Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Titus 2:5
[To be] discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.
5. to be discreet, chaste ] The ‘expulsive power of the new affection’ for husband and for child would lead them on best to be wholly pure (note above on Tit 2:2 and on 1Ti 3:2) in mind and spirit, and chaste in look, and word, and act.
keepers at home ] Rather, we should read with R.V. workers at home, following ms. authority though with no support from the older versions. Vulg. ‘domus curam habentes.’ The word, which appears not to be found elsewhere, is formed similarly to the word for ‘malefactor,’ which in N.T. occurs only 2Ti 2:9, and Luk 23:32-33; Luk 23:39: and to that used of the younger widows, 1Ti 5:13, ‘prying round into other people’s work.’ The verb occurs with the same variation of reading, Clem. Rom. ad Cor. 1. 1, the Alexandrine ms. reading ‘workers’ as here; ‘And ye taught them to be grave workers at home, keeping to the due limits of subjection, wholly pure minded;’ an evident reminiscence of this passage.
good, obedient to their own husbands ] Vulg. excellently, ‘benignas,’ kindly, ‘amiable,’ ‘good,’ as we say ‘a good man is good to his beast’; so it is used evidently of masters towards slaves in union with ‘gentle,’ i.e. ‘considerate,’ 1Pe 2:18, ‘in subjection to your masters, not only to the kindly and considerate, but also to the churlish.’ Render the next clause, which is identical in 1Pe 3:1; 1Pe 3:5, in subjection to their own husbands. This participial phrase is almost proverbial apparently at this time. The word and thought ‘subjection’ occurs prominently in Titus and St Peter; Tit 2:5; Tit 2:9; Tit 3:1; 1Pe 2:3; 1Pe 2:18; 1Pe 3:1; 1Pe 3:5; 1Pe 5:5.
that the word of God be not blasphemed ] Better, be not evil spoken of; the word of God is here ‘the Gospel’ in the sense of ‘the Christian religion;’ in 1Ti 6:1 called ‘the name of God,’ and ‘the doctrine.’ For ‘the word of God’ cf. Rev 1:2; Rev 1:9; Rev 6:9. St Paul’s earlier usage connects itself more with the preaching of the Gospel, 1Co 14:36; 2Co 2:17 ; 2Co 4:2; Col 1:25. The clause belongs to the whole instruction. ‘If Christians profess to be influenced by a supernaturally strong and sacred motive, and then fail to do what lower and ordinary motives often succeed in effecting, the world charges the failure on the lofty motive itself, and Christ bears once again the sins of His people.’ Dr Reynolds.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
To be discreet – The same word rendered, in Tit 2:2, temperate, and explained in Tit 2:4.
Chaste – Pure – in heart, and in life.
Keepers at home – That is, characteristically attentive to their domestic concerns, or to their duties in their families. A similar injunction is found in the precepts of the Pythagoreans – tan gar gunaika dei oikourein kai endon menein. See Creuzers Symbolik, iii. 120. This does not mean, of course, that they are never to go abroad, but they are not to neglect their domestic affairs; they are not to be better known abroad than at home; they are not to omit their own duties and become busy-bodies in the concerns of others. Religion is the patron of the domestic virtues, and regards the appropriate duties in a family as those most intimately connected with its own progress in the world. It looks benignly on all which makes home a place of contentment, intelligence, and peace. It does not flourish when domestic duties are neglected; – and whatever may be done abroad, or whatever self-denial and zeal in the cause of religion may be evinced there, or whatever call there may be for the labors of Christians there, or however much good may be actually done abroad, religion has gained nothing, on the whole, if, in order to secure these things, the duties of a wife and mother at home have been disregarded. Our first duty is at home, and all other duties will be well performed just in proportion as that is.
Good – In all respects, and in all relations. To a wife, a mother, a sister, there can be no higher characteristic ascribed, than to say that she is good. What other trait of mind will enable her better to perform her appropriate duties of life? What other will make her more like her Saviour?
Obedient to their own husbands – Eph 5:22-24 note; Col 3:18 note.
