Paul: His Life and His Teachings Virtuous Aging
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No.22 Paul: His Life and Teachings - Virtuous Aging (Part 1)
No.23 Paul: His Life and Teachings - Virtuous Aging (Part 2)
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Aging happens to us all. When we are younger, we have an excuse of youthful vigor and lack of patience. We can also make that we are not mature and are still learning and growing in wisdom. The more we age though, the less and less excuse we are going to have. This is not to justify excuses, for wisdom is required from the youth as well. Another thing that happens when we age is that we would be ushered in with a new set of expectations. That is, we are supposed to be guides and sources of much wisdom and training. There are certain things that the young ones will not have and there are certain things that only come to a person at a certain age. For example, it is mandated that Rabbis should be at least 30 years old. This is so because, at such age, they are more experienced and look more believable. Interestingly, the apostle Paul recognized these and the change in dynamics that it will bring forth in the context of a local church. So, Paul specifically wrote about the godly virtue for these age-gender specific groups. In this lesson, let us continue our study on Christian Virtues and specifically deal with virtuous aging.
For older men, Paul urges them to be temperate. Other versions translate this to “sober.” This speaks of not being given to much wine. They are not to be drunkards. Also, they are to be dignified, honorable or venerable. There is no room for the so-called dirty old men (DOM’s). Also, they are to be sensible – that is, of sound mind or self-controlled. They should be sound in faith, love, and perseverance. These older members should have been tested in time so more faithfulness is expected to be seen in them - more love for God and for our neighbors, and more perseverance or endurance. For older women, Paul urges them to be reverent in their behavior. Such phrase only appears here in the New Testament. It refers to their devotion and conviction in matters of spiritual beliefs, and behavior. Other translates this into, “devout or pious.” Some use this for temple priestesses, which implies that older women should parallel their devotion to those who serve as priestesses in the temple.
An example of a pious woman is Anna who prophesied over Jesus in the Temple. She was a devout woman spending her time in the Temple waiting for the consolation of Israel. This implies that older women than should be prayerful, and not gossipy. This brings us to our next point which is – not being malicious gossips. Other version translates such to “not slanderers” for a gossip is at times a kind of slanderer. Such negative trait is biblically and culturally equated with women. Likewise, they are not to be enslaved to much wine – the same as being sober. Further, they should be teaching what is good. This is informal teaching – like when the younger ones’ approach older women for some pieces of advice. As elderlies in the church, they need to be able to share some wisdom. Specifically, they should be able to disciple the younger women/wives on how to be a godly wife that God wants them to be. The advice of older women will also be the virtues for younger women.
Younger women should love their husbands and their children. Like the others, they are to be sensible. This pertains to being of sound mind and self-controlled just as we have discussed prior. They are to be pure and good workers at home. They should have a trade as this was their culture then. There is not much opportunity for women in those days so a family trade is often a big opportunity. They are to be kind. They are to be subject to their husbands – not just to any man, but to their husbands. The reason for the above is so that the Word of the Lord will not be dishonored. The major source of the dishonoring of the Word of God is in the home, the way we live our faith in front of our children. Paul urges younger men are to be sensible, that is to “keep one’s head.” This primarily refers to the controlling of the activities of one’s mind. A young man’s mind could be filled with a lot of things. It must be controlled with some sensibilities. They also are to show themselves to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine. This and the following virtues are some of the things that the elders might have already failed on. So, the young men are now encouraged by Paul to be different.
Finally, to the youth, Paul urges them to let no one look down on their youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, they are to show themselves as an example of those who believe. Praise be to God!