Titus 2
A God-Filled Life
1-6 Your job is to speak out on the things that make for solid doctrine. Guide older men into lives of temperance, dignity, and wisdom, into healthy faith, love, and endurance. Guide older women into lives of reverence so they end up as neither gossips nor drunks, but models of goodness. By looking at them, the younger women will know how to love their husbands and children, be virtuous and pure, keep a good house, be good wives. We don't want anyone looking down on God's Message because of their behavior. Also, guide the young men to live disciplined lives.
7-8 But mostly, show them all this by doing it yourself, incorruptible in your teaching, your words solid and sane. Then anyone who is dead set against us, when he finds nothing weird or misguided, might eventually come around.
9-10 Guide slaves into being loyal workers, a bonus to their masters—no back talk, no petty thievery. Then their good character will shine through their actions, adding luster to the teaching of our Savior God.
11-14 God's readiness to give and forgive is now public. Salvation's available for everyone! We're being shown how to turn our backs on a godless, indulgent life, and how to take on a God-filled, God-honoring life. This new life is starting right now, and is whetting our appetites for the glorious day when our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, appears. He offered himself as a sacrifice to free us from a dark, rebellious life into this good, pure life, making us a people he can be proud of, energetic in goodness.
15 Tell them all this. Build up their courage, and discipline them if they get out of line. You're in charge. Don't let anyone put you down.
Titus 2
1 But speak thou the things which befit the sound doctrine:2 that aged men be temperate, grave, sober-minded, sound in faith, in love, in patience:3 that aged women likewise be reverent in demeanor, not slanderers nor enslaved to much wine, teachers of that which is good;4 that they may train the young women to love their husbands, to love their children,5 to be sober-minded, chaste, workers at home, kind, being in subjection to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed:6 the younger men likewise exhort to be sober-minded:7 in all things showing thyself an ensample of good works; in thy doctrine showing uncorruptness, gravity,8 sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of us.9 Exhort servants to be in subjection to their own masters, and to be well-pleasing to them in all things; not gainsaying;10 not purloining, but showing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.11 For the grace of God hath appeared, bringing salvation to all men,12 instructing us, to the intent that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly and righteously and godly in this present world;13 looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;14 who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a people for his own possession, zealous of good works.15 These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no man despise thee.