God’s Order in the Home and in the Church

Titus 2:1-5
P. G. Mathew | Sunday, March 15, 2015
Copyright © 2015, P. G. Mathew
Language [Japanese]

In Titus 1:10–16, Paul instructed Titus that there is no freedom in God’s holy church to teach heresy and promote an evil lifestyle contradicting the order of the kingdom of God. Any heretic who promotes such things should be silenced and severely rebuked to bring him to his senses, if possible. The leaders should do this through preaching the health-giving gospel, through warnings, and through the discipline of excommunication.

Some of the Cretan church members, however, could not be reformed. They became detestable, disobedient, and depraved. They were warped, sinful, and self-condemned. Simply put, they were unregenerate. By their lifestyle, they denied their confession, “Jesus is Lord.” They were not in the kingdom of God, which is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (Rom 14:17). They were rejecting Christ’s authority, Christ’s rule, Christ’s order.

Paul had earlier written that sound doctrine must lead to godly living (Titus 1:1). In Titus 2:1–10, Paul is teaching that there should be order both in Christian homes and Christian churches. He says elsewhere, “God is not a God of disorder, but of peace. . . . Everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way” (1 Cor. 14:33, 40). Everything we do, whether in the home or in the church, must be based on the holy Scriptures, done by the power of the Holy Spirit, and all for the glory of God.

 

Pastor Titus and the Elders under God’s Order

First, Paul writes that the pastor and elders should be under God’s order: “You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine” (v. 1). Titus, Paul’s apostolic delegate, together with the ordained elders, should act differently from false ministers. The latter only want to make money by preaching doctrines that entertain men and send them to hell, doctrines that make people sick. Therefore, Titus and other church leaders must teach doctrines that conform to the life-giving teaching of the gospel, the apostolic doctrine.

The gospel truth was the antidote to the error of the false Cretan ministers of Paul’s time, and it is the antidote to such false ministers of all times. God’s truth sets his elect sinners free from the bondage of the devil. The gospel gives life and spiritual health to those who are dead in their sins. The gospel alone, not hollow philosophy, and not the study of many religions, is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes. Only by the wounds of Jesus can we be healed. Peter proclaimed that there is no other name given to us by God whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:12).

Therefore, Pastor Titus must be under order, and his teaching must conform to the standard of the gospel of the infallible Scriptures. The sound teaching Paul is speaking about is the teaching of Jesus. Elsewhere Paul writes, “If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, he is conceited and understands nothing” (1 Tim. 6:3–4).

Sound teaching is the apostolic teaching. Paul instructed Timothy, “What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim. 1:13). This teaching is the glorious gospel God entrusted to Paul. Paul also says the law is made “for adulterers and perverts, for slave traders and liars and perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine that conforms to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me” (1 Tim. 1:10–11). As a minister of the gospel, I have no authority but to preach that gospel. And anyone who preaches a gospel that differs from the sound doctrine is cursed.

It is also the gospel Paul entrusted to Timothy and Titus to be guarded by the help of the Holy Spirit. He admonished, “Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us” (2 Tim. 1:14). Every pastor called and sent by Christ has the grave responsibility to preach this sound doctrine and guard it against the attack of the devil. A pastor has no right to add to or subtract from or misinterpret the gospel. So the apostle John wrote, “I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book” (Rev. 22:18–19).

Titus was to teach and apply this gospel so that the people of God could hear and do the word of God. The false Cretan ministers denied Jesus Christ by their wicked deeds (Titus 1:16). But doctrine and life must always harmonize. The word of God alone can edify, encourage and comfort God’s people. Paul wrote, “Everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort” (1 Cor. 14:3).

Blessed is the pastor who preaches the sound Bible doctrines, and blessed is the church he pastors!

