Book: The Way of the Word: Chapter 56: Titus: Adorning the Doctrine
- Dr. Layne McDonald
- Jun 9
- 8 min read
If you’ve ever felt like the world around you is sliding into chaos, you’re in good company. When the Apostle Paul wrote his letter to Titus, he wasn’t writing to someone in a peaceful, holy bubble. He was writing to a man stationed on the island of Crete, a place so notorious for its corruption that "to Cretanize" actually became a slang term for "to lie." It was a rough, gritty, dishonest environment.
Yet, it was exactly there that Paul expected the church to shine. He didn’t tell Titus to pull the believers out of the culture; he told him to set the church in order so that their lives would make the Gospel look beautiful to everyone watching.
This is the heart of the letter to Titus. It’s a manual for "Adorning the Doctrine." It’s about how we take the glorious, invisible truths of God and make them visible through the way we work, the way we speak, and the way we treat our neighbors.
The Rugged Frontier of Crete
Imagine being Titus. You’re a trusted protégé of Paul, a man who has seen the Gospel transform cities, but now you’re left on an island known for "evil beasts" and "lazy gluttons" (Titus 1:12). The culture was steep in the mythology of Zeus, in fact, the Cretans claimed Zeus was born and buried on their island, a claim Paul subtly counters by opening his letter with the mention of "God, who never lies" (Titus 1:2). Unlike the fickle, deceptive gods of the Cretans, the God of the Bible is consistent, faithful, and true.
Titus was tasked with a monumental job: organizing a movement of truth in a landscape of deception. This wasn't just about administration; it was about spiritual warfare through character.
Chapter 1: The Power of Presence and Character
Paul begins by getting practical: Titus needed to appoint elders in every city. But notice the criteria. He doesn't look for the most charismatic speakers or the most successful businessmen. He looks for character.
In a culture where lying was a way of life, an elder had to be "above reproach." In a place where "lazy gluttons" were the norm, they had to be "self-controlled" and "hospitable." The leadership of the church was meant to be the first "adornment" of the Gospel. If the leaders didn't look like the Jesus they preached, why would the Cretans ever listen?
Paul is particularly stern about the "circumcision party" and those who were teaching for "shameful gain." These were people using the name of God to line their pockets or stroke their egos. Paul’s response is blunt: "They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works" (Titus 1:16). This is the negative image of adorning the doctrine, it’s "disfiguring" the doctrine. When our lives don't match our lips, we make the truth of God look like a lie.
Chapter 2: The Gospel in the Mundane
Moving into the second chapter, Paul shifts from the leaders to the pews. He addresses everyone: older men, older women, young women, and young men. His message is consistent: sound doctrine must lead to sound living.
He tells the older men to be "sober-minded, dignified, and self-controlled." He tells the older women to be "reverent in behavior." To the young men, he gives a simple but difficult command: "urge the younger men to be self-controlled" (Titus 2:6).
In our modern world, we often think that "ministry" happens on a stage or in a pulpit. But Paul suggests that the greatest ministry happens in the rhythm of daily life. When a young mother loves her children well, she is preventing the word of God from being reviled (Titus 2:5). When a young man controls his temper and his desires, he is putting the Gospel on display.
Adorning the Doctrine: The Slave’s Witness
The most radical part of this chapter is found in verses 9 and 10. Paul speaks to bondservants (slaves). In the Roman world, slaves were often seen as property, not people. They were notoriously expected to be thieves and liars because, in their position, that was often the only way to survive or exert any power.
But Paul gives them a higher calling. He tells them not to "pilfer" but to show "all good faith." Why? "So that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior" (Titus 2:10).
The Greek word for "adorn" is kosmeō. It’s where we get the word "cosmetic." It means to arrange, to decorate, or to make something beautiful. Think of a jeweler setting a diamond. The setting doesn't make the diamond a diamond, the diamond is already precious. But the setting allows the light to hit the stone just right so that its beauty is revealed to everyone who sees it.
When a slave in the first century, someone the world considered "nothing", lived with integrity and faithfulness, they were "setting" the Gospel. Their masters would look at them and think, What is this "doctrine" that makes a man honest when he could easily steal? What is this "good news" that gives a woman peace when she has no rights?
The Engine: Why We Live This Way
If Paul had stopped there, we might think the Christian life is just a list of moral rules. But Titus 2:11-14 is the "engine" of the whole book. This is where Paul explains how we live this way.
"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age..." (Titus 2:11-12).
