James Hamilton rightly points out that Paul modeled how the Gospel can be applied to a wide variety of situations.
As I often stress, Titus 2:1 does not say that we we should teach sound doctrine. Rather, we are to preach and teach what accords with or is consistent with sound doctrine. Of course, sound doctrine is basic to this task, but we must go a step further and show how sound doctrine works out in life.
James Hamilton, Jr. stresses that Paul practiced what he preached; he preached to his listeners what was consistent with the truth. (The below words are Hamilton’s, though I have broken the paragraph into bullet points).
One of the most remarkable features of the thirteen letters of Paul in the New Testament is the stability of Paul’s theological positions, which are so flexibly applied to a wide variety of circumstances.
- In Romans Paul proclaims his gospel to a church he has not visited, and it is perhaps his most important theoretical theological statement . . .
- In 1 Corinthians he applies the same gospel he proclaims in Romans to specific problems in the Corinthian church’s life, answering direct questions they have posed.
- In 2 Corinthians the power of God in weakness is heralded against an ongoing problem with a worldly perspective in the Corinthian church,
- and in Galatians Paul shows how the gospel cannot be mixed with works of the law.
- Ephesians celebrates the glory of God in the church.
- Philippians celebrates life as Christ and death as gain, in conformity to the one who made himself nothing and obeyed unto death.
- Colossians holds up the glory of Jesus to woo the church from human traditions, philosophy, and empty deceit.
- Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians features the way Christians imitate Jesus in joyful reception of the word of God in much affliction.
- In 2 Thessalonians Paul assures the church that Jesus will come in glory to save them and judge their enemies.
- Paul’s first letter to Timothy calls him to silence false teaching and preach the true gospel that produces orderly, God-honoring relationships.
- In his second letter to Timothy Paul encourages Timothy to join him in suffering for the gospel in the strength of grace given before the ages began.
- Paul encourages Titus to appoint elders who will teach sound doctrine and refute false teachers,
- and he calls Philemon to live out the gospel by receiving Onesimus as a brother.” James M. Hamilton, Jr., God’s Goory in Salvation Through Judgment, page 448.
