No Evil Thing to Say of You – Titus 2
‘Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.’ — Titus 2:8
Titus 2 gives very specific instructions about what Titus is to say to the Christians in Crete. He is told how older men, younger men, older women and younger women are to behave. They are to do all of this for two reasons: 1) the work of God’s grace in their lives (v.11-14) and 2) the desire to not give unbelievers any reason to speak evil of the gospel.
This second reason is repeated several times in Titus:
- 1:6-7 Bishops (church overseers) are to be ‘blameless’ and to not have children ‘accused of riot or unruly’
- 1:10 There are many unruly and vain talkers who would have loved to undermind the gospel message.
- 1:16 The insincerity of these false teachers is seen not only in their doctrine but also in their works.
- 2:5 Young women are to be taught how to live so ‘that the word of God be not blasphemed.’
- 2:7-8 Titus himself was to be an example of good works so that those who are ‘of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.’
- 2:9-10 Servants were to live obedient, respectful and honest lives so that they ‘adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.’
- 3:8 All believers in God are to ‘be careful to maintain good works’.
Clearly, God is concerned with the lives of Christians. And how we live can either reflect well or badly on the Lord and His gospel. We should realise that there are many who will oppose the gospel. They are looking for ways to denigrate the gospel.
We must be so very careful how we live, what we say, and what we do so that we don’t do anything to cause others to blaspheme the Word of God. We want to wear the doctrine of God our Saviour well. We want to be the best examples that we can be.