Notice that it is grace that trains us. We don't clean ourselves up to get grace; grace shows up and starts the cleaning process. This is the distinctiveness of the Gospel. In every other religion, you perform to earn God’s favor. In Christianity, God’s favor (grace) appears in the person of Jesus Christ, and that favor becomes the power that enables us to say "No" to the things that destroy us.
We live godly lives not because we are afraid of a "boss" in the sky, but because we are looking for "the blessed hope": the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ (Titus 2:13). This is the Assemblies of God perspective in its purest form: we are a people of the Word, empowered by the Spirit, living in anticipation of the King's return.
Chapter 3: Public Faith and the Washing of Regeneration
In the final chapter, Paul addresses how we interact with the world at large. He tells Titus to remind the believers to be "submissive to rulers and authorities" and to "be ready for every good work."
This is crucial. Christians in Crete were living under a pagan government. It would have been easy for them to become angry, rebellious, or isolated. But Paul tells them to be gentle and to show "perfect courtesy toward all people."
Why? Because we were once just like them. Paul reminds us: "For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray..." (Titus 3:3). This keeps us humble. We aren't better than our neighbors; we are just rescued.
Paul then breaks into one of the most beautiful summaries of the Gospel in all of Scripture:
"But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior..." (Titus 3:4-6).
This is the "washing of regeneration." It’s the work of the Holy Spirit that makes us new from the inside out. It’s not a superficial change; it’s a total rebirth. This is the foundation for all the "good works" Paul keeps talking about. We don't do good works to get saved; we do them because we are saved and renewed.
Practical Application: How Do You Adorn the Doctrine?
So, what does this look like for us today? Most of us aren't slaves in Crete, but we are employees in corporate offices, students in secular universities, and parents in busy neighborhoods.
Integrity in the "Small" Things: Adorning the doctrine often looks like being the most reliable person in your office. It means not "pilfering" time by scrolling on your phone when you’re being paid to work. It means being the person who doesn't participate in the office gossip.
Grace that Trains: When you face temptation, remember that grace isn't just a "get out of jail free" card. It is a power that trains you. Ask the Holy Spirit to use the grace of Jesus to strengthen your "No" to ungodliness today.
The Goal is Beauty: Ask yourself, Does the way I handle stress, the way I talk to my spouse, and the way I respond to criticism make the Gospel look beautiful? We are the "setting" for the "diamond" of the Gospel.
Avoid Foolish Controversies: Paul ends by telling Titus to avoid "foolish controversies" and "quarrels about the law." In our age of social media outrage, this is a prophetic word. We don't adorn the doctrine by winning every argument; we adorn it by living with a "quiet and peaceable life" marked by good works.
Reflection Questions
If someone only knew the Gospel based on your life this past week, what would they think God is like?
In what specific area of your life: work, family, or social media: do you find it hardest to "adorn the doctrine"?
How does the "blessed hope" of Christ’s return change the way you view your current struggles?
Are you relying on your own willpower to live godly, or are you letting "grace train you"?
What "good work" can you do this week that would surprise someone with the kindness of God?
A Prayer for Adorning the Truth
Heavenly Father, thank You for the grace that has appeared in Jesus Christ. Thank You that You didn't leave us in our "Cretan" mess of lies and selfishness, but You saved us according to Your mercy. Holy Spirit, wash us again today. Renew our hearts and empower us to live lives that are self-controlled and upright. Help us to work, speak, and love in such a way that the doctrine of God our Savior is made beautiful to everyone who sees us. Let us be a people who are zealous for good works, not for our own glory, but for the glory of the One who gave Himself to redeem us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
The Gospel is the most beautiful story ever told. Our job isn't to fix the story, but to make sure our lives don't get in the way of people seeing it. When we live out the truth of Titus, we become the jewelry that displays the splendor of our King.
How will you make the Gospel beautiful to someone today?
About the Author: Layne McDonald, Ph.D.
Dr. Layne McDonald is a dedicated scholar, author, and pastor with a heart for helping people navigate the complexities of faith and culture. With a Ph.D. in leadership and a deep commitment to biblical truth, he specializes in creating resources that bridge the gap between ancient Scripture and modern life. His work is rooted in the Assemblies of God tradition, focusing on the transformative power of the Holy Spirit and the practical application of sound doctrine. Through his books and teaching, Dr. McDonald seeks to disciple believers, strengthen families, and equip leaders to live with eternal purpose.
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