.**@**

The same charge was given to Timothy (1 Tim.

4:12).

But here Titus was commanded to be an example of **A**good works**@** (a key term in this epistle).

His life should show what the gospel is an can do.*

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\\ *But his talk was important too.

His **A**doctrine**@** (teaching) was to show **A**uncorruptness**@** (untaintedness, integrity).

This underscores the need for purity of motive.

Titus**=** teaching was to show **A**gravity**@** (seriousness, reverence, dignity).

This points out the need for dignity of manner.

As a teacher, Titus should demonstrate both purity of motive and dignity of manner.*

*8**.

Sound speech, that cannot be condemned that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.*

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*8** **Sound speech, (soundness of speech or wholesome speech)  that cannot be condemned; (censured, reproached) would put his opponents to shame.

If Titus was an example in the words he spoke those who opposed him (**A**he that is of the contrary part**@**) would find nothing they could gainsay.

The final clause of this verse, **@**having no evil thing to say of you**@** carries the idea that Titus was to present no opportunity for his opponents to use an evil report against him.

His **A**sound speech**@** was to be truthful, wholesome, and absolutely irreproachable.

Anything his opponents might say would then be seen as false, fabricated, empty, and evil.*

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* **9 **/Exhort /**servants to be obedient unto their own masters, /and /to please /them /well in all /things/; not answering again; **10 **Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.

**11 **For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, *

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*12 **Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; *

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*A**Teaching**@** here is more than instruction.

The word in the Greek means the whole process of educating a child-instruction, encouragement, and discipline.

The grace of God teaches that Christians should live differently.

First, negatively, they deny or renounce **A**ungodliness**@** (lack of reverence for God, godlessness).

Second, they give up **A**worldly lusts**@** (passions, desires).*

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*Positively, Christians live **A**soberly**@** (self-controlled, prudently), **A**righteously**@** (upright, justly), and **A**godly**@** (reverently).

A triad of relationships may be seen in these adverbs.

A Christian lives right in relation to himself (self-controlled), to others (justly), and to God (reverently).

He does this **A**in the present world**@** (age).*