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¹¹ “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, ¹² training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,” (Titus 2:11-12 ESV).

“Knowing who God is (Theology Proper) includes right attitudes toward God and doing what He wants (piety/godliness).” Dr. Joel Beeke

Saving faith in the truth of the Gospel results in godliness. This is true for each believer in Christ. There are no exceptions (James 2:14-26). Godliness (εὐσέβεια; eusebeia) is the devout practice and appropriate beliefs of God. It is practical and practiced righteousness (Acts 3:12; 1 Tim. 2:2; 3:16; 4:7, 8; 6:3, 5, 6, 11; 2 Tim. 3:5; Titus 1:1; 2 Peter 1:3, 6, 7; 3:11). It is a dominant doctrine in the Pastoral Epistles (I & 2 Timothy; Titus).

The Apostle Paul stated at the beginning of his letter to Titus that salvation by grace alone, through faith alone in the person and work of Jesus Christ alone resulted in godliness (Titus 1:1). Those who profess to know Christ, but who live biblically disobedient lives, deny their profession by their works. Paul stated that these individuals are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for any good work (Titus 1:16).

Godliness is a right attitude towards God resulting in right conduct; towards God and other individuals. It is right belief coupled with right action. However, the right action springs from right devotion (2 Tim. 3:5; 2 Peter 1:3) and not the opposite. “Godliness is the standard by which teaching is tested,” explains J. Clement Connell of London Bible College.

Godliness is synonymous with piety. Piety has become a pejorative or uncomplimentary word today. The perception is of excessive religion, self-righteousness, and/or a holier-than-thou attitude towards other people. E.g. Saturday Night Live’s Church Lady.

Biblical piety involves a fear or reverence of the LORD. It includes a conscientiousness regrading one’s duty to God and family.

“The sixteenth century Reformers, mot notably John Calvin, would be shocked to see how poorly piety (godliness) is regarded today. For Calvin, piety involves developing right attitudes to God. It flows out of theology and includes heartfelt worship, saving faith, filial fear, prayerful submission, and reverential love,” explains Dr. Joel Beeke.

“The whole life of Christians ought to be a sort of practice of godliness,” states John Calvin.

The godly individual is described in Psalm 1. It is a wisdom psalm that is an introduction for the rest of the psalter.

1” Blessed is the man
    who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
    nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
    and on his law he meditates day and night.

3 He is like a tree
    planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
    and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.
4 The wicked are not so,
    but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
    nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
6 for the Lord knows the way of the righteous,
    but the way of the wicked will perish.”

We will examine Titus 2:11-12 in our next blog. Until then, mediate upon the subject of godliness and the content of Psalm 1. Have a blessed day in the Lord.

Soli deo Gloria!

⁹ “Bondservants are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, ¹⁰ not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.” (Titus 2:9–10 (ESV)

The church is to be engaged in multi-generational life. While there may be particular emphasis placed on certain age group ministries in any given week, the church must not exclude any age group from any other. All generations in the church must be involved with each other. Examples include men and women’s ministries, AWANA, youth groups, Sunday school and Adult Bible Fellowships.

The Apostle Paul focused on healthy church behavior involving typical people groups in the church. He gave special attention to age and gender. We studied the importance of older men, older women, younger women, younger men and godly pastors. Today we focus on those who work.

The Apostle Paul used the term bondservants (δοῦλος; doulos) meaning slaves. These are individuals who subservient to and controlled by masters ((Mt 8:9; Mk 10:44; John 8:34; 15:15; Rom.  6:20; 1 Cor. 7:21; Gal.3:28; Eph. 6:5; 1Tim. 6:1; Phm. 16). Paul referred to all kinds of slaves in today’s text.  

 “Although masters legally held absolute authority over household slaves, in most cases household slaves held freedoms that field or mine slaves did not, and they had more adequate provision than most peasants. In the popular stereotype entertained by their owners, slaves were lazy, apt to argue with their masters and liable to steal when they could. The stereotype was sometimes true, especially where the work incentive was least, but Paul urges Christian slaves not to reinforce the stereotype. Minority religions were already viewed as subversive, and to counter this prejudice Christians had to work especially hard to avoid the normal causes of slander,” explains commentator Craig S. Keener.

