Titus 2:4
That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,
Titus 2:4
This verse answers the practical question: what should older women teach? The explicit aim is for them to train younger women “to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children.” Debates about the exact cultural context aside, the core is a vision of godly households where wives and mothers embody steadfast character, healthy relationships, and nurturing leadership in the home. In the climate of Crete, where public life and private life intersected with social expectations, this mentoring helps preserve family life as a school of faith and a theater for witness.
The emphasis on loving husbands and children anchors Christian virtue within marriage and family life, highlighting the gospel’s practical outworking in daily duties. It affirms that sanctification includes domestic wisdom—how spouses relate, how children are educated in the faith, and how love manifests in everyday acts. It also underscores women’s significant role in discipling the next generation within the home, reinforcing the church’s broader mission.
- Encourage marriages and parenting as spiritual disciplines; provide resources for healthy communication and conflict resolution.
- Train older women to mentor younger wives and mothers with practical guidance grounded in Scripture.
- Address cultural pressures that distort family life by teaching grace, mutual respect, and shared leadership in the home.
Cross-References: Ephesians 5:22-33; Proverbs 31:10-31; 1 Timothy 5:2; Colossians 3:18-21; 1 Peter 3:7