This short section of Titus 2 is not for everyone, unlike the virtue of self-control which is for everyone. In fact, verses 7-8 depend on, in practice and in grammar, the urging to self-control for young men in verse 6. This is the most personal part of Paul’s address to Titus, though it does have application for any younger minister/youthful pastor.

There are two primary, while overlapping, spheres in which Titus’ self-control should be visible, including a significant reason for both, or at least for the latter.

Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us. (Titus 2:7–8 ESV)

Exemplary Self-Control in All of Life (verse 7a)

Unlike the new sentence as read in the ESV, grammatically verse 7 hangs on verse 6 (“showing” would be a more technical translation as the original text has a participle not a main verb). This fits because Titus himself was a young man. But Titus wasn’t just a Christian, he was left in Crete by the apostle to put things in order and appoint elders in every town (Titus 1:5). He isn’t called an elder/bishop, but he was appointing them. He was working for the churches as a young leader.

For those of us with access to all the pastoral epistles it’s hard not to think about the similar instructions Paul wrote to Timothy, especially in 1 Timothy 4:12-16. He likewise exhorts Titus to be conscious of his example and his teaching, his life and rhetoric.

Showing yourself in all things a model of good works. Showing means making visible, demonstrating, not hiding and not hypocrisy-ing. In all things opens verse 7 (in the Greek text), and it could be argued that the prepositional phrase belongs better understood to finish verse 6 (“self-controlled in all things”). But there is another prepositional phrase that starts a second “showing” in the second part of verse 7, so a parallel construction makes better sense. The emphasis for Titus is that he doesn’t have a Pastoral Life and a Private Life. He can’t compartmentalize. Let there be no cloistered virtues.

The idea of imitating/copying an example, a model, is frequent in the NT (including 1 Timothy 4:12). We are imitative creatures. We are also emboldened by a certain sort of bold surrogate. We don’t only do what others do, we are encouraged by what they do. It’s more than being fans. We see what’s possible, what kinds of things are good.

And Titus, in all things, is to show off good works. Good works are more frequently mentioned in this letter than in any other. Paul tells Titus to go ahead; someone has to take the first step. Want to know whether or not you’re self-controlled? It’s not just what you avoid, but what GOODS you do.

Verbal Self-Control with Gravity (verses 7b-8)

The ESV makes it sound like the imperative “show” is repeated, but not only is it assumed, it’s still hanging on the self-control. It reveals a second area, in the teaching. It could be orthodoxy after orthopraxy, as in, now make sure your doctrine is straight. But these things to be shown and the thing to be prevented make it clear that this is a how more than a what, more “to the action than to the content” (Mounce). The content of teaching should be correct, but the way the teaching is communicated should have gravity.

Three parts to show in teaching.

First, show integrity, without corruption, a word only found here in the NT. His self-controlled teaching should be without division, as by ulterior motives. It comes from a whole heart, not partly for praise from men and partly for profit and partly for feeding the flock.

Second, show “gravity” (KJV). The ESV has dignity, that’s fine. The Latin translation does have gravitate. The Greek word means to a different than average that attracts not just attention but appreciation. That’s a gravity, a pull, a weighty rhetoric that draws in.

Third (and this is 3a and 3b), speech that is both sound and un-condemned. The ESV smooths it out, but the showing includes speech, and that speech is modified by the two adjectives. Sound is healthy or “wholesome” (Tyndale), and un-condemned is not blameworthy. It relates to the reason that finishes verse 8.

** so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.**

There is such a thing as an opponent, an enemy; the substantive singular phrase refers to this as a class of people characterized by being contrary, set in opposition, critics. Maybe this could be someone connected to the church like those referred to in Titus 1:10-16, maybe it’s coming from outside. This is the second time such a line of reasoning comes up, first for the young women (verse 5) and now for younger ministers.

What is particularly interesting is who takes the brunt of the criticism if Titus fails: bad…about us. So Titus is to be a reflection for others and he is a reflection of others. He was to be an example that others could follow, and he is a representation of those others to others in the world.

This does not mean that others won’t say negative things. They called Jesus names, and He taught us to rejoice when others revile us and “utter all kinds of evil against (us) falsely” (Matthew 5:11). That’s the key: they must say false things.

It’s like this. One time some of us came back to a school campus and over the weekend someone had thrown a bunch of rocks through the windows of our school bus. That wasn’t okay, but there was also a pile of rocks that had been dumped in the parking lot beside the bus for sake of dispersing across campus later. It’s one thing for others to throw stones, it’s another thing to provide the stones. Make them makeup their own ammunition.

Conclusion

Does this mean no smiles, no laughs? Charles Spurgeon, responding to criticism about a joke during a sermon:

“Well, madam, you may very well be right; but if you knew the number of jokes I do not tell you, and the number of things that I refrain from saying, you would give me more credit than you are giving me.”

I don’t tell as many funny things that come to mind all the time, but I do think some wit can fit with gravity. Humor and flippancy are not the same thing, and a well snapped quip may sting more than a whip.

Also, this show of dignity required for younger ministers
is part of their self-control, not a requirement for respect regardless of it. Demanding others show honor (requiring a title, prohibiting questions, etc.), rather than demonstrating an honorable life, is making someone perform a show, and not a good kind. (More could be said about husbands and fathers following the example of pastors in such unreasonable expectation of authority without building the proper platform.)

Since Titus is to be an example in all things, there is application for everyone, especially for young men and their self-control. That includes verbal self-control. You also, be a reflection, and you also are a reflection regardless; your lack of conscious effort about it is part of the reflection. You thinking that some of your decisions are private is a public statement.

Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers. (1 Timothy 4:16 ESV)

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Charge

May God give our fathers a gravity-by-grace that causes their wives and children and grandchildren to want to be near. May God give our shepherds, younger and older, a godly-gravity and sheep who know their voice and follow. May God give us all not just a mind to work, but zeal for good works.

Benediction:

Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible. (Ephesians 6:24 ESV)