Calvin (7/8/03)

2:3

Women tend to continue to dress for youth even in their old age. Paul's message to them is to show by their dress that they are indeed godly women. "Talkativeness is a disease of women, and it is increased by old age." Too often, this is made worse by the felt need to attack the character of those being discussed. Thus, the chatter of old women destroys many a house. Where they indulge themselves with drink, they become unbecoming and wanton.

2:4a

It is not enough that their own life be decent, they have purpose in training those youth who come behind them. As with the men, the women also stand as examples to those still filled with the fire of youth. As with men, their deeds as much as their actions ought to teach holiness of life.

 

 

 

Matthew Henry (7/8/03)

2:3

The aged women require instruction and warning just as much as the men. This is not to be taken as a reference to deaconesses, but rather a reference to all older women of faith. As with the men, their example, their behavior must be consistent with their profession of belief. All the qualities enjoined upon the old man are equally applicable here. The way of salvation is the same for both sexes. Their dress and gesture, their appearance and speech ought all to proclaim the inner habit and principle of holiness. Such inner condition ought always to order our outward conduct. Scripture may not address every specific of fashion, but the general rules laid out within its pages suffice for us to understand what it is to be well ordered. (1Co 10:31 - Whatever you eat, drink, or do, do it all to God's glory. Php 4:8 - Let your thinking be upon what is true, honorable and right, what is pure, lovely, and reputable. Where there is excellence and worth in a matter, let your mind dwell upon that.) That same rule ought apply to our conduct in all things. Where there is a love of speaking, it is too often accompanied by a love of speaking ill of people. Slander such as this is, comes from one whose tongue bears the fires of hell. Such talk stands opposed to love, justice, and equity, coming instead from malice, hatred, and envy. The causes ought to be shunned just as much as the effects. The Greeks of that age had a particular reputation for drinking excessively, leading to immodest and shameful thought and behavior. What poor example to set for the youth who watch us! The older woman has a purpose to fulfill in teaching the younger of good things. This is not a public preaching, but a personal teaching. (1Co 14:34 - Women ought be silent in the church, not permitted to speak, but to be subject of their own accord, even as the Law says.) Though the office be off limits, yet they ought to teach in all manners allowed them, both by example and by a good life. "Those whose actions and behavior become holiness are thereby teachers of good things." And, assuredly, they should provide doctrinal instruction in the home. (Pr 31:1 - This is the prophecy King Lemuel's mother taught him. Pr 31:26 - She speaks wisdom, and her words teach kindness.) Indeed does Scripture celebrate and praise the woman who teaches good things. How vile those who teach the opposite, corruption and vanity, superstitions and tales, matters of 'no good use or tendency.'

2:4a

Their teaching role is of particular import in the lives of the younger women about them. These, they are called to teach because their access to such youths is better than even the minister can have. Of particular import is their teaching of young wives, as to their duties to husband and children.

 

 

Adam Clarke (7/9/03)

2:3

In all their ways, the elderly woman should behave as their calling requires; not like the world, but like the church. They should eschew outward decoration in favor of the inner adornment of holiness. The word used for false accusers, or malicious gossips, is diabolous, devil. (1Ti 3:11 - Women, as men, should be dignified, not malicious gossips; rather they should be temperate, and faithful in all things.) "Habit is a species of slavery." Both in Rome and in Greece, it was noted that elderly women liked their wine. Such an addictive use of what may be socially accepted remains unacceptable to the Christian. (1Ti 5:23 - Don't restrict yourself to water alone, for a little wine may help your stomach and other ailments.)

2:4a

It is natural for the young to imitate the old. Thus, there is necessity for the old to set a godly example for the young. To succumb to drunkenness would make it impossible to teach godliness to the young. As Jerome points out, they can hardly be expected to remain chaste, if they have been taught to drink to such excess as makes chastity unlikely.

