Lessons For Groups – Part 2
(Those At An Elderly Stage / Aged Women)

(Titus 2:3)

Introduction:
  In chapter one Paul’s message to Titus deals primarily with church leadership.  In chapter two, the church laity becomes the primary focus.  

A suggested division for chapter two would be...
			1. Lessons For Groups					vs. 1-10
			2. Lessons Of Grace					vs. 11-16
The springboard for the lessons pertaining to the different groups is found in the first verse.  In contrast to the deceptive and disobedient Cretans, Paul tells Titus, “But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine” (Titus 2:1), that is, speak those things that are suitable for and indicative of healthy instruction.  Paul then lists certain age specific and gender specific lessons that Titus needed to share.  He needed to address...	
a. Those At An Elderly Stage Of Life			vs. 2-3
b. Those At An Early Stage Of Life			vs. 4-6

In our last lesson we considered the Demanded Characteristics Of Aged Men.  Let’s think now about the Desired Conduct Of Aged Women.

(Titus 2:3)  The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;

The word aged in verse 2 and verse 3 is the Greek word presbutes (aged men) or presbutis (aged women).  Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament states: “Hippocrates calls a man presbutees from age 49 to 56.”

Paul does not specify the age a woman would have to be to qualify as older.  But childbearing typically ends at about 40-45 years of age and, correspondingly, child-rearing ends at about 60-65.  It therefore seems reasonable to take older women as referring to women that are at least 60 years old.  That is the age that Paul mentions in his first letter to Timothy in regard to widows who qualified for being put on the list to receive financial support from the church (1 Timothy 5:9).
(John Macarthur)

(1 Timothy 5:9)  Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man,

Wisdom doesn’t automatically come with old age.  Nothing does -- except wrinkles.  It’s true, some wines improve with age, but only if the grapes were good in the first place.
(Abigail Van Buren, Chicago Tribute-New York News Syndicate, quoted in Reader’s Digest, May, 1980.)

Because Admirable Attributes do not necessarily accompany Advanced Age, Paul gives Titus some godly and spiritual instruction to pass along to the older women in Crete.

I. Let’s Notice The Aged Woman In Terms Of Her Testimony

(Titus 2:3)  The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;
(Literally, a reverent demeanor.)

A. Think About The Actions Of This Holy Behavior
behaviour – katasteemati (NT:2688). Occurs only here in the New Testament.
(Marvin R. Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament)
behaviour – NT:2688 (kathisteemi) (Latin status, habitus) means demeanor, deportment, bearing.
(Thayer’s Greek Lexicon)
Women who are reverent in their behavior … (fit the description found in 1 Timothy 2:9-11).
(John Macarthur’s New Testament Commentary: Titus)
(1 Timothy 2:9-14)  In like manner also, that women adorn (decorate) themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness (this is a bashfulness in contrast to a brazen boldness) and sobriety (soundness of mind and self-control); not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; {10} But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works. {11} Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. {12} But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. {13} For Adam was first formed, then Eve. {14} And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.
Paul gives a Decorative Order in verses 9-10, a Dutiful Order in verses 11-12, and a Due Order in verses 13-14.

The gospel revealed the lofty destiny of woman, and it is not surprising that St. Paul should continue his advice to Titus thus: “Enjoin that the aged women in like manner, should preserve in their demeanour holy propriety.”  As Jerome has it, “Their gait and motion, their countenance, their speech, and their silence, should exhibit a certain dignity of sacred decorum.”  The very word seems to convey the fine thought that there is a consecration … and sanctity, (that is) possible and even normal, in the life of woman.
(H. R. Reynolds from The Biblical Illustrator)

B. Think About The Associations Of This Holy Behavior

becometh holiness – befitting men, places, actions or things sacred to God; reverent
(Thayer’s Greek Lexicon)

The word has the root meaning of being priest-like and came to refer to that which is appropriate to holiness.  Older women are to be godly examples of holiness.  Anna illustrates such virtue.  Having been “a widow to the age of eighty-four… she [had] never left the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers” (Luke 2:37).  Because she had lived so faithfully in the Lord, the Holy Spirit enabled her to immediately recognize the infant Jesus when Joseph and Mary brought Him to the temple.  The moment she saw Him, “she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Him to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem” (v. 38).
(John Macarthur’s New Testament Commentary: Titus)

II. Let’s Notice The Aged Woman In Terms Of Her Tongue

(Titus 2:3)  The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;

A. The Tongue Is A Dangerous Thing
(James 3:3-12)  Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. {4} Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. {5} Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! {6} And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. {7} For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: {8} But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. {9} Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. {10} Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. {11} Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? {12} Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.

B. The Tongue Is A Diabolical Thing
false accuser – Greek NT:1228 diabolos, means prone to slander, slanderous, accusing falsely,
(Thayer’s Greek Lexicon)

In the Authorized Version the Greek word for “false accusers,” diabolos, is rendered 35 times as “devil,” 2 times as “false accuser,” and one time as “slanderer.”  It means prone to slander, slanderous, or accusing falsely.

