The Inseparable Link Between Teaching and Living
the word of God may not be reviled... in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior."
Titus 2:1-3, 5, 10, ESV The Inseparable Link Between Teaching and Living Paul's command to Titus is clear: "teach what accords with sound doctrine." The phrase "accords with" is from the Greek prepei , which means to be fitting, proper, or consistent with. There is a kind of life that is fitting for, that properly belongs to, sound doctrine. Doctrine has a corresponding ethic. It is not merely taught; it is to be adorned. The word
"adorn" is kosmeo , from which we get the word cosmetics. It means to put in order, to arrange, to make attractive. The lives of believers are to put the doctrine of God on display. They are to arrange themselves in such a way that the beauty and order of Gospel truth is visible to a watching world.
This is why Paul immediately moves from the command to teach doctrine to specific instructions for every demographic in the church: older men, older women, younger women, younger men, and bondservants. He is not changing subjects. He is showing what "accords with" sound doctrine.
A man who is sober-minded, dignified, and self-controlled is a living demonstration of the doctrine of God's sovereignty and the doctrine of