Season: 10 Episode: 150
Listen to episode 146 in Spanish:
Summary:
In this episode, we explore what it means to be a woman according to Scripture—not culture. Shanda breaks down the difference between defining and describing womanhood, showing how God gives us a clear definition of what a woman is, and then describes her character through passages like Titus 2 and 1 Timothy. You’ll learn how identity in Christ shapes biblical womanhood, why the cultural view falls short, and how mentoring the next generation starts with sound doctrine.
Intro
Hey guys! Welcome back to another episode of the Her Faith Inspires podcast where we tackle cultural issues through the lens of Scripture. Today we’re going to talk about something my husband and I heard at a marriage retreat back in November and it doesn’t only apply to marriage; it also applies to dating and friendship. I think it’s going to help you in your own relationships and it will help you as you navigate your children’s boundaries in dating and helping them walk through that process.
Here’s what we’re going to talk about today:
What is the biblical definition and description of womanhood? How does this apply today?
What is your role as a mentor?
Biblical Definition and Description of Womanhood
I distinguish description from definition this way: a description outlines the features or qualities of something, while a definition explains its essential nature.
For example, when Matt Walsh asks, “What is a woman?” he’s not asking for a description (like eye color or hairstyle); he’s asking for a definition—a statement of what a woman is by nature. The correct answer would be something like: a woman is an adult human female, biologically distinguished by her reproductive design.
A description of a woman, however, can vary: she may have brown eyes, long hair, or a petite build. These traits differ among women, but the definition does not. All women share the same essential biological identity.
Now, in Titus, Paul does something interesting—he defines biblical womanhood not by physical traits but by describing how a godly woman lives. He outlines her character, behavior, and role, grounding her identity in godliness, not appearance.
Our culture, by contrast, often reduces womanhood to mere outward features—makeup, fashion, or femininity by aesthetics. Biblical womanhood doesn’t depend on a woman’s appearance—it shows in how she lives according to God’s design.
As Got Questions puts it:
“Biblical womanhood is the distinguishing character of a woman as defined by the Bible.”
So, first things first: before we dive into how Paul describes biblical womanhood in Titus 2, we need to understand what defines a woman of distinguishing character according to the Bible.
Galatians 3:28 says, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Notice the categories Paul highlights—race (Jew or Greek), status (slave or free), and sex (male or female). These are cultural distinctions that often divide us. But Paul is making something clear: our primary identity is in Christ. In Him, the cultural walls that separate people fall away.
This is important because one of the greatest struggles in today’s culture is identity. And if we don’t know who we are, how can we understand why we’re here or how we should live?
That’s why I often refer to the five major worldview questions that every person must answer:
- Origin – Where did I come from?
- Identity – Who am I?
- Morality – How should I live?
- Purpose – Why am I here?
- Destiny – Where am I going?
These are like dominoes—if you get one wrong, the others topple with it. It all starts with origin: how did I get here? This question defines your understanding of God. And if you misunderstand who God is, every other answer you give—about identity, purpose, morality—will be off course.
In the same way, if we fail to define biblical womanhood correctly, we will not accurately describe how a woman should live according to that definition. Biblical womanhood begins with a life rooted in Christ. Once her identity is secure in Him, she can reflect that identity in how she lives, loves, and leads.
To recap the definition of biblical womanhood, it is: “The distinguishing character of a woman was defined by the Bible that reflects the character and nature of God.” To make this more clear, we will get into the description of biblical womanhood. Now remember, this applies to all women. It’s universal to biblical womanhood.
The Description of Biblical Womanhood
In chapter 1 of Titus, Paul tells this young man on the island of Crete to finish setting up leaders in the church because there are many in the church who are teaching false doctrine. One of the strongest verses in Titus is at the end of chapter 1 in verse 16 when he says, “They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.” In other words, their works define them. They say they’re Christians, but who they are is proven in how they live. Hold that thought in your head.
We then get to chapter 2, where Paul begins with, “But as for you …” showing the contrast in the way Titus is to live and the way these false teachers live. Now, keep in mind that Crete was a culture of liars, evil beasts, and lazy gluttons. Titus had his work cut out for him. Titus is centered around sound doctrine. I’m going to read 2:1-9.
Titus 2:1-9 says…
“But as for you, teach what accords with sound[a] doctrine.
2 Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness.
3 Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good,
4 and so train the young women to love their husbands and children,
5 to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.
6 Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled.
7 Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity,
8 and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.
9 Bondservants[b] are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative,
10 not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.”
Notice that biblical manhood could be defined because it’s described here. We could define what it means to be a bondservant. But let’s focus on what Paul tells Titus to teach the women. And keep in mind this is all on the foundation of teaching what accords to sound doctrine. It goes back to what the Bible says about how we ought to live as men and women of God. There are two categories for the women: older and younger. Because we can all attest to the fact that as seasons in our lives change, our roles and responsibilities change as well.
Older women:
- Reverent in behavior
- Not slanderers
- Not enslaved to wine
- Teach what is good
- Train the young women
Young women:
- Be trained by older women
- Love your husbands and children
- Self-controlled
- Pure
- Working at home
- Kind
- Submissive to your husbands
Why? Verse 5b: “So that the word of God may not be reviled.” (Criticized). This ties into verse 1 of chapter 2—teach what accords with sound doctrine. So, let’s break down what each of these actually means so we have a better grasp on what our responsibility is.
First, notice this is to all women. It doesn’t matter what color you are, your status, or position in society. Every woman falls into these two categories all the time. There is always someone older than you, and there is always someone younger than you. Now, that might get more difficult to be in the older category when you’re in your 80s, but you get what I’m trying to say. But each of us can be taught by someone older than us, and each of us can teach someone younger than us.
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