The Type of Nurturing Woman God Commends
Paul continues as he writes Timothy the specifics for the largest collection of godly women ever assembled in the First Century. Here are what the nurturing women, godly wives and moms of Ephesus were to look and act like:
1 Timothy 2:9-10 in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works.
From these two short verses directed to “the women” we can see four simple yet foundational truths that set the proper environment for nurturing discipleship.
1. Women of unhindered worship: “in like manner also”
Paul was explaining to the men of Ephesus (and to us all over the centuries) that who we are inside, spiritually, makes all the difference in how much we can live for God’s glory and serve Him in our lifetime. In overview Paul explains to women that first of all, two attitudes ought to characterize your approach to making every day a life lived worshipfully for the glory of God: “modestly and discreetly” (v. 9).
2. Women of chosen modesty: “that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel”
The Greek word translated “modestly” in verse 9 refers to modesty mixed with humility. At its core it connotes a sense of shame—not shame in being a woman, but shame for in any way inciting lust or distracting others from proper worship of God. A godly woman will do all she can to avoid being a source of temptation. The word also has the connotation of rejecting anything dishonorable to God. Some would even suggest it means “grief over a sense of sin.” A godly woman hates sin so much that she will avoid anything that can produce sin in others.
YOUNG LADIES SHOULD SEE THEIR MOTHERS as “modest”. What is that? Our English dictionary has some amazingly wise words for all who check definitions. Here is what the dictionary describes: seen as having a regard for decencies of behavior or dress; quiet and humble in appearance, style; not displaying one’s body; not boastful or vain; unassuming; virtuous; shy or reserved; chaste. God says to all women, pursue an attitude, a lifestyle, and a wardrobe that displays not your body but your modesty.
3. Women of evident restraint: with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing
YOUNG LADIES SHOULD SEE THEIR MOTHERS as proper and discreet: Moms that means they see you as having a specially adapted or suitable manner; appropriate; conforming to an accepted standard; correct; fitting; right; decent. Moms that means they see you as having a lack of ostentation or pretension; showing good judgment; prudent; cautious; careful about what one says or does.
4. Women of overt godliness: but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works
In our culture, God’s desired “good works” are often looked upon as the exact opposite of what young ladies should be taught. Women today are encouraged to find their own way, stay away from dependent relationships, love whomever they want, if they have to bear children, farm out their children to someone else’s care and influence, and not to worry about being sensible or pure, but to do whatever pleases them in fulfilling their desires.
As we know, when Paul enlarges upon the curriculum younger ladies are to follow he adds God’s desires in these words to Titus:
Titus 2:4-5 that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed. GOD
The conclusion is that God wants younger women to stand out in our culture. They are to be prayerfully and patiently taught to be young women of: unhindered worship; godly young women of chosen modesty; disciplined young women of evident restraint; and powerful young women