2:3a
Older women, likewise, are to be reverent in their behavior: The Berean Standard Bible has supplied the verb are and the verb to be. Here are some other ways to translate this:
instruct the older women to behave as women should who live a holy life (Good News Bible)
-or-
Tell older women to live their lives in a way that shows they are dedicated to God. (God’s Word)
Older women: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Older women is used only here in the New Testament. The context suggests that it refers to women who were of a similar age to the men mentioned in 2:2, women in their forties or fifties or older.
likewise: This word indicates that Paul’s next comments are similar to what he has just said. The older women should act in similar ways to the older men. Another way to translate this is:
In the same way
reverent: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as reverent refers to behavior appropriate for a holy person, that is, someone who is dedicated to God.
Here are some other ways to translate the phrase:
exhibit behavior fitting for those who are holy (NET Bible)
-or-
to live their lives in a way that shows they are dedicated to God (God’s Word)
-or-
to show their dedication to God
or
to behave as holy women should
in their behavior: The phrase refers generally to the way that they live, particularly the way they speak and look. The older women should act in ways that other people could see that they were dedicated to God.
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
in the way they live (New International Version (2011 Revision))
or
in all that they do
2:3b
not slanderers: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as slanderers refers to people who accuse others of bad behavior. Here it refers to gossips, people who tell bad stories about others.
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
not speaking against others (New Century Version)
or
not to be gossips (God’s Word)
This behavior, and the one that follows, is something the older women should not do. In some languages it might be natural to start a new sentence here. For example:
They should not be slanderers
-or-
Tell them not to be gossips (God’s Word)
or addicted to much wine: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as addicted is more literally “enslaved.” It refers to a person who is completely controlled by something or someone else. It is the second behavior the older women should not follow.
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
or enslaved to too much wine (New Century Version)
-or-
not slaves to excessive drinking (NET Bible)
or
and not controlled by alcohol
much wine: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as wine refers to a fermented alcoholic drink. It was a very common everyday drink in cultures of that time and place. Usually water was added to make it less intoxicating. The word much refers to drinking an excess of wine. Paul was not saying that the older women should not drink any wine at all.
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
too much wine (New Century Version)
or
excessive drinking (NET Bible)
2:3c
but teachers of good: In Greek this is a single word meaning “good teacher.” The Berean Standard Bible has supplied the word but to indicate a contrast with what the women should not do. However, most English versions connect this word to the positive instructions which follow in 2:4-5. If you connect it to what follows, it may not be necessary to supply a conjunction indicating contrast.
Here are some other ways to translate this verse part:
They must be teachers of right behavior (New Jerusalem Bible)
or
They must teach what is proper (Contemporary English Version)
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All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible. BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.