How were Christian slaves to avoid these slanderous stereotypes? Paul provided Titus with some answers.

First, slaves were to be submissive to their masters in everything. This did not mean that Christian slaves were to disobey God’s Word. In that case, they were to obey God rather than man (Acts 4:1-9; 5:1-29). However, as long as their earthly masters did not order them to do something compromising to their faith in Christ, Christian slaves were to obey. This applies to believing employees and employers today (Eph. 6:5-9).

Second, they are to be well-pleasing and not argumentative. Well pleasing (εὐάρεστος; euarestos) means to be acceptable ((Rom. 12:1, 2; 14:18; 2 Cor. 5:9; Eph. 5:10; Php. 4:18; Col. 3:20; Titus 2:9; Heb. 13:21). This means to do the job as trained. Not argumentative (ἀντιλέγω; antilego) means to not talk-back, to speak against, and to not be difficult to work with. How many Christian’s testimonies have been tainted by their tendency to be disrespectful of their boss and to not do their job correctly?

Third, Christian slaves are not to pilfer. Pilfering (νοσφίζω; nosphizo) means to steal. It means to personally misappropriate company funds for oneself. Perhaps, this could even be applied to stealing time by not giving an hour’s work for an hour’s pay.

Fourth, they are to show all good faith. This means that the Christian slave’s trust in, dependence upon, commitment to and worship of Jesus Christ is to impact their daily work ethic. There is to be no distinction between one’s worship of Christ and one’s work representing Christ.

The goal of this ethic for Christian slaves and employees is that in everything they (slaves) may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior. To adorn (κοσμέω; kosmeo) means to presently and actively present Christ as beautiful and pleasing. As an individual uses cosmetics to appear pleasing to the eye, so also our work should be pleasing to the eye of our masters and employers.

“A Christian slave is in fact serving, not his earthly master, but the Lord Christ who will vindicate him in the end (Col. 3:23–24). In the meantime he must avoid giving offense, and must concentrate on following Christ’s example in every way (cf. 1 Peter 2:18–25). In this way his life will prove to be an adornment to the teaching about God our Savior. Thus Paul drove home again what had been the theme of this entire section (Titus 2:1–10): a believer’s behavior is to be in accord with or befitting sound doctrine,” states commentator A. Duane Litfin.

May we glorify God in our behavior; whether we are older men, older women, younger women, younger men, pastors, or workers. Have a blessed day in the Lord.

Soli deo Gloria!

⁷ “Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, ⁸ and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us,” (Titus 2:7-8 ESV).

The church is to be engaged in multi-generational life. While there may be particular emphasis placed on certain age group ministries in any given week, the church must not exclude any age group from any other. All generations in the church must be involved with each other. Examples include men and women’s ministries, AWANA, youth groups, Sunday school and Adult Bible Fellowships.

The Apostle Paul focused on healthy church behavior involving typical people groups in the church. He gave special attention to age and gender. We studied the importance of older men, older women, younger women and younger men. Today, we examine the importance of godly pastors.

The Apostle Paul directed his attention to Titus in today’s text. Titus had responsibilities in the church. The phrase show yourself (παρεχόμενος; parechomenos/ σεαυτὸν; seauton) means to presently and personally offer and display something. This behavior was to be in all respects (πᾶς; pas) or in all things. Titus was to be a model (τύπον; typon) or an example before the church.

“Titus had a special obligation to exemplify the moral and spiritual qualities about which he was to admonish others (1 Cor. 4:16; 11:1; Phil. 3:17; 2 Thess. 3:8–9; 1 Tim. 4:12; Heb. 13:7),” explains Dr. John MacArthur. .

All congregations have spoken, and unspoken expectations, of their pastors. Most of these expectancies are biblical. Some of them are not. Often, the pastor discovers that he has unknowingly failed to meet certain expectations that went beyond his explicit job description. The failure to meet these ‘tacit norms” may result in his suspension and even termination.

What biblical aspirations should a pastor, and congregation, expect to be fulfilled? Paul provided a list.

First, a pastor is to be model of good works (καλός kalos/ ἔργον; ergon).  He is to perform honorable labor.

