Titus 1:1-5

Tomorrow is my 68th birthday it is so fitting that You led me to this today. 

Wisdom in this day and age is hard to come by other than in You. We need to be as wise as serpents but as gentle as the Lamb! Our actions speak volumes about our faith in the goodness of God and His relationship with ALL of His creation.

I need all the guidance that I can get…love you dear, wise Holy Spirit!!

In Paul’s first-century ad context, this refers to men and women over age 50.

The Greek word used here, diabolos, describes a person who uses speech that damages the reputation of another, usually through false accusations. Paul instructs the believers about proper conduct so that the word of God will have a good reputation among outsiders. Faithlife Bible.

Paul views sound doctrine as the root that produces the fruit of sound practice (good works), such as faith, love, and patience, as well as sound speech. Right thinking is the raw material for right actions. Our actions will naturally reveal the direction of our thoughts.

The character of those who are mature should serve as a spiritual example to all. Maturity is not determined simply by age or even by how much a person knows; it is determined by how skilled a person is in applying the truth to life and in distinguishing good from evil. Paul wanted the older women to teach the younger women so that their actions would glorify God, build His kingdom, and strengthen the family. Failure to follow Paul’s instructions would result in the word of God being maligned in the pagan community.

Titus 2:1–5 (NKJV)

2 But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine: ² that the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience; ³ the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things—⁴ that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, ⁵ to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.

Romans 2:24 (NKJV)

²⁴ For “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,” as it is written.