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.
Applying Titus 2
Titus 2 starts off focusing on what the older men are supposed to do, how they are to act. Then, in likewise manner Paul goes on to say that older women are to so set their minds on God and His Word that they also (hosautos – likewise-in the same way) pursue sound doctrine (have the ability to understand Scripture and rightly divide it), be sober minded (serious, sensible), dignified (having a serious manner worthy of respect), self-controlled (mastery of oneself both physically and emotionally, particularly when faced with provocation or temptation), sound in faith (obeying sound doctrine), sound in love (agape, a love that is focused on others), and steadfastness (immovable, not subject to change, firm in belief, determination, being resolutely or dutifully firm and unwavering).
Older women are to be reverent in behavior (hieroprepēs, the plural of a Greek word which refers to first century women who were revered for being holy in word and deed). They are to not be slanders (not maligning the character of others in any fashion) or slaves to much wine (meaning not to be addicted to wine or controlled by it).
Teachers of what is good
Further, Titus 2 commands that older women are to teach what is good (kalos didaskalos a teacher of that which is noble or honorable) and so train the young women (be actively involved in teaching younger women through word and example) to love their husbands and children (actively teach younger women how to be a lover of their husband and a lover of their children in a Christ-like and unselfishness manner), to be self-controlled (showing self-mastery in her life in all areas of her life), pure (hagnos– free from defilement, holy, sacred, pure inside and out even down to the center of one’s being, not mixed with anything condemnable), working at home (Greek, oikourgous, literally means “workers at home.” Oikos is the Greek word for “home,” and ergon means “work, employment.”), kind (disposed towards doing good to others, to supply wants or needs of others, having a benevolent nature) and submissive to their own husbands (The Greek word is hupotasso meaning to subordinate or put under. God calls women to be submissive to their husband.), that the word of God may not be reviled (to revile means to assail with scornful or abusive language; to vituperate–rebuke or criticize harshly or angrily; berate).
Workers at home
“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.”~John MacArthur
We must ask are we obeying God’s commands to us in Titus 2?
What is truth?
What is truth? That is the question Pilate asked Jesus. But whereas Pilate wasn’t really searching for an answer, we must be. God’s Word is truth and it and it alone is the foundation for our faith and for our lives.
Becoming a Titus 2 older woman ought to be the aim of every woman in the church. Once it was. Feminism has destroyed and undermined our understanding of what God’s will and design is for women. We still believe that it is important for a woman to love her husband and children and to care for her home; what we no longer believe is that they are to be her primary purpose. God’s Word declares that this is the case.
Ladies, those of us who are older have the ability to train a younger generation of women as to the importance of obeying the commands given to us in Titus 2; those who are younger have the chance to learn and apply this teaching and to be an example to other young wives and mothers. May the Lord grant us the desire and wisdom to obey.
Soli Deo Gloria!
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