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I. A NAME OF ADORNMENT FOR THE GOSPEL. "The doctrine of God our Saviour."

1. It sets forth its greatness: "doctrine of God."

(1)  Our fall, ruin, sin, and punishment were great.

(2)  Our salvation and redemption are great.

(3)  Our safety, happiness, and hopes are great.

2. It sets forth its certainty. It is "of God."

(1)  It comes by revelation of God.

(2)  It is guaranteed by the fidelity of God.

(3)  It is as immutable as God Himself.

3. It sets forth its relation to Christ Jesus: "of God our Saviour."

(1)  He is the author of it.

(2)  He is the substance of it.

(3)  He is the proclaimer of it.

(4)  He is the object of it. The gospel glorifies Jesus.

4. It sets forth its authority.

(1)  The whole system of revealed truth is of God.

(2)  The Saviour Himself is God, and hence He must be accepted.

(3)  The gospel itself is Divine. God's mind is embodied in the doctrine of the Lord Jesus, and to reject it is to reject God.

II. A METHOD OF ADORNMENT FOR THE GOSPEL.

1. The persons who are to adorn the gospel. In Paul's day, bond servants or slaves; in our day, poor servants of the humblest order. Strange that these should be set to such a task! Yet the women slaves adorned their mistresses, and both men and women of the poorest class were quite ready to adorn themselves. From none does the gospel receive more honour than from the poor.

2. The way in which these persons could specially adorn the gospel.

(1)  By obedience to their masters (ver. 9).

(2)  By endeavours to please them: "please them well."

(3)  By restraining their tongues: "not answering again."

(4)  By scrupulous honesty: "not purloining" (ver. 10).

(5)  By trustworthy character: "showing all good fidelity."

3. The way of adornment of the doctrine in general.

(1) Adornment, if really so, is suitable to beauty. Holiness, mercifulness, cheerfulness, etc., are congruous with the gospel.

(2) Adornment is often a tribute to beauty. Such is a godly conversation: it honours the gospel.

(3) Adornment is an advertisement of beauty. Holiness calls attention to the natural beauty of the gospel.

(4) Adornment is an enhancement of beauty. Godliness gives emphasis to the excellence of doctrine.

(C. H. Spurgeon.)

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KJV: Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again;

WEB: Exhort servants to be in subjection to their own masters, and to be well-pleasing in all things; not contradicting;