That the word of God be not blasphemed – That the gospel may not be injuriously spoken of (Notes, Mat 9:3), on account of the inconsistent lives of those who profess to be influenced by it. The idea is, that religion ought to produce the virtues here spoken of, and that when it does not, it will be reproached as being of no value.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 5. Keepers at home] . A woman who spends much time in visiting, must neglect her family. The idleness, dirtiness, impudence, and profligacy of the children, will soon show how deeply criminal the mother was in rejecting the apostle’s advice. Instead of , keepers of the house, or keepers at home, ACD*EFG, and several of the Itala, have , workers at home; not only staying in the house and keeping the house, but working in the house. A woman may keep the house very closely, and yet do little in it for the support or comfort of the family.
That the word of God be not blasphemed.] The enemies of the Gospel are quick-eyed to spy out imperfections in its professors; and, if they find women professing Christianity living an irregular life, they will not fail to decry the Christian doctrine on this account: “Behold your boasted religion! it professes to reform all things, and its very professors are no better than others! Our heathenism is as good as your Christianity.” These are cutting reproaches; and much they will have to answer for who give cause for these blasphemies.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
To be discreet; swfronav the word signifies temperate, and imports an ability to govern all our affections and passions. Discretion is but one piece of the fruit.
Chaste; the word signifieth pure as well as chaste, and chastity only as it is a species of purity.
Keepers at home; house-wives, not spending their time in gadding abroad, but in looking to the affairs of their own families.
Obedient to their own husbands: the same is required of wives, Eph 5:22, and is due from them to their husbands, as being their head.
That the word of God be not blasphemed: as for the discharge of their duty towards God, so for the credit and reputation of the gospel, that for their carriage contrary to the rules of nature and morality, as well as of religion, the gospel may not be evil spoken of, as if from that they had learned their ill and indecent behaviour.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
5. keepers at homeas”guardians of the house,” as the Greek expresses.The oldest manuscripts read, “Workers at home”:active in household duties (Pro 7:11;1Ti 5:13).
goodkind, beneficent(Mat 20:15; Rom 5:7;1Pe 2:18). Not churlish andniggardly, but thrifty as housewives.
obedientrather”submissive,” as the Greek is translated; (see onEph 5:21, 22; Eph5:24).
their ownmarking theduty of subjection which they owe them, as being their ownhusbands (Eph 5:22; Col 3:18).
blasphemed“evilspoken of.” That no reproach may be cast on the Gospel, throughthe inconsistencies of its professors (Tit 2:8;Tit 2:10; Rom 2:24;1Ti 5:14; 1Ti 6:1).”Unless we are virtuous, blasphemy will come through us to thefaith” [THEOPHYLACT].
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
To be discreet,…. Or temperate in eating and drinking, so the word is rendered in Tit 2:2 or to be sober both in body and mind; or to be wise and prudent in the whole of their conduct, both at home and abroad:
chaste; in body, in affection, words and actions, having their love pure and single to their own husbands, keeping their marriage bed undefiled.
Keepers at home: minding their own family affairs, not gadding abroad; and inspecting into, and busying themselves about other people’s matters. This is said in opposition to what women are prone unto. It is reckoned among the properties of women, by the Jews, that they are , “gadders abroad” x: they have some rules about women’s keeping at home; they say y,
“a woman may go to her father’s house to visit him, and to the house of mourning, and to the house of feasting, to return a kindness to her friends, or to her near relations–but it is a reproach to a woman to go out daily; now she is without, now she is in the streets; and a husband ought to restrain his wife from it, and not suffer her to go abroad but about once a month, or twice a month, upon necessity; for there is nothing more beautiful for a woman, than to abide in the corner of her house; for so it is written, Ps 45:13 “the king’s daughter is all glorious within”.”
And this they say z is what is meant by the woman’s being an helpmeet for man, that while he is abroad about his business, she is , “sitting at home”, and keeping his house; and this they observe is the glory and honour of the woman. The passage in
Isa 44:13 concerning an image being made “after the figure of a man, according to the beauty of a man, that it may remain in the house” is by the Targum thus paraphrased:
“according to the likeness of a man, according to the praise of a woman, to abide in the house.”
