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1 You, however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine. 2 Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance. Titus 2:1-2

Some friends of mine and I were discussing this passage. Paul had just finished talking about in Titus 1 the "detestable, disobedient, and unfit" Cretans. We were in conflict about whether Titus 2:1 was simply a conclusion of these ideas, or whether the "sound doctrine" refers to Paul's enumerations in the rest of Titus 2 of the roles of various people.

I saw this question which clarified a bit about what constitutes "sound doctrine", but I'm still not sure whether the rest of Titus 2 is a part of this.

Can someone clarify the original intention of the text here?

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  • @SteveTaylor I think my question was more specific than that question (the answered I selected below doesn't really appear on that page), but I recognize that most people searching for Titus 1 are probably wondering about "sound doctrine" more broadly. I'll mark this as duplicated for that reason. – Jack Guy Jan 3 '17 at 15:50
  • I do agree with you, the two are somewhat different in scope, but I just don't think they're different enough to warrant separate questions. I've added a new answer to the other question which expands on Revelation Lad's answer, which you've accepted. – Steve Taylor♦ Jan 3 '17 at 15:58
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The confusion stems from how the NIV translates the passage. Here the King James makes the original clearer:

But speak (λάλει) thou the things which become sound doctrine: That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. (Titus 2:1-2 KJV)

The meaning of λάλει is to speak or proclaim Strongs 2980.

So the instruction is to speak (V1) the things which follow. In this case the "sound doctrine" are those things which follow.

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