24 Oct. Paul tells Titus how to teach the believers
"You must tell everyone what to do to follow the true teaching."
"Teach older men to be self-controlled, serious, wise, strong in faith, in love and in patience."
"In the same way, teach older women to be holy in their behaviour, not speaking against others or having the habit of too much wine, but teaching what is good."
"Then they can teach the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be wise and pure, to be good workers at home, to be kind and to yield to their husbands. Then no one will be able to criticise the teaching God gave us."
"In the same way encourage young men to be wise. In every way be an example of doing good deeds. When you teach, do it with honesty and seriousness. Speak the truth so you cannot be criticised. Then those who are against you will be ashamed because there is nothing bad to say about us..."
"That is the way we should live, because God's grace that can save everyone has come. It teaches us not to live against God nor to do the evil things the world wants to do. Instead, that grace teaches us to live now in a wise and right way and in a way that shows we serve God."
"We should live like that while we wait for our great hope and the coming of the glory of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ. He gave himself for us so he might pay the price to free us from all evil and to make us pure people who belong only to him - people who are always wanting to do good deeds."
"Say these things and encourage the people and tell them what is wrong in their lives, with all authority. Do not let anyone treat you as if you were unimportant."
(Titus 2:1-15)
Paul advises his young co-worker Titus (whom he has left in charge of the young church in Crete) on the technique of 'cascading' information down from the elders to the younger believers. He urges Titus to teach the correct doctrine to the older men, who can then pass it on to the mature women – both of whom will, in turn, pass it on to younger believers.
Older men should be self-controlled and serious, while older women shouldn't criticise each other or get drunk on wine.
Younger women should love their husbands and children, while young men should be wise in their choice of friends and activities. They should be honest and speak truthfully, so that their integrity stands above criticism.
All believers should serve God and do many good deeds for others as they wait in anticipation for the glorious day when their saviour Jesus Christ will appear. "He gave himself for us so he might pay the price to free us from all evil." (Titus 2:14)
Paul tells Titus not to be slow in pointing out those who do wrong, but also to encourage those who have put their trust in God's grace and Jesus's love.
And, like Timothy, he reminds Titus that he mustn't let anyone treat him as unimportant just because he's young (see Titus 2:15). He should speak with authority and conviction because he is teaching people God's ways.
The photo shows the southern coast of Crete near Hora Sfakion.
You can read more from Paul's Letter to Titus @ https://www.thebiblejourney.org/…/appointing-church-leaders/