Clarke's Bible Commentary - Titus 2:3
Verse 3. The aged women likewise] I believe elderly women are meant, and not deaconesses. That they be in behaviour] en katasthmati ieroprepeiv? 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] mh diabolouv? Not devils; we have had the same expression applied in the same way, 1 Tim. iii. 11, where see the note.
Not given to much wine] h oinw pollw dedoulwmenav? 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, II.
vi., speaking of old women, says: cairei tw oinw h hlikia auth? 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 1 Tim. v. 23.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 3. And the aged women likewise , etc.] Speak also to them the things which become their profession, and what is right for them to be, and do: these aged women design not persons in office, who were ancient widows, and had some care of the poor; or presbyteresses, as some call them, the wives of presbyters or elders, as being distinct from deaconesses; but godly women in years, who are to be instructed and exhorted: that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness ; or holy women, sanctified by the Spirit of God; and who are priestesses unto God, as the word may signify, being made so by Christ unto the Father, as men are made kings and priests by him; such ought to be in their clothing, and in their speech, and in the whole of their conduct and conversation, as become the character which they bear, and the profession they make: not false accusers ; of the brethren, and sisters, which is to act the part of the devil; and indeed, the same word is here used which is commonly given to him; not raising false reports of, bringing false charges against members of churches, and so making differences and divisions among them. Not given to much wine ; or serving it, or being enslaved by it, which is very scandalous in any, especially in the female sex, and yet was what was too common in the eastern countries. Teachers of good things ; both by example and by instruction, but in their own houses privately; for they were not suffered to teach publicly, or to speak in the church; these should be teachers, not of old wives' fables, of superstitious customs, rites, and ceremonies, of the intrigues of love, and of things filthy and obscene, which are too often handed down to posterity by such persons; but of things that are solid and substantial, useful and improving, honest and honourable, chaste and pure. Particularly, Ver. 4. That they may teach the young women to be sober , etc.] Or to be chaste, modest, and temperate; or to be wise and prudent in their conduct to their husbands, and in the management of family affairs, who have had a large experience of these things before them. To love their husbands ; to help and assist them all they can; to seek their honour and interest; to endeavour to please them in all things; to secure peace, harmony, and union; to carry it affectionately to them, and sympathize with them in all afflictions and distresses; for this is not so much said in opposition to placing their affections on other men, and to the defilement of the marriage bed, as to moroseness and ill nature. To love their children ; not with a fond, foolish, loose, and ungoverned affection; but so as to seek their real good, and not only their temporal, but spiritual and eternal welfare; to bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord; and to use and keep proper discipline and government over them; for otherwise, amidst all the fondness of natural affection, a parent may be said to hate a child, ( Proverbs 13:24).
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-8 - Old disciples of Christ must behave in every thing agreeably to the Christian doctrine. That the aged men be sober; not thinking that the decays of nature will justify any excess; but seeking comfort from nearer communion with God, not from any undue indulgence. Faith work by, and must be seen in love, of God for himself, and of men for God' sake. Aged persons are apt to be peevish and fretful; therefore need to be on their guard. Though there is not express Scripture for ever word, or look, yet there are general rules, according to which all mus be ordered. Young women must be sober and discreet; for many expos themselves to fatal temptations by what at first might be only want of discretion. The reason is added, that the word of God may not be blasphemed. Failures in duties greatly reproach Christianity. Young me are apt to be eager and thoughtless, therefore must be earnestly calle upon to be sober-minded: there are more young people ruined by prid than by any other sin. Every godly man's endeavour must be to stop the mouths of adversaries. Let thine own conscience answer for thin uprightness. What a glory is it for a Christian, when that mouth whic would fain open itself against him, cannot find any evil in him to speak of!
Greek Textus Receptus
πρεσβυτιδας 4247 ωσαυτως 5615 εν 1722 καταστηματι 2688 ιεροπρεπεις 2412 μη 3361 διαβολους 1228 μη 3361 οινω 3631 πολλω 4183 δεδουλωμενας 1402 5772 καλοδιδασκαλους 2567
Vincent's NT Word Studies
3. Aged women (presbutidav). N.T.o . See on presbuterai, 1 Tim. v. 2.
Behavior (katasthmati). N.T.o . See on katastolh apparel, 1 Timothy ii. 9. It means, primarily, condition or state.Once in LXX, 3 Macc v. 45, katasthma maniwdev 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 (ieroprepeiv). N.T.o . LXX, 4 Macc. ix. 25; xi. 20. In the Theages (wrongly ascribed to Plato), tw uiJei to onoma eqou kai iJeroprepev you have given your son (Theages) an honorable and reverend name (122 D). It means beseeming a sacred place, person, or matter. Thus Athenaeus, seven, of one who had given a sacred banquet, says that the table was ornamented iJeroprepestata 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 presbutidev represented a quasi-official position in the church. See on 1 Tim. v. 3, and comp. 1 Tim. ii. 10; Eph. v. 3. 151 False accusers (diabolouv). Better, slanderers. See on Matt. iv. 1, and 1 Tim. iii. 6,11.
Given to much wine (oinw pollw dedoulwmenav). More correctly, enslaved to much wine. The verb only here in Pastorals. Comp. 1 Timothy iii. 8.
Teachers of good things (kalodidaskalouv). N.T.o . o LXX, o Class.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
2:3 {Aged women} (presbutidas). Old word, feminine of presbuts, only here in N.T. See presbuteras in #1Ti 5:2. {Reverent} (hieroprepeis). Old word (heiros, prepei). Only here in N.T. Same idea in #1Ti 2:10. Like people engaged in sacred duties (Lock). {In demeanour} (en katastemati). Late and rare word (inscriptions) from kaqistemi, demeanor, only here in N.T. {Not slanderers} (me diabolous). See #1Ti 3:11; 2Ti 3:3. {Nor enslaved to much wine} (mede oinwi poll"i dedoul"menas). Perfect passive participle of doulow, with dative case oinwi. See #1Ti 3:8. "It is proved by experience that the reclamation of a woman drunkard is almost impossible" (White). But God can do the "impossible." {Teachers of that which is good} (kalodidaskalous). Compound word found here alone, _bona docentes_ (teaching good and beautiful things). A sorely needed mission.
