1Ti 2:10, Tit 2:7 | Barnes | STEP | Verse 10. But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works . That is, it is not appropriate for women who profess to be the followers of the Saviour, to seek to be distinguished for personal, external decorations. If they are Christians, they have seen the vanity of these things, and have fixed the heart on more substantial realities. They are professed followers of Him "who went about doing good," and the performance of good works especially becomes them. They profess to have fixed the affections on God their Saviour, and to be living for heaven; and it is not becoming in them to seek such ornaments as would indicate that the heart is supremely attached to worldly things. There is great beauty in this direction. Good works, or deeds of benevolence, eminently become a Christian female. The nature of woman seems to be adapted to the performance of all deeds demanding kindness, tenderness, and gentleness of feeling; of all that proceeds from pity, sympathy, and affection; and we feel, instinctively, that while acts of hardy enterprise and daring in a good cause peculiarly become a Christian man, there is something exquisitely appropriate to the female character in deeds of humble and unobtrusive sympathy and benevolence. God seems to have formed her mind for just such things, and in such things it occupies its appropriate sphere, rather than in seeking external adorning.

1 Timothy 2:10

Verse 10. But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works. That is, it is not appropriate for women who profess to be the followers of the Saviour, to seek to be distinguished for personal, external decorations. If they are Christians, they have seen the vanity of these things, and have fixed the heart on more substantial realities. They are professed followers of Him "who went about doing good," and the performance of good works especially becomes them. They profess to have fixed the affections on God their Saviour, and to be living for heaven; and it is not becoming in them to seek such ornaments as would indicate that the heart is supremely attached to worldly things. There is great beauty in this direction. Good works, or deeds of benevolence, eminently become a Christian female. The nature of woman seems to be adapted to the performance of all deeds demanding kindness, tenderness, and gentleness of feeling; of all that proceeds from pity, sympathy, and affection; and we feel, instinctively, that while acts of hardy enterprise and daring in a good cause peculiarly become a Christian man, there is something exquisitely appropriate to the female character in deeds of humble and unobtrusive sympathy and benevolence. God seems to have formed her mind for just such things, and in such things it occupies its appropriate sphere, rather than in seeking external adorning.

Titus 2:7

Verse 7. In all things showing thyself a pattern of good works. Not merely teaching others, but showing them by example how they ought to live. On the word rendered pattern (τυπον, type,) see Heb 8:6; 1Cor 10:6; Php 3:17.

In doctrine. In your manner of teaching. 1Timm 4:16.

Showing uncorruptness. The word here used does not occur elsewhere in the New Testament. It means, here, the same as purity--that which is not erroneous, and which does not tend to corrupt or vitiate the morals of others, or to endanger their salvation. Everything in his teaching was to be such as to make men purer and better.

Gravity. See this word explained 1Timm 2:2, where it is rendered honesty. Comp. 1Timm 3:4, where it is rendered gravity. It does not elsewhere occur. See the use of the adjective, however, in Php 4:8, 1Timm 3:8,11, Tit 2:2. The word properly means venerableness; then, whatever will insure respect, in character, opinions, deportment. The sense here is, that the manner in which a preacher delivers his message, should be such as to command respect, he should evince good sense, undoubted piety, an acquaintance with his subject, simplicity, seriousness, and earnestness, in his manner.

Sincerity. See this word (αφθαρσια) explained Eph 6:24. It is rendered immortality in Rom 2:7, 2Ti 1:10; incorruption, in 1Cor 15:42,50,53,54; and sincerity, Eph 6:24, and in the place before us. It does not elsewhere occur in the New Testament. It means incorruption, incapacity of decay; and, therefore, would be here synonymous with purity. It should be said, however, that it is wanting in many Mss., and is rejected in the later editions of the New Testament by Wetstein, Tittman, and Hahn.

(a) "pattern" 1Timm 4:12