Second, in his teaching he is to show integrity. The pastor’s doctrine (διδασκαλία; didaskalia) is to avoid corruption (ἀφθορία; aphthoria). It is be sound, incorruptible and untainted by anything false (ἀφθαρσία; aphtharsia). It is to be sincere.

Third, he is to possess dignity (σεμνότητα; semnotēta). He is to display dignified behavior. This refers to gracious and respectable actions.

Fourth, a pastor must have sound speech (λόγος; logos/ ὑγιής; hygiēs). He has nothing evil to say in his daily conversations (Eph. 4:31; Col. 3:16–17; 4:6). This is so that he will not be condemned (ἀκατάγνωστος; akatagnōstos) or rebuked for anything he says.

Sound speech will also put a pastor’s opponents to shame (ἐντρέπω; entrepō). They will be embarrassed in any accusations they make against a pastor because they are proven groundless.

Even if a pastor embodies these qualities, people will still lie about him and accuse him of sin and wrongdoing. Tragic but true. In those circumstances, the pastor must remain resolute to do what is right and in keeping with God’s call to ministry and godliness. He must trust that Lord to handle the situation (Rom. 12:14-21).

Pray that you will be an encouragement to your pastor. Pray that your pastor will take seriously these biblical expectations for life and ministry. Have a blessed day in the Lord.

Soli deo Gloria!

^“Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled,” (Titus 2:6 ESV).

The church is to be engaged in multi-generational life. While there may be particular emphasis placed on certain age group ministries in any given week, the church must not exclude any age group from any other. All generations in the church must be involved with each other. Examples include men and women’s ministries, AWANA, youth groups, Sunday school and Adult Bible Fellowships.

The Apostle Paul focused on healthy church behavior involving typical people groups in the church. He gave special attention to age and gender. We studied the importance of older men, older women, and younger women. Today, we examine the importance of younger men.

The phrase younger men refer to those who are twelve and older in age. Paul instructed Titus that those in this category should fulfill their God-given expectations.

The Scriptures has much to say about young men. Here is a sampling.

1 Timothy 4:12 – “Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe.”

Proverbs 7:1- “My son, keep my words and treasure my commandments within you.”

Psalm 119:9 – “How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word.”

2 Timothy 2:22 – “Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.”

The Apostle Paul wanted Titus to have an active ministry to younger men. He instructed him to urge (παρακάλει; parakalei) younger men to be something. The word urge is a present, active imperative verb. Titus was to command these men to be self-controlled.

Self-control (σωφρονεῖν; sōphronein) means to be sober-minded or seriously minded. This is a present, active infinitive verb. This discipline of character is to a consistent part of the young man’s life.

Of all the things the Apostle Paul could have said to Titus about younger men, he emphasized their need for self-control. Why?

“Self-mastery in the Christian sense has an element of humility lacking in the Greek moralists. It (self-control) is, in fact, an essentially religious conception in the New Testament,” explains commentator Donald Guthrie.

“Young men receive only one word of exhortation: “Encourage the young men to be self-controlled” (v 6). But that does cover the temptations young men face! Lust, ambition, impatience—all require a response of self-control,” states commentator Tim Chester.

Pray for the young men in your family and church family. Pray that they would be men of self-control in a culture which encourages wild abandon. Have a blessed day in the Lord.

Soli deo Gloria!

⁴ “… and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, ⁵ to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.” (Titus 2:4-5 ESV)

The church is to be engaged in multi-generational life. While there may be particular emphasis placed on certain age group ministries in any given week, the church must not exclude any age group from any other. All generations in the church must be involved with each other. Examples include men and women’s ministries, AWANA, youth groups, Sunday school and Adult Bible Fellowships.

The Apostle Paul focused on healthy church behavior involving typical people groups in the church. He gave special attention to age and gender. We studied the importance of older men and women. Today, we examine the importance of younger women.

The phrase younger women refer to those who are under sixty years of age. Paul instructed Titus that those in this category should fulfill their God-given expectations.

The older women would be humble advisors to the young. They are to train ((σωφρονίζωσι; sōphronizōsi) those who are younger. This means to give instruction in wise behavior and good judgment. What instruction is recommended?

