Titus - Aged men and women

Aged men and women

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

After Paul spoke of the importance of sound doctrine in a church, he addresses the need of good examples of those who live by the faith. What better example then those who are elderly in the church, having lived their life as examples of God's grace having proved themselves and the faith by experience.

Aged men be sober, vigilant, watchful

1 Th 5:6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

They are to watch out for doctrinal error and be guardians with the Pastor.

1 Pet 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

They have experienced the ways of the devil and live in the way of faith and truth. They know the importance of staying in the word, in prayer and not to foresake the assembling together. The devil likes to pick off the weak and the stragglers.

Be grave, venerated for character, honourable

1 Tim 3:4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;

He lives the life before his family and the church and is respected.

1 Tim 3:8 Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;

Temperate, having self control and discipline

1 Cor 9:25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
1 Cor 9:26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
1 Cor 9:27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

The flesh is under control and it's lusts.

sound in faith,

Titus 1:13 This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;
Titus 1:14 Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.

Not man pleasers, or having itching ears, but they serve God in Spirit and in truth.

in charity

A man of God is to be a loving man.

1 Cor 13:4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
1 Cor 13:5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
1 Cor 13:6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
1 Cor 13:7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

In patience

A patient man walks in God's spirit and knows the word.

Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Eph 4:2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
Eph 4:3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Titus 2:3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;

The aged women likewise, good holy behavior living lives separated unto the Lord, Mary was a holy woman.

Luke 1:42 And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
1 Tim 2:14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.
1 Tim 2:15 Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.

Gal 5:13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
Gal 5:14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Not false accusers

Prov 11:13 A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.

Gal 5:15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.
Gal 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

Phil 4:2 I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.

2 Tim 3:2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
2 Tim 3:3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
2 Tim 3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
2 Tim 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

Not given to much wine

Prov 20:1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

Isa 5:11 Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them!
Isa 5:12 And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe, and wine, are in their feasts: but they regard not the work of the LORD, neither consider the operation of his hands.

teachers of good things

Mat 12:35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.

Phil 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Phil 4:9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

Titus 2:4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,

The older women are to teach the younger women these things:

To be sober, to be of a sound mind, free of alcohol or drugs, not fearful

2 Tim 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

to love their husbands, to love their children. Love for others...

Eph 5:22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
Eph 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even asChrist is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
Eph 5:24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

A servants love of husband and children, not a manipulating love.

Titus 2:5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home. Curbing desires and impulses, keeping herself pure, caring for the home, good hearted and obedient to their own husbands, why? that their example bring not blaspheme to the word of God. It is assumed that both are people of faith. God is a God of order, love and peace. These things should be found in a Christian home.

The church needs godly older men and women to teach and to show how a Christian is to live. They should not be separated from one another, for all will benefit from sharing. We need one another.

Eaglewings New Testament Studies