Guest blogger - Mary Kate Robinson

The Titus 2:3-5 Lifestyle

Mary Kate Robinson

​Bible studies, book clubs, growth groups, retreats, Facebook groups. God created us to need one another. Being the sovereign Creator that He is, He wired us this way for a reason. But it often seems that though we may be involved in many of the above listed activities and groups, there is still a lack of true community. Community – we hear that word being thrown around a lot, it seems. But do we know what it truly entails? Do we realize that God already laid out the perfect design for a lifestyle of community among believers? And it is all spelled out for us in the Titus 2:3-5:3

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.

This letter was written by the Apostle Paul to Titus, the young pastor at a church in Crete, where false teachers were trying to impose their views on new Christians. Verse one of chapter two begins with this mandate: “But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine.” Paul then goes on to instruct older men to teach the younger men. Then we have these verses where the women are given the same instruction. Paul knew that sound doctrine had not only be taught and preached, but also lived out in order for Christians there to be able to stand against the false teachings. The world we live in today bombards us constantly with false teachings and lies through entertainment, social media, literature, and more. That is why we need to be students of the Word and live it out. This is also why we need one another – to teach those who are the younger and learn from those who are older and wiser, who have walked the paths we are currently on and know a thing or two about it!

As I read this passage, there are a few things that stand out to me and a few takeaways that God has laid on my heart concerning the truths found within it.

1. Every woman – no matter how old or young – is an older woman to someone. Also, every woman is a younger woman to another woman. That being said, we should always be teaching and we should always be learning, as well.

2. This is to be the lifestyle for all believing women. Paul does not say “older women at Crete” or “younger Cretian women” or even “women of the New Testament church.” He simply says “older women are…” Since we are all older woman to someone, this applies to each of us.

3. Paul deals with the character, habits, and heart issues of the older women before he even talks about them teaching the younger women. He deals with their behavior. He deals with the habits of their tongues, which we know is ultimately a heart issue. He deals with the problem of being under the influence of anything other than the Holy Spirit. All off this must be under the control of the Holy Spirit – WE must be under the control of the Holy Spirit before we can even try to teach others how to live according to the Word. It is only after he goes through these possible issues, that, let’s be real, we have all dealt with at some point, does Paul tell women to “…teach what is good.” (verse 3b)

4. Verse 4 starts with the words, “…and so train…” Paul is reminding the older women to always be learning, but also to always be teaching. It is not a one time deal. It is a lifestyle. Like I said, we need one another – that’s just how the Father in His infinite wisdom created us. But He did that for a reason. Just like in Crete, we have false teachings constantly infiltrating our world. Satan is forever trying to tempt us and lead us astray. We need biblical teaching and godly examples. The rest of verse 4 and verse 5 then provide a tangible “curriculum” for the older women as they train and encourage the younger women. The areas listed in these verses reflect many of the areas that we as women struggle with on a daily basis. This further reflects the need for biblical teaching and godly examples for women, by women.

So what is the point of all of this? Like we already said, we need on another and we need teaching that is biblical. We also need to see how this should look when truly lived out. But what is the purpose for any of that? Paul answers this at the end of verse 5, “…that the Word of God may not be reviled.” It is solely for the purpose that the reputation of God, our Creator and Savior, and His Word may not be hurt. When we claim to be Christians, yet do not act like, it turns people away from the Gospel, from God, from the Word, and from church. Paul sums it up well in verses 7 and 8: “Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.”

It does not have to be fancy or formal. It’s about relationships and community. It can be Bible study or it can be as simple as chatting over a cup of coffee or baking cookies together and trying new recipes. The Father knew that we would need each other. He knew that we would need to learn – so He also knew that meant we would need to teach as well. It’s not a rigid formula or another 30-day challenge. It is simply a lifestyle that He wants each of us to follow so that we can live out the gospel together.

If you are interested in learning more about the Titus 2:3-5 lifestyle, I would recommend the book Adorned: Living Out the Beauty of the Gospel Together by Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth.

*All Scripture references were quoted from the English Standard Version (ESV)