Titus: Do What God SaysSample

A godly woman

When Scripture speaks to women, it doesn’t flatten them into one mold or role. Instead, it lifts up godly character and wise living as the standard for every season of life. In Titus 2, Paul paints a picture of what godliness looks like for women, rooted not in cultural expectations but in a life transformed by Christ.

Paul begins by addressing older women, urging them to be reverent in behavior—living in a way that reflects God’s holiness. They are not to be slanderers or addicted to alcohol, but instead are to be examples of maturity, self-control, and grace. Crucially, they are called to teach what is good, investing in the next generation of women. In a culture that often idolizes youth, Scripture honors age and calls older women to embrace their role as mentors, teachers, and spiritual mothers in the faith.

Younger women, Paul says, should love their husbands and children, be self-controlled and pure, kind, and devoted to the health of their homes. The phrase “workers at home” isn’t about restriction, it’s about priority. In Paul’s time, households were the center of daily life and mission. The biblical principle here is that women, particularly those who are married, should not neglect the care and leadership they bring to their homes.

Scripture also affirms women who work outside the home (see Proverbs 31 or Lydia in Acts), but the heart of this command is about responsibility and stewardship. A godly woman prioritizes her home and family, not because she must do everything herself, but because her presence, wisdom, and faithfulness have lasting influence.

Then Paul addresses one of the more countercultural ideas: submission to husbands. In a biblical marriage, submission isn’t about inferiority or blind obedience. It’s about partnership, mutual respect, and sacrificial love. Paul says wives should submit to their husbands as to the Lord (Eph. 5:22), while husbands are commanded to love their wives as Christ loved the church—by laying down His life for her (Eph. 5:25).

Biblical submission is not passive, it’s an active choice to support and honor a husband who is loving and leading well. It’s not about inequality, it’s about reflecting the self-giving, Christ-centered love that makes marriages flourish.

Importantly, this submission is never to sin, abuse, or silence. The biblical model of marriage is one of mutual sacrifice, where the husband leads with humility and the wife supports with strength. When done right, it becomes a picture of the gospel itself, Christ and His church in a relationship marked by grace, service, and love.

Paul ends this section with a sobering reminder: how we live either affirms or undermines the credibility of the gospel. Whether you’re single or married, a student, a mom, a business leader, or all of the above—your calling is to reflect Jesus. And it all starts with Him. In Luke 10, when Martha was busy and Mary sat at Jesus’ feet, Jesus gently reminded them, and us, that the most important thing is not what we do, but who we know. A godly woman’s primary calling is always to love and follow Jesus. No matter her season of life.

So what does godly womanhood look like in light of Titus 2? A godly woman pursues Jesus, lives honorably, is an example worth following, builds others up, and stewards her season faithfully. She’s not defined by her relationship to a man, kids, or a job, but by her relationship to Christ.

Reflection Question: What does it look like for you to follow Jesus faithfully in your current season of life—and how can you grow in being an example worth following to others around you?

Prayer: God, thank you for Your Word and for calling me to something greater than cultural expectations. Help me to live faithfully in the season you’ve placed me in. Teach me to prioritize what matters, to build up others, and to love and serve with humility. May my life reflect the beauty of the gospel to those around me.