in all things affording thyself as a pattern of good works; in teaching uncorruptedness, gravity,
Titus has just been told what to press on the younger men. Now the charge turns on Titus himself: he must be a living sample of the conduct he urges, and a teacher whose manner matches his message.
The word behind "model" is the Greek τύπος. It shows up across the New Testament in several disguises:
The Greek word is τύπος, and from it comes our word "type." Older English versions translate it "print" in John 20:25; "figure" in Acts 7:43 and Romans 5:14; "form" in Romans 6:17; "fashion" in Acts 7:44; "manner" in Acts 23:25; and "pattern" in Titus 2:7 and Hebrews 8:5...
Titus is to be the pattern others copy. The "good works" he models are not simply kind-hearted acts. They are honourable ones. One commentator warns that the two can come apart, quoting the older wording of the verse:
That is why it says, "In all things showing yourself a pattern of good works" — that is, works that are right and honourable. Kindness is not the point here, though of course it would not be missing, and should not be. But kind people often fall short in what is fitting and worthy of the Lord's name. Too often they are softly agreeable, and ready to compromise for the sake of peace.
The charge lands on Titus at the point where he is instructing the younger men. Failure here does more than embarrass the teacher:
Young men are also to be sensible. Titus, who is charged with giving these instructions, was himself to be a pattern of good works. His example was to back up his words... When the preacher or teacher does not practise what he preaches, it does great damage to sound doctrine. What a stumbling block that is!
The verse ties conduct and teaching together in one sentence. The danger runs both ways:
Again we learn how closely life and doctrine are connected. If the life is not right, the teaching will have no power, however correct it is. But we must also be careful never to settle for good living while we care nothing for sound teaching.
Those good works have a source. They grow out of a new life:
They are the fruit of the new life and nature the Christian shares in. That life has its vitality in faith, and the Spirit of God is its power. They are the good fruit which grows upon the good tree.
The second half of the verse moves from life to words. Older versions call this integrity "uncorruptness": teaching nobody has watered down. Young hearers notice:
Practical conduct is not everything, however necessary it is. In his teaching he was to make sure of "uncorruptness."... The younger men above all had to be kept in mind. They watch fairly sharply, and any failure here would be sure to trip them up. Nothing damages Christianity more than compromising truth or holiness.
The man warned here was not an apostle. His honour did not excuse him from watching himself:
Titus was not inspired, and he did not hold the authority an apostle had, except where it was specially handed to him. Still, his position carried great honour and just as great responsibility. So it mattered enormously that he keep watch over himself.
The last word of the verse guards the manner of teaching. Older versions call it "gravity," and one commentator says only God's Spirit can keep it up:
Next, he was to show "gravity." Only the Spirit of God could keep up this high character while he worked among the younger men. There would be no shortage of chances for talk that was more or less light. Excitement is often very pleasant, to the speaker as well as to the hearers. But the grace and truth that came by Jesus Christ calls for gravity.
Older English versions add a third word, "sincerity," at the end of the verse. The ESV and others leave it out. One commentator explains why little is lost:
It is already assumed in the "uncorruptness" urged just before. But "uncorruptness" goes far beyond "sincerity," because it brings in what is due to God and Christ, and not just the honest character and manner of the man who teaches.
- Pattern. The word behind "model" gives us our word "type." Titus is not to describe good works. He is to be the pattern of them.
- Honourable. The works in view are right and fitting for the Lord's name. Being merely nice can turn soft and quick to compromise.
- Both halves. A wrong life drains the power out of right teaching. Good living with no care for sound teaching fails too.
- Uncorrupt. Young hearers watch closely. Nothing damages Christianity more than watering down truth or holiness.
- Grave. Excitement pleases speaker and hearers alike. But the grace and truth that came by Jesus Christ call for weight, not lightness.
a sound word, not to be condemned; that he who is opposed may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say about us
Paul has just told Titus to make his own life the model for younger men. Verse 8 adds one more mark: speech so healthy that no critic can find a handle on it.
The word translated "sound" is not a term for correctness alone. One writer points out that it is the ancestor of a word we still use every day about our bodies.
The word translated "sound" comes up again and again. It is worth noting that it is the word we get "hygienic" from, which is so often on people's lips today. It means healthful. Sound doctrine is doctrine that really makes for spiritual health.
Sound speech has an obvious rival: language that impresses.
"Sound speech" (Titus 2:8). What a fine exhortation this is for a servant of the Lord! What an antidote to the temptation that traps many — the temptation to sacrifice truth for misleading language or empty eloquence.
There is also the opposite danger of borrowing the world's vocabulary for holy things.
We are to be careful to use "sound speech." We must beware of words and expressions common in the world but completely out of place in divine things. Such words would make people condemn the teaching. If we act in the light of these instructions, those who seek to oppose us will fall silent, with no evil thing to say of us.
Verse 8 sits inside a call for Titus to be a pattern. His manner and his conduct are meant to carry the same weight as his teaching.
His example was to confirm his word. In teaching he was to show that his message was free from corruption. He was to show gravity too, setting out the doctrines with dignity, in all seriousness and sincerity. (What a contrast with certain evangelists and preachers of our day! They act like clowns and make sport of sacred things. Instead of teaching the young reverence, they drag holy things down.) Then comes "sound speech that cannot be condemned." Such speech silences those who oppose, leaving them unable to say anything evil about the servant of God. When the preacher or teacher does not practise what he preaches, he greatly hinders sound doctrine.
This is not a rule for teaching sessions only. One writer applies it to every dealing with younger men, and names the only safeguard.
The apostle presses "healthy speech that cannot be condemned." Such speech is sound in itself and not open to fair criticism. It is required not only on the more formal occasions of teaching, but in every dealing with the younger men. We must all feel how important this is, even though we have to admit our frequent failure in it. One thing alone is an adequate safeguard — the conscious presence of God.
The verse aims at an opponent put to shame. So Christians must speak with hostile listeners in mind, and even a slight fault counts as "evil."
We have to consider not only friends but foes. They are ready to attack whatever condemns them. Let us seek, then, to cut off opportunity from those who look for it. Then even the adversary, whatever kind he may be, will have no evil thing to say about us. The word for "evil" here is broad enough to cover everything from the slight to the mean, paltry and worthless.
The verse ends with a plural that reaches past Titus. One writer notes that the true reading is "us," not "you" — as the ESV has it.
Notice how sound speech will silence the criticism of those who want to oppose the truth. It will give them no occasion to speak evil of — not "you," but "us," as the true translation reads. People may speak against leaders, and even against believers as a whole, because some who profess Christ act carelessly.
- Healthy. "Sound" shares a root with "hygienic." It means speech that builds spiritual health, not just speech that is correct.
- Guarded. Two things spoil that health: empty eloquence that trades truth for effect, and the world's words carried into holy things.
- Backed. Words carry only as far as the life behind them; a teacher who does not practise what he preaches hinders sound doctrine itself.
- Constant. The standard covers ordinary conversation, not only formal teaching. One thing alone sustains it: living in the conscious presence of God.
- Shared. The aim is an opponent with nothing to say about us — one believer's careless word can put the whole company under reproach.