 

Senior Men Must Be under God’s Order

After admonishing Titus and the elders, Paul writes, “Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance” (v. 2). Titus was charged with teaching the gospel to the senior men in the church. Some say seniors in this context were those above forty years of age; others say it refers to those over sixty years of age. Generally, elders are chosen from men in these age ranges. Though Titus was younger, he was chosen by the apostle himself, as was Timothy, for the job of being the pastor. He was chosen to teach, encourage, and rebuke with all authority. So although he was a young man, he could not permit anyone to despise him (Titus 2:15). Paul said he must teach older men the following four things.

 

1. THEY SHOULD BE SOBER

First, older men must be nêphalious (sober, clear-headed). They should show moderation in the use of wine, or, metaphorically, they should be sober and clear-headed. They should be filled with the word of God and the Holy Spirit so that they could be competent to counsel others. Paul himself was an old man when he wrote his epistle to Philemon, saying, “Yet I appeal to you on the basis of love. I then, as Paul—an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus” (v. 9).

It is true that older men can be characterized by arthritis, rheumatism, joint pain, slowness, timidity, forgetfulness, irritability, or impatience. In their lives, they have experienced the deaths of their friends and family members. But Titus must not ignore them in his ministry. They need the ministry of the word of God from the man of God so that they can grow in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ, and continue to serve God.

 

2. THEY SHOULD BE WORTHY OF RESPECT

Older men in the church must be semnos (serious, possessing gravitas). They must conduct themselves in a way worthy of respect. In Leviticus 19:32 we read, “Rise in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God. I am the LORD.”

Older men should demonstrate the spiritual maturity of their age. They should manifest much fruit of the Spirit. They should continue to follow Peter’s admonition: “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Pet. 1:5–8). They should demonstrate the seriousness of purpose that invites the respect of others without seeking it. Yet they should not appear dour, sour, or gloomy. Let the joy of the Lord be their strength!

 

3. THEY SHOULD BE SELF-CONTROLLED

These older men should be sôphronas (lit., “people of sound mind”). The older men were to be in their right minds; they must have sound, healthy minds. This qualification is not limited to older men; it is required of every person in the church, whether older men and women or younger men and women, pastors, elders, and so on.

To have a sound mind means one must be disciplined and self-controlled, a person of balance, not going from one extreme to another. This is a fundamental requirement for every Christian. It is the result of God’s grace in our lives, which “teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age” (Titus 2:12). A sound-minded person exercises restraint on his passions and appetites.

The Roman governor Felix was a hedonist who lacked self-control. Paul’s ministry to him convicted him, but Felix refused to repent. We read, “Several days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess. He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus. As Paul discoursed on righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, ‘That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.’ At the same time he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe, so he sent for him frequently and talked with him” (Acts 24:24–26).

Paul, on the other hand, was a person of great self-control. He wrote, “Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training” (1 Cor. 9:25a). He also said, “I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize” (1 Cor. 9:27). Paul disciplined his body so that it would obey him as his slave. Then he, in turn, could obey Christ as his slave.

Jesus commands us to deny ourselves, take up the cross, and follow him, even to martyrdom (Matt. 16:24). He also tells us to take his yoke and learn from him all of life (Matt. 11:29).

A sound mind comes from regeneration. A sound mind knows the word of God. The unbeliever has an unsound, depraved, and foolish mind that rejects the word of God. But the believer is indwelt by the Holy Spirit. He receives the word of God. He has the mind of Christ, and therefore he makes judgments about all things, based on God’s word (1 Cor. 2:15–16).

Joseph was a man of sound mind; he was always governed by the word of God. Unlike King David, Joseph said, “No,” when he was severely tempted by Mrs. Potiphar. He used the sword of the Spirit, saying, “How can I do this wicked thing and sin against God?” (Gen. 39). He was a self-controlled man in his right mind.

Daniel and the three Hebrew young men were also of sound mind and so were highly self-disciplined. Jesus Christ was self-disciplined to the highest degree, and he became victorious over the devil’s many temptations.

