In Paul’s letters to Titus we find many instructions for how to teach others and how to live uprightly. The name Titus has two different meanings in Greek and Hebrew. In the Roman world, Titus was a very common name. In Greek, the name Titus means “Title of Honor.” In Hebrew, however, the name means “Pleasing.” The Titus that Paul was writing to was a Gentile (Galatians 2:3) who was led to Christ by Paul (Titus 1:4) so we can reason that Titus’ name had its roots in the Greek. There might have been great pride in such a name but as Saul became known as Paul after his conversion, I would bet that Titus became more pleasing in his service of God and less prideful in his title of honor.

“As for you, Titus, promote the kind of living that reflects wholesome teaching.” (Titus 2:1)

Right from the start Paul instructs Titus that the way we live must reflect what we teach. We know this to be true, because when someone teaches one way but lives another we call that hypocrisy. Hypocrisy is one of the most harmful things someone can do to their witness. Nothing made Jesus more upset/angry than hypocrisy. Paul knew that if the people of Crete were going to listen to Titus, he would need to live rightly.

“Teach the older men to exercise self-control, to be worthy of respect, and to live wisely. They must have sound faith and be filled with love and patience.” (Titus 2:2)

Paul gives some specifics for Titus to instruct to the men: we must exercise self-control, be worthy of respect, live wisely, have sound faith, and be filled with love and patience. We could write those down on a note and tape them to a mirror or common spot and make living in such a way a goal for the rest of our lives and those lives would not be wasted. How much would your life improve if you had more self-control? If you lived wisely? If you had a sound faith or if you filled with love and patience? We could all use more of all of those.

“And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed.” (Titus 2:12-13)

“Turn from godless living and sinful pleasures.” This is something we must do everyday. We will have the choice throughout our day to choose our sinful nature or the Holy Spirit and over and over again, throughout Scripture, we are instructed to turn from the sinful nature. This world we live in is evil—something that’s becoming more and more clear each day—and Paul instructs that we are to live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness and devotion to God, keeping our eyes focused on the hope of that wonderful day when Christ is revealed to the world.

To the glory of the Lord God, whose I am, and whom I serve.