The “young women” are to be taught by the “aged women” “to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet,” (Titus 2:4-5) but having studied these points in article number four, we now turn our attention to the following: “chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands” (verse 5). In these words, we get a look at “God’s young woman!”
First, Paul wrote that the “aged women” are to teach the “young women” to be “chaste.” This is sure not a word we hear much these days! The Greek word is “hagnos.” This Greek word, in all its forms, appears about 235 times in the New Testament. So, you are thinking that you have not read this word “chaste” anywhere near 235 times and this is true, that the English word “chaste” does not appear anywhere near 235 times. So, what is the answer? It is that the Greek word is translated into other English words, but it has the basic meaning in each case! This is the case in 1 Peter 1:23: “Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth …” The word “purified” is the Greek word “hagnizo;” and in 1 Peter 1:16 it is translated into the English word “holy, as in: “Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy (saith the Lord, frw).” Now you are getting the idea. However, you may be questioning this, as you recall the word “chasteneth” and “chastening” in Hebrews chapter twelve, verses five through eight. In these verses, there is a different Greek word used; therefore, the meaning is different. The basic meaning in each passage is the same, 1 Peter 1:23 and 1 Peter 1;16, has the same word! The basic meaning of “hagios” is “set apart by (or for) God, holy, sacred.” In other words, to be “chaste, as used by Paul in our text, is to be set apart for God’s use! Is there a higher calling, than to be “holy,” set apart in service to God?
The second words are “keepers at home,” which is the Greek, “oikouros” and means: “a stayer at home, that is, domestically inclined (a good housekeeper): “keeper at home.” These words fly in the face of the modern woman, but we are not writing about the “modern” woman but “God’s woman!” Yes, we have at least one case of a woman working outside the home in the New Testament; such as Lydia in Acts sixteen, verse fourteen and the Greek word used in this text is “porphuropolis” and means: “a female trader in purple cloth.” Here is a woman who was in the business of “trading in purple cloth!” Nevertheless, may we say that one of the first training, (teaching) that the “aged women” are to give the “young women” is that of “keeper at home.” Please allow me to say once more, American women are not teaching, training, the young women in their charge to be ladies! One of the main objectives of the “feminist movement” is to make our young women, from the cradle to adulthood, into men! “Anything a man can do a woman can do!” Today we have an effort to destroy, to abolish, gender identity! We have more sex changes and young boys thinking they are girls, and young girls who think they are boys! How many families are teaching their young girls to become “keepers at home?” Mothers train your young girls to be “keepers at home!”
Third, the apostle uses the word “good,” the Greek word is “agathos” and it means and here it is necessary that we get the best, the fullest understanding of the word that can be expressed in one short paragraph but give thought to the following. Thayer gives us the following: 1) “of good constitution or nature,” 2) “useful, salutary,” 3) “good, pleasant, agreeable, joyful, happy,” 4) “excellent, distinguished,” and 5) “upright, honourable.” Keep in mind, we are charged by James in these words, “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin” (James 4:17). Remember, Jesus went about doing good (Acts 10:38)!
Fourth, Paul gives us the words “obedient to their own husbands.” Let us, due to space, look at one word, “obedient,” which the Greek “hupotasso” and it means: “to arrange under, to subordinate.” Talk about a word that is so quickly dismissed, looked at in abhorrence, and detestable, this is the word when used with a husband and his wife! Yet, this same apostle wrote these words: “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, … For the husband is the head of the wife, …” (Eph. 5:22-23). Let us take this one more step, as the apostle then revealed the manner, yes, the manner of this “obedience,” is “as unto the Lord” (Eph. 5:22). Enough said!
This writer is fully aware that many women (so do men) totally reject the New Testament as a standard, as the authority, that we must live by, but this rejection does not change the truth! “God’s woman” accepts and lives by the words of the apostle Paul, as he was guided by the Holy Spirit as he penned the words.
Frank R. Williams