02. Older Men (Titus 02.02)
Throughout the Bible, we see that old men are to be honored.
(Leviticus
19.32; Job 12.12; Psalms 92.14; Proverbs 16.31)
“2 Older men are to be temperate, dignified, sensible, sound
in faith, in love, in perseverance.”
Paul says that older men are to 1st be…“2 temperate”
“2 temperate” G3524. nhfaleov nephaleos nay-fal'-eh-os;
or nhfaliov nephalios nay-fal'-ee-os;
from 3525;
sober, i.e. (figuratively) circumspect:-- sober.
G3525.
nhfw nepho nay'-fo;
of uncertain affinity: to abstain from wine (keep sober), i.e. (figuratively)
be discreet:-- be sober, watch.
Thayer-sober,
temperate; abstaining from wine, either entirely or at least from its
immoderate use
A temperate person is one who avoids extravagance &
over-indulgence.
Paul mentioned this to Timothy
as a requirement for a pastor/elder (1Timothy 03.03), as well as for deacons (1Timothy 03.08).
Alcohol is a depressant. It blunts & blurs our faculty
of judgment.
Ephesians 05.18
“18 And do not get drunk w/wine, for that is dissipation (wastefulness), but be (continually-in the orginal Greek) filled (cram
a net full, fill up) w/the Spirit,”
We have a hard enough time trying to remember the Word of
God when we are sober, why do we want to partake in something that will cause
us to do things that will not only embarrass us, but also serve as a bad
example of what a follower of Christ is to be like? Proverbs 23.29-35
The temperate older man is able
to recognize what things are important & of value, so that he can use his
time, money & energy on the things that matter.
The Bible often refers to the
need for us as followers of Jesus to being sober minded & alert:
1Corinthians 15.34; 1Thessalonians
05.06; 1Thessalonians 05.08; 1Peter 01.13; 1Peter 04.07; 1Peter 05.08
“2 Older men are to be temperate, dignified,
sensible, sound in faith, in love, in perseverance.”
2nd older men are to be…“2 dignified”
“2 dignified” G4586. semnov semnos sem-nos'; from 4576; venerable, i.e.
honorable:-- grave, honest.
Thayer- to be
venerated for character, honorable: of persons
The dignified person is not one
who laughs at or encourages anything that is sinful, such as anything that is
vulgar, immoral or just ungodly.
Paul mentioned this to Timothy
as a requirement for a pastor/elder (1Timothy 03.04), as well as for deacons (1Timothy 03.08).
Paul says that those who follow
Jesus ought to be dignified. Philippians 04.08
“2 Older men are to be temperate, dignified,
sensible, sound in faith, in love, in perseverance.”
3rd older men are to be…“2 sensible”
“2 sensible” G4998. swfrwn sophron so'-frone; from the
base of 4982 & that of 5424; safe (sound) in mind, i.e. self-controlled (moderate as
to opinion or passion):-- discreet, sober, temperate.
Thayer-of sound
mind, curbing one’s desires & impulses, self-controlled, temperate
They should be characterized as
men who have Godly discernment, Godly discretion & wise judgment that is
only learned from walking w/the LORD for many years.
Paul mentioned this to Timothy as a requirement for a
pastor/elder (1Timothy
03.02), as well as for deacons (1Timothy 03.08).
Peter mentions this as well to the recipients of his
letters. 1Peter
04.07; 2Peter 01.06
“2 Older men are to be temperate, dignified, sensible, sound
in faith, in love, in perseverance.”
4th older men are to be…“2 sound in faith”
The word for “sound” here is the same word used in Titus 02.01,
meaning to be well, to be in good
health
“2 in faith” G4102. pistiv pistis pis'-tis; from 3982; persuasion, i.e.
credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of God or a
religious teacher), especially reliance upon Christ for salvation; abstractly,
constancy in such profession; by extension, the system of religious (Gospel)
truth itself:-- assurance, belief, believe, faith, fidelity.
Thayer-in
reference to Christ, it denotes a strong & welcome conviction or belief
that Jesus is the Messiah, through whom we obtain eternal salvation in the
kingdom of God
Men who are “sound in faith” have learned
through the storms of life that God can be trusted always, even when it doesn’t
make sense (Job
01.20-22; Job 02.09-10).
“2 Older men are to be temperate, dignified, sensible, sound
in faith, in love, in perseverance.”
5th older men are to
be…“2 (sound) in
love,”
“2 (sound) in love,” G26.
agaph agape ag-ah'-pay;
from 25;
love, i.e. affection or benevolence; specially (plural) a love-feast:-- (feast
of) charity([-ably]), dear, love.
They are to be healthy in love towards all, especially
towards God.
Remember that Paul says if we do great works but have not
love, we have done nothing (1Corinthians 13.01-03), he then describes what
love is & isn’t (1Corinthians 13.04-07) & that the greatest
gift of all is love (1Corinthians 13.13)!
The Godly man is obedient to what John said about love. 1John 04.07-21
“2 Older men are to be temperate, dignified, sensible, sound
in faith, in love, in perseverance.”
6th older men are to
be…“2 (sound) in
perseverance.”
“2 (sound) in perseverance.” G5281. upomonh hupomone hoop-om-on-ay'; from 5278; cheerful (or
hopeful) endurance, constancy:-- enduring, patience, patient continuance
(waiting).
Thayer-used in
the New Testament as the characteristic of a man who is unswerved from his
deliberate purpose & his loyalty to faith & piety by even the greatest
trials & sufferings.
A Godly man is one who endures hardship, knows how to handle
disappointments & difficulties, all the while trusting in the LORD.
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