First, young women are to love their husbands and children. This is to be a kind and friendly love. It is a maternal love for one’s family.

Second, they are to self-controlled (σώφρονας; sōphronas). This is also expected of older men (2:2). This means to be self-restrained and discreet.

Third, young women are to be pure (ἁγνάς; hagnas). This refers to moral and ethical behavior.

Fourth, they are to be workers at home (οἰκουρούς; oikourous). They are to be the guardians of the house ((Prov. 7:11; 31:10-31; 1 Tim. 5:13).

Fifth, young women are to be kind (ἀγαθάς; agathas) This means to be good and beneficent (Matt. 20:15; Rom. 5:7; 1 Peter 2:18). They are not to be rude, impolite and stingy, but thrifty as housewives.

Sixth, they are to be kind and submissive to their own husbands. This means to be responsible to and for their husbands welfare.

All of these character traits are so the Word of God will not be reviled (βλασφημῆται blasphēmētai). The Gospel is to be preeminent in our lives.

“This is the purpose of godly conduct—to eliminate any reproach on Scripture. For a person to be convinced God can save from sin, one needs to see someone who lives a holy life. When Christians claim to believe God’s word but do not obey it, the word is dishonored. Many have mocked God and his truth because of the sinful behavior of those who claim to be Christians (Matt. 5:16; 1 Peter 2:9),” explains Dr. John MacArthur.

Pray not only that the older women in your church will help train the younger women, but also that the younger women would be receptive to such training. Have a blessed day in the Lord.

Soli deo Gloria!

“Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good.” (Titus 2:3 ESV).

The church is to be engaged in multi-generational life. While there may be particular emphasis placed on certain age group ministries in any given week, the church must not exclude any age group from any other. All generations in the church must be involved with each other. Examples include men and women’s ministries, AWANA, youth groups, Sunday school and Adult Bible Fellowships.

The Apostle Paul focused on healthy church behavior involving the typical people groups in the church. He gave special attention to age and gender. We studied the importance of older men. Today, we examine the importance of older women.

Like older men, older women (Πρεσβύτιδας; Presbytidas) were likely women over sixty years of age.  There is no mention of whether they were single, married, divorced or widowed. What Paul does refer to is their character.

First, older women are to be reverent in behavior. Behavior (καταστήματι; katastēmati) is an individual’s deportment or manner of living. Paul said that an elderly woman’s manner of living is to be reverent (ἱεροπρεπεῖς; hieroprepeis). It is to be holy or sacred.

My wife and I lived in two elderly women’s homes when we were first married. Respectively, we lived in the basement apartments of our pastor’s grandmother, and then his mother. In exchange for the living accommodations, we helped out around the house. In both situations, we encountered two women who were reverent in their behavior; towards God and other people.

Second, Paul stated that older women are not to be slanderers (διαβόλους; diabolous). They are not to be false accusers Our English word diabolical comes from this Greek word. It means to be disgraceful or unpleasant. It means to be like the Devil. Colossians 4:6 says, “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.”

Third, they are not to be slaves to much wine. This was the besetting sin of the Cretans (Titus 1:12). Literally, it means to be “enslaved to much wine.” Addiction to alcohol is slavery (Rom. 6:16; 2 Peter 2:19).

Fourth, older women are to teach what is good (καλοδιδασκάλους; kalodidaskalous). This teaching is to be done by precept and example.

Susan Hunt is former director of women’s ministries for the Presbyterian Church in America. She is author of many books, including Spiritual Mothering and coauthor of Women’s Ministry in the Local Church. She provides some insightful thoughts concerning today’s text.

“The gospel mandate in Titus 2:3–5 captivated my heart and imagination thirty years ago. Now, at age seventy-seven, I still wonder—have I become a Titus 2 woman yet? My inclination is to answer by evaluating my performance. Invariably, this leads to despair or arrogance depending on the numbers. Then the Spirit renews my mind as I read God’s Word. He shows me markers to help me think biblically.  The imperative for older women to disciple younger women is given to the leaders of the church. This ministry is to take place in the context of church life and under the oversight of church leadership.”

Thank God for the older women in your life who provide examples of reverent behavior. Pray for them as they seek to impact the younger women in your church.

