Titus 2:5

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 Titus 2:2 and on 1 Timothy 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 2 Timothy 2:9, and Luke 23:32-33; Luke 23:39: and to that used of the younger widows, 1 Timothy 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," 1 Peter 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 1 Peter 3:1; 1 Peter 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; Titus 2:5; Titus 2:9; Titus 3:1; 1 Peter 2:3; 1 Peter 2:18; 1 Peter 3:1; 1 Peter 3:5; 1 Peter 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 1 Timothy 6:1 called -the name of God," and -the doctrine." For -the word of God" cf. Revelation 1:2; Revelation 1:9; Revelation 6:9. St Paul's earlier usage connects itself more with the preachingof the Gospel, 1 Corinthians 14:36; 2Co 2:17; 2 Corinthians 4:2; Colossians 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.