Titus 2 the new you

Titus and the "New Doctrine"
Ever wander why Paul condems the Jews for having to many rules for the people to follow only to turn around and come up with a list of his own? In the book of Titus is an exciting and helpful book that draws us into a closer relationship with God through a new "sound doctrine." What is this new Doctrine? Come and see




Now listening to teachers and preachers only works if you engage yourself with the Holy Spirit and ask Him throughout the message, "what do you think of that?" Let him be your teacher and guide this morning. Also, I don't know much so if the Holy Spirit gives something to you would you email me and share it? We have the same Spirit and I am giving you what he gave to me and I am asking only the same in return. I have prepared for this message but consider this time to be like a DVD you would rent that has alternative endings. I am leaving room for the H.S. to do whatever he wants.



O.K. here is the passage...



Titus (The New You)



Titus 2

1 But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine:
2 that the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience;
3 the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things—
4 that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children,
5 to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.
6 Likewise, exhort the young men to be sober-minded,
7 in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility,[a]
8 sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you.[b]
9 Exhort bondservants to be obedient to their own masters, to be well pleasing in all things, not answering back,
10 not pilfering, but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.
11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,
12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age,
13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,
14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.
15 Speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you.





So when I read the Bible I like to ask questions of the passage. Hear are a few.



1. What is sound doctrine?

2. Where did this origination of the order of family come from? Is it Jewish or Roman or Holy Spirit or what?

3. Why would Paul tell them to follow a set of rules after he told Titus to ignore the rule givers in chapter 1?

4. Why would you set such high standards for such low-life people?

5. Why give people a set of rules to follow when in chapter 3 Paul is going to tell them it is not by works of righteousness but by Christ we are saved? So why does it matter how we live?

6. Why would Paul promote slavery?

7. In light of what sound doctrine means where do we receive the words we live by? Is by those who speak death over us like in epimendes or is it from those who want us to live by rules like the circumcised? or is it the doctrine of Christ?


Consider this, the letters to Timothy and Titus are letters written from a spiritual father to his sons. They would have had a lot of time in ministry together where they cried, laughed shared victories and defeats together and just like any close family they would have developed their own family language. In the studio where I work we have a "Seinfeld language". When I say the "Big Salad" or bazaro world, Soup Nazi, "Newman", Art Vandelay, I could go on and on with words that for some of you mean nothing and for others will bring back vivid images of the best comedy ever made. Friends always create a subculture that includes an inclusive language that help promote camaraderie.



This weekend we had a awesome time camping with some families here at Bethel. Sitting around the camp fire people would say a few words from the trip we had last year and it would immediately bring back laughs and fond memories.



I believe Paul and his boys have their own code and the main word is Sound Doctrine, it is a trigger letting the decoder know that everything that follows should be decrypted by the many hours of teaching and learning together we did when they were face to face.

Paul is writing to two warriors who are behind enemy lines. At this time Christianity is a minority religion and the Romans are concerned about these movements upsetting the balance in a society so sophisticated as theirs. They were also concerned with any religion that had a messiah because the word messiah meant a revolt would be coming that the government would have to squash or face chaos in the streets and possibly causing a dethroning of the incumbent regime. Also, at this time morals did not come from religion, most pagan religions were void of morals, morals were decided on by the philosophers, religions were places were people went to party and be hedonistic. Now considering all of this, Paul does something very cunning I think, in case any body gets this letter that would have reason to harm his boys he uses their cypher. He points out Jews who are known as trouble makers to the Roman society and separates himself from that bunch and tells Titus to do the same. He then puts the Roman authorities at ease by lifting up their family values and societal structure as agreeable to Christianity.

The family structure he lays out is not Jewish but Greco-Roman in nature; the man of the house was the center of the universe and the women, children and extended family revolved around him.
Wives rarely left the house to insure that legitimacy of the patriarchs lineage staid in tacked. Men had other women that they took to parties and social events. Old women were father figures of the roman "sit-coms" they were thought of as drinking and talking to much. And slavery was a very important part of societal structure and in couple of paragraphs Paul basically says, "to whom it may concern, don't worry we are not going to rock the boat." Or did He?



Sound Doctrine I believe are principles that are transferable to any age and can be applied to any culture. It is not a structure that must be maintained exactly the way it was 2000 years ago. Sound Doctrine is


What is sound doctrine? (is it the code of ethics to follow?)


Places were we find Sound Doctrine


Doctrine:
Hebrew – “leqach” pronounced “leh-kakh” – teaching, learning, insight and also with the thing taught, teaching-power and persuasiveness
Greek – “didache” – teaching, instruction, religious teaching, what is taught
Matthew 7:28 – after Jesus shared parables on the kingdom of God and discussions of the desired “fruit” of Christians, this verse says that “the people were astonished at His doctrine”



Sound:
Hebrew – “towb” for “good doctrine in Pro. 4:2, pronounced tobe, meaning good, healthy, prosperous, happy (same word as God used in creation)
Greek – “hygiaino”, pronounced “hu-gai-ee-noo”, meaning to be sound, well, in good health (root word for hygiene); for Christians, it means that views of doctrine are free from any mixture of error; also one who keeps the graces and is strong; sound, true, in-corrupt
What is your spiritual hygiene like? How healthy are you spiritually? Are you strong or weak and unhealthy?

So the idea is a healthy teaching about who they Crete's are.



