The duties of aged women and young women. As woman had attained through Christianity a position of equality beside man, it was necessary to remind her that her new position involved serious responsibilities. I. THE DUTIES OF AGED WOMEN . 1. In demeanor as becometh holiness. 2. Not slanderers. (a) separate friends ( Proverbs 16:28 ); (b) inflict deadly wounds in character ( Proverbs 18:18 ); (c) bring dishonor on the gospel; (d) and cause... read more
Train for teach … to be sober, A.V. Train ( σωφρονίζωσι ); only here in the New Testament, not found in the LXX ., but common in classical Greek in the sense of to " correct, " "control," or "moderate," which is its meaning here. Ellicott renders it "school". The A.V. "teach to be sober" is manifestly wrong. To love their husbands ( φιλάνδρους εἷναι ); here only in the New Testament, not found in the LXX ., but occasionally, in this sense, in classical Greek. To... read more
Counsels to young women. Here there are what may be termed "instructions" to the aged women as to the counsels to be given by them to the young women. Such authority does the gospel give to age; such reverence and respect for age does it expect from young women. Nations deteriorate in character whenever youth becomes insolent in its own independence, and resentful of authority. I. SOBRIETY , or wisdom; that calm quietude of heart and mind which is not intoxicated by vanity, or... read more
Sober-minded for discreet, A.V.; workers for keepers, A.V. and T.R.; kind for good, A.V.; being in subjection for obedient, A.V. Sober - minded ( σώφρονας ); as in Titus 2:2 and Titus 1:8 ; 1 Timothy 3:2 . "Discreet" is nearer the sense than "sober-minded." Perhaps the French sage is nearer still. Workers at home ( οἰκουργούς , for the T.R. οἰκουρούς ) . Neither word occurs elsewhere in the New Testament or in the LXX ., nor does ... read more
That the aged men - All aged men - for there is no reason to suppose that the apostle refers particularly to those who were in office, or who were technically elders, or Presbyters. If he had, he would have used the common word - πρεσβύτερος presbuteros - “presbyter” (see Matthew 15:2; Matthew 16:21; Matthew 21:23; Matthew 26:3, Matthew 26:47, Matthew 26:57, Matthew 26:59; 1 Timothy 5:1, 1 Timothy 5:17, 1 Timothy 5:19; Titus 1:5; James 5:14; 1 Peter 5:1), instead of the unusual word -... read more
The aged women likewise - Not only those who may have the office of deaconesses, but all aged females.That they be in behaviour as becometh holiness - Marg, “holy women.” The Greek word is not found elsewhere in the New Testament. It means appropriate to a sacred place or person, or becoming to religion. Their conduct should be such as the gospel requires.Not false accusers - - Margin, “make-bates.” Greek, διαβόλους diabolous - the word commonly applied to the devil - “as the accuser.” See it... read more
That they may teach the young women to be sober - Margin, “wise” - a word similar to that which in Titus 2:2 is rendered “temperate,” and in 1 Timothy 3:2, “sober.” The meaning is, that they should instruct them to have their desires and passions well regulated, or under proper control.To love their husbands - φιλάνδρους philandrous. This word occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. In Ephesians 5:25, Paul directs husbands to love their wives, and in Ephesians 5:33, the wife to reverence her... read more
To be discreet - The same word rendered, in Titus 2:2, “temperate,” and explained in Titus 2:4.Chaste - Pure - in heart, and in life.Keepers at home - That is, characteristically attentive to their domestic concerns, or to their duties in their families. A similar injunction is found in the precepts of the Pythagoreans - τὰν γὰρ γύναικα δεῖ οἰκουρεῖν καὶ ἔνδον μένειν tan gar gunaika dei oikourein kai endon menein. See Creuzer’s Symbolik, iii. 120. This does not mean, of course, that... read more
Titus 2:1-2. The apostle, having directed Titus to ordain elders in every city, and described the character and qualifications of the persons he was to invest with that office in the church; also having laid open the bad character and evil practices of the Judaizing teachers and their disciples in Crete, and ordered him to rebuke them sharply, he now proceeds to give him a short view of the duties of his office as superintendent both of the teachers and of the people in that island. But... read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Titus 2:3
Aged Christian women. "The aged women likewise." Our "behavior" is a sign of our character. We cannot hide the "roots" of our life. Weeds or flowers soon appear upon the earth. I. HOLY WOMEN . Not sanctimonious, or stiff, or prudish; but holy. Never suffering irreverence to characterize their speech, levity to mark their looks, or folly to appear in their dress or demeanor. Holy, so that their quiet fellowship with God may affect their influence, and the enjoyment of the "earnest... read more