Old Men Passage Analysis

Old Men
One of the types of people Paul references in his letter to Titus is old men. While in some other epistles, Paul is not categorizing this group on their position in the church. Paul heeds some aspects to Titus which he wishes for this group to adhere to. The first is the attitude of temperance. The word Biblical commentary breaks this down into “clear-minded, sober in judgement, self-controlled.” In the same type of way, Paul uses this language to reference the elder men and women in his letter to Timothy [1 Tim 3:11]. The second of these virtues, is the need for the old men in Titus church to be sober. Which can have double meaning when looking at the context. Titus’ commission is to Crete, a large island in Greece. This area was known
This section of this passage is interesting literally. Paul uses pronouns that seem to be speaking directly to Titus. He urges the young pastor to set a good example with good works. To many of scholar is again is evidence of faulty authorship in the Pastoral Epistles. Paul’s view of good works righteousness was very opposed. What you did was not what made you saved. Because you are saved, you do good works. This is what most in support of the PE think Paul is referring to here. The Augsburg Commentary on the NT talks about the way this phrase was written. Reading the both verse 6 and 7 as one though helps focus the idea good deeds being a direct action, but being outcome of having self-control. Titus is also given the plea by Paul to have integrity and gravity. In the same way which Paul urges older men to have endurance, gravity is a reference to stability in one’s faith and actions. Integrity is also another important quality for Paul. Constantly being asked about his collection for Jerusalem, his integrity is what he stood upon when defending himself in his letters. By instructing Titus to do the same, he is having hope the young pastor will be able show his honest character as his proof. On the same topic as a defense stance, Paul coaches Titus to be sound in speech, “[So] then any opponent will be put to shame; having nothing evil to say to us” [v8]. Paul has face much smooth talking
Which is not on unlike many other passages in the epistles. Without the presence of date and locations, each letter has its own problems. The Pastoral Epistles with their different sounding language and the change in style can picked part at the seams with put up against other letters of classic Pauline writing. This does not negate their clear instructions and valuable lessons being taught to this young Greek pastor. Having explicit ways individuals are ordered to act and values to uphold gives a great insight to what Paul expects for a church. To this day, these letters from Paul are used to help dictate the virtues and roles for a modern church. Having instruction of this precision is valued highly when reading Paul’s