TITUS 2: But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine. 2 Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. 3 Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, 4 and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. 6 Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. 7 Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, 8 and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us. 9 Bondservants are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, 10 not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.

11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

In our American memory-verse world, few Christians bother with reading texts of God’s word in context. Thus, the “Beam me up, Scotty!” crowd grabs onto “waiting for our blessed hope” as a tag-line for their extra-biblical doctrine in which God whisks them away from Earth, leaving their clothes, cars, and mid-air airplanes behind, lest they suffer God’s wrath (Link, read). Apparently, they do not trust the Blood on their door posts.

Corrie ten Boom:

The New International Greek Testament Commentary gives this section from Titus the headline “Motivations For Appropriate Conduct”

And the primary motive driving our “obedient response,” is that “we look expectantly for the hope and glory of the Second Coming of ‘our Savior Jesus Christ.’”

Titus Two begins “teach what is in accord with sound doctrine…” Its purpose is to illicit “our obedient response”

“…as to how we should live ‘in the present age.’”

“We live from the vantage point of ‘expectantly awaiting’ and ‘looking forward to’ Christ’s appearing.” [Expectantly waiting] “has as its object two nouns [Grk] ‘hope,’ and [Grk] ‘appearing’…”

“Paul uses the concept of ‘hope’ of the expectancy that Christians have for the unseen and sure, but not yet realized…Paul speaks of this hope in 1 Thess. 4:13-18…Christ’s return...”

“The ‘hope’ and the ‘appearing’ are one event…Jesus’ second appearance…”

“Jesus’ second coming.”

Verse 11 pointed to Christ’s First Appearing in the Incarnation, bringing salvation. Verse 13 points us to His future Appearing in Glory, bringing consummation.

Therefore, be “a people for himself…zealous for good works” based on “sound doctrine.”

Quotes from The New International Greek Testament Commentary, Titus, George W. Knight III, Eerdmans, 1992.