The Christian with a sound mind is under the word of God and uses the sword of the Spirit to defeat the devil. A disciplined person is governed by the word of God. He is under order. That is why he can say, “No,” to ungodliness and worldly passions and appetites, and “Yes” to the will of God.

A person of sound mind is filled with the Holy Spirit. Therefore, he is controlled by the Holy Spirit and the holy Scriptures. Paul exhorts, “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit” (Eph. 5:18). He also says, “As many as are being led by the Spirit, they and they alone are the sons of God” (Rom. 8:14). He admonishes, “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline” (2 Tim. 1:7). In other words, the Holy Spirit will give us a sound mind. Elsewhere, Paul writes, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God” (Col. 3:16). We are to be filled with Scripture and with the Spirit, and governed by God in our thoughts, words, and actions. A Christian is to be under the control of the word and the Spirit, as Jesus himself was.

The man possessed by a legion of demons had an unsound mind. His crazy mind was controlled by many demons. But when Jesus healed him, he was given a sound mind. So we read, “When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind [sôphronas]” (Mark 5:15).

A sound mind is a Christ-controlled mind. When we first believed, we said, “Jesus is Lord.” That means he is the Lord of our minds, hearts, words, actions, and money. Cretanism is the opposite of possessing a healthy, right mind. Christians possess self-mastery, for they are mastered by the Lord Jesus Christ. Self-control is a fruit of the Spirit. It is the Spirit’s control.

 

4. THEY MUST BE SOUND IN FAITH, LOVE, AND ENDURANCE

Titus must also teach the older men to be hugiainontas (sound, healthy) in faith, love, and endurance. Elsewhere, Paul exhorted Timothy, “But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness” (1 Tim. 6:11).

Older men, therefore, must trust in the gospel so that they may trust in God with saving faith. If a person does not listen to the word of God, he cannot trust in God. Faith is not a leap in the dark. Faith is based on the gospel disclosure of who God is.

Soon older men are going to meet the Lord. They need to make their calling and election very sure. They must be loyal to God till death, as John writes in Revelation 2: “Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Rev. 2:10b).

Older men should be characterized not only by faith, but also by love. They must be sound in love, and love God’s people sacrificially. Faith without the works of love is dead. Jesus said, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34–35). The apostle John wrote, “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?” (1 John 3:16–17). Paul writes elsewhere, “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love” (Gal. 5:6). And unlike most churches, we do practice laying down our lives for each other.

God’s people are characterized by love. Jesus said, “Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved” (Matt. 24:12–13). Elsewhere he told the church of Ephesus, “Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love” (Rev. 2:4). Jesus also says that those who are lukewarm will be spit out of his mouth (Rev. 3:16). They will be rejected from entering heaven.

Finally, these older men should be sound in endurance. A true Christian will experience sufferings and fiery trials for Jesus’ sake. The preacher sent by himself says, “Believe in Jesus and you will become rich and famous.” True believers will experience fiery trials for Jesus’ sake—even beheading, stoning, burning, and crucifixion, as many are now experiencing around the world. Our faith will be tried by fiery trials to prove its authenticity. (PGM) All trials are designed for our good so that we may trust in Christ alone, who is with us in the fire.

Paul writes, “Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us” (Rom. 5:3–5). And Peter tells us, “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed” (1 Pet. 1:6–7).

Trust in Christ truly. Don’t believe the lies of phony televangelists. Only the gospel can save you. You must understand the gospel and go to a church where the gospel is preached by pious and learned pastors who will not add to or subtract from the Scripture, nor misinterpret the Scripture to suit your taste.

Paul tells us, “To me, to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Phil. 1:21). It is the same for us. And death will open for us the door to heaven itself.

 

Older Women under God’s Order

Paul then charged Pastor Titus to teach the older women in the church. “Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good” (v. 3). He was to teach them the sound doctrine so that they may live godly lives in four ways.