 

 

 

Barnes' Notes (7/9/03)

2:3

Again, the application is to all women of age, not just those of office. Their conduct ought be such as is to be expected of things sacred, such as is required by the gospel. The word used to describe false accusers is the word used of the devil in his role as the accuser of the brethren. (1Ti 3:11 - Women should also be dignified, not gossips, temperate, and faithful.) They have a holy calling upon them to teach the younger women, whether their own, or others. (1Ti 5:2-6 - Treat the older women as mothers, and the younger as sisters, all in purity. Honor true widows, but those widows who have children or grandchildren should be lessons to their own families first. Let their own families practice piety by treating their widows well, for God approves of this. As to the true widow, she is alone in the world and hoping on God in constant prayer. If such a one gives herself to chasing wanton ways, she is dead even though she still breaths.)

2:4a

A few versions make reference to teaching these young women to be sober, or wise. Where noted, the word is similar to that used of the older men in Titus 2:2, and in 1Timothy 3:2 (The overseer must be above reproach, single in marriage, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, and capable in teaching.) In other words, these youth ought to be instructed in how to regulate desire and passion.

 

 

 

Wycliffe (7/9/03)

2:3-2:4a

Paul places emphasis on the foundation of the home. His instruction to women here is along the lines of Proverbs 31:10-31. "The honor of the Word of God is the supreme sanction for right conduct."

 

 

 

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown (7/9/03)

2:3

Behavior encompasses all that is expression: movements, faces, words, even silences; all should be such as befits a priestess of God, for such all Christian women are. (Eph 5:3 - Don't allow immorality, impurity, or greed to be so much as declared among you, for this is proper among saints. 1Ti 2:10 - Women who claim godliness should be adorned by their good works, [not the decorations of worldly dress.]) Slander is a 'besetting sin of elderly women.' Drink is the besetting sin of the Cretans. (Ti 1:12 - Their own writers describe them as constant liars, evil beasts, and lazy gluttons.) Addiction is slavery. (Ro 6:16 - Don't you realize that to become a slave of obedience to someone, you are slaves indeed? You will, then, be slaves either to sin leading to death, or to obedience leading to righteousness. 2Pe 2:19 - Such men promise you freedom even though they are themselves enslaved to corruption. A man is enslaved by that which overcomes him.) Women are to teach, but privately rather than publicly. (1Co 14:34 - Women ought to be silent in the church. They are not permitted to speak, so let them be subject in accord with the Law. 1Ti 2:11-12 - Women should be submissive, receiving instruction in quietness. I do not allow women to teach or have authority over a man, but require them to remain quiet.) The older woman is tasked with teaching the younger both by precept and by example.

2:4a

Teach them to be sober, self-restrained, discreet, and temperate. (Ti 2:2 - Older men should be temperate, dignified, and sensible. They ought to be well established in faith, love, and perseverance.)

 

 

 

New Thoughts (7/10/03)

Paul addresses this bit of instruction to the older women, but again we must bear in mind that he is simply giving specific application to the general principle of sound doctrine. My teacher in our church's class on doctrine was particularly fond of saying that "doctrine is what you do, not what you say." I've thought often about that statement, finding it to be only partially right. In light of this present context, though, it makes a great deal of sense. In truth, sound doctrine is not necessarily either of these things. Sound doctrine, true doctrine, is not made sound and true by our acknowledgement of it, but is sound and true because it is founded upon the Truth of the God who is Righteous and True.

The point of Kerry's statement was not that truth is what we do, rather than what we say. The point is that our beliefs are more reliably shown by our actions than by our words. If it is our doctrine of which we are speaking, then I would say that statement stands up. Our doctrine is the description of our beliefs, right or wrong. The way we choose to describe them can be filled up with all manner of lies and flatteries. We may even manage to delude ourselves into thinking our descriptions of our beliefs to be the truth of the matter. Certainly, we can manage to fool those whose only contact with us are brief encounters dominated by our speech making. But it's the longer record of our actions, the consistent testimony of our actions that will tell the truth of the matter.

