But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine: Speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you. (Titus 2:1, 15)
There must be a certain "order" and protocol adhered to, in order for effective teaching and learning to take place. Everyone must know there "place", how they should behave and what God requires of each of us:
- older men: that the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience; (Titus 2:2)
- older women: the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things— (Titus 2:3)
- younger women: [older women] admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.* (Titus 2:4-5)
- younger men: Likewise, exhort the young men to be sober-minded, in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you. (Titus 2:6-8)
- servants (or willing workers): Exhort bondservants to be obedient to their own masters, to be well pleasing in all things, not answering back, not pilfering, but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things. (Titus 2:9-10)
- church environment: How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God. Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge. But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent. For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints. (I Corinthians 14:26-33)
- order in the church: Let your women [wives] keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says. And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women [wives] to speak in church.* Or did the word of God come originally from you? Or was it you only that it reached? If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord. But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant. Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues. Let all things be done decently and in order. (I Corinthians 14:26-40)
*We must keep the verse "Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says. And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church" in context. It was the custom of the non-Jewish cultures back then to have the men sit on one side of the "church" and the women on the other, which is still the custom in many countries today. If the leader or bishop said something that someone did not understand, they would yell out to ask their question. In an effort to maintain order during the service, God is instructing through Paul that the wives not yell out across the church to their husbands to ask a question, but to wait until they got home and discuss it there.
But don't misunderstand, women were very active in helping the early churches and all people should be actively involved, including children: Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey. And when they had entered, they went up into the upper room where they were staying: [The twelve apostles] all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers. When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit [apostles, men and women] and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 1:12-14, 2:1,4)
Women also taught and corrected others who taught: Now a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus. This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord, though he knew only the baptism of John. So he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. (Acts 18:24-26; Galatians 3:28; Acts 9:36; Acts 12:12-14; Acts 16:14-15; Acts 21:8-9; Philippians 4:3; Romans 16:1-6 )
Once the environment is established with order (I Corinthians 14:26-40), the message of salvation can be taught clearly, and the message is this: For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. (Titus 2:11-14) AMEN!
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