Upon which Kimchi, has this note.
“it is the glory of a woman to continue at home, and not go abroad.”
The tortoise, which carries its house upon its back, and very rarely shows its head, or looks out of it, was, with the ancients, an emblem of a good housewife. These also should be instructed to be “good” or “kind” to their servants, and beneficent to the poor, and to strangers, towards whom, very often, women are apt to be strait handed, and not so generous and liberal as they should be:
obedient to their own husbands; [See comments on Eph 5:22],
[See comments on Eph 5:24].
that the word of God be not blasphemed; by unbelieving husbands, who, by the ill conduct of their wives, would be provoked to speak ill of the Gospel, as if that taught disaffection and disobedience to them.
x Bereshit Rabba, sect. 45. fol. 40. 3. y Maimon. Hilchot Ishot, c. 13. sect. 11. z Tzeror Hammor, fol. 5. 4.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Workers at home (). So the oldest MSS. (from , ) instead of , keepers at home (from , , keeper). Rare word, found in Soranus, a medical writer, Field says. Cf. 1Ti 5:13. “Keepers at home” are usually “workers at home.”
Kind (). See Ro 5:7. See Col 3:18; Eph 5:22 for the same use of , to be in subjection. Note (their own). See 1Ti 6:1 for the same negative purpose clause ( ).
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Keepers at home [] . Wrong. Rend. workers at home. N. T. o. o LXX, o Class.
Good [] . Not attributive of workers at home, but independent. Rend. kindly. The mistress of the house is to add to her thrift, energy, and strict discipline, benign, gracious, heartily kind demeanor. Comp. Mt 20:15; 1Pe 2:18; Act 9:36. See on Act 11:24; Rom 5:7. 1 53 Obedient [] . Better, subject or in subjection. Frequent in Paul, but not often in the active voice. See on Jas 4:7; Rom 8:7; Phi 3:21; and comp. 1Co 14:34; Eph 5:22; Col 3:18.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “To be discreet.” – (sophronos) “Sensible.”
2) “Chaste” (agnas) “Chaste or morally clean.”
3) “Keepers at home.” (oikourgous) “House-workers,” or Home-makers,” Pro 31:10-31.
4) “Good” – (agathas) Persons of good character, “inner good.”
5) “Obedient to their own husbands.” (hupotasomenos tois idiois andrasin) “Subject, obedient, or under the rule of their own husbands,” as Sarah was to Abraham, 1Pe 3:5-6; Eph 5:22; Eph 5:24.
6) “That the word of God be not blasphemed.” (hina me ho logos tou theou blasphemetai) “In order that the Word of God be not blasphemed or spoken against.” Aged women of moral, ethical, and doctrinal stability are to train younger women in Christian virtues of the eight kinds mentioned above, 2Ti 3:16-17.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
When he adds, that the word of God may not be evil spoken of, it is supposed that this relates strictly to women who were married to unbelieving husbands, who might judge of the gospel from the wicked conduct of their wives; and this appears to be confirmed by 1Pe 3:1. But what if he does not speak of husbands alone? And, indeed, it is probable that he demands such strictness of life as not to bring the gospel into the contempt of the public by their vices. As to the other parts of the verse, the reader will find them explained in the Commentary on the First Epistle to Timothy. (241)
(241) See p. 135.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(5) To be discreet.See Note in Tit. 2:2 of this chapter.
Chaste.Not only in act, but also in look, in speech, in thought, even in dress.
Keepers at home.The older authorities here, instead of keepers at home (domum custodientes, domus curam habentes), read workers at home; the Greek word is not found elsewhere. The sense of the passage is, however, little changed by the alteration. The meaning is clear, Domi mansit lanam fecit. Home duties, cares, pleasures, sacrifices of selfthese God-appointed duties ought to fill the mind and the heart of the young wife. There should be no desire, no attempt, to go round to the other houses, and so contracting idle, gossiping habits. Hofmann thus sums up these directions to the young Christian women of Crete, Gute Hausfrauen will der Apostel haben.