Actions cannot help but reflect what we truly believe. It is for that very reason that Paul is so deeply concerned with our actions. What do our actions say about us? They assuredly tell the truth, but what is that truth telling to those who see us? Repeatedly, Paul has made the point that the elders, whether intentionally or not, whether appointed to the office or not, are teachers. By simple association, they teach the youth around them by their example. Paul is looking for those whose example can stand in the light. He is looking for those who will teach good things by their example.

Matthew Henry puts it this way, "Those whose actions and behavior become holiness are thereby teachers of good things." If your actions and behavior are such as become the holy person, it is because your faith and belief are founded upon the truths of holiness. It is not enough that action and belief should align. Yes, it can happen that this alignment doesn't exist, but that is a state of madness. In the sensible person, whether belief is sound or not, action will follow belief. As I said, that in itself is not enough. There is another critical matter to be dealt with. Our faith must align with sound doctrine, with Truth. Only then, when our belief is solidly built on the precepts of Truth, will our actions teach holiness. Only then can we stand as examples to those who follow.

That's what Paul is looking for in Crete. That's what the Church is looking for today. That's what society is looking for, though they may not clearly understand it. They are looking for those who not only claim the truth, but live it. They are looking for those who live out their beliefs, whose lives display the power of Truth. Jesus told His disciples that they would be His witness in the world. That task is still ours today. How was that witness to go forth? Quite simply by the walking examples of true faith, true belief, true life. In essence, Jesus looked upon His small group of students, and said "stand as examples." Today, He looks upon the ranks of His Church and says the same, "stand as examples."

There is a particular aspect of this that Paul is concerned with in these instructions. He is looking for those who know how to regulate their desires and passions. Several commentators pointed out the reputation that both Greek and Roman culture had for feeding their passions. The Roman orgies are still renowned examples of this. The Greek Bacchanalia was a religion founded on the concept of feeding ones passions. How great was the need for those who would show a better way! How needful this is for our present day! We live in a society once more devoted to the satisfaction of desire, once more caught up in slavish pursuit of passion.

The drug culture that has pervaded our land for the last several decades is one dark example of this. The thriving sex industry is a darker example still. But there are examples less dark, yet equally deadly to the soul. We need look no further than commerce to see it. So many companies have been taken down of late by a leadership that was enslaved to satisfying their desire for profit at the expense of legitimacy. For that matter, the whole industry of marketing is nothing more than an appeal to our desires and passions. We have, by and large been hooked on entertainments, on distractions. We have been taught that life is all about satisfying our desires and pursuing our passions.

In such a society, many look at Christianity and see a system that demands a total rejection of desire and passion. Think of the typical miscomprehensions of Calvinism, of the Puritan ethic that found its home on the shores of this nation. They are seen as a dour lot, devoid of all power of enjoyment in life. This is not what is being called for. The message of Scripture is not an absolute denial of desire, a total submersion of all passion. No, it calls for a regulation of desire and passion. It calls for desires and passions controlled rather than in control. It calls for us to first and foremost train our desire upon appropriate pursuits, and then to pursue them with passion. Seek first the kingdom of God. This is no more than to seek our heart's desire, or at least it ought not to be.

If belief is in line with sound Truth, that will be our desire - to pursue the righteousness that is the birthright of the children of God. If belief is in line with sound Truth, we will be passionate in our pursuit of holiness. We will assuredly have desires and passions. To be Christian is not to be inhuman. We will know the whole range of human experience and emotion, even as Jesus did. He knew, He experienced, yet He did so without sinning. Jesus had his passions. We see them displayed in the courts of the Temple, when He threw out the money changers and the sellers of sacrifices. He was consumed by passion, according to Scripture, but it was not passion for the satisfaction of the flesh. No, He was consumed with passionate zeal for the House of the Lord. He was wholly focused on the concerns of the Kingdom, and of making certain that no law of man presented obstacles to those seeking to enter that House.

We humans are creatures of habit. We are uncomfortable with anything that is not habit. When we are forced to do what is out of the ordinary for us it produces great discomfort. We will remain in that state of discomfort until either we are allowed to return to our more ordinary pursuits, or until the new way is established as habit. Adam Clarke writes that "habit is a species of slavery." How true! If you doubt it, just try to break free of an established habit. It needn't be a 'bad' habit. Consider your typical morning routine. Try to change it just a little. It's a hard thing! For that matter, try to establish a new, 'good' habit in your life. It takes a lot of work to do so. It takes a lengthy period of concerted effort to make that habit a habit.

