Kingdom Character (Pt. 2)

Kingdom Character

Titus 2:3–5 (ESV)

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.

Introduction:

On last week we were introduced to the character men must model in the Church. Paul urges Titus to teach the men on the Church to model behaviors that will glorify God.

Today though, the passage leads us to observe the Kingdom character women must exemplify in the Church.

Propositional Statement: When women adhere to the Scripture and faithfully model Godly conduct God will be glorified

Aim: We will adhere to the mandates of God’s word

Christian Women Must Model Virtue (v.3)

Titus 2:3a (ESV)

Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good,

Clause (a) of this verse specifies Paul’s challenge to Titus to teach women in the Church. Paul presents four characteristics of the virtue the aged woman must model. When we speak of virtue, we describe virtue as the conformity of ones life and conduct to moral and ethical principles. The first of the virtues mentioned:

Reverent in behavior = The phrase ἐν καταστήματι ἱεροπρεπεῖς ‘in behavior befitting holy people’ is translated ‘must behave in ways that befit those who belong to God’, It implies that their conduct should be appropriate to their holy calling [Blm, EBC, ICC, TG], like that of people carrying out sacred duties

Not Slanderers = with no scandal-mongering’ , ‘not prone to slander’

Not Slaves to Much Wine = They are not to be addicted to wine. They should not need a drink to get them going and neither should they need one to keep them going.

Teach what is good = teachers of what is good, in order that they may encourage the young women’ is translated ‘By their good example they must teach the younger women’ , ‘they must set a high standard, and school the younger women’

Illustration:

Application: Set an example that represents the Kingdom of God.

Transition:

Christian Women Must Model Compassion for their Family (v.4)

Titus 2:4 (ESV)

and so train the young women to love their husbands and children,

Paul writes of the importance of the aged women in the Church to set the example of what it means to nurture and express love toward their husbands and children.

Paul emphasizes that the aged women must train the younger women.

Train = to instruct in prudence or behavior that is becoming and shows good judgment, encourage, advise, urge

Encourage their husbands

Support their husbands

Provide for their children

Illustration:

Application: Become a mentor and encourager of our young women. Speak lovingly about your husband and about marriage. Give realistic advice about marriage.

Christian Women Must Model Spirituality (v.5 )

Titus 2:5 (ESV)

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.

Look all that we do must honor God. Our life must be lived so that God receives glory. Paul reminds Titus that this is no different for Christian women.

This list should not necessarily be understood as a “to-do” list that young women are to perform. Some of these need to be realized in their cultural context. While loving husbands and children and being self-controlled, pure, and kind are timeless virtues, being busy at home and subject to husbands need to be understood in terms of Roman culture, in which the home was the essential business venture , and everyone was the property of the male householder.

Paul’s point is to not live in such a way as to bring disrepute on God.