“Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness.” (Titus 2:2 (ESV)
What is the evidence believers in Christ are recipients of strong and faithful doctrinal teaching? The Apostle Paul gave Titus, as he did Timothy (I Timothy 5:1-2), instructions regarding various people groups within the church. These include older men, older women, young women, young men, and slaves. Paul wanted each group to know the values and virtues believers in Christ were to evidence because of the biblical truth of the Gospel of grace alone, through faith alone, in the person and work of Jesus Christ alone.
What were the characteristics the Holy Spirit impressed upon the Apostle Paul to share with his young protégé Titus? Today, we begin with the category of godly older men. These individuals were/are to be “sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness.” What were necessary attributes for godly older men to display in the early first century church are just as necessary in the 21st century church.
Paul described older men (πρεσβύτας; presbytas) as males advanced in biological years. They were to be men who consistently displayed characteristics of maturity. The apostle left little doubt what those characteristics of maturity he had in mind.
Additionally, the phrase are to be (εἶναι; einai) is a present active infinitive state of being verb. More than what older men are to do, the following characteristics are what godly older men are to be in their thinking, speaking and behavior. It is who they are at church, at work and at home. There is to be no inconsistency or situational compartmentalization.
“Older men are the first group addressed, which makes sense because Scripture lays upon men the primary responsibility for servant-leadership at home and in the church (Eph. 5:22–33; 1 Tim. 2:11–15). When the apostle refers to “older” men, he is likely thinking first and foremost of those males who are middle-aged and older, but all believers should certainly pursue the character traits he gives in Titus 2:2,” explains one biblical commentator.
Sober-minded. To be sober-minded (νηφαλίους; nephalious) means to be restrained, self-controlled and orderly (I Tim. 3:2). Such men are to be moderate regarding the use of wine (see Titus 2:3) and in all their tastes and habits (cf. 1 Tim. 3:2, 11).[1]
Dignified. To be dignified (σεμνούς; semnous) is to be honorable, worthy of respect and of good character. “This is a godly man who is venerable, serious, respectable (cf. 1 Tim. 3:5, 8, 11).”[2]
Self-controlled. To be self -controlled (σώφρονας; sophronas) refers to prudence, sensibility, and moderation. It is one who possesses mature judgment and proper restraint (cf. Titus 1:8; 1 Tim. 3:2);
Sound in faith. To be sound in faith(ὑγιαίνοντας πίστει) means to be presently, actively and collectively accurate and healthy in one’s trust in, commitment to, dependence upon and worship of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
Sound in love. To be sound in love (ἀγάπῃ; agape) is to possess a healthy self-sacrificial love of the will. Such love God commanded believers in Christ to possess (I John 4:7-11).
Sound in steadfastness. Finally, to be sound in steadfastness (ὑπομονῇ; hypomene) means to endure.
“This soundness must be shown with respect to the faith, the love, and the endurance. Here the article is perhaps best rendered by the possessive their … their … their. Their faith, in order to be sound, must be neither luke-warm nor mixed with error (cf. Titus 1:14). Their love must not deteriorate into sentimentality nor must it be permitted to wax cold (Matt. 24:12; Rev. 2:4). And their endurance must not be replaced by either faint-heartedness on the one hand or obstinacy on the other.”[3]
“It would be a mistake, however, to believe that such traits can be gained apart from the gospel of God. They are grounded in a sound faith in Him, love for His Word, and steadfastness in the truth (Titus 2:2), through which the Spirit works to produce His fruit in us (Gal. 5:22–23),” explains Dr. R. C. Sproul. .
“Many Christians have observed that one of the chief problems with our culture today is the way in which it glorifies those men who never grow up. Instead of dignity, our society often prizes foolishness, and it is an unwritten rule that “men will be boys.” We must stand strong against this trend, respecting those men who are indeed dignified and self-controlled, and we must also teach our young men to practice such things.”
May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here.
Soli deo Gloria!
[1] William Hendriksen and Simon J. Kistemaker, Exposition of the Pastoral Epistles, vol. 4, New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953–2001), 363.
[2] Ibid., 363.
[3] Ibid., 363.
His Word Today 