Titus 2
New Testament for Everyone
Commands to households
2 So what must you do? Just this: you must instruct people how to conduct themselves in accordance with healthy teaching.
2 The older men are to be sober, dignified, sensible, and healthy in faith, love and patience. 3 In the same way, older women are to be reverent in their behavior, not slanderers or enslaved to heavy drinking, able to teach what is good. 4 That way, they can give sensible instructions to the younger women on how to love their husbands and their children, 5 and how to be sensible, holy, good at looking after the household, and submissive to their own husbands, so that people won’t have bad things to say about the word of God. 6 You must urge the younger men, in the same way, to be sensible 7 in all things.
Make sure you present yourself as a pattern of good works. Your teaching must be consistent and serious, 8 in healthy speech that is beyond reproach. That way, our opponents will be ashamed, since they won’t have anything bad to say about us.
9 Slaves must be submissive in everything to their masters. They must do what is wanted and not answer back 10 or help themselves to their masters’ property. They are to show good faith in everything, so that in every way they may be a good advertisement for the teaching of God our savior.
Grace, hope and holiness
11 God’s saving grace, you see, appeared for all people. 12 It teaches us that we should turn our backs on ungodliness and the passions of the world, and should live sober, just and devout lives in the present age, 13 while we wait eagerly for the blessed hope and royal appearing of the glory of our great God and savior, Jesus the Messiah. 14 He gave himself for us so that he could ransom us from all lawless actions and purify for himself a people as his very own who would be eager for good works.
15 This is what you must say. Exhort people and rebuke them. Use full authority. Don’t let anyone look down on you.
Titus 2
Amplified Bible
Duties of the Older and Younger
2 But as for you, teach the things which are in agreement with sound doctrine [which produces men and women of good character whose lifestyle identifies them as true Christians]. 2 Older men are to be temperate, dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love, in steadfastness [Christlike in character].
3 Older women similarly are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor addicted to much wine, teaching what is right and good, 4 so that they may encourage the young women to tenderly love their husbands and their children, 5 to be sensible, pure, makers of a home [where God is honored], good-natured, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.
6 In a similar way urge the young men to be sensible and self-controlled and to behave wisely [taking life seriously]. 7 And in all things show yourself to be an example of good works, with purity in doctrine [having the strictest regard for integrity and truth], dignified, 8 sound and beyond reproach in instruction, so that the opponent [of the faith] will be shamed, having nothing bad to say about us.
9 Urge bond-servants to be subject to their own masters in everything, to be pleasing and not talk back, 10 not stealing [things, regardless of value], but proving themselves trustworthy, so that in every respect they will adorn and do credit to the teaching of God our Savior.
11 For the [remarkable, undeserved] grace of God that [a]brings salvation has appeared to all men. 12 It teaches us to reject ungodliness and worldly (immoral) desires, and to live sensible, upright, and godly lives [lives with a purpose that reflect spiritual maturity] in this present age, 13 awaiting and confidently expecting the [fulfillment of our] blessed hope and the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, 14 who [willingly] gave Himself [to be crucified] on our behalf to redeem us and purchase our freedom from all wickedness, and to purify for Himself a chosen and very special people to be His own possession, who are enthusiastic for doing what is good.(A)
15 Tell them these things. Encourage and rebuke with full authority. Let no one disregard or despise you [conduct yourself and your teaching so as to command respect].
Footnotes
- Titus 2:11 Jesus is the source of salvation for all who believe and accept Him as Savior and Lord.
Scripture quotations from The New Testament for Everyone are copyright © Nicholas Thomas Wright 2011, 2018, 2019.
Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631. All rights reserved.
