It will be remembered that the structure of this epistle brings into

prominence the place of `good works' in the scheme of salvation by grace (see

the structure, p. 177).  The apostle had placed great stress on `preaching',

`the faithful word' and on `sound doctrine'.  He had spoken moreover of those

who were `gainsayers', `vain talkers', whose `mouths' must be stopped.  It

would be, however, a misrepresentation of the apostle's attitude to leave the

matter there with an undue emphasis on speaking and preaching.  The

qualifications of a bishop contain no word about eloquence, talking, saying

or speaking, but stress blamelessness of character.  So at the close of

chapter 1, we read:

`They profess that they know God; but in works they deny Him ... unto

every good work reprobate' (Titus 1:16).

Chapter 2 opens with the words `but speak'; however, that mere speaking

is unprofitable and vain, the succeeding verses reveal.  Titus was not only

to speak, but to speak `the things that become sound doctrine', and then

follow such words as sober, grave, temperate behaviour, ending with an

exhortation to Titus himself:

`In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine

shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, sound speech, that cannot be

condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having

no evil thing to say of you' (Titus 2:7,8).

Writing to Timothy about the same time and using the same word that is

translated `pattern', Paul had said:

`Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers

... take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine' (1 Tim. 4:12,16)

The apostle himself had earlier said:

`Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as

ye have us for an ensample ... those things, which ye have both

learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of

peace shall be with you' (Phil. 3:17; 4:9),

and in the first epistle to Timothy, where he exhorts him as we have seen to

be `an example', he uses the word `pattern' of himself (1 Tim. 1:16).  So

also in his second epistle he says to Timothy:

`Thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose ...' (2

Tim. 3:10).

Taken out of their dreadful context the words of Shakespeare are worth

`Words, to the heat of deeds, to cold breath gives'.

The second half of Titus chapter 2 commences with an exhortation to

servants and then runs on to a wonderful exposition of grace both in the

initial salvation and the subsequent manner of life, and to this section of

the epistle we now turn our attention.  The structural outline, if

simplified, throws into prominence this necessity to manifest by life and