¹Do not sharply rebuke an older man, but rather appeal to him as a father, to the younger men as brothers, ²the older women as mothers, and the younger women as sisters, in all purity.

Older women are not to be overlooked, as often happens in any religious or political movement. Their contribution to “the cause” can go easily unnoticed or assumed to be of little value. Paul has more to say about this shortly, but in this brief synopsis, we learn that we should treat older women as we would treat our mothers. Of course, some people have very contentious relationships with their mothers, for whatever reason, whether justified or not. But Paul is presenting the idea, the target to shoot for in behavior with our fellow believers. No matter who you are, what stage of life you are in, the current circumstances of the Christian movement, or the conditions at your church, you do not have liberty to ignore the older women.

Before finishing this theme, Paul rounds out his synopsis of family life in general. He then turns to Timothy’s relationship with younger women—not just those women junior to Timothy, but those who are not part of the bracket called “older women.” Although these verses are addressed by Paul, a man, to Timothy, likewise a man, the application to our female readers is clear. Paul tells Timothy to treat younger women as sisters, in all purity. Unmistakably Paul is a realist; this is an issue on the minds of many younger men and women. Timothy was no exception. Whether this younger disciple was married or not does not change the importance of this teaching. Gender relationships between young adults is a significant area of concern in all time periods!

Many young people cling to this verse during their dating years, and this can be very helpful, although that application has its limits (I would never have held hands with my sister!). But again, respect is in focus. Paul earlier defined the differing gender roles in the church, but that role distinction does not mean men can treat women as inconsequential or in an insensitive way. Of course, many women can attest to the abuse they experienced from a sibling. But it is not hard to grasp Paul’s use of the ideal brother/sister relationship as one of love and mutual respect. Women in the church should absolutely feel that the men love, respect, and protect them as part of their own close family, with no fear of abuse or patronization of any sort, nor any demeaning attitude because of their being the so-called “weaker sex” (see 1 Peter 3:6).

Lord, help me respect, honor, and love the women in my local fellowship.