Today, there's a lot of talk about addictive behavior. Lots of folks are running around with this relatively new term displayed as their excuse for what they do. It doesn't wash. We are all, by nature, subject to addictive behavior. It's not some psychological disease, it's part and parcel of being alive. Habit and addiction are synonymous terms. One just sounds uglier than the other. In general, we like to categorize our 'good' habits as habits, and our 'bad' habits as addictions. Hey! It's an addiction! It's not my fault, I just can't help myself. Thus does modern mental medicine seek to make us better. We're no better, we're simply more resigned to our fate.

Scripture, however, forces us to put a more honest face on the issue. Habit and addiction are one and the same, and both are equally matters of slavery. Peter puts it this way: "By what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved" (2Pe 2:19b). It's that simple. If you can't help it, you've been overcome. If you've been overcome, you've been enslaved. The Jews shouted down Him who showed them the Truth, saying that they had never been slaves. Untrue. Every man is a slave to something. When you fall into automatic obedience to something or someone, you are slaves indeed, wrote Paul (Romans 6:16a).

This is not necessarily a bad thing. Consider: the apostles were proud to declare themselves slaves of Christ, willing slaves. Paul opens most, if not all of his letters with that joyous declaration. "I am a bond-servant of God." I am enslaved to His courts. David declared that he would prefer to be a gatekeeper in the house of the Lord than to live out his days outside of the courts of heaven. These are good things. It is a joy to be bound in service to our loving Lord and Master. It is a good thing to be addicted to the ways of righteousness. You become a slave to that one whom you obey, you are enslaved by that which overcomes you. That is the testimony of Scripture. Paul continues, in Romans 6:16, to tell us that we face a choice. We will either continue being slaves to our sins, a slavery that can only lead to our death, or we will become slaves to obedience, slaves to the Lord our God, which can lead only to righteousness. There is no third option. There is no man who can walk this life truly claiming 'I have never been a slave.'

The question is simple. What has overcome you? Are you overcome by lust and avarice? Are you overcome by habits of iniquity? Or has the Holy Spirit overcome you, indwelt you and changed who you are? You are most assuredly the slave of someone. Can you, with Paul and Peter, declare proudly and honestly, "I am a slave of God"? If you call Him Lord and Master, how can you do otherwise?

Holy Father, You know it is with fear and trepidation that I come to this subject. You know and I know that there are those habits, addictions to death, that I still cling to. Why, Lord? I am, or at least I desire to be, wholly committed to Your purposes. As best I can, this is the path I choose. Yet, I find that as often as not the old habits of the flesh persist. I look to see if I can stand as an example for You, and I find myself wanting. I hear nice testimonies from friends and associates, and I can only think that they don't know me very well. I look upon the frustration that so easily boils up within me, the strong will that seeks to impose itself, and I wonder where You are in that.

How often, my God, have I used that excuse of being one who suffers from addictive behavior? How often have I looked at that truth and not seen the truth? Of course I suffer from addictive behavior. May as well say I suffer from being human. But You, oh Lord, are greater than that which is in the world, that which has trained this flesh to rebellion. Nothing is impossible for You, and You have called me to dwell in that Truth. In light of this word, my Lord, I reiterate the words of that song You gave me, was it last year? "Overwhelm me, overcome me, let Your glory fill this place." Fill this flesh, my God, with Your presence. Overwhelm the walls of resistance that continue to block Your way in me.

God! I hunger to live a life consistent with Your truth. I thirst for the holiness of life that You desire from me. I want to burn with the passion of Your Spirit. Burn off the dross, Holy Father. Complete Your work in this vessel that I may truly stand as an example, not only within the walls of Your house, but wherever You choose to place me. Oh! Be swift to answer me, my Lord, my Master!