Thought Provoking Bible Studies
Lesson 0247 © 2011 My Name ___________________________________ Date __________
THOUGHT PROVOKING BIBLE STUDIES are written by Fred D. Whitelaw. Download free of charge but only from our website:
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reproduced in its entirety with no changes or partial reproductions. Unless otherwise noted all quotes are from the KJV for consistency.
A VIRTUOUS WOMAN
1. What Do We Mean? The word “virtuous” is found only 3X-3V in the KJV and in every instance is
used to describe, not a man, but a woman. Its primary meaning is a mass, force, or wealth of, in these
cases, virtue and valor. Quite evidently it is used in the Bible sparingly because the question is asked,
“Who can _____ a __________ woman?” (Proverbs 31:10). The rarity and great value of this
esteemed characteristic is made plain: “For her _______ is far above ________” (Ibid).
2. A Truly Virtuous Woman Is Easily Recognized In the Book of Ruth we find Boaz saying to Ruth
that “all the _______ of my ________ doth know that thou art a _________ ________” (Ruth 3:11).
How did they know? Answer: By her daily life. Jesus said: “every good _______ bringeth forth good
______” and that “a _______ tree cannot bring forth _______ fruit” (Matthew 7:17-18).
3. The Virtuous Woman Is Faithful This word means full of faith. In speaking of spiritual matters we
usually think of one being full of the faith that “cometh by ________-----the _____ of _____” (Romans
10:17). It also means being so convicted, so trusting in certain ethics or principles, that there is no
way one would lose sight of these values. This is true of the marriage vows. “A virtuous ________ is a
_______ to her husband.” (Proverbs 12:4) Her fidelity encompasses every aspect of being a “wife”
and an “help meet” and goes far beyond sexual chastity itself.
4. Virtue Is A Christian Grace “And beside this, giving all _________, add to your faith ________” (2
Peter 1:5). This word derives from the Greek that literally means praiseworthy, valor, and
excellence. Paul wrote, “if there be any _______, and if there be any _______, think on _______
________” (Philippians 4:8). We understand that without virtuous character one can’t please God.
Why? Answer: God demands excellence and that women be strong in character and reputation, even
though the woman, physically speaking, is “the __________ vessel” (1 Peter 3:7).
5. She Is Cooperative And A Willing Worker “She-----worketh ________ with her hands” (Proverbs
31:13). Whether man or woman, God has little use for the indolent. Solomon said that “the
_________ giveth and spareth not” (Proverbs 21:26) but “the _________ of the slothful killeth him; for
his hands ________ to ________” (V25). It is clear that the righteous woman, or man, must be
industrious. Is it not also equally clear that the slothful individual cannot be righteous? _______.
6. She Is Modest Read this insightfully: “That women adorn themselves in _______ ________, with
shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or ______ ______; But (which
becometh women professing godliness) with ______ works” (1 Timothy 2:9-10). The Greek word for
modest in (1 Timothy 2:9, 3:2) is kosmios. It is translated “modest” when speaking of women and
interestingly is translated “behavior” when describing the (male) bishop.
7. More The harlot was/is known for flaunting herself, seeking to call attention to her body by dress, posture,
speech, and general deportment. The virtuous woman, her daughters, and her granddaughters, may never act
and dress in this fashion by erroneously assuming that God has granted them some kind of special impunity.
8. She Has Compassion On The Less Fortunate Selfish, vain women are a blotch against humanity.
They think only of themselves. The virtuous woman “stretcheth out her hand to the _____; yea, she
reacheth forth her hands to the _______” (Proverbs 31:20). Self-centered people “look not-----on the
________ of ________” (Philippians 2:4).
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9. She Is Thrifty, Energetic & A Homemaker There is an old saying that an extravagant wife can pitch more
out with a tablespoon than a laboring husband can pile in with a hayfork. Charity begins at home. This is a
biblical principle. “She riseth also while it is yet _______, and giveth ______ to her _________, and a
portion to her maidens” (Proverbs 31:15). Paul commanded those who derived their substance from
the toil of others to “labour, working _______ ______ ________ the thing which is good, that he may
have ____ _______ to him that __________” (Ephesians 4:28). Remember that legal larceny is still theft.
10. Passivity Is Not Virtue The virtuous woman “looketh _______ to the ways of her household, and
eateth not the _________ of idleness” (Proverbs 31:27). Paul warned that young widows can “learn to
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be _______, wandering about from _________ to _________; and not only idle, but _______ also and
__________, speaking things which they ought not” (1 Timothy 5:13). Is idleness a learned thing?
_______. How, and why, is one attracted to learning idleness? __________________________________.
The Virtuous Woman Of The NT Paul to Timothy: “I will therefore that the younger ________ marry,
bear _________, guide the house, give ______ occasion to the adversary to ________ reproachfully” (1
Timothy 5:14). These four items require much dedication and perseverance on her part.
12. Marry Paul said that it was better not to be married in perilous times but that “it is _______ to marry
than to ______” (1 Corinthians 7:9). Note that he did not say it is better to be in a relationship or
cohabit in fornication. Only marriage, not some illicit partnership, complies with God’s Moral Law.
13. Bear Children This also complies with Natural Law. Without it the human race would become
extinct. The godly woman “shall be _________ in childbearing” provided she “continue in ______ and
________ and holiness with _________” (1 Timothy 2:15).
14. Guide The House Yes, “the husband is the _______ of the wife” (Ephesians 5:23) and woe be to the
man or woman who deliberately seeks to disregard or thwart God’s will in this regard. What does
“guide the house” mean? It simply means that the wife (and mother) is the one endowed with maternal
instincts and that while the husband (and father) is out making the living that she is charged with
running the household. Young women are “to be _______, to _______ their husbands, to love their
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__________, to be discreet, _________, keepers at home, good, __________ to their ______ husbands,
that the word of God be ______ blasphemed” (Titus 2:5-6).
Live Above Reproach That’s what “give _____ _________ to the __________ to speak reproachfully”
(1 Timothy 5:14) means. Jesus understood that even the best of Christians will have adversaries. He
said, “love your _________, bless them that ______ you” (Matthew 5:44). God’s woman will never give
meddlers and backbiters reason to speak reproachfully. To do so is to dishonor Christ and shame his Church.
16. Older Women, Younger Women The instructions covered in Q#13 (above) are to be taught to the
younger women by “the ______ women” who are to “be in behaviour as becometh _________, not
_______ accusers, not _______ ____ much wine, ________ of good things” (Titus 2:3). We must
remember that “the _______ head is a _______ of glory” but only “if it ____ _________ in the way of
_______________” (Proverbs 16:31). It is a wonderful thing for older women to grow old as virtuous
servants of their Creator. They indeed can “tell it to the _____________ following” (Psalm 48:13).
17. A Final Thought Knowledge comes with application, time, and proper teaching. Women have always been the
caring, domesticating, gentling influence, the glue that holds families together. Our society has coarsened.
Most younger women aren’t ladylike any more. We are currently losing that wonderful, stabilizing
influence that is so essential to humankind. The worth of “a virtuous woman-----is far above _______.”
18. And…..One More Thing To be a practitioner of “__________ doctrine” (Titus 2:1) the older women
must heartily attempt to “teach the _________ women” to “love _______ husbands” (V4), to be “keepers
at home-----obedient to their ______ husbands” so that “the word of God be ______ blasphemed” (V5).
This is the doctrine of Christ and applies right now. It must never be discarded in favor of western style socialism,
otherwise God’s Word is “blasphemed” and “sound doctrine” isn’t being practiced.
Memory Verse
(James 3:17) “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy
to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.”
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