The Pauline literature is full with references to good works yielding a substantial Pauline

theology of ethical behavior. Paul’s theology of ethics is significantly distinct from various

perspectives within Judaism in that Paul’s ethical teaching is firmly grounded on faith in Christ.

Paul’s ethical teaching clearly demonstrates that good works are the essential result of one’s faith

in Christ, and outgrowth of being in union with Christ and walking in the Spirit. Certain

manifestations of good works include having an attitude that is willing to generously help those

in need; demonstrating the fruit of the Spirit; obeying and living out the gospel of Christ; being

self-controlled; and maintaining integrity of speech and lifestyle. Good works are an integral

aspect of the Apostle Paul’s theology. Furthermore, Paul’s emphasis on doing good works

throughout his letters demonstrates that good works are essential to being a Christian. The

general historical situation of Titus, according to these concerns, is the church in transition, when

it is progressing from an apostolic to post-apostolic period and is surrounded by persecution and

heresy and therefore needs to be reminded of its hope and encouraged to hold to the teachings

given by Paul and to persist in good works.1

Titus 2:7

Following Paul’s directives for Titus’ instruction of the younger men (2:6), he issued an

emphatic statement about the conduct of Titus’ ministry (2:7). In all things; The instructions for

Titus, rather than the young men.2Titus was to present himself as a model of good works, and

show himself to have both integrity and seriousness in his manner of teaching and soundness in

1
Robert Jewett Karris, The Pastoral Epistles (New Testament Message; Wilmington, DE:
Michael Glazier, 1979), 13-15.
2
Luke Timothy Johnson, Letters to Paul’s Delegates: 1-2 Timothy, Titus. The New Testament in
Context (Valley Forge, Pa.: Trinity Press, 1996), 230-231.
the content of his teaching.3The reason Titus was to demonstrate these things was so that

opponents would have nothing evil to say against the Christian community. 4These opponents

may have been outsiders or those within the community whose own manner and content of

teaching were at odds with the gospel.5In Titus 2:7–8a, Paul wanted Titus’ life and teaching to be

so far beyond reproach, that any opponent would have ‘nothing evil to say about us and so be

ashamed and discredited.6The identity of ‘us’ was primarily Titus and Paul, but also the Cretan

Christians, and probably Christians generally. 7The identity of the opponent(s) is more difficult.

The singular is best seen as a generic reference and the existence of opponents inside the church

and concern for good reputation outside the church makes it likely both are on view.8

The didactic nature of their speech would have depended on the content of the accusations, the

purpose of addressers, and its result. Certainty is elusive, but the need for Titus to watch his life,

and manner and content of his teaching, suggests the opponents may have had didactic purposes.

These two occurrences (2 Tim. 2:18; Tit. 2:8) indicate the potential for didactic speech to

function as a negative agent for change, and damage the believing community. Consequently, the

(potential) addressers were opponents of the believing community and their speech was to be

prevented by faithful gospel ministers. Finally, the correlation between the aberrant content of

their speech and their conduct mirrors the correlation already observed with ‘core-teaching’

3
Philip Howard Towner, The Letters to Timothy and Titus. The New International Commentary
on the New Testament (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2006), 732.
4
I. Howard Marshall, The Pastoral Epistles. International Critical Commentary (Edinburgh: T.
& T. Clark, 1999), 256.
5
Raymond F Collins, 1- 2 Timothy and Titus: A Commentary. The New Testament Library
(Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2002), 345.
6
Philip Howard Towner, The Letters to Timothy and Titus. The New International Commentary
on the New Testament (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2006),734.
7
Knight, George W. III. Commentary on the Pastoral Epistles. New International Greek
Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1992), 313.
8
Fee, Gordon D. 1-2 Timothy, Titus. New International Biblical Commentary (Peabody:
Hendrickson, 1988), 243.
words, between the orthodoxy and orthopraxy of addressers and educational outcomes for their

addressees.