Have a blessed day in the Lord.

Soli deo Gloria!

“Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness.” (Titus 2:2 (ESV)

The church of Jesus Christ is to be engaged in multi-generational life. While there may be particular emphasis placed on certain age group ministries in any given week, the church must not exclude any age group from any other. All generations in the church must be involved with each other.

At my church in Fort Wayne, IN, one woman recently wrote, in the church newsletter, about its women’s ministry. “I love the cross-generational interaction between women, and I also love that we are so intently focused on spiritual growth! I grew in my relationship with the Lord and with my relationship with other women in our church.”

This is exciting to hear. This is what the Apostle Paul taught Titus about how the churches in Crete should inter-relationally function. He distinguished six people categories in the church. Today’s topic is older men.

Older Men (Πρεσβύτης (presbytes) refers to elderly men (Luke 1:18; Titus 2:2; Phm. 9). These are men who are older than younger men. It does not mean they are infirm or incapacitated. Rather, they have lived relatively longer lives than younger men.

What are older men to be known and respected for? What are to be their qualities?

First, older men are to be sober-minded (Νηφάλιος (nephalios). This means to be temperate and restrained.

Second, they are to be dignified (Σεμνός (semnos). This means to be worthy of respect and of good character.

Third, older men are to self-controlled (Σώφρων (sophron). This refers to prudence, moderation, good sensibility, and discretion.

Fourth, they are to be sound in faith (ὑγιαίνω πίστις (hygiaino pistis). This phrase is a present active particle. Older men are to be continually healthy in their faith. This is their trust in, commitment to, dependence upon, and worship of Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.  

Fifth, older men are to be sound in love (ἀγάπη (agape). They are to be continually healthy in displaying self-sacrificial love of the will. This is loving concern for fellow believers in Christ as well as for the unconverted.

Sixth, they are to be sound in steadfastness (ὑπομονή (hypmone). This refers to patient perseverance in trials ((Luke 8:15; 21:19; Rom. 2:7; 5:3; 8:25; 15:4; 2 Cor. 6:4; 1 Tim. 6:11; 2Ti 3:10; Heb. 12:1; James 1:3; 5:11; 2 Peter 1:6; Rev. 2:2, 19; Gal. 5:23).

“Paul used this term (older men) for himself (Philemon 9) when he was over 60. It refers to those of advanced age, using a different term from the one translated “elders” in Titus 1:5. To be dignified is not limited to reverence for God, which is assumed, but also refers to being honorable. They are to be sensible and spiritually healthy,” explains Dr. John MacArthur.

“As a young man, Caleb was one of the twelve spies Moses sent into the land of Canaan. He and Joshua were the only ones who were confident that God could give the Israelites victory, despite the giants in the land—but the others disagreed and Israel did not enter the Promised Land (Numbers 13-14). But the story of Caleb does not end there. Forty-five years later, with Israel now invading Canaan, Caleb is still just as enthusiastic and just as confident in God—even though he is now 85 years old (Joshua 14:6-15). He still wants to be in the middle of the action. He has not retired from serving God,” states commentator Tim Chester.

Remember, for older men to be respected they need to be worthy of respect. If they seek to demand respect they will never receive respect.

Pray for the older men in your church. You may be one of them. Pray that all in this category embody the biblical qualities set forth in today’s text.

Soli deo Gloria!

“But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine.” (Titus 2:1 (ESV)

“In Ephesians 4, the Apostle Paul is preeminently concerned with the unity of the body of Christ––how they function as one unit, how they strive for one mission, how they reach one goal. From the beginning of chapter 4, Paul takes up the task of identifying this “one body” (Ephesians 4:4). He identifies them as those who: (1) Walk worthy of their calling (Ephesians 4:1); (2) Bear with one another in love (Ephesians 4:2); (3) Maintain a unity of the Spirit (Ephesians 4:3); (4) Maintain a bond of peace (Ephesians 4:3); (5) Equip others for the work of ministry (Ephesians 4:12); (6) Build up the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:12); (7) Attain to the unity of the faith (Ephesians 4:13); (8) Speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15),” explains Bible teacher Dustin Benge.

