Verse from Titus

“Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance.”

‭‭Titus‬ ‭2‬:‭2‬ ‭

Paul had left Titus in Crete so that he “might put in order what was left unfinished” as the church took root there (Titus 1:5). He begins chapter 2 of his letter to Titus with “You” (v. 1), which signals a shift from the “rebellious people, full of meaningless talk and deception” he’d mentioned in chapter 1 (v. 10). Of such people, he writes, “They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him” (v. 16). 

Chapter 2 instructs Titus on how to guide the true believers. Significantly, “self-controlled” is a recurrent theme throughout the section (vv. 2, 5, 6, 12). As Paul says, “The grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age” (vv. 11-12). That’s great advice for us as well.