.jpg)
Pictured to the left is a copy of a version of the Holy Bible, known as the ENGLISH STANDARD VERSION ( ESV ). Titus 1:5-16 read as follows:
"5 This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you- 6 if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. 7 For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, 8 but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. 9 He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it. 10 For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party. 11 They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach. 12 One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, 'Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.' 13 This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, 14 not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth. 15 To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. 16 They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work."
The apostle Paul ( see 2 Timothy 1:1 ) wrote the book of 2 Timothy, for example, to the young evangelist Timothy ( see 2 Timothy 1:2; 2:22; 4:2, for example ). The phrase "reprove, rebuke," in 2 Timothy 4:2, has cross-references to Titus 1:13; 2:15, for example, and, thus, Titus ( see Titus 1:4 ) was also an evangelist.
Paul ( see Titus 1:1 ), in providing "training in righteousness" ( see 2 Timothy 3:16 ) to this evangelist, instructed him regarding those who were "insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers" ( see verse ten, above ), for example. There is a problem with such insubordination in the New Testament church ( the church of Christ - see Matthew 16:18, Romans 16:16, and Ephesians 1:22, 23, for example ) today, as well: this sinful ( see Psalm 119:65-73, 142, 151, John 17:1, 3, 17, 2 Timothy 2:15, and 1 John 3:4, for example ) behavior is not merely named among some Christian ( see Acts 11:26, for example ) men, but it is also increasingly evident among some women in the church. These brethren must be "silenced" ( see verse eleven, above ) and "rebuked sharply" ( see verse thirteen, above ).
The problem of insubordinate women in the church can be attributed to the national feminist women's movement, which had its beginnings here in America at the University of Florida in 1969 with two female college students. If you, the reader, were not previously aware of that fact, now you are. This movement has since spread nationwide, if not globally, and is the basis for some of the problems experienced in marriage relationships, for example. Wives today seem less inclined to submit to their husbands "as to the Lord" ( see Ephesians 5:22 ): they desire to throw off ( so to speak ) their God-given roles as wives and mothers ( see Titus 2:3-5, for example ) in a futile pursuit of manliness.
Yes, because of the national feminist women's movement, women are gradually losing their identities as such in today's society. If a woman is elected to the White House, the aforementioned problems ( and others ) regarding women will only be exacerbated: the insubordinate behavior in the church must cease. Please read the Holy Bible ( which is God's word - see Luke 8:19-21 ( especially verse 21, for example ); 11:27, 28 ( especially verse 28, for example ), and Revelation 1:1-3 ( especially verse 3, for example ), for example ).
If you have any questions about the Holy Bible, you can contact me by e-mail at:
<rewillis1_1@juno.com>
<Russell E. Willis>.