“These glorious features of the body of Christ should be the identifying characteristics of all mature believers. Mature believers are essential in achieving the purpose and fulfilling the call to which the church has been called. How do we produce mature believers? Sound doctrine,” Benge continues.

“In an age when doctrine is chided and dismissed as arcane, Paul reminds us that biblical sound doctrine is the golden chain through which all the above facets are linked. Without sound doctrine, the chain falls apart and is good for nothing. We could put it another way––without sound doctrine, the church falls apart,” Benge concludes.

The Apostle Paul understood that the lifeblood of the church of Jesus Christ is sound doctrine (I Tim. 1:10; 6:3; 2 Tim. 1:13; 4:3). Today’s church culture stresses deeds over creeds. In other words, the emphasis is on the believer’s behavior and fellowship. The phrase “Be the Gospel” is often used. However, this emphasis on lifestyle instead of biblical doctrine, which is intended to guide the believer’s lifestyle, has become the church’s doctrine.

This is why Paul utilized the phrase sound doctrine. Sound (ὑγιαίνω; hygiaino) is a present active participle. It means healthy, correct and accurate. We derive our English word hygiene from this word. Paul previously used this word in Titus 1:13. Doctrine (διδασκαλία; didaskalia) means teaching and instruction.

Paul commanded Titus to teach sound doctrine. To teach (λαλέω; laleo) is a present active imperative verb. It is a command to be continually obeyed. It means to speak, talk, and to tell. What is to be spoken, talked about, and told in the church? Sound doctrine.

God called Titus to teach what accords with sound doctrine. The phrase what accords (πρέπω; prepo) means what is fitting and proper. It is a present active verb. Proper sound doctrine is to be taught all the time. No exceptions!

“Sound means “healthy”—Paul uses this word nine times in the Pastoral Epistles (five times in Titus), always in the sense that the truth produces spiritual well-being. The things Paul mentions in Titus 2:2-10 pertain to truths, attitudes, and actions that correspond to and are based on biblical truth. In order not only to please God, but also to have an effective witness to unbelievers, God’s people must know the truth that leads to spiritual health,” explains Dr. John MacArthur.

Pray for your pastor, and teachers in your local church, that all are committed to teach sound doctrine. Have a blessed day in the Lord.

The His Word Today Podcast for Sunday, October 2 examines Ephesians 1:5-6.

Soli deo Gloria!

¹⁵ “To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. ¹⁶ They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.” (Titus 1:15–16 (ESV)

The Apostle Paul initially instructed Titus about the character of godly elders (Titus 1:5-9). He then expounded on the characteristics of ungodly false teachers (Titus 1:10-14). Today’s text continues with this examination.

False teachers lack purity. To be pure (καθαρός; katharos) means to be “acceptable to God’ or ‘good in God’s eyes’ or ‘good as God thinks’.” Purity belongs to those  who are pure by grace alone, through faith alone in the person and work of Jesus Christ alone (Matt 5:8). They understand life and God through the insight of faith. All of life is perceived in how God thinks.

1 Corinthians 2:14–16 (ESV) says, “¹⁴ The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. ¹⁵ The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. ¹⁶ “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.”  

However for the defiled and unbelieving, no part of life is understood by thinking as God thinks and wanting what God says is acceptable. To be defiled (μιαίνω; miaino) is to be morally filthy or unclean. It is the opposite of purity. This is the spiritual condition of the unbelieving (ἄπιστος; apistos). The unbelieving do not trust in, commit to, depend upon or worship the Lord Jesus Christ.

The defilement of the unbelieving extends to their minds. The word mind (νοῦς; nous) is a way of thinking, a disposition and manner of thought. “It is the facility of understanding, reasoning and deciding (Rom. 7:25; 1 Cor. 14:14),” explains theologian James Swanson in the Dictionary of Biblical Languages.

The defilement of the unbelieving also involves their conscience (συνείδησις; syneidesis). The conscience is an individual’s God given moral sensitivity which distinguishes right from wrong.

In the historical context of today’s text, the perception of right and wrong, distinguishing the godly from the ungodly, extended to what food believers in Christ should eat and drink.

