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Selected Verse: Titus 2:3 - King James
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| Tit 2:3 |
King James |
The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
behaviour--"deportment."
as becometh holiness--"as becometh women consecrated to God" [WAHL]: being by our Christian calling priestesses unto God (Eph 5:3; Ti1 2:10). "Observant of sacred decorum" [BENGEL].
not false accusers--not slanderers: a besetting sin of some elderly women.
given to much wine--the besetting sin of the Cretans (Tit 1:12). Literally, "enslaved to much wine." Addiction to wine is slavery (Rom 6:16; Pe2 2:19).
teachers--in private: not in public (Co1 14:34; Ti1 2:11-12); influencing for good the younger women by precept and example. |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
The aged women likewise - Not only those who may have the office of deaconesses, but all aged females.
That they be in behaviour as becometh holiness - Marg, "holy women." The Greek word is not found elsewhere in the New Testament. It means appropriate to a sacred place or person, or becoming to religion. Their conduct should be such as the gospel requires.
Not false accusers - - Margin, "make-bates." Greek, διαβόλους diabolous - the word commonly applied to the devil - "as the accuser." See it explained in the notes at Ti1 3:11, where it is rendered slanderers.
Not given to much wine - Notes, 1 Tim. 3.
Teachers of good things - That is instructing the younger - whether their own children, or whether they sustain the office of deaconness, and are appointed to give instruction to younger females; compare the notes at Ti1 5:2-6. |
| Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
Aged women (πρεσβύτιδας)
N.T.o. See on πρεσβύτεραι, Ti1 5:2.
Behavior (καταστήματι)
N.T.o. See on καταστολή apparel, Ti1 2:9. It means, primarily, condition or state. Once in lxx, 3 Macc 5:45, κατάστημα μανιῶδες the maddened state into which the war-elephants were excited. Hence the state in which one habitually bears himself - his deportment or demeanor.
As becometh holiness (ἱεροπρεπεῖς)
N.T.o. lxx, 4 Macc. 9:25; 11:20. In the Theages (wrongly ascribed to Plato), τῷ υἱεῖ τὸ ὄνομα ἔθου καὶ ἱεροπρεπές you have given your son (Theages) an honorable and reverend name (122 D). It means beseeming a sacred place, person, or matter. Thus Athenaeus, vii, of one who had given a sacred banquet, says that the table was ornamented ἱεροπρεπέστατα in a manner most appropriate to the sacred circumstances. The meaning here is becoming those who are engaged in sacred service. This is the more striking if, as there is reason to believe, the πρεσβύτιδες represented a quasi-official position in the church. See on Ti1 5:3, and comp. Ti1 2:10; Eph 5:3.
False accusers (διαβόλους)
Better, slanderers. See on Mat 4:1, and see on Ti1 3:6, Ti1 3:11.
Given to much wine (οἴνῳ πολλῷ δεδουλωμένας)
More correctly, enslaved to much wine. The verb only here in Pastorals. Comp. Ti1 3:8.
Teachers of good things (καλοδιδασκάλους)
N.T.o. olxx, oClass. |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| In behaviour - The particulars whereof follow. As becometh holiness - Literally, observing an holy decorum. Not slanderers - Or evil - speakers. Not given to much wine - If they use a little for their often infirmities. Teachers - Age and experience call them so to be. Let them teach good only. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
The aged women likewise - I believe elderly women are meant, and not deaconesses.
That they be in behavior - Εν καταστηματι ἱεροπρεπεις· That they be in their dress, gait, and general deportment, such as their holy calling requires; that they be not like the world, but like the Church, decent without, and adorned with holiness within.
Not false accusers - Μη διαβολους· Not devils; we have had the same expression applied in the same way, Ti1 3:11 (note).
Not given to much wine - Μη οινῳ πολλῳ δεδουλωμενας· Not enslaved by much wine, not habitual drunkards or tipplers; habit is a species of slavery. Both among the Greeks and Romans old women were generally reputed to be fond of much wine; hence the ancient scholiast on Homer, Il. vi., speaking of old women, says: Χαιρει τῳ οινῳ ἡ ἡλικια αυτη· At this age they delight in wine; which words Ovid seems to have translated literally: Vinosior aetas haec erat. It is likely, therefore, that it was customary among the elderly women, both Greeks and Romans, to drink much wine, and because it was inconsistent with that moderation, which the Gospel requires, the apostle forbids it: doubtless it was not considered criminal among them, because it was a common practice; and we know that the Greek philosophers and physicians, who denied wine to young persons, judged it to be necessary for the aged. See the note on Ti1 5:23. |
11 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.
12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.
34 Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.
19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.
16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
12 One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.
10 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.
3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
2 The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity.
3 Honour widows that are widows indeed.
4 But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God.
5 Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day.
6 But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.
11 Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.
8 Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;
11 Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.
6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
10 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.
3 Honour widows that are widows indeed.
9 In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;
2 The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity.
23 Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities.
11 Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.