 

1. THEY MUST BE REVERENT

First, Titus was to teach the older women to be reverent in their manner of life. In the Greek, it is “that they be holy and fit as those who worship God.” They should live God-conscious lives. They should do all things for the glory of God. They should be holy in their attitudes and actions so that they will do all things, not for their pleasure, but for the glory of God (see 1 Cor. 10:31).

 

2. THEY MUST NOT BE SLANDERERS

They should not be slanderers. In the Greek it is mê diabolous (not devils). A woman can become a devil. The devil is a slanderer, the accuser of God’s people. He accused Job falsely to God. Older women, who may not have much to do, can fall into the trap of sitting and talking about others. Knowledge of the gospel should prevent them from slandering others.

 

3. THEY MUST NOT BE ADDICTED TO MUCH WINE

Older women must not be addicted to much wine. The Greek word for “addicted to” (dedoulômenas) means “enslaved.” Older Cretan men and women had the habit of being addicted to much wine and engaging in loose talk. But the gospel sets people free from such bondage. When we are filled with the Spirit, we will sing God’s praises and speak to edify God’s people, not to tear them down. Paul says, “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be [being] filled with the Spirit.” meaning continuously. Filled with the Spirit means controlled by the Holy Spirit, infinite God. “Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Eph. 5:18–20). So we are not to slander others; we are to speak the word of God to edify and build them up.

When we first trusted in Christ, we did not say that Jesus and wine is Lord; we said that Jesus Christ alone is our master. Therefore, we refuse to be mastered by wine or food or money or fame or anything else in the world. We have been set free from all such bondages. If the Son has set us free, we are free indeed.

This prohibition against much wine applies to all Christians. Paul rebukes people who became drunk as they celebrated the Lord’s Supper: “For as you eat, each of you goes ahead without waiting for anybody else,” especially the poor and the slaves. “One remains hungry, another gets drunk” (1 Cor. 11:21). This was happening in the church! And in the Old Testament, it is possible that God killed the priests Nadab and Abihu because they were drunk when they served God in the tabernacle (Lev. 10:1–11).

The pastoral epistles prohibit the elders from becoming drunk and failing to maintain clear, sound minds for the ministry. Paul writes, “Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach” (1 Tim. 3:2). He also says, “Since an overseer is entrusted with God’s work, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain” (Titus 1:7).

 

4. THEY MUST TEACH GOOD THINGS

A vast amount of ministry in the home and church is done by women chiefly ministering to women and children under the direction of the elders. Older women are to teach good things to younger single and married women. The good things to teach are found in the Bible.

So Titus and the elders were to teach the older women sound doctrine from the Bible. Then these women, in turn, were to teach the younger women the word of God. They also were to counsel the younger women in many things that affected their lives. By teaching these younger women, the older women would be making them wise and encouraging them to fear the Lord. They would be teaching them to have sound minds so that they could make godly decisions. So Paul next instructs Titus in the seven ways the older women can teach the younger women to be godly.

 

Younger Women under God’s Order

Younger women consist of both single and married women of the church. The general will of God is that men and women be married and raise godly children. Yet some men and women are given a special gift to devote themselves in the service of God full time as unmarried people.

Paul wrote about this to the Corinthian church: “Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good for a man not to marry. . . . Because of the present crisis, I think that it is good for you to remain as you are” (1 Cor. 7:1, 26). Jesus himself said, “Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given. For some are eunuchs because they were born that way; others were made that way by men; and others have renounced marriage because of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it” (Matt. 19:11–12). Acts 21 speaks about the four virgin daughters of evangelist Philip, who prophesied. So we read, “Leaving the next day, we reached Caesarea and stayed at the house of Philip the evangelist, one of the Seven. He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied” (Acts 21:8–9).

