Titus 2:3-5 The aged women likewise, that they be in behavior as becomes holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine… The gospel revealed the lofty destiny of woman, and it is not surprising that St. Paul should continue his advice to Titus thus: "Enjoin that the aged women in like manner, should preserve in their demeanour holy propriety." As has it, "Their gait and motion, their countenance, their speech, and their silence, should exhibit a certain dignity of sacred decorum." The very word seems to convey the fine thought that there is a consecration, a sacerdotal eminence and sanctity, possible and even normal, in the life of woman. The aged woman should have in her looks and ways something better than the garment of the priest or the aureole of the saint. It is fitting and seemly that she should. The apostle adds a grim touch after this hint of saintly sacerdotal beauty. He knew the temptation of "old women" of both sexes to be censorious, blundering, and self-indulgent, and so he adds, "Let them not be slanderous, nor enslaved by much wine." They are, moreover, to be "mistresses of honour," capable of "beautifully instructing" by their word and example those who look up to them for counsel. (H. R. Reynolds, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; |
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