|
This section of chapter 2 has 3
verses.
Titus 2:3-5
3 The aged women likewise, that they be in
behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers,
not given to much wine, teachers of good things;
4 That they may teach the young women to be sober,
to love their husbands, to love their children,
5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good,
obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God
be not blasphemed.
We will begin with the Barclay:
THE CHRISTIAN CHARACTER
2. THE OLDER WOMEN
The first paragraph is a paraphrase of the verses.
In the same way, you must charge the older women to
be in demeanor such as befits those who are engaged
in sacred things. You must charge them not to spread
slanderous stories, not to be enslaved by
overindulgence in wine. To be teachers of fine
things, in order that they may train the young women
to be devoted to their husbands and their children,
to be prudent, to be chaste, to be home-keepers and
home-minders, to be kindly, to be obedient to their
own husbands, so that no one will have any
opportunity to speak evil of the word of God.
IT is clear that, in the early Church, a most
honoured and responsible position was given to the
older women. Kindly grandmothers are the natural
advisers of the young of both sexes. The older women
to whom the years have brought serenity and sympathy
and understanding have a part to play in the life of
the Church and of the community which is peculiarly
their own.
Here, the qualities which characterize them are
laid down. Their behaviour must be such as befits
those who are engaged in sacred things. As Clement
of Alexandria had it: ‘The Christian must live as if
all life was a sacred assembly.’ It is easy to see
what a difference it would make to the peace and
fellowship of the Church if it was always remembered
that we are engaged in sacred things. Much of the
embittered argument and the touchiness and the
intolerance which all too frequently characterize
church activities would vanish overnight.
They must not spread slanderous stories. It is a
curious feature of human nature that most people
would rather repeat and hear a malicious tale than
one to someone’s credit. It is no bad thing to
resolve to make up our minds to say nothing at all
about people if we cannot find anything good to say.
The older women must teach and train those who are
younger. Sometimes it would seem that the only gift
experience gives to some is that of pouring cold
water on the plans and dreams of others. It is a
Christian duty always to use experience to guide and
encourage, and not to daunt and discourage.
~Barclay commentary
Now to the other commentaries. We will begin with
the general and go to the specific.
This from the Matthew Henry Main:
2. To the aged women. These also must be
instructed and warned. Some by these aged women
understand the deaconesses, who were mostly employed
in looking after the poor and attending the sick;
but it is rather to be taken (as we render it)
of all aged women professing religion. They must be
in behaviour as becometh holiness: both men and
women must accommodate their behaviour to their
profession. Those virtues before mentioned (sobriety,
gravity, temperance, soundness in the faith,
charity, and patience), recommended to aged men,
are not proper to them only, but applicable to both
sexes, and to be looked to by aged women as well as
men. Women are to hear and learn their duty from the
word, as well as the men: there is not one way of
salvation for one sex or sort, and another for
another; but both must learn and practice the same
things, both as aged and as Christians; the virtues
and duties are common.
That the aged women likewise (as well as the men)
be in behaviour as becometh holiness; or as beseems
and is proper for holy persons, such as they profess
to be and should be, keeping a pious decency and
decorum in clothing and gesture, in looks and
speech, and all their deportment, and this from an
inward principle and habit of holiness, influencing
and ordering the outward conduct at all times.
Observe, Though express scripture do not occur, or
be not brought, for every word, or look, or fashion
in particular, yet general rules there are according
to which all must be ordered; as 1 Corinthians
10:31, Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
And Philippians 4:8, Whatsoever things are true,
whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are
just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things
are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if
there be any virtue, and if there be any praise,
think on these things. And here, whatsoever things
are beseeming or unbeseeming holiness form a measure
and rule of conduct to be looked to. Not false
accusers - mē diabolous, no calumniators [to
make false or malicious statements about; slander]
or sowers of discord, slandering and backbiting
their neighbors, a great and too common fault; not
only loving to speak, but to speak ill, of people,
and to separate very friends. A slanderer is one
whose tongue is set on fire of hell; so much, and so
directly, do these do the devil's work, that for it
the devil's name is given to such. This is a sin
contrary to the great duties of love, justice, and
equity between one another; it springs often from
malice and hatred, or envy, and such like evil
causes, to be shunned as well as the effect. Not
given to much wine; the word denotes such
addictedness thereto as to be under the power and
mastery of it. This is unseemly and evil in any, but
especially in this sex and age, and was too much to
be found among the Greeks of that time and place.
