Titus 2:4 - Printer Friendly

ESV: and so train the young women to love their husbands and children,

NIV: Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children,

NASB: so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children,

CSB: so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands and to love their children,

NLT: These older women must train the younger women to love their husbands and their children,

KJV: That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,

NKJV: that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children,

Paul's instructions to "older women" began in verse 3, and continue here. Verse 3 gives instructions to "train the young women," or to "encourage" them. In that time and place, "older women" would have been those around 40 years old and over. These women were usually already married, had raised children, and had ample experience to pass on to younger women. This experience was important, given the immoral culture in which younger women of Crete were immersed (Titus 1:12). The focus of younger women was to be their immediate family. In contrast with the wild living of Crete's non-believers, a young Christian woman was to live faithfully to her husband, showing love to him and to her children (Proverbs 31:11). The theme of how husbands and wives are to treat one another is also discussed by Paul in Ephesians 5:22–33. Wives are meant to respect their husbands, and husbands are to love their wives as themselves.

Titus 2:1–10 is Paul’s instructions to Titus, regarding the way various groups within the church should be coached. It includes specific instructions for older men and women, younger men and women, and servants. Titus is to encourage traits such as faithfulness, respectfulness, dignity, and self-control. Living this way not only draws others to Christ, it leaves critics with no room to attack our faith.

Titus chapter 2 details instructions for various groups within the church. These include older men, older women, younger men, and younger women. Paul commands Titus to encourage these positive behaviors, and to correct anything which contradicts his teachings. Titus is also told to be bold, and authoritative, in his work.

Chapter 2 forms a bridge in the middle of Paul’s letter to Titus. Chapter 1 focused on the character traits of a church leader, contrasted to the immoral culture of Crete. Chapter 2 explains the ideal traits of church members, especially in their acts towards each other. Chapter 3 will focus on the relationship between Christians and their surrounding culture.

The book of Titus is a letter written by the apostle Paul, to a Christian leader on the island of Crete. This is one of Paul’s three Pastoral Epistles, where he offers instructions to younger believers caring for large groups of others. Paul uses the book of Titus to emphasize the importance of selecting church elders carefully. Many of the topics discussed in Titus are mentioned elsewhere in the New Testament. Though the details of this message are specifically for Titus, and the believers of Crete, they offer insight useful for churches today.

Accessed 5/1/2024 7:59:17 PM