| The Berean Expositor Volume 53 - Page 19 of 215 Index | Zoom | |
DIDASKALIA in
Titus
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1: 9. Bishop . . . able by sound doctrine to exhort . . . convince.
B
| 2: 1. Speak thou those things which become sound doctrine.
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| 2: 7. Showing thyself a pattern of good works, in doctrine.
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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.