How immodest and shameful, corrupting and destroying
purity both of body and mind! Of what evil example
and tendency, unfitting for the thing, which is a
positive duty of aged matrons, namely, to be
teachers of good things! Not public preachers, that
is forbidden (1 Corinthians 14:34, I permit not a
woman to speak in the church), but otherwise
teach they may and should, that is, by example and
good life.
Hence observe, Those whose actions and behaviour
become holiness are thereby teachers of good things;
and, besides this, they may and should also teach by
doctrinal instruction at home, and in a private way.
The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy his mother
taught him. Such a woman is praised, She openeth her
mouth with wisdom, and in her tongue is the law of
kindness, Proverbs 31:1, Proverbs 31:26. Teachers of
good things are opposed to teachers of things
corrupt, or to what is trifling and vain, of no good
use or tendency, old wives' fables or superstitious
sayings and observances; in opposition to these,
their business is, and they may be called on to it,
to be teachers of good things. ~Matthew Henry
Main.
Now to the Matthew Henry Concise. This commentary
covers verses 1-10.
Old disciples of Christ must behave in everything
agreeably to the Christian doctrine. That the aged
men be sober; not thinking that the decays of nature
will justify any excess; but seeking comfort from
nearer communion with God, not from any undue
indulgence. Faith works by, and must be seen in
love, of God for himself, and of men for God's sake.
Aged persons are apt to be peevish and fretful;
therefore, need to be on their guard. Though there
is not express Scripture for every word, or look,
yet there are general rules, according to which all
must be ordered. Young women must be sober and
discreet; for many expose themselves to fatal
temptations by what at first might be only want of
discretion. The reason is added, that the word of
God may not be blasphemed. Failures in duties
greatly reproach Christianity. Young men are apt to
be eager and thoughtless, therefore must be
earnestly called upon to be sober-minded: there are
more young people ruined by pride than by any other
sin. Every godly man's endeavor must be to stop the
mouths of adversaries. Let thine own conscience
answer for thine uprightness. What a glory is it for
a Christian, when that mouth which would fain open
itself against him, cannot find any evil in him to
speak of! ~Matthew Henry Concise.
Now some things from the Biblical Illustrator. The
first two are like the one we did on the aged men.
The aged women
The dangers and duties of women
I. Women have peculiar dangers according to their
age. The older ones are tempted to seek the
excitement of stimulants, or of slander; the younger
ones to instability of affection, to impurity of
life, or other inconsistency of conduct.
II. Women have duties peculiar to their age. The
younger have duties of obedience; the middle-aged
have the cares of home life; the aged have the
instruction of the younger. ~Biblical Illustrator
Religious home life
I. True religion is the foundation of home
happiness.
II. True religion is the secret of domestic
prosperity.
III. True religion at home can alone insure the
esteem and respect of those abroad. ~Biblical
Illustrator
Holiness consists of little duties
Did a holy life consist of one or two noble
deeds—some signal specimens of doing, or enduring,
or suffering—we might account for the failure, or
reckon it small dishonour to turn back in such a
conflict. But a holy life is made up of small
things of the hour, and not the great things of the
age, that fill up a life like that of Paul or John,
like that of Rutherford, or Brainerd, or Martyn. The
avoidance of little evils, little sins, little
inconsistencies, little weaknesses, little follies,
little indiscretions and imprudences, little
foibles, little indulgences of self, little bits of
covetousness and penuriousness [puh-noo r-ee-uh
s, -stinginess], little exhibitions of
worldliness and gaiety, little indifferences to the
feelings or wishes of others: the avoidance of such
little things as these goes far to make up at least
the negative beauty of holy life. And then attention
to little duties of the day and hour in public
transactions, or private dealings, or family
arrangements; to little words, and looks, and tones;
little self-denials and self-restraints and
self-forgetfulness: these are the active
developments of holy life, the rich and Divine
mosaics of which it is composed. What makes yon
green hill so beautiful? blot the outstanding peak
or stately elm, but the bright sward which clothes
its slopes, composed of innumerable blades of
slender grass. It is of small things that a great
life is made up; and he who will acknowledge no life
as great, save that which is built up of great
things, will find little in Bible character to
admire or copy. ~Biblical Illustrator
Note: This gives all of us an added
perspective on our Assiduity praying or putting all
things in the hands of God. This is where we want
God working..."in all the small things of the hour."
Here is another item from the Biblical Illustrator:
Not false accusers.
Rules to avoid false accusing
1. Look to thine own calling and the necessary
duties of it, that so following thine own plough,
thou mayest have no leisure to intermeddle in other
men’s affairs: busy bodies and prattlers [those
who babble] are joined by the apostle.
