This coming Sunday we'll be at Lake Park in Huntington Beach to study the third chapter of the Book of Titus. I hope you can join us! As always please bring a chair, a friend, and your Bible!
Paul's letter to Titus is powerful and compact, filled with instruction for pious living and important Christian doctrine. Its short length makes it great for personal study, but its depth of heavenly wisdom and instruction will impact your life for as long as you walk this earth. That's the power of God's Word.
The one verse I want to look at (and really, just one word) in Titus for this post is Titus 2:3 which says, "The aged women likewise, that they be in behavior as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things." The Greek word here translated "false accusers" is one we are all familiar with.
"False accusers" (which could also be translated as "slanderers") is from the Greek word διαβολους, which sounds like diaboloos and where we get the word "devil." This tells us a couple things:
Slandering someone (Oral communication of false and malicious statements that damage the reputation of another) is a serious offense and Christians should guard their tongue against this sin. We must be careful to not spread harmful gossip or perpetuate lies against someone who may be innocent of the charge. This is much different than calling out heresy which Paul demands in Titus chapter 1.
The devil is an accuser; it is one of his prominent character traits. Revelation 12:10 says, "And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night." The devil accused Job, and is the accuser in Zechariah 3:1 (the LXX has διαβολος). What do YOU think the devil accuses believers of? Perhaps not being good enough? God calls you a Saint, and commands you to serve in His Kingdom. Whose voice will you listen to?
Ellicott's Bible commentary says this: "St. Paul knew well how easily old age yields itself to this temptation. Old age is at times intolerant, censorious, even bitter, forgetful especially of the days of youth; but Christ’s aged saints must use their voice for better things than these."
He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction. - Proverbs 13:3
See you guys on Sunday!