How healthy are the Cretans? Well as we heard last week from Josh the Creatans don’t have a real healthy lineage. They seem to be living under a curse that was pronounced 600 years before by a man named Epimenides in a poem to Zeus. The Crete’s had put Zeus down by saying he was mortal so Epimenides penned these words,



“They fashioned a tomb for thee, O holy and high one—

The Cretans, always liars, evil beasts, idle bellies!

But thou art not dead: thou livest and abidest forever,

For in thee we live and move and have our being.” – Cretica



Now how do you change a group of people who believe they are just the way they are?


What about the trading in the old rules for new ones?

The Jews that Paul addresses at the end of chapter 1 possibly came to be followers of Christ on the day of Pentecost. However, some had mixed the message of Jesus with Gnostic concepts or with law from the O.T. trying to override the teachings of Jesus and make them secondary to their own religious desires. Paul is not telling Titus, "hear are the new rules from God" (unless God designed the oppressive family structure of the Greco/Roman world which was cruel toward women, children and promoted slavery) he is saying, "All of what I taught you apply to your current situation (vs. 12 “present Age”).



Here is how I see it, the qualifier is “sound doctrine” If you were to hang out with Paul this is what you would walk away with,



1. Admit your obstacles. (And such were some of you)

Story of me wanting to be a lawyer



(Encouraging the low life’s)





1Cor 6: 9 Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor practicing homosexuals 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.



2. Renew Your mind. (It is not what you do but who you are)

Sin is bigger that you, Jesus is Lord of all.



Galatians 2:20 Crucified in Christ



2 Corinthians 10:5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.



Rom 6:13 Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. 14For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.



We offer ourselves to God not to being better.



3. The evidence of resting is fruit or good works without trying. It is the fruits of the Spirit not our fruit



22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.



4. There is an enemy who is trying to stop us at all cost.



Eph6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.


If you think spiritual warfare is a bunch of bunk you are in for a world of hurt.



Living in sound doctrine has nothing to do with the station you are living in. Paul knows that he cannot abolish slavery or equity issues of his day until the Spirit has a chance to change the heart and this is only done by people who care more for the kingdom then their own rights as human beings.


So you can see, in light of what sound doctrine Paul ends titus two talking about walking in the spirit and our future hope which results in good works.

























































1 Timothy 1

1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope,

2To Timothy my true son in the faith:
Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

Warning Against False Teachers of the Law

3As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer 4nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God's work—which is by faith. 5The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 6Some have wandered away from these and turned to meaningless talk. 7They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.

8We know that the law is good if one uses it properly. 9We also know that law[a] is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious; for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, 10for adulterers and perverts, for slave traders and liars and perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine 11that conforms to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me.



Rest in the Holy Spirit

The Lord's Grace to Paul

12I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. 13Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. 14The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

15Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. 16But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. 17Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

18Timothy, my son, I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight, 19holding on to faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith. 20Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.









1 Timothy 4 (New International Version)


1 Timothy 4

Instructions to Timothy

1The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.
2Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.
3They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth.
4For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving,
5because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.

6If you point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, brought up in the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed.



7Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly.



8For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.

9This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance



10(and for this we labor and strive), that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe.

11Command and teach these things.



12Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. 13Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. 14Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you.

15Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. 16Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.



1 Timothy 6 (New International Version)

1 Timothy 6

1All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect, so that God's name and our teaching may not be slandered. 2Those who have believing masters are not to show less respect for them because they are brothers. Instead, they are to serve them even better, because those who benefit from their service are believers, and dear to them. These are the things you are to teach and urge on them.

Love of Money

3If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, 4he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions 5and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.

 6But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

Paul's Charge to Timothy

11But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you 14to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15which God will bring about in his own time—God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.

17Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

20Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, 21which some have professed and in so doing have wandered from the faith.
Grace be with you.



2 Peter 1

1Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours:

2Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

Making One's Calling and Election Sure

3His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

5For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

10Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, 11and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Prophecy of Scripture

12So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. 13I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, 14because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. 15And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things.

16We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."[a] 18We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.

19And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 20Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. 21For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.





Ben,

I would agree with BDAG that DIDASKALIA is "that which is taught," and yes,
the word is used numerous times in the pastorals (15x). I'm arguing that
DIDASKALIA in the pastorals has a broader semantic domain than "doctrine"
(at least the way I usually use the word--this may be from my Bible college
background where I took Doctrine I-IV, which were classes in theology). 1
Tim. 1:10 is an example where DIDASKALIA must include teaching of an ethical
nature:

1 Tim. 1:10
PORNOIS ARSENOKOITAIS ANDRAPODISTAIS YEUSTAIS EPIORKOIS, KAI EI TI hETERON
THi hUGIAINOUSHi DIDASKALIAi ANTIKEITAI

Jonathan Boyd
Huxley, IA


Ben wrote:
DIDASKALIA seems to be the Pastorals' word for Doctrine. Except for
Ephesians 4:14, the normal word for Doctrine is DIDACH. BAGD ought to come
to the rescue here. Maybe DIDASKALIA is verbal teaching, as against a
written code or summary, a DIDACH (the name of the eponymous extracanonical
book).

The hUGIANWSKH DIDASKALIA is the correct or sound teaching, as opposed to
the different teaching or Other Doctrine of 1 Timothy 1:3-4 (MH
hETERODIDASKALEIN MHDE PROSECEIN MUQOIS, ktl).

This sounds interesting

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