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Titus 2:5
5 To be discreet [sophron], chaste [hagnos], keepers at home [oikouros], good [agathos], obedient [hupotasso] to their own [idios] husbands [aner], that [hina me] the word [logos] of God [theos] be [blasphemeo] not [hina me] blasphemed [blasphemeo]. KJV-Interlinear
5 to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be dishonored. NASB
Along with training and through education, a person is able to develop self control, and that is what ‘sophron’ means. To be in self-control, poise, discreet, to possess a relaxed mental attitude in times of prosperity as well as in times of high stress and trouble.
Chaste means innocent, clean, pure, and this has nothing to do with sex, or bathing often. When one is chaste, one is absent sin. That occurs only when you are in fellowship. Fellowship is obtained when you confess your sins to God the Father (review 1, 2, 3rd Jn.). Fellowship is the environment within which your spiritual life functions. And that is the only realm in which the spiritual life functions.
Keepers at home? Well this obviously means that you should be a good housekeeper. Right? Wrong.
Where is the home? Where the heart is. And where is the heart? It is the soul. And the one who maintains his soul, is the one who furnishes and maintains his own soul. That is accomplished through Bible doctrine.
This is what Paul is telling us, through Titus. People, who are qualified for anything of worth in life, are those who have established themselves through preparation in their spiritual life.
Yes, we are talking about young women here in this passage, but this is the Bible and the Bible gives us all many principles that apply to us all.
Back in those days, the women were typically the housekeepers. But the house was their job or their occupation. As for men, their job is whatever they do in life in work. Whether you dig ditches or build rockets, whether you work with your muscles or with your mind, makes no difference. You are never good at whatever it is that you do, unless you first receive preparation, and I might add, some type of continuing education in your field.
The Bible is not learned in one weekend or on a string of Sunday’s. It is a lifetime commitment to study. And by the way, even if you studied dutifully for your entire life, you would still never learn it all. Doctrine is vast, beyond mans comprehension.
Good is something we have studied many times. Good comes only from God. Good comes only from truth. Good is the production of the spiritual life, and its source is from doctrine. Good is anything you do, from the perspective of the spiritual life (while in fellowship).
Obedient to husbands. Ah, ha, you say. Now she has to do whatever I say.
But not so fast here hoss.
Obedient means many things - compliant, dutiful, submissive, respectful, subservient, well trained, deference, regard. And obedient applies not only to wives, but to children, and to employees, and to us all with respect to doctrine. Training is in view here, and training in the spiritual life to be specific.
When we drive down the road, we are to be obedient to the rules of the road. Are we slaves of the road? No. We recognize the need for the rules, we have respect for others on the road, and therefore we voluntarily comply with the rules of driving in order to facilitate a good driving experience for us all.
Are employees slaves of their boss? No. They abide by the policies of the company, recognizing that its success means they keep their job. A company that fails means what? Layoffs. And note too, that most good companies have broad enough policies and guidelines that most employees have some semblance of freedom to do their job right. Any organization that is micro-managed from the top is doomed to fail.
God does not micro-manage your spiritual life. You have an abundance of freedom to function in your life. Doctrine only serves to enhance your life, and to help you play out your life on the right playing field, not out of bounds somewhere.
And so it is with wives. Trained girls, those who are prepared for life in general, can occupy the role of a wife easily because they have the orientation to life and understand how life works. They are not slaves, but they give deference to their husbands, both of which recognize the respective domains of the other and both stay out of the way of the other when appropriate.
For example, I stay out of the kitchen. That place is not my domain. And in there I have virtually no say. I can certainly make my preferences known, but ask me to cook and you are taking your life into your own hands.
Men have certain things in life that pertain to the masculine side of life. Women have certain things that pertain to the feminine side of life. When men become feminine, when women become masculine, then things get all screwed up.
And this has nothing to do with ones occupation.
Remember that the Bible is truth, and truth applies to everyone no matter when they live or lived in history.
The home is not the ball and chain of the woman only. Many women have professional and non-professional occupations. If you are capable, then you can do it.
Obedience here means respect, preparation, capability, and deference, not slavery.
And obedience here also applies to your spiritual life. Understand obedience to doctrine and you understand the ingredients for life.
Reject obedience to doctrine, and you are shouting out to the world that you are greater than doctrine and Gods plan. The results will be obvious sooner or later.
All of this, and more, are so that the Word of God will not be dishonored by your behavior.
Orientation to life comes first through learning doctrine, understanding doctrine, using doctrine, and finally possessing doctrine in your life. Doctrine is your only source for preparation for life, no matter who or what you are.
