“Sound Doctrine” (Part 2)

Older & Younger Women

As Paul continues to relate to Titus the things that are fitting for sound doctrine, he gives him instruction concerning Christian women. He states that older women, who have been in Christ for some time, should have developed in their character certain attributes, as well as rid themselves of some traits that are to be avoided. “Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good” (Titus 2:3).

A godly woman is not to be loud, boisterous, outspoken, rude or crude. She is to be reverent in her behavior. That is, her behavior and conduct should be a reflection of holiness. The word reverent used here in this text bears the idea of the way a priest was to conduct himself while in a sacred place. When considering how a priest would behave while in the temple of God one would hope that he treated God with reverence and respect. This is the way godly women are to conduct themselves in all their behavior.

A godly woman is not to be a malicious gossip. The term malicious gossip comes from just one Greek word (diabolos), which carries the meaning of “one prone to slander, accusing falsely”. Our English word “diabolic” originated from this same Greek word and is defined as “having the qualities of a devil; fiendish; outrageously wicked”. This makes sense when we consider the fact that the devil is the father of all lies and deception (John 8:44). He is also the great accuser who tempts us to sin and tear us away from God (cf. Zechariah 3:1 and Job 1:6-12; 2:1-7). To be involved in gossip, to slander or make false accusations against others, is to be involved in the work of the devil. A godly woman will keep herself far from it.

Furthermore, godly women are not to be enslaved to much wine. Certainly, this passage condemns drunkenness; no argu­ment. But in an age where social drinking has become very popu­lar and acceptable, one might honestly enough enquire whether or not it would be okay if she was only enslaved to a “little” wine. This text does not give permission for social drinking. As faithful children of God we are instructed to “make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts” (Romans 12:14). If it is sinful to be enslaved to much wine it is at the very least flirting with sin if we think we can drink only a little without stumbling over the edge.

The last attribute specifically applied to older women is that they are to teach what is good. An older, godly woman must be a teacher. Certainly, Scripture places some limitations on the role of women in teaching, but it by no means indicates that she should not be able to teach. Consider Priscilla, the wife of Aquilla, who, along with her husband, took Apollos aside and “explained to him the way of God more accurately” (Acts 18:24-28). Though there may be some circumstances when a woman can instruct a man, the primary reason given here why older women are to be teaching what is good is “so that they may encourage young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored” (Titus 2:4-5).

To encourage literally means to “train”. So older women are really called to do much more than simply encourage the younger women to be what they ought to be. They are actually to show them how to be what they ought to be. Older women will not be able to adequately show the younger how “they are to be” if they are not already what they ought to be themselves. Because of this fact, the qualities that follow, which we will primarily attribute to younger women as things “they are to be” according to sound doctrine, equally apply to the older women.

Younger women are to be taught to love their husbands and children. The most common word translated as love in the NT is agapē. This type of love is the kind of love Christ and God have for us. One has this kind of love for another only because they deliberately choose to love them. This is not the type of love being described here in this text. The love here is a derivative of phileō which describes a demonstrative and emotional type of love. Contrary to popular opinion, women are not the only ones who need to know that they are loved. Husbands and children also need to know that they are loved. Certainly though, husbands need to demonstrate love towards their wives (Ephesians 5:25-33) just as children should respect and honor their mothers (Proverbs 31:28).

Young women are also to be sensible: that is, they are to think in a healthy and right way. Just as older men were instructed to be sensible, women, both young and old, need to use sound judgment and make good decisions. After all, the older are to teach the younger how to think in this way.

Furthermore, younger women are to be pure. They are to be free from defilements or any impurities. This means that they must be pure in their speech, conduct, and thoughts as well as their interactions with others. This attribute will also govern the type of apparel that a godly woman chooses to wear. If she is pure, she will make sure that her attire is modest.

Younger women have been given the responsibility to be workers at home. Even though this is not saying that she is forbidden to work outside the home, I am afraid that sometimes we are so quick to point out what this text does not mean that we miss what it does mean. Though it is permissible for a woman to work outside the home [consider Lydia and Priscilla, both godly women, and yet Lydia was a seller of purple fabrics (Acts 16:14) and Priscilla appears to have worked right alongside her husband and Paul at tent-making (Acts 18:2-3)], women should not let their work outside the home interfere with their work in the home. If it does then she needs to give up her work outside the home, because being a worker at home is to be her primary responsibility (1 Timothy 5:14).

Younger women are also told to be kind. They are to have a “good” character, which will lead to the benefit of those with whom they come in contact. They will be disposed to doing good to others, not so that they will reap some benefit for themselves, but so that others will receive what is in their best interest.

Younger women are to be subject to their husbands: that is to say, they are to be submissive and obedient to the leadership of their husbands. Submitting to another can be a very difficult thing to do, whether it is a wife submitting to her husband, an employee submitting to his employer, or a man submitting to the governing authorities of the land, especially when the one in authority is not walking by God’s standard. But regardless, we are to submit, because God has instructed us to do so (cf. Romans 13:1 and Ephesians 6:5-8). When it comes to wives being subject to their husbands, older women are given the responsibility to teach the younger women this attribute.

The end result of both older and younger women being what they ought to be, to develop and possess the character qualities that are in keeping with sound doctrine, is that the word of God will not be dishonored. When people, professing to be children of God, walk in His ways and live by His standard there will be no room for accusations against God or His plan. Are you living up to the standard to which you have been called in Christ? If not, why not?