Lesson #1

Bid the Older Women to Train the Young Women (Titus 2:3-4)

by Mildred Whitman

Just before His ascension, Jesus charged His apostles, saying, "Go ... make disciples of all nations ... teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you" (Matthew 28:19-20). For three years, the Great Teacher had been ministering unto them and to the multitude "who hung upon His words" Luke 19:48). He had taught them in many places:

• among the stalks of grain (Matthew 12:1)
• from a mountaintop (Matthew 5:1)
• from a boat along the seashore (Matthew 13:2)
• at a well (John 4)
• in private homes (Luke 10:38-42).

He taught them individually (John 3) and by the thousands (Matthew 14). At last, Jesus was ready to go to His heavenly home. His work on earth was finished. It would now be up to His beloved apostles, His chosen ones, to carry on the great labor of love that He had started. Jesus promised to ask the Father to send them the Counselor, the Holy Spirit (John 14:16-18), who would help them remember all He had been teaching them (John 14:26).

In carrying out the great commission that Jesus had given, the apostle Paul said in Acts 20:20 that he had taught publicly and from house to house. To teach Apollos more accurately, Aquila and Priscilla took him "unto them," indicating a private study (Acts 18:24-26 KJV).

Thus, we see the disciples of Jesus and the early Christians being taught in many ways, under various circumstances, in different places, by experienced teachers. Today, the apostles no longer walk the earth, and the first Christians have also gone to their well-earned reward. God's word is still with us, however (Matthew 24:35). It is now up to the elders of the church to shoulder the responsibility of giving "light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace" (Luke 1:79).

Let's listen to the inspired words of Peter in I Peter 5:1-2. ''So l exhort the elders among you, ... Tend the flock of God that is your charge." The writer of the Hebrew letter speaks of our leaders (elders) keeping watch over our souls "as men who will have to give account' (Hebrews 13:17). To carry out this charge our elders have provided many opportunities for our learning. Looking at the examples of Jesus, His apostles, and the first-century Christians, they realize that different times, places, and teaching methods are necessary to feed the church as a whole adequately and reach the ones who have not yet heard the good news. By New Testament example (Acts 20:7) we know preaching is to be a part of our worship to God when we assemble together on the first day of the week. This public proclamation of God's word builds up the entire body simultaneously. However, there are many varied individual needs based on age, sex, position in the family, and previous Biblical knowledge. Thus, our elders have provided teaching in organized groups or classes so that many of these might be met. Congregational preaching and organized classes still fall short of meeting all the needs of every person in the congregation. There are those like Apollos who have obeyed the first principles of the gospel but need further private instruction to perfect their faith.

Train the Young Women

In all the preceding teaching situations, except for preaching the word in the assembly and teaching over a man (I Corinthians 14:33-35; I Timothy 2:12), either men or women could do the instructing. There is one passage, however, where a specific group is told to teach another specific group on specific matters. Let's read the passage: Titus 2:3-5. What group was to be encouraged to train the younger women?

We notice here that Paul did not tell Titus to teach the young women himself, but rather, by the inspiration of God, he bid the older women to do this. Several versions use "train" instead of ''teach.'' 'The word ''train'' indicates that more than just teaching is to be done, although teaching is a part of training. To teach is to "communicate knowledge" (Funk and Wagnalls Standard Dictionary). The same source gives this definition of ''train." "To bring to a requisite standard, as of conduct or skill, by protracted and careful instruction; specifically to mold the character of; educate; instruct." The Greek word translated ''train'' literally means: ''to make one of sound mind; to restore to his senses; to hold one to his duty; to discipline; to admonish; to exhort earnestly." (Thayer's Greek Lexicon) Therefore, the older women are commanded by God to teach the younger women what God would have them do in these seven areas of their personal and home life. They are to help her learn to make the fullest possible application of that knowledge to her life. Obviously, such training is a woman's job, not a man's.

The Importance of This Training

Now let's look at the reason Paul gives for such training. In Titus 2:5, we read, "... that the word of God may not be discredited." ('Blasphemed'' K.JV, or "brought into disrepute" NEB). Thus, as Phillips' version says, Christian women would become "a good advertisement for the Christian faith." One commentator says that when the infidels (in mockery) ask, "What, are these the better for their new religion?" they can be answered, "Judge what a God He is by these his servants; and what His word, and doctrine, and religion are by his followers" (Matthew Henry). Therefore, by loving our husbands, being obedient and submissive to them, loving our children, keeping our homes, being sensible, kind, and chaste, we glorify God and His word.

Qualification of the Older Woman

For an older woman to be the proper person to teach the younger, she needed to meet specific qualifications. She had to be the kind of person who would set an appropriate example of the good things she was to teach. Titus 2:3 tells us she was to be reverent in behavior. Returning to Titus 2:2, we note that, like the men, she must be temperate, serious, sensible, sound in faith, love, and steadfastness. Further, in Titus 2:3, she was not to be a slanderer nor a slave to drink. The Scriptures do not require that she be a wife and mother, but it seems from the instructions that it would be helpful if she had had this experience. Such experience leads to understanding, patience, knowledge, and the necessary wisdom as she teaches the younger women.

