Qualities to be taught
2
1 Now you, speak the things that suit sound doctrine: 2 older men are to be sober, dignified, prudent, sound in the faith, in love and in endurance; 3 similarly older women are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers nor enslaved to much wine, teachers of what is good 4 —so that they may instruct the young women* to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 to be prudent, pure, good homemakers, subordinating themselves to their own husbands, so that the Word of God not be maligned.
6 Similarly, exhort the young men to be self-controlled,† 7 in all things presenting yourself as an example of good works:‡ showing integrity, dignity and incorruptibility§ in your teaching 8 —healthy speech, beyond reproach—so that the opponent may be put to shame, having nothing slighting to say about us.* 9 Exhort slaves to subordinate themselves to their own owners, to be well pleasing in all things, not talking back, 10 not pilfering† but showing total trustworthiness, so as to adorn the doctrine of our Savior God in everything.‡
Saving grace
11 For the saving grace of God has appeared for all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live prudently, righteously and godly in this present age,§ 13 looking for the blessed hope,* even the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave Himself for us, so that He might redeem us from all lawlessness† and purify for Himself a special people, zealous for good works.‡
15 Speak these things, whether you exhort or reprove, with all authority. Let no one disdain you.§
* 2:4 Note that the young women are to be instructed by older women, who can do a much better job on that particular front than can male pastors. † 2:6 Curiously the young men get only one requirement—self-control. ‡ 2:7 Again, if we are going to represent God in an official capacity, we need to be clean. § 2:7 Some 17% of the Greek manuscripts omit “incorruptibility” (as in NIV, NASB, LB, TEV, etc.). * 2:8 A significant minority of the Greek manuscripts (20%) have ‘you’ (as in AV and NKJV), but the majority (including the best line of transmission) has “us”. Since Titus' message and authority derive from Paul, it is properly first person. † 2:10 A slave could doubtless find opportunity to pilfer, and could convince himself that he was justified in so doing. An observant owner could figure out who did and who didn't. ‡ 2:10 Notice that Paul does not incite slaves to revolt or rebellion. Perhaps it is especially in adverse circumstances that we can “adorn” the doctrine of God. § 2:12 God's saving grace has been made available for everyone, but most people have not heard of it. If they are to hear, we must live godly lives. * 2:13 If we are to live “looking”, then we regard it as something that could happen in our lifetime (otherwise there is no point in ‘looking’). † 2:14 Since any ‘law’ that God promulgates derives from His character, I take the point here to be that God wants to deliver us from anything and everything that is not in conformity to His character. ‡ 2:14 There is repeated emphasis on doing what is good, not just professing correct doctrine. § 2:15 The problem here could be his youth, but as Paul's delegate he represents apostolic authority.