Good.Gracious, kind, thoughtful to others, especially to inferiors.
Obedient to their own husbands.More accurately, submitting themselves to their own husbands. Women who really love their Master Christ should take care that, as far as in them lay, the law of subordination in the family to its rightful head should be strictly carried out. In a Church like that of Crete, made out of divided houses often, where the Christian wife was married to a Pagan husband, such a charge as this was especially needful.
That the word of God be not blasphemed.These words refer to all the exhortations from Tit. 2:2 onwards, but more particularly to those clauses enforcing home duties immediately preceding. There was, of course, the fear that wives, carried away by religious fervour, might neglect the plainer every-day duties for the seemingly loftier and more self-denying occupations included under the head of religious works. Such failure in every-day tasks would, of course, be bitterly charged on the religion of Christ, and the gospel would run the danger of being evil-spoken of, even in other than purely Pagan circles. But the reference extends over a broader area than that occupied by Christian mistresses of households. All, of every rank and age, who think they love the Lord Jesus should remember that the enemy is ever watching their words and works; never should they who wear the colours of the great King forget the charge of the Kings son, Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
5. Keepers at home Instead of , ( home-keepers,) another reading, preferred by Alford, is , ( home-workers.)
Good In temper.
Obedient Note, Eph 5:22.
Own Emphatic, in contrast with Gnostic marital looseness.
That blasphemed This clause, as well as the clause no evil you, in Tit 2:8, and the clause adorn things, Tit 2:10, all show the anxiety of St. Paul for the honour of Christianity, in contrast with the errorists of Tit 1:10-15.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Tit 2:5. Keepers at home, The word , according to Elsner, signifies not only keeping at home, but an attentive looker after domestic affairs. Hesychius explains it by “one who takes care of the things belonging to the house, and keeps them.” Some would join the next epithet with this, and read good housekeepers. That the word of God be not blasphemed, means, “that they may give no occasion by their behaviour for any reproach to be cast upon that Christianity which they profess.” Heylin reads it, So that religion may not be reproached on their account.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.
Ver. 5. To be discreet, chaste, &c. ] Coniugium humanae divina Academia vitae. Much good may be learned by wedlock.
Keepers at home ] Carrying her house on her back, as the snail doth. Sarah was found in the tent, so was Jael the wife of Heber. The Egyptian women ware no shoes, that they might the better keep home.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Tit 2:5 . : workers at home . Field says that “the only authority for this word is Soranus of Ephesus, a medical writer, not earlier than the second century,” ; but the verb is found in Clem. Rom., ad Cor . i. 1, . , keepers at home, domum custodientes ( [316] [317] 81 ) domus curam habentes (Vulg.), though constantly found in descriptions of virtuous women, is a less obviously stimulating epithet. Mothers who work at home usually find it a more absorbing pleasure than “going about from house to house” (1Ti 5:13 ). But the “worker at home” is under a temptation to be as unsparing of her household as of herself; and so St. Paul adds , benignas, kind (R.V.), rather than good (A.V.). For this force of , see reff.
[316] The Latin text of Codex Claromontanus (sc. vi.), a Grco-Latin MS. at Paris, edited by Tischendorf in 1852.
[317] Speculum
: (See on 1Ti 3:4 ) is not emphatic: it is simply, their husbands . The merely differentiates husband from man .
: For , as used here, the more usual word is (from Isa 52:5 ). See reff. on 1Ti 6:1 ; and also Jas 2:7 , Rev 13:6 ; Rev 16:9 . , in 2Pe 2:2 , is equivalent to here. The practical worth of a religion is not unfairly estimated by its effects on the lives of those who profess it. If the observed effect of the Gospel were to make women worse wives, it would not commend it to the heathen; “for the Greeks judge not of doctrines by the doctrine itself, but they make the life and conduct the test of the doctrines” (Chrys.). See note on 1Ti 5:14 .