Paul affirmed much the same apologetic strategy in Titus 2:7–8, set an example of good works

yourself, with integrity and dignity in your teaching. Your message is to be sound beyond

reproach, so that the opponent will be ashamed, having nothing bad to say about us. The message

which is to be beyond reproach is both the proclamation of the gospel itself and the correlation of

the life of the preacher with that message. Paul is not content, however, to rest the apologetic

burden on the life of the preacher alone. He extends it to the lives of all Christians, older men

and women, younger women, young men, and even bondservants whose lives are to “adorn” the

teaching of the gospel (Titus 2:2–10). For Paul, the preaching of the gospel is enhanced by the

behavior of Christians. Their goal should be to “make the Gospel as attractive as possible for

those around them” through their Christlikeness.9The proof of the gospel, the silencing of its

opponents, is in the lives that the Gospel transforms (Titus 2:11–14).

The situation in Crete appears to be similar to that in Ephesus, with a few important differences.

The problem was real since their teaching was already upsetting whole households, and yet the

Cretan opponents receive less attention, suggesting that the problem was not as developed as in

Ephesus. The opponents were unqualified, rebellious, and inappropriate for positions of

leadership in the church. In fact, verses 5-9 have the purpose of explaining why Titus must

appoint only qualified people to church leadership. The opponents were teaching senseless

babble, words without meaning, myths. This passage clearly shows that the teaching was

primarily Jewish and taught asceticism and guidelines for ritual purity and defilement. The

9
William Mounce, The Pastoral Epistles, Word Biblical Commentary (Nashville: Thomas
Nelson, 2000), 189
opponents were part of the church but had left the truth of the gospel, and therefore they must be

rebuked so that they and the church may become healthy in their faith." 10"Paul here stresses the

importance of building up the inner life of believers as the best antidote against error."11

Young men 2:6-8

The same principles apply to the behavior of "young men." The age range for the older men and

women would have been about and up in that culture and that of the younger people would have

been between about 20 and 40.12 Since Titus was one of the "young men," Paul addressed him

personally. "Since young men are inclined to be somewhat impetuous and unrestrained in

conduct, their basic need is to be 'self-controlled,' cultivating balance and self-restraint in daily

practice."13 "Young men demand heroes to follow. The minister should be a worthy object for

their imitation (see I Cor. 4:16; 11:1)."14 They do this by maintaining "purity" in the teaching of

God's truth ("doctrine"), as teachers or simply practitioners, by being "dignified" ("serious," v.

2), and by "sound speech" that others cannot legitimately criticize. Obedience to these particulars

would rob the enemies of the church of any reasonable grounds for criticism. They would be "put

to shame" because they would have no factual basis for their opposition.

Integrity Is a Quality of Teaching

The appearance of the word adialeiptos in Titus 2 is very much contextually interpreted. This is

a teaching chapter, and verses seven and eight could not be clearer: “In everything set them an
10
William Mounce, Pastoral Epistles. Word Biblical Commentary series (Nashville: Thomas
Nelson Publishers, 2000), 395.
11
David Edmond Hiebert, "Titus" In Ephesians-Philemon. Vol. 11 Expositor's Bible
Commentary. Ed. Frank Ely Gaebelein, and James Davies Douglas, (Grand Rapids: Zondervan
Publishing House, 1978)
12
Philip Howard Towner, 1-2 Timothy & Titus. The New International Commentary on the New
Testament Series (Grand Rapids: William Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2006), 730.
13
David Edmond Hiebert, "Titus." In Ephesians-Philemon. Vol. 11 Expositor's Bible
Commentary. Edited by Frank Ely Gaebelein, and James Davies Douglas, (Grand Rapids:
Zondervan Publishing House, 1978), 437.
14
Homer Austin Kent, Junior. The Pastoral Epistles (Chicago: Moody Press, 1966), 231.
example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of

speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they

have nothing bad to say about us.” These imperatives are a direct challenge to Titus himself, and

they have to do with the way he demonstrated leadership with integrity through teaching.