Self-controlled (Titus 2:5)

“The young women

Are to be

Self-controlled,

Chaste,

Good managers

Of their household,

And kind,

Being submissive

To their husbands.

Thus,

The word of God

May not be discredited.”

σώφρονας, ἁγνάς, οἰκουργούς, ἀγαθάς, ὑποτασσομένας τοῖς ἰδίοις ἀνδράσιν, ἵνα μὴ ὁ λόγος τοῦ Θεοῦ βλασφημῆται.

Paul said, “The young women are to be self-controlled (σώφρονας), chaste (ἁγνάς), good managers of their household (οἰκουργούς), and kind (ἀγαθάς), being submissive (ὑποτασσομένας) to their husbands (τοῖς ἰδίοις ἀνδράσιν).  Thus (ἵνα), the word of God (ὁ λόγος τοῦ Θεοῦ) may not (μὴ) be discredited (βλασφημῆται).”  Only the Pauline letters used this word σώφρονας, that means of sound mind, self-controlled, temperate, and modest, and the word ἁγνάς, that means free from ceremonial defilement, holy, sacred, pure, or chaste.  Only this letter to Titus used this word οἰκουργούς, that means working at home, keeper-at-home, or a housekeeper.  Paul told Titus that he should make sure that the young women in Crete were to be self-controlled.  This idea was prominent among Paul’s admonitions as it was part of Jewish, Greek, and Christian cardinal or important life virtues.  Of course, they should be chase and kind, as well as good managers of their household, good housekeepers, like the bishops and presbyters.  Paul added that they should be submissive to their husbands, so that it was clear that the man was in charge in the family.  Thus, they would be living examples of the word of God in their lives.  They would not bring any discredit to the emerging Christian communities.  How submissive should wives be to their husbands?