 

1. THEY MUST LOVE THEIR HUSBANDS

Paul lists seven qualities for younger women of the church. First, they must be lovers of their husbands (philandrous). Professor Jay Adams gave an assignment to wives to write down several ways to show affection to their husbands, and then practice these things.

Some wives may say, “I don’t love my husband anymore.” But as Christians, we are to love our spouses until death separates us. God hates divorce and is opposed to those who divorce.

How, then, can wives love their husbands in obedience to God’s order? Where can they get such sacrificial love? The only source of such love is God. The God who justifies us will also pour into our hearts an overabundance of divine love so that we can love God with all our hearts and love our neighbors as ourselves. Our nearest neighbors are our spouses. So true Christians can never run out of love. Paul writes that love abides forever, together with faith and hope, and the greatest of these is love (1 Cor. 13:13). Which love is Paul talking about? He is speaking about the love that God has shed abroad into our hearts in abundance. It is with this love that we love God, our neighbors, and even our enemies.

This love of God hates evil and obeys Christ. Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commandments” (see John 14:21, 23). It is time that we understand that obedience is a function of the love of God has shed in our hearts. There is no greater proof than obedience to demonstrate that you love God and that you love your spouse.

 

2. THEY MUST LOVE THEIR CHILDREN

Not only are younger women to love their husbands; they are also to love their children (philoteknous means “lovers of children”). Some married women do not love children. They seem to love poodles more than children. But Christian parents generally have children. Some people say, “I only want one child because it takes so much money to raise a child.” Those who think this way are not trusting in God.

Many “civilized” countries think that children are a curse and should be killed in the womb. Some even say it is all right to kill the children outside the womb. Such countries are cursed. The Bible says, “Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children are a reward from him” (Ps. 127:3). Children are a blessing from God.

Yet parents are not to spoil children or worship them. That would be idolatry. They are to love them and train them to love God. They are to bring them up with discipline, in the fear of God, to have sound minds. The Hebrews writer tells us, “If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons” (Heb. 12:8). As God disciplines his children, we are to discipline our children. It is tragic to see how children are spoiled and not disciplined in today’s society.

Paul admonishes Timothy, “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it.” From whom did he learn it? From Lois and Eunice, his grandmother and mother. Paul continues, “and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim. 3:14–15). If we teach our children the Bible from infancy, the Spirit is able to apply the Scriptures to their very young minds. That is how the younger women are to bring their children up. Then the children can be godly and successful, able to make decisions that please God.

Many people make decisions without asking, “What is the will of God?” But we should always make decisions to please God and promote our spiritual life. It is a false idea that what we need is more money. What we need is more God. We are rich when we have God.

If you train your children in God’s ways from infancy, they will become lovers of God and lovers of the word. They will shine as stars in the universe. It is not people in Hollywood who are stars. True stars are the people of God.

Dr. George Knight quotes A. Deissmann, who cites an epitaph from Pergamus in the second century AD (about the time of Emperor Hadrian). It reads, “To the most sweet woman who loved her husband and her children.”¹ May God help your husband to say that of you.

 

3. THEY MUST HAVE SOUND, DISCIPLINED MINDS

A virtuous woman has a sound mind (sôphronas)², a mind that is controlled by word of God and the holy Scriptures. She lives a life of balance and restraint. She has a renewed mind. She conforms to the pattern shown in Romans 12:3: “Through the grace given to me I say to every one among you, not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think, but to think so that he can think correctly” (NASB). Correct thinking means thinking according to the Bible. That is what a disciplined, word-controlled mind does.

 

4. THEY MUST BE PURE

The older women should teach the younger women to be sexually and morally pure (Grk., hagnas). Today’s culture tells young women to get rid of their virginity as early as possible. This idea is now affecting the church also. But a single young woman is to live a sexually and morally pure life. She does so to please God and her future husband. And a married woman is to practice sexual fidelity to her husband.

