A |

1: 9. Bishop . . . able by sound doctrine to exhort . . . convince.

B

| 2: 1. Speak thou those things which become sound doctrine.

| 2: 7. Showing thyself a pattern of good works, in doctrine.

A |

2: 10. Servants . . . adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour.

In writing to Titus, Paul takes specific examples, giving advice to bishops, aged men

and women, young men and women, and servants. Bishops should hold fast the faithful

word so that they may encourage their hearers with sound teaching and also refute those

who oppose it (N.I.V.). Servants should be obedient, honest and faithful in their service.

By so doing they will "adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things", (they will

make the teaching about God our Saviour attractive, N.I.V.).

The two central texts relate to the witness of Titus. In his preaching he must convey

sound doctrine. In his personal and practical life he must set a good example, showing a

pattern of good works.  In his teaching he must show integrity, seriousness, and

soundness of speech that cannot be condemned.  "Those who oppose you may be

ashamed because they cannot find anything to say against you."

We have so often said that we should search the Scriptures for ourselves, to see "if

these things are so". It is right that we should do this, but we must have an open mind, so

that we may be led by the Holy Spirit. Christ spoke to the Jews, "Ye search the

Scriptures for in them ye think ye have eternal life; and they are they which testify of

Me. And ye will not come to Me that ye may have life" (John 5: 39, 40). Searching the

Scriptures is good, but if the mind is closed and not receptive to the Spirit's leading, no

progress is made.

Philip joined the Ethiopian eunuch in his chariot where he was reading the Scriptures,

but he was making little progress. In Acts 8: 30 Philip asks if he had understood what

he read. He did not but wanted help, "How can I, except some man should guide me?"

said the eunuch. There are times when we need a sound teacher to help us guide us. Paul

was a teacher of the Gentiles. Timothy was to be a sound teacher, and Titus was to speak

those things which become sound doctrine. Bishops, and even servants, were to make

their contribution.

But any teachers that teach the commandments of men are unsound. We need wisdom

to distinguish between the sound and unsound teaching. In Prov. 27: we found that

wisdom was the principal thing. The need for wisdom and understanding to enable us to

grasp the teaching is evident from the prayer in Eph. 1: 17-23 which requests, "the spirit

of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him; the eyes of your understanding

being enlightened; that ye may know . . . . .".

We are all searchers of truth. We search the Scriptures because "Thy Word is truth".

It is only by the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit that we can get the knowledge of that

truth, and especially the truth for the present dispensation.