Paul’s instructions to Titus in the middle portion of his letter are broken down in order to address various groups within the churches that Titus is working with. First, Paul addressed older men. In this week’s passage, he addresses both older women and younger women.

You can see his encouraging words in Titus 2:3-5:

Paul begins this paragraph with an interesting word: “Likewise.” In the same way, then, Titus is to instruct the older women, and in turn, the younger women. This word seems to be one of Paul’s favorites in the Pastoral letters, indicating a close comparison to what just came before.

In this case, Paul instructed Titus what to each the older men. In the same way, he is to also instruct the older women to be reverent int he way that they live. Paul’s meaning here probably meant women who have families, but whose children are grown have already left the home and begun families of their own. These are women that no longer have children to train. But Paul indicates that simply because they no longer have the role of instructing their own kids on a daily basis does not mean that their work is finished. They can continue to pass on their knowledge to others. In order to do this, they are given four instructions.

Be reverent in the way that they live

In the Classical Greek, the phrase here was often used to describe priestesses as they served in the temples of the pagan gods. They were to be about the sacred things in their worship. This is the only time this phrase is used in the New Testament. Paul’s meaning is likely similar to the classical meaning, yet applied to matters of true worship and faith, instead. These older women were to conduct themselves as if they were priestesses in the temple of God, performing sacred duties.

Not to be slanderers

Other translations render this as “malicious gossips.” In 1 Timothy 3:11, this was used to describe a deacon’s wife.

Or addicted to much wine

Along with the previous item, this may have been a real problem in Crete. Older women had more time on their hands, and wine was a common beverage. It would be a simple thing to become enslaved to the alcohol. Paul instructs Titus to teach these older women to avoid this trap.

But to teach what is good

Paul’s last instruction to the older women is to teach what is good. Some of what this is can be found in the list of what these women are to teach the younger women. Once again, this is the only New Testament occurrence of this word. This does not suggest a formal education of men, since that contradicts what Paul told Timothy in 1 Timothy 2:12. This is more along the lines of advice and instruction that these older women can pass on to younger women.

Teaching the younger women is Paul’s next instructions. However, Titus isn’t given the instruction to do this. The older women are. This is probably to protect Titus from temptation and the appearance of inappropriate relationships. The older women are told to teach the younger women several things.

To love their husbands and children

Two of the primary characteristics of younger women is to love their husbands and to love their children. Our modern notion of love is not as simple as the movies make it out to be. Love takes work. Love takes effort. Many times, we don’t “feel” like loving others, especially our spouses and families. And yet we choose to do so anyway. Again, this instruction may indicate a weakness of the common older women in Crete, so Titus was instructed to counter that.

To be self-controlled

This is the idea of sensibility. The older women are to teach the younger women to be discreet and to be full of wisdom in how they live their lives. This is the same word used of older men in verse 2.

And pure

The younger women are to avoid all immorality. They are to be chaste. This term covers a lot of areas: thoughts, words, actions, even the way the younger women were to dress and conduct themselves in public.

To be busy at home

While there is a textual variant here, and some debate about whether the younger women were to stay at home or be busy at home, the principle is clear. Caring for the home is the idea. In New Testament cultures, most women stayed home, and they had a lot to do there. Paul’s instruction is to give their best in all they did. Today, when many women work outside of the home, their care for their home and family is to be just as strong. Managing the affairs of the household is a task that requires a special touch. The qualities of the Proverbs 31 woman come to mind here.

To be kind

This could also be translated as “good.” Younger women are to be good and beneficial to others, especially those in their own home, but to all that they come into contact with. It is too easy to become careless with our words and become sharp and irritable with others. The older women are to encourage the younger women against such behavior.

To be subject to their husbands

This is perhaps the most difficult of the qualities listed here for the twenty-first century reader to comprehend. Being subject or submissive is not something we deal with well in our culture. Yet it is commanded by Scripture multiple times. The NIV omits the word “own” in this phrase, and it should read “be subject to their own husbands.” It is also in the middle voice in the Greek. This suggests that it should be a continual and voluntary action on the part of the younger women. In no way does this suggest an inferior position for these women. Rather, it displays godliness more clearly.

After all of this, Paul summarizes it with one reason: so that no one maligns the word of God. His desire is that God’s word, and the message of the gospel, will not be dishonored by the actions or the lives of the Cretan women.

Our behavior, visible to everyone around us, can either support or destroy our witness to the world. Our actions and attitudes can either build up our ability to share God’s message, or tear it apart. Paul’s instructions to the older women and the younger women are perfectly applicable to us today. We are to live our lives in such a way that we do not harm or dishonor the message that is of utmost importance.

Question: This list is pretty comprehensive, but can be difficult. Which of these do you struggle with the most? You can leave a comment by clicking here.