Titus 2:4Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Do you see how he binds and sets people together, and how he subjects the younger women to the older? He is not speaking here of daughters, but generally of those younger in age. Let each elder woman, he says, instruct the younger. "That they may train the young women to love their husbands." This is the chief domestic good. "A wife," says the Wise One, "is in harmony with her husband" (Sir 25:2). When this exists, nothing unpleasant will occur. When the head is united with the body and there is no division between them, will not all the rest be at peace? When the principal members are at peace, who can violate and disturb this peace? On the contrary, if they are in bad relations with each other, nothing orderly will exist in the house. Nothing is better than their mutual concord.

"That the older women likewise be dressed as befits holiness." He speaks of older women, who should appear fitting both in outward appearance and in clothing. Some, however, think that he is speaking here of deaconesses. The Apostle requires them to seem decorous even by their very clothing, that is, corresponding to their sacred ministry.

"Not slanderers, not enslaved to drunkenness." Since a person grows cold in old age, an inclination to wine appears. Then, being weak and unable to restrain himself, he is overcome not by moderate but by abundant use of wine. From this comes a tendency to slander.

Likewise, women who have the authority of the ministry of deaconesses should daily learn only what is good and devote themselves to beneficence. Thus, by their very appearance, they may teach and instruct the young women.

For this virtue especially adorns youth, because the passion of desire attacks it more strongly. Then the Apostle teaches how instruction must be made persuasive.

“That they may admonish the young women.” Not only daughters and other blood relations or relations by marriage, but all women who can receive exhortation. The aim of their teaching should be to instill good order in the conduct of young women. “To love their husbands,” so that they may teach those who wish to enter marriage to love their husbands. This is the strength of the marital union. “To love their children,” so that they may be solicitous for their children.

In the second section, Saint Paul sketches the form of the pastor’s proper teaching activity in the Church. First, he shows him what to teach the faithful according to their age and state: what to teach older men and older women (Tit 2:1, 3), young women and young men (Tit 2:4–6), and slaves (Tit 2:9–10). Second, he shows how to teach: by presenting himself as a pattern of good works, and likewise of pure teaching and sound, irreproachable speech (Tit 2:7–8).

The Apostle commands that lessons for the young be carried out through mutual instruction, the elder teaching the younger. The content of these lessons is most natural: the instilling of conjugal and family love, purity, care for the home, good obedience, and prudence. By all this Christianity is glorified and not brought into reproach by anything bad, as though arising from Christian instruction. Such a thing might appear so to those insufficiently informed about Christian teaching. "Everything good comes from love," says St. John Chrysostom. "The Apostle did not simply say, 'they must be at peace,' but, 'to love their husbands.' When there is love between them, no discord enters among them. From it the other goods are also born.

In contrast to these false teachers, who teach the Cretans only what is evil, Titus must set forth sound doctrine. He must teach the faithful the dogmas of the faith and the rules of morality. The Apostle even indicates which virtues are to be taught to the faithful according to their age, sex, and state. Titus himself must serve as an example for the faithful.

"That they may make the young women sober-minded." This does not mean that they teach them to be chaste, for there is a special word about this below. Rather, it means that they make them wise, σωφρονιζωσιν, teaching them the wisdom of Christian living. "Do you see," says St. Chrysostom, "how he harmonizes and joins people together, and how he subjects the younger to the older? He is not speaking of daughters, but generally of those young in age. Let each elder woman, he says, instruct the younger." Here is the apostolic indication that pastors both may and must establish mutual instruction among those entrusted to them, especially among women. It is not always convenient to converse with women, and especially with young women.