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
discreet. Greek. sophron. Compare verses: Tit 2:1, Tit 2:4, Tit 2:1, B.
chaste. Greek. hagnos. Elsewhere, 2Co 7:11; 2Co 11:2. Php 1:4, Php 1:6. 1Ti 5:22. Jam 3:17. 1Pe 5:2. 1Jn 3:3.
keepers at home. Greek. oikonras. Only here.
obedient. Greek. hupatasso, as in Tit 2:9; Tit 3:1.
husbands. App-123.
word. App-121.
God. App-98.,
not. App-105.
blasphemed. Greek. blasphemeo. Occurs: Tit 3:2.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Tit 2:5
to be sober minded, chaste,-Well-balanced state of mind resulting from habitual self-restraint, which gives no grounds for evil reports.
workers at home,-That they be keepers or managers at home; keep a neat, attractive house that will make her husband and children love home. Christian women should be the best of housekeepers and should be models to all who know them.
kind, being in subjection to their own husbands,-She must be good and true in her character and recognize that God has made her husband head, and she should take care that, as far as in her lies, the law of subordination should be strictly obeyed.
that the word of God be not blasphemed:-These words refer to the clauses enforcing home duties. To fail to do them would cause the word of the Lord which commands them to be blasphemed-spoken against. Life is made up of small and simple deeds. Character is composed of many simple qualities, and the honor of the name of the Lord is bound up with the faithful discharge by Christians of the simple duties of life. The family is the chief seat, and often the main test of Christian character, and it is the distinctive feature of humility as ordained of God.
Christians are all built together as one body, sealed and cemented together by the blood and Spirit of Christ, each to help all others to grow into the body of the Lord Jesus Christ, a dwelling place of God, through the Spirit on earth. Now, brethren and sisters, between ourselves and God, how much of this helping the weaker and tempted brethren and sisters have we done? Whenever we have left others, especially the weakest and humblest ones, to strive alone, we have injured them, but we have more seriously injured ourselves. When one member sins all suffer. The spiritual ties are stronger than the fleshly ones.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
discreet: Tit 2:2
keepers: Gen 16:8, Gen 16:9, Gen 18:9, Pro 7:11, Pro 31:10-31, 1Ti 5:13
good: Act 9:36, Act 9:39, 1Ti 5:10
obedient: Gen 3:16, 1Co 11:3, 1Co 14:34, Eph 5:22-24, Eph 5:33, Col 3:18, 1Ti 2:11, 1Ti 2:12, 1Pe 3:1-5
that: 2Sa 12:14, Psa 74:10, Rom 2:24, 1Ti 5:14, 1Ti 6:1
Reciprocal: Gen 34:1 – the daughter Deu 24:5 – a man Neh 5:9 – reproach Est 1:22 – that every man Pro 31:13 – worketh Mat 18:7 – unto Joh 15:8 – is Rom 12:17 – Provide 2Co 8:21 – for 1Ti 3:7 – lest 2Pe 2:2 – pernicious ways
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Tit 2:5. They will be discreet or moderate, and chaste, which means to be pure in heart and life. Keepers at home is from OIKOUROS which Thayer defines, “The (watch or) keeper of a house. Keeping at home and taking care of household affairs, domestic.” A woman cannot display the kind of character and conduct as this and the preceding verse describes, if she follows the example of many modern wives, who spend much of their time running round in the neighborhood, or devoting their attention to clubs and other social gatherings. Good has virtually the same meaning as chaste, except that the apostle adds the specification that they be obedient to their own husbands. Eph 5:22-24 teaches that the husband is the head of the wife, hence she is required to be subject to him. That the word of God be not blasphemed. The world in general understands that a wife is supposed to be subject to her husband; but if she is otherwise while making a profession of being guided by the Bible, it will reflect unfavorably on that profession. To blaspheme means to speak evil, and hence such inconsistent conduct on the part of a married woman will give occasion to speak against the Book she claims to love.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
2:5 [To be] discreet, chaste, {a} keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.
(a) Not roving about idly.