2. Beware of envy, which is still hatching and
inventing evil: the saying is true, “Malice never
spake well,” but is suspicious, and depraving the
best persons and practices, and is one of the
greatest enemies of truth, in which God’s image
chiefly consisteth.
3. Learn to esteem the good name of thy brother,
the next thing to his life, considering the truth of
that homely speech, that he that wanteth a good name
is half hanged; and there is great reason that those
who would have their names tendered by others should
tender the good name of others, doing as they would
be done unto, which is the golden rule of all
equity.
4. In receiving reports excuse parties absent as
far as well we can, as also facts done, so far as
they may be well interpreted; and where we cannot do
so to advise the reporter to look well unto and
consider himself. ~Biblical Illustrator
Now to the specific commentaries.
They generally break this verse out in 5 parts:
1] And the aged women likewise.
2] That they be in behavior as becometh holiness.
3] Not false accusers.
4] Not given to much wine.
5] Teachers of good things.
1]
And the aged women likewise.
The aged women likewise - Not only those who may
have the office of deaconesses, but all aged
females. ~Barnes Notes
The aged women likewise - I believe elderly women
are meant, and not deaconesses. ~Adam Clarke
And the aged women likewise - Speak also to them
the things which become their profession, and what
is right for them to be, and do: these aged women
design not persons in office, who were ancient
widows, and had some care of the poor; or
presbyteresses, as some call them, the wives of
presbyters or elders, as being distinct from
deaconesses; but godly women in years, who are to be
instructed and exhorted: ~John Gill
2]
That they be in behavior as becometh holiness.
That they be in behaviour as becometh holiness -
Margin “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. ~Barnes Notes
That they be in behaviour as becometh holiness -
That they be in their dress, gait, and general
deportment, such as their holy calling requires;
that they be not like the world, but like the
Church, decent without, and adorned with holiness
within. ~Adam Clarke
That they be in behaviour as becometh holiness - or
"holy women", sanctified by the Spirit of God; and
who are priestesses unto God, as the word may
signify, being made so by Christ unto the Father, as
men are made kings and priests by him; such ought to
be in their clothing, and in their speech, and in
the whole of their conduct and conversation, as
become the character which they bear, and the
profession they make: ~John Gill
3]
Not false accusers.
Not false accusers - - Margin, “make-bates.” Greek,
διαβόλους diabolous - the word commonly applied to
the devil - “as the accuser.” See it explained in
the notes at 1 Timothy 3:11, where it is rendered
slanderers. ~Barnes Notes
Not false accusers - Not devils; we have had the
same expression applied in the same way, 1 Timothy
3:11. ~Adam Clarke
Quoted verse:
1 Timothy 3:11 [see
Lesson]
Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers,
sober, faithful in all things.
Not false accusers - of the brethren, and sisters,
which is to act the part of the devil; and indeed,
the same word is here used which is commonly given
to him; not raising false reports of, bringing false
charges against members of churches, and so making
differences and divisions among them. ~John Gill
4]
Not given to much wine.
Not given to much wine - or serving it, or being
enslaved by it, which is very scandalous in any,
especially in the female sex, and yet was what was
too common in the eastern countries. ~John Gill
5]
Teachers of good things.
Teachers of good things - That is instructing the
younger - whether their own children, or whether
they sustain the office of deaconness, and are
appointed to give instruction to younger females;
see 1 Timothy 5:2-6. ~Barnes Notes
Quoted verses:
1 Timothy 5:2-6 [see
Lesson]
2 The elder women as mothers; the younger as
sisters, with all purity.
3 Honour widows that are widows indeed.
4 But if any widow have children or nephews, let
them learn first to shew piety at home, and to
requite their parents: for that is good and
acceptable before God.
5 Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate,
trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and
prayers night and day.
6 But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she
liveth.
Teachers of good things - both by example and by
instruction, but in their own houses privately; for
they were not suffered to teach publicly, or to
speak in the church; these should be teachers, not
of old wives' fables, of superstitious customs,
rites, and ceremonies, of the intrigues of love, and
of things filthy and obscene, which are too often
handed down to posterity by such persons; but of
things that are solid and substantial, useful and
improving, honest and honourable, chaste and pure.
~John Gill
At the end of putting
this study together, I read it through and pulled
out these four things:
‘The Christian
woman must live as if all life was a sacred
assembly.’
It is
a Christian woman's duty always to use experience to
guide and encourage.
They
must be in behaviour as becometh holiness.
A
holy life is made up of small things of the hour.
These are the lessons of verse 3. |