Whispering and backbiting are reckoned up among the sins of those who are given up to a reprobate sense (Rom. 1: 29, 30).  But the precept is especially directed to women, because of the inclination of their sex hereunto.  The Holy Ghost, knowing our constitutions, most aptly arms us where we lie most open and naked.  Hence women are forbidden to go from house to house as prattlers and busybodies; and they must not speak things uncomely (1 Tim. 5: 13).  Further, it is especially directed to old women, for various reasons:
(1) Their age affords them more familiar access to places where there may be occasion of much speech, and also gives them more liberty in speaking, while it becomes the younger women to remain silent.  (2) Their example much harms the young women, if by their vain jangling they corrupt or poison their veil of modesty, shamefacedness, and silence.  (3) It is a great disgrace for their age, especially if they profess religion, that they (who should be patterns of peaceableness) should become firebrands, incendiaries of families and societies, yea the Devil’s gunpowder to blow up a whole world of wickedness (James 3: 6).
(A Commentary On The Epistle Of Paul To Titus” By T. Taylor)

Because a woman's vocal cords are shorter than a man's she can actually speak with less effort than he can.  Shorter vocal cords not only cause a woman's voice to be more highly pitched, but also require less air to become agitated, making it possible for her to talk more with less energy expended.  
(Homemade, December 1984)

III. Let’s Notice The Aged Woman In Terms Of Her Temperance

(Titus 2:3)  The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;

A. There Is A Bondage In Wine
given to – Greek 1402. douloo, means to enslave – bring into (be under) bondage, X given, become (make) servant.

B. There Is A Badness In Wine
Older women are not to be enslaved to much wine, a strong phrase that refers to drunkenness.  As many of them have done throughout history, older people on Crete sometimes turned to drink as a stimulant and a means of (alleviating) the pains, frustrations, and loneliness of old age.  (“Given to”) means literally to be enslaved, “to be held and controlled against one’s will,” and addiction to much wine becomes more a prison than a means of escape.  Worse still, an older believer who becomes so addicted brings dishonor to the Lord’s name, sullies the reputation of the church, and, more often than not, leads others into following his or her ungodly example.
(John Macarthur’s New Testament Commentary: Titus)

IV. Let’s Notice The Aged Woman In Terms Of Her Teaching

(Titus 2:3)  The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;

A. Observe The Concept Of Their Teaching
The phrase “teachers of good things” is a single, compound term …
2567. kalodidaskalos, kal-od-id-as'-kal-os; from G2570 and G1320; a teacher of the right:--teacher of good things.

1320. didaskalos, (the second part of this term means) an instructor (generally or specifically):--doctor, master, teacher.

B. Observe The Courses They Are Teaching
teachers of good things  –  NT:2567; kalodidaskalos, teaching that which is good, a teacher of goodness: Titus 2:3…  Nowhere else.*
(Thayer’s Greek Lexicon)

influencing for good the younger women by precept and example
(Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary)

teaching good and beautiful things.  A sorely needed mission.
(Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament)

2570. kalos, (the first part of this term means) beautiful, but chiefly good (literally or morally), i.e. valuable or virtuous (for appearance or use).  Also translated as “better, fair, honest, worthy.”

John Macarthur says that this phrase teachers of good things “refers to instruction in that which is noble, excellent, and lofty.  In this context, it includes the teaching of what is holy and godly.  Having taught their own children well, older women now have the responsibility for teaching younger women in the church and encouraging them to also be righteous and godly wives and mothers.”

It will be asked, how does this commandment stand with 1 Tim. 1: 11, 12, “Let the woman learn in silence; I do not permit a woman to teach”?  I answer, the apostle there speaks of the order and comeliness of public ecclesiastical assemblies, in which they were not allowed to take upon them any power or function of teaching.  And the reasons there propounded are three.
1. They are to be obedient unto men; and therefore in men’ s presence they must not usurp the authority of teachers, but must content themselves with being scholars in mixed assemblies of men and women.
2. Their function is to serve men, for Adam was first created and then Eve; they are not to exercise any function over them.
3. Their sex is weaker, and lies more open to Satan’s seducement; for Adam was not deceived first, but Eve.  It is thus not fit that teaching should be committed unto them, for Eve in innocence took it upon herself to teach Adam, and so was easily prevailed against.  The apostle expresses the same principle, from the same reason, in 1 Cor. 14: 34.  As for the examples of Deborah and Huldah, who were prophetesses in the church, they were extraordinary and do not oppose this rule of Paul.
Nor does this scripture, written by the same pen, contradict the other; for it speaks of private teaching and instructing the family at home, especially the children and maidens.  So the text itself seems to restrain them, in pointing out their hearers in the next verse, “that they may teach the young women,” And the lessons which they are to teach them concern mostly private duties, and their end is to make the younger women wise unto all godly conversation.
(A Commentary On The Epistle Of Paul To Titus” By T. Taylor)

Conclusion:  

You’ll notice the word “likewise” used in verse 3.  This points us back to verse 2 and suggests that the aged women are to practice and possess the same qualities of character as the aged men.  And as they do so, they are to pay particular attention to the areas that we have covered in this study.

The importance of a Christian’s responsibility and character is not limited or nullified by gender or age.  In every segment and sector of the church populace, there are guidelines and expectations set forth for our spiritual healthiness and well-being.

Our pastor called the other day and told my wife, Helen, that at her age she should start thinking about the hereafter.  “Oh, I do, I do,” Helen told him.  “No matter where I am, I ask myself, ‘What am I here after?’” 
(Source Unknown)
http://www.sermonillustrations.com/a-z/o/old_age.htm