Titus 2 womanhood
Titus 2: 1-10, But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine. 2 Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. 3 Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, 4 and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. 6 Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. 7 Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, 8 and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us. 9 Bondservants are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, 10 not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.
The Calling of the Titus 2 Woman
Titus 2 begins by describing the godly character that should mark older Christian men. They are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, steadfast in love, and patient in endurance.
Paul then writes: “The aged women likewise…”
The word translated “likewise” means in the same manner or similarly. Paul is showing that older women, like older men, are to display spiritual maturity, sound judgment, and live lives shaped by sound doctrine. He calls both men and women to godliness within their own roles.
Reverent in Their Behavior
Titus 2: 3, “In behaviour as becometh holiness.” The Greek word translated this way conveys conduct that is reverent, sacred, or appropriate to holiness. An older Christian woman’s faith should be evident in the way she lives and comports herself. Everything about her from her clothing to her words, from the way she speaks to how she relates to her family and others must reflect that she is Christ’s.
Older women must not be false accusers or slanderers. A slanderer damages another person through malicious, careless, exaggerated, or untrue speech. A Titus 2 woman should be trustworthy.
Older women are also commanded not to be enslaved to much wine. A Christian woman must not allow alcohol or any other thing to control or master her. She belongs to Christ and should increasingly display the self-control produced by the Holy Spirit.
Paul then calls older women to be “Teachers of good things.”
Older women are to teach the younger women what it means to love their husbands. A younger woman is to be taught to respect, encourage, be loyal, and loving towards him. She was made for him; he was not created for her.
Younger women are also to be taught to love their children, even if yet unmarried. Maternal love is natural but faithfully expressing that love requires wisdom and self-denial. She might need to be taught practical skills concerning raising children, as well as how to love, teach, and discipline them, and how to join her husband in raising them in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
A younger woman must be taught self-control in all areas of her life: her appetites, emotions, speech, how she reacts, how her time is spent, what she spends money on, and her daily habits. An older woman must teach younger women to respond in wisdom rather than in impulsiveness.
Paul teaches that younger women must be taught purity. This is not only keeping herself sexually pure before marriage but also includes her words, conduct, and manner of dressing. She must be taught to guard her heart and mind from corruption, and to be careful what entertains and who influences her.
Paul calls younger women to be workers at home. The Greek word oikourgous combines the ideas of household and work. It describes a woman who is diligently occupied with the responsibilities of her home. The emphasis is not idleness or confinement. It is faithful labor. A woman’s homemaking is not an interruption to her real work; it is her most important work.
John MacArthur explains: “”One expression in Titus 2 deserves special notice. It is the word homemakers. The Greek word is oikourgous, which literally means “workers at home.” Oikos is the Greek word for “home,” and ergon means “work, employment.” It suggests that a married woman’s first duty is to her own family, in her own household. Managing her own home should be her primary employment, her first task, her most important job, and her true career.”
Such a woman looks well to the needs of her household. No matter what season she is in, the home is central to her life and calling.
The Titus 2 woman is also to be kind. Her words, her actions, all should be done in kindness. She’s not a sassy woman, not short of temper, not selfish, but thinks of others, serves others, speaks kindly to others, and is not marked by resentment, manipulative actions or words, or harshness. She’s not a complainer. She blesses others with her words and her presence.
Paul commands wives to be submissive to their own husbands. Biblical submission is a wife’s willing recognition of the order God has established in marriage. A submissive wife respects her husband’s headship and willingly follows him.
Paul gives a solemn reason for these instructions: Titus 2: 5, “That the word of God be not blasphemed.”
To blaspheme or revile means to speak against, malign, or dishonor. When a woman claims to believe Scripture while rejecting its teaching about marriage, motherhood, homemaking, purity, or submission, she gives others an occasion to mock and revile God’s Word.
Are We Obeying Titus 2?
Each of us must ask honestly: Am I becoming the kind of woman described in Titus 2: 3-5?
Older women should ask:
- Am I reverent in my conduct?
- Am I careful with my speach?
- Am I controlled by anything other than Christ?
- Am I equipped and willing to teach younger women?
- Does my life provide an example worth following?
Younger women should ask:
- Am I willing to receive biblical instruction concerning my life as a wife and mother?
- If an older woman is teaching me practical skills, am I striving to learn them and serve my family?
- Am I learning to love my husband and children as God commands?
- Am I growing in purity and self-control?
- Is my home receiving the attention and labor it deserves?
- Am I kind?
- Do I respect and submit to my husband?
- Am I preparing to one day be a teacher of good things for younger women?
What Is Truth?
Pilate asked Jesus, “What is truth?” God’s Word is truth and it, and not feminism, modern culture, personal preference, popular opinion, or the influence of family and friends, must form the foundation of our faith and lives.
Modern feminism has overall destroyed the church’s understanding of womanhood. Many Christians still agree that loving a husband, raising children, and caring for a home are good things but these are often seen as part the picture, even incidental, rather than the purpose of womanhood. Personal ambition and following one’s heart are often touted as more important than marrying and raising a family unto the Lord. Women are far more likely to be counseled to pursue a career than to purse marriage. This is far from her biblical calling.
Titus 2 restores that clarity. We simply have to take it seriously once again.
A Call to Older and Younger Women
Older sisters, you have an opportunity and a responsibility to teach the next generation. Your age, trials, failures, knowledge, and experience can become tools in God’s hands for the good of younger women. Do not assume that they already know what you know. Do not remain silent because biblical womanhood is unpopular. Teach what is good as prescribed by God.
Younger sisters, seek out faithful older women. Listen humbly. Test everything by Scripture and then put sound teaching into practice.
May the Lord give older women courage and wisdom to teach, and younger women humility and eagerness to learn. May He make us reverent, trustworthy, self-controlled, pure, loving, diligent, kind, submissive, and faithful. And may our lives adorn rather than dishonor His Word.
Soli Deo Gloria!
