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Titus 2:3-5
Introduction
In Paul's letter to Titus, he reminds Titus and us that Christianity is "truth that leads to godliness" (1:1). It follows then that Christian teaching must do more than communicate true information. It must promote Christian living.
Lawrence O. Richards, The Victor Bible Background Commentary: "1 & 2 Timothy, Titus"
Titus was Paul's trouble-shooter and problem-solver for the churches on the island of Crete. The problem of immature and inconsistent behavior among those who claimed to be Christians seems to have originated from . . .
I. Lack of Qualified Leadership, Titus 1:5-9.
II. The Presence and Influence of False Teachers, Titus 1:10-16.
III. Lack of Good Instruction to Believers Concerning Proper Christian Conduct, Titus 2:1-10; 3:1-3.
(Titus 2:1 NIV) You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine.
The first to receive Paul's attention due to this third issue was. . .
A. The Older Men, Titus 2:1.
(Titus 2:2 NIV) Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance.
The second group to receive Paul's consideration was . . .
B. The Older Women, Titus 2:3-5
(Titus 2:3-5 NIV) Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. {4} Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, {5} to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.
1. What the older women need to be taught:
a. To be reverent (hieroprepes: behavior that reflects one's sacred devotion to God.
Everything about the way they live should communicate that life is a sacred gift and should be lived as a holy offering to God.
(Rom 12:1 NIV) Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship.
b. Not to be slanderers (diabolos = lying accusers as is the Devil)
(John 8:44 NIV) You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
c. Not to be addicted (literally, "enslaved") to wine
It is better to be filled with the Spirit.
(Eph 5:18 NIV) Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.
You might ask why Paul told Titus that the older women were to teach the younger women and not Titus himself. Perhaps we can clarify the issue by just making a list of the top ten ideas of what men know about women:
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10.
And there you have it. It's no longer a mystery.
2. What the older women are to teach the younger women
a. To love their husbands and children.
The word translated "love" in this passage is not "agape" but a combination of another word often translated as love (phileo), and combined with Greek words for husband and children. What is being emphasized is affection. The noun form of this word is translated exclusively as "friend(s)" in the NIV. The young women are therefore to be "friendly" towards their husbands and children.
Jesus was friendly toward children.
(Luke 18:16 NIV) But Jesus called the children to him and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
b. To be self-controlled
Like older men, older women are expected to be led by the Spirit and not by their fleshly passions. With this should be the ability discern that which edifies from that which destroys. They are also to be fair and balanced in their opinions and not given to extremism in thoughts or actions.
c. To be pure
Purity relates to innocence in all areas of life. None of us is innocent, but as we grow in Christ and experience His forgiveness, we become more pure in our actions, thoughts, and motives. It is not what we were that is important, but what we are. What a blessing to know that when we receive God's forgiveness, we can put the past behind us and commit ourselves to live in purity from that point forward.
(Rom 4:7-8 NIV) "Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. {8} Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him."
d. To be busy at home
This is a reminder to young women who have homes that their first responsibility is see that the household functions well. For those who have a choice, it should never be career first and home second so that the responsibilities of wife and/or mother are given to another. God gave you a husband and children so that you could imprint and impact their lives. Husbands are no less required to insure that they do not by default make the mother be father to the children as well when it comes to discipline and spending time with the children.
e. To be kind (Gk., agathos = "good" as opposed to "evil" or "bad")
There is another word in Greek that is more closely related to being "kind" than the one used here. We are to assume, then, that "goodness" is being emphasized. Young women are to be "good" in their intent for all in their household. This would mean that she must give and do what is good for her family and withhold what is not good for them.
f. To be subject to their husbands
To subject one's self to another means to place yourself in proper relationship to someone to support God's plan for both to fulfill His will in a combined task. In this case, it is in matters of "growing" a family.
Even Christ will one day take His assigned place in God the Trnity's rulership of the universe.
(1 Cor 15:28 NIV) When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all.
In some ways, we are all to submit to one another, i.e., to find our place in our church community where we can both receive and be supportive of what God wants to do with each of us and help each other achieve it.
(Eph 5:21 NIV) Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Conclusion
What is the big reason Paul counsels Titus in chapter two to cultivate these distinctively Christian attitudes, actions, and qualities in these people? The answer is given to us in the last phrase of Titus 2:5, "So that no one will malign the word of God."
A Philosopher's View of Christian Women
What women these Christians have! —4th-century pagan philosopher Libanius.