“With Paul’s reference to “the commands of people who turn away from the truth” (Titus 1:14), it becomes clear that whatever the exact nature of the false teaching Titus confronted on Crete, it involved the imposition of manmade laws upon the people. Again we have to infer as best we can from the epistle what these commandments were, but the apostle’s description of things impure in today’s passage means the false teachers likely emphasized some idea of ritual purity, viewing ceremonial cleanliness as the heart of the gospel. If these teachers were like those whom Timothy faced in Ephesus, these purity laws probably included abstention from marriage and certain foods (1 Tim. 4:3), with only the latter having any kind of basis in the Old Testament,” explains Dr. R. C. Sproul.

“By His work, Jesus made all foods clean (Mark 7:1–23), and every person who has had his conscience purified through faith in Christ and the renewal of the Holy Spirit comes to learn that all things are pure (Titus 1:15) and that nothing God has created “is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer” (1 Tim. 4:4–5). Ritual purity is no longer a concern for those in Christ Jesus, for the kingdom of God has been inaugurated, and this kingdom “is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Rom. 14:17),” continues Dr. Sproul.

“In the freedom that Jesus has brought, individuals may choose which foods to eat and which days to celebrate, but they are never allowed to impose their personal choices regarding things “indifferent” on other people (vv. 1–12). Those who would bind the consciences of others where God has left them free reflect a deficient understanding of the gospel at best and at worst a conscience that has not been regenerated to see the true nature of God’s kingdom and its ethics. And those whose hearts remain impure shall by no means ever enjoy the blessed vision of our Creator (Matt. 5:8),” concludes Dr. Sproul.

Have you known such impure and defiled individuals in the church who strive to restrict a believer’s liberty in Christ? They are legalists. They focus on disputable   matters because they are likely unconverted and unrepentant. Believers in Christ must guard their hearts from such morally defiled teachers (Prov. 4:20-27).

Soli deo Gloria!

¹⁵ “To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. ¹⁶ They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.” (Titus 1:15–16 (ESV)

The Apostle Paul initially instructed Titus about the character of godly elders (Titus 1:5-9). He then expounded on the characteristics of ungodly false teachers (Titus 1:10-14). Today’s text continues with this examination.

False teachers profess to know God. The word profess (ὁμολογέω; homologeo) means to declare, admit and assert. False believers in Christ maintain they know Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord (Matt. 7:23; 14:7; John 1:20; Acts 7:17; 24:14; Titus 1:16).

However, their behavior belies their declaration. They deny Christ by their works. The Scriptures teach their behavior is inconsistent with a godly life. It indicates that their faith in Christ is suspect (Matt. 7:16-20; James 2:14-16; I John 3:17).

Additionally, false teachers are detestable, disobedient and unfit. More than what they do, the following three adjectives describe what they are by nature (Eph. 2:1-3). The words describe a continual and active disposition and behavior.

To be detestable (βδελυκτός; bdelyktos) means to be abhorrent and abominable. “In some languages ‘detestable’ may be rendered as ‘thought to be extremely bad’ or even ‘that which should never even be seen,” explains one commentator.

False believers are also disobedient (ἀπειθής; apeithes). This literally means to go beyond the bounds of biblical instruction. They do not obey God and His Word.

Finally, they are unfit for any good work. Unfit (ἀδόκιμος; adokimos) is to be worthless, valueless and disqualified. Consequently, whatever good or generous work they do in the church God evaluates as the same.

“The apostle’s teaching points out the irony inherent in the position of the false teachers. Of all people, first-century Jews prided themselves in their knowledge of the one, true creator God. Whether or not the legalists were of Jewish descent, they certainly allied themselves with certain Jewish traditions. Their arguments implied that the Christians who did not follow their particular code of ethics, in addition to believing in the Messiah, lacked a saving relationship with the covenant Lord of Israel (vv. 10–15). Yet the false teachers’ own works proved otherwise, for they were not the good works of love for God and neighbor that demonstrate one’s salvation (Titus 2:7–8; 3:8; Matt. 22:34–40),” explains Dr. R. C. Sproul.

Let us make every effort in encouraging believers in Christ to confirm their calling and election in Christ (2 Peter 1:3-11). Have a blessed day in the Lord.

Soli deo Gloria!