Joseph was sexually pure, as we read in Genesis 39, and God gave Joseph power and self-control to resist temptation. Rebekah, the wife of Isaac, was pure. In Genesis 24:16 we read, “The girl was very beautiful, a virgin; no man had ever lain with her. She went down to the spring, filled her jar and came up again.” Mary the mother of Jesus was pure. When the angel told her she would conceive and give birth to the Messiah, she asked the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?’” (Luke 1:34).

The Western world despises moral purity and glorifies sexual immorality. But we are to be different. Paul writes to Timothy, “Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, and do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure” (1 Tim. 5:22).

 

5. THEY MUST BE BUSY AT HOME

A Christian wife’s sphere of work is primarily in the home. Paul uses the wordoikourgous, which means “working at home.” The older women are to teach the younger women to be busy at home. Under their husbands, they are to manage the affairs of the home efficiently.

We read of such a prudent wife and mother of children in Proverbs 31:10–31. “She is worth far more than rubies”—worth more than billions of dollars, in other words (v. 10). “She works with eager hands” (v. 13). “She gets up while it is still dark” (v. 15). That is what Jesus did; he got up early to pray (Mk 1:35). She works vigorously. She speaks with wisdom the word of God. She does not eat the bread of idleness as the Cretans did. “Her husband and children praise her” (v. 28). Then finally we read, “Charm is deceptive, beauty is fleeting. But a wife who fears the Lord is to be praised” (v. 30).

 

6. THEY MUST BE KIND

The older women are to teach the younger women to be kind. A Christian wife is to be kind (Grk., agathas). She should not be harsh to her workers, her servants, and especially to the poor. A noble wife “opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy” (Prov. 31:20). In Deuteronomy 15:11 we read, “There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land.” Paul says, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other even as in Christ God forgave you” (Eph. 4:32). Peter exhorts, “Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble” (1 Pet. 3:8).

 

7. THEY MUST SUBMIT TO THEIR OWN HUSBANDS

Finally, older women are to teach the younger women to be submissive to their own husbands. Some liberal theologians say that Paul borrowed his ideas of the spiritual qualities of Christian wives from the pagan culture. They say that Paul did not want the pagans to be angry when Christian wives were not submitting to their husbands because the pagan wives did submit. Thus, such theologians say this idea of submission to the husband is relative and culturally conditioned.

Today, as a result of feminism, which is demonism, some may want the husbands to be submissive to their own wives. Such theologians do not believe in the absolute authority of the word of God.

But the sacred Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the very word of God. Therefore, they are absolute truth for all times. Husbands and wives are equal in the sight of God, yet their roles are different in God’s order. So a true Christian wife will eagerly and gladly submit to her godly husband, for the Bible says the husband is the head of the wife. Paul writes, “Now I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God” (1 Cor. 11:3). He also says, “Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. . . . However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband” (Eph. 5:22–24, 33). Peter instructs, “Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands. . . . For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands, like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him [lord]. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear” (1 Pet. 3:1a, 5–6).

When a godly wife submits to her husband in divine order, the children generally will obey their parents. In doing so, they will be obeying the fifth commandment and will be blessed of the Lord.

 

The Purpose of God’s Order

Finally, Paul tells us the purpose of godly and orderly life in the home and in the church. It is so that the word of God be honored in the world and not maligned (Titus 2:5).

It matters how we live. Elsewhere, Paul rebuked his Jewish brethren, saying, “As it is written: ‘God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you’” (Rom. 2:24). When we live wicked lives, God is mocked in the world.

But if we live obedient lives, Jesus’ words will apply to us: “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. . . . In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matt. 5:14, 16). He also said, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34–35).

God’s people must live for God’s glory in the world. Paul writes, “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good” (Titus 2:11–14).

May God help us all to live under God’s order, that we may enjoy all the blessings of the kingdom of God—righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.

 

¹ George W. Knight III, The Pastoral Epistles, The New International Greek Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1992), 307.

² See quality three of the older men, where I dealt with it more thoroughly.