Titus 2:3-5

January 5, 2010

Tonight, I have studied, in depth, what each of these 3 verses means to me as a wife and mother and woman seeking God's heart. I studied several cross-referenced verses to get a better grasp of God's direction.

Titus 2:3 "the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teacher of good things"

• 1 Timothy 2:9-10...God instructs women to be modest in apparel and adornment, to let their good works be their ornamentation.
• 1 Timothy 3:11...characteristics for wives of deacons: reverent, not slanderous, temperate, faithful in all things.
• Genesis 1:26-27...God specifically states that He made us (man and woman) in his own image.
• 1 Peter 3:3-4...again, God admonishes women to dress modestly and have a gently and quiet spirit.

The summary of the message for Titus 2:3 is the characteristics of a godly woman include modest apparel, good works, reverence, not slanderous, temperate, faithful, a gentle & quiet spirit. Definitely traits I am striving for!

Titus 2:4 "that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children"

• 1 Timothy 5:14...God instructs young widows to remarry so that they might have homes and children.

God's purpose for women is to manage their families and homes. To love their husbands (this is purposefully listed first) and their children and to raise their children in fear and admonition of the Lord.

Titus 2:5 "to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed"

• Roman 2:24...blasphemy & hypocrisy are characterized by pride, vanity, and boasting whereas true faith in God is characterized by humility and thankfulness.
• 1 Corinthians 14:34 & 1 Timothy 2:11...women should not be loud and argumentative in church, but quietly seek knowledge of God's word from their husbands in their homes.
• Ephesians 5:22, Colossians 3:18 & 1 Peter 3:1 &5...wives should submit to their husbands. Even if their husband is not a Christian. By submitting, wives can bring their husbands to faith in Christ, just through their submissive behavior.
• 1 Timothy 6:1...admonishes servants and slaves to obey and honor their masters, even if they (the masters) are not Christians. Again, through their submission and obedience, they can lead the non-believing master to Christ.

This verse enforces the importance of obedience and submissiveness to God and our husbands. This behavior is paramount to the word of God NOT being blasphemed.

So God expects many things from women of faith: submission, obedience, temperance, modesty, faithfulness, and much more. These behaviors do not come naturally or easily and are often not encouraged by the secular world, but are vital to our Christian walk. I continue to pray daily that God changes my carnal nature and gives me the ability and desire to pursue these characteristics in my own life.