Lexical Summary presbutis: Elderly woman, aged woman Original Word: πρεσβῦτις Strong's Exhaustive Concordance aged woman. Feminine of presbutes; an old woman -- aged woman. see GREEK presbutes HELPS Word-studies 4247 presbýtis – properly, older woman, referring to the scriptural resposibility older women (especially over 50) have to disciple younger Christian women (used only in Tit 2:3). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfem. of presbutés Definition an aged woman NASB Translation older women (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4247: πρεσβῦτιςπρεσβῦτις, πρεσβυτιδος, ἡ (feminine of πρεσβύτης), an aged woman: Titus 2:3. (Aeschylus, Euripides, Plato, Diodorus, Plutarch, Herodian, 5, 3, 6 (3 edition, Bekker).) Topical Lexicon Context in the Pastoral Epistles The single New Testament occurrence of πρεσβύτις (Titus 2:3) appears within Paul’s household code for Crete. By singling out the “older women,” the apostle clarifies that sanctified maturity is not limited to male elders. He locates their ministry alongside that of “older men” (Titus 2:2) and “younger women” (Titus 2:4), weaving every demographic into the fabric of sound doctrine. The inspired placement underscores that teaching truth is inseparable from modeling it inside ordinary homes. Portrait of Mature Feminine Godliness Paul sketches four distinguishing marks: 1. Reverence in behavior—literally “fitting for a holy place,” suggesting a life that functions as a living sanctuary. Together these traits form a comprehensive picture of holiness that protects the credibility of “the word of God” (Titus 2:5). Responsibilities Entrusted to Older Women “Train the young women” (Titus 2:4) assigns seasoned believers an indispensable mentoring task. Their instruction is practical—marriage, parenting, self-control, industrious domestic stewardship, kindness, and respectful submission. Such training safeguards Christian households from cultural distortions and showcases the gospel’s transforming power. Intergenerational Discipleship Paul’s directive parallels the broader biblical ethic of generational faith transmission: Through πρεσβύτις, the Spirit formalizes this pattern inside New-Covenant assemblies, ensuring that doctrine reaches the next generation through relational investment. Historical Setting and Early Church Practice Second-century writings (e.g., Polycarp, Ignatius) attest to gatherings in which mature women served the vulnerable, prepared female baptismal candidates, and offered hospitality to itinerant ministers. Their unofficial but vital ministries align seamlessly with Titus 2, confirming that the apostolic expectation quickly became ecclesial norm. Connections with the Wider Biblical Portrait of Elderhood While πρεσβύτερος (male elder) denotes an ordained overseer, πρεσβύτις speaks to seasoned age rather than office. Both words share the root idea of seniority, highlighting that the congregation requires mature believers of both sexes: men for authoritative governance (1 Timothy 3:1-7) and women for specialized, life-on-life discipleship (Titus 2:3-5; 1 Timothy 5:2). Together they exemplify complementary spheres under one Head, Jesus Christ. Contemporary Application Modern churches regain apostolic health when they: As congregations obey Titus 2:3, they cultivate visible evidence that “the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men” (Titus 2:11). Forms and Transliterations πεπρησμένην πρεσβυτιδας πρεσβύτιδας πρήσαι πρησθήσεται presbutidas presbytidas presbýtidasLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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