1 But as for you, speak the things which are fitting for sound doctrine. 2 Older men are to be temperate, dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love, in perseverance. 3 Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, 4 so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored. 6 Likewise urge the young men to be sensible; 7 in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified, 8 sound in speech which is beyond reproach, so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us. 9 Urge bondslaves to be subject to their own masters in everything, to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, 10 not pilfering, but showing all good faith so that they will adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in every respect.
~ Paul to Titus (Chapter 2)
**I'm only going to pull a few hi-lights from this passage. There's a lot more!
Titus 2:3 - NAS – Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good (kalodidaskalos)
Titus 2:3 - WH – πρεσβυτιδας ωσαυτως εν καταστηματι ιεροπρεπεις μη διαβολους {Variant #1: μηδε } {Variant #2: μη } οινω πολλω δεδουλωμενας (5772) καλοδιδασκαλους
Kalodidaskalos (teaching what is good) comes from two roots kalos (valuable, virtuous, beautiful) and didaskalos (instructor, teacher, master) Can you hear ADONAI's compassionate love appealing to Cain's conscience in Genesis 4:7 here, 'You must MASTER it [sin]?')
Titus 2:4 - NAS – so that they may encourage (sophronizo) the young women to love their husbands to love their children
Titus 2:4 - WH – ινα σωφρονιζωσιν (5725) τας νεας φιλανδρους ειναι (5721) φιλοτεκνους
Sophronizo (the root is sophron which we will see again) is only used once in the Scriptures…right here in Titus 2:4. It means 'to restore to ones senses'/'to disciple'. In other words, unless we are DISCIPLED within the context of a community of older women, we (younger women) cannot be restored to our senses (we are truly insane! Surprise!). It's precisely because we are 'insane' that we are not able to love our husbands and children (& do all the other stuff the verse says). Discipleship changes all that. (I always tell my girls 'Text can't be imitated….only PEOPLE [can be imitated]- which is why doing life together/being true disciples [having a standard set before our eyes *to imitate* in daily life] of our Rabbi Yeshua in the Word and in this life HE gives, yields transformation).
Titus 2:5 - NAS – to be sensible (sophron), pure, workers at home kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.
Titus 2:5 - WH – σωφρονας αγνας οικουργους (3626) αγαθας υποτασσομενας (5746) τοις ιδιοις ανδρασιν ινα μη ο λογος του θεου βλασφημηται (5747)
Sophron means SANE. Sophron comes from two root words 'sozo' meaning 'whole' and 'phren' meaning 'understanding/mind'. So, we are able to see that a 'whole understanding/mind' only happens through the act of discipleship. I might add ADONAI's way of discipleship begins with holy fellowship producing growing relationship and eventually becoming fruitful discipleship (within the protective confines of authenticity and accountability. *Acts 2:42-47, John 15:8, Romans 8:29
And THE MOST IMPORTANT PART….'so that the Word of God be not blasphemed'. Some versions use the milder 'dishonored'…the Greek is actually blasphemeo from two roots blapto (to hinder, injure or hurt) + pheme 'fame' (also from two roots Phos and phaino) meaning 'the FIRE which gives light, to shine'.
So the whole mandate and beautiful purpose of true women's discipleship is the work of 'restoring women to their senses, creating in them SANITY so they're ABLE by the Spirit's Transforming Work within (soaking in The Word/transformed by renewing of the mind) to love their husbands and children…that the FAME OF ADONAI which is THE FIRE WITHIN US glows ever so distinctly giving LIGHT to this dark, dark world.
And just think…FIRE (LIGHT) spreads to everything (everyone) closest to it. Without The Spirit's work in the act of life-transforming discipleship, there is no Light…and that is BLASPHEMOUS.
And this, Mereas, is how we are able to see and experience that the Word is Living, Active & Sharper than any two-edged sword!
May the Light of the Messiah shine ever so brightly within each of you!
This is how my Father is glorified -- in your bearing much fruit; this is how you will prove to be my talmidim.
~ Yeshua (John 15:8)
Shalom, Great Light & Love!
Carmen
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