Here, let us pause to make one point very clear. Paul said of himself, "Not that I ... am already perfect, but l press on ..." (Philippians 3:12). Those of us who are preparing these lessons and those who will be teaching them do not consider ourselves perfect. God's plan of perfection, personified in His Son and revealed to us in His word, is our ultimate goal of maturity. We want to follow His steps (I Peter 2:21). As we study and strive to apply what we learn, we believe we grow to be more like Him daily. Even though we realize we fall short of perfection, we older women are nevertheless commanded to teach you who are younger. Bringing these lessons to you is as much a part of our growth and development as yours. Teaching you is part of our carrying out the Great Commission and part of our obedience to the word of God.

As we have seen previously, it is the elders' responsibility to ensure that this training is done. They believe that this can best be carried out on an individual, private basis. The wisdom of this decision is easily seen when we realize that different women have different needs, and their problems and methods of handling them vary. Therefore, we will be studying together in this individual way.

The Blessing of This Training

You have a marvelous privilege and wonderful blessing to sit at the feet of godly women and learn from their storehouses of knowledge and experience. After going through these seven lessons and discussing them together, each woman, without exception, said, "If only I had had these lessons 10-20-30 years ago." Each realized how little she really knew as a bride and then as a new mother about loving and being obedient to her husband, loving her children, being truly kind, working at home, etc. Each woman realized that if, in her youth, she had been instructed in such matters, her entire home life and that of her family would have been happier, more nearly perfect, and more glorious to her King. She realized that her spiritual growth would have benefited from such training, that many sins would not have been committed - sins that, although forgiven, rise to haunt her occasionally. Because we love you, we want to help you find a more blessed way of life for you and your family - the way that leads to peace and happiness here and heaven in the hereafter. Then, when you are an older woman, through our knowledge and experience plus what you will have gained on your own, you will be an even better, more qualified teacher of these good things.

Here, I must insert a thought or two regarding our Christian life. To provide for a full, well-balanced Christian life, Christ has given us many instructions. Not a single one has been given that is not beneficial to us. Complete obedience to His word leads us in the paths of happiness, contentment, peace, and joy as we journey through this life and into an eternity of the same made perfect. However, in some of these areas, especially those listed in our primary text, you are the only one assigned to do them. Only you have been charged with the responsibility of loving and being a proper wife to your husband; only you have been given the mothering of your children; only you are to keep your home. Sometimes Christian women (and men) become so involved in "church work'' that their responsibilities at home are neglected. This is not right according to Jesus, as recorded in Mark 7:9-13 and I Timothy 5:8. Of course, using home responsibilities as an excuse to neglect other service areas is also wrong. Therefore, we must seek a middle ground of service to our families, others, and the church. When we do today's work, remembering that "Tomorrow is the slogan of Satan" (compare Proverbs 27:1), we will find we have time to do much more than we think possible. This series of lessons will be helpful in this regard.

You have already shown a sincere desire to do the will of God by your primary obedience in baptism and striving to do God's will as you continue to learn what He would have you do. We know you will be like Mary, who chose the best part (Luke 10:38-42 Phillips) because you know the person is blessed who delights in the law of the Lord, meditates on it (Psalms 1:1-3), and obeys it (Luke 11:28 Phillips).

Though we all fall short of the glory of God and cannot reach perfection on this earth, it should be your desire and mine to "grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, ..." (Ephesians 4:15), leaving the elementary doctrines of Christ and going on to maturity (Hebrews 6:1). It is the desire of the elders and those of us teaching these lessons that in presenting them to you we might all come a little nearer to perfection and might glorify our God and Savior more fully.

"Now may the God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in you that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen" (Hebrews 13:20-21).

Questions

1. Whose responsibility is it to see that the word is taught to the Christians in their charge? (I Peter 5:2)
   1. Why? (Hebrews 13:17)
   2. How heavily is this responsibility placed upon them? (Hebrews 13:17)
2. Name three ways Christians can be taught the word of God.
   1. Star the two answers that women may teach.
   2. What limitation is placed upon women in classroom teaching?
3. Where is the one place where women are commanded to do the teaching?
   1. Who are they to teach? (Titus 2:4)
   2. According to the RSV, what seven subjects were to be taught to the younger women?
4. What is the primary reason for teaching these lessons according to Titus 2:5?
5. Several qualifications are given to older women to be proper people to teach the younger. Should we expect her to have reached perfection in these qualities?
   1. Why? (Philippians 3:12)
6. Why is teaching these lessons as important to the teacher as it is to the learners?
7. What was the better part that Mary chose? Luke 10:39)
8. What should be our desire? (Ephesians 4:15)
   1. Leaving what? And going on to what? (Hebrews 6:1)
9. Additional scriptures on the blessing of gaining wisdom, knowledge, and insight: Luke 11:28; Proverbs 1:5; 4:1-13; 12:15; 15:31; Psalm 25:9.