返回Chapter 2
Chapter 2
Chapter Two
Titus 2:1. But as for you, speak what is consistent with sound doctrine.
You should do your work even if they are unbelieving and dishonorable people: do not be silent, even if they do not accept the teaching.
Titus 2:2. that the old men be sober,
Since the deficiency of old age is laziness, slowness, and difficulty of movement, he therefore says that they should "be vigilant," that is, be watchful and ready for every duty.
Titus 2:2. Dignified, self-controlled,
By temperate he here means those who are prudent, possessing a sound state of mind. For even among the elderly there are people who are frenzied, raging, and senseless — some from wine, others from faintheartedness.
Titus 2:2. Sound in faith, in love, in patience;
Patience is especially fitting for the elderly, on account of their irritability and short temper.
Titus 2:3. that the aged women likewise dress in a manner befitting holiness,
The passage speaks of elderly women who should appear dignified both in their outward appearance and in their clothing. Some, however, think that the reference here is to deaconesses, from whom the apostle requires that even in their very attire they should appear befitting, that is, in keeping with their sacred ministry.
Titus 2:3. Not be slanderers, not be enslaved to drunkenness,
Since in old age a person grows cold, an inclination toward wine appears, and then, being unable to restrain himself, as one who is weak, he is overcome not by moderate but by excessive use of wine, and from this arises a tendency toward slander.
Titus 2:3. Teachers of good things;
How then does he say in another place: "but I suffer not a woman to teach" (1 Tim. 2:12)? There he speaks of public teaching in the church, which is not permitted to women, but here of teaching at home, and moreover only of younger women. That this is what the apostle says, listen to what follows.
Titus 2:4. that they may teach the young women to love their husbands,
Not only their own daughters, but all who are young in age. Let each older woman "instruct" the younger, and above all in the most important domestic good — "to love their husbands." When this is present, everything else will follow: order in the home and abundance in possessions; but when this is absent, even if everything else were present, it will all slip away.
Titus 2:4. To love their children,
He who loves the root, that is, the father, will all the more love the fruits as well, that is, the "children."
Titus 2:5. to be chaste, pure, caring for the home, kind,
A wife who loves her husband will be both chaste and blameless, that is, pure in both body and mind, free from mingling with outsiders and from lustful desire; and she will also be a good manager of the home, that is, a housewife. Loving her husband, she also takes care "of the house," not being occupied with adornments, nor luxury, nor untimely expenditures. And whom else would she seek to please, having already pleased her beloved? See how Paul, who previously drew people away from worldly cares, now devotes great diligence to domestic affairs, because when these matters are in good order, spiritual matters will be in good order as well.
Titus 2:5. That the word of God may not be blasphemed.
Do you see that he is primarily concerned with preaching, and not with worldly affairs? If a believing wife, living with an unbelieving husband, is not virtuous, then the blame is transferred to the faith.
Titus 2:6. Young men likewise exhort to be sober-minded.
He appointed the elders as teachers for the younger, women for women; for the "young men" – Titus himself, a man for men: everywhere he observes propriety. In what, then, should they be instructed and admonished? "To be self-controlled," for in youth the fire of shameful pleasures causes the most harm, which must be extinguished, and one must strive "to be self-controlled."
Titus 2:7. In all things showing yourself a pattern of good works,
Let the older women teach the younger women, and you yourself teach the young men. However, let the common school and model of virtue be your radiant life, set before all like a master image displayed in the sight of everyone who wishes to learn something good from it.
Titus 2:7. Teaching with integrity,
This expression depends on the general phrase: show. So that what you teach, he says, may not be corrupt and false, but sound and having the correct meaning.
Titus 2:7. Dignity,
So that the teaching may have nothing youthful or disturbing to the foolish, but that everything may be reverent and worthy of God.
Titus 2:8. Sound speech, that cannot be condemned.
That is, orthodox, containing nothing blameworthy.
Titus 2:8. so that the opponent may be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us.
The adversary he calls either the devil, or anyone who serves him.
Titus 2:9. Exhort servants to be obedient to their own masters, to please them in all things,
Therefore, he is worthy of condemnation who separates wives and husbands under the pretext of continence, and who separates servants from masters under the pretext of piety. For he gives much occasion for reproach to all and opens the mouths of all against the faith.
Titus 2:9. Do not be quarrelsome,
Titus 2:10. Not pilfering, but showing all good fidelity,
Do you see what he requires of slaves? That which most of all puts masters at ease, namely, that they "not talk back, not steal, but be faithful." For worldly people this is most of all desirable.
Titus 2:10. That they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.
If slaves are such, they serve to the glory of Christianity. For when a pagan sees his slave, so educated by Christianity, will he not marvel at the teaching which had such power that it improved even such a soul? And how insolent and stubborn this slavish race always is, but this is because, being neglected by their masters, they are poorly raised and not guided by the instructions and company of honorable people. Therefore Paul rightly said in another place: "doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men" (Eph. 6:7). Although you serve your master, the honor pertains to God, because the disposition toward the master also has its beginning in that fear.
Titus 2:11. The grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,
Since the apostle demanded much that was great from slaves – I mean precisely that they should adorn the teaching of the Lord by their virtuous life – he now shows why he justly demands such high qualities from them. For grace appeared for them also, even though they are slaves. "For all," he says, "men." To them also the Lord granted the cleansing of many sins, and they ought to live the rest of their time to the glory of their Benefactor.
Titus 2:12. Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts,
And here he puts them to shame. Having God as your teacher, he says, should you not live worthily of Him? This grace, he says, extends not only to the forgiveness of former sins, but also secures us for the future. It teaches us to live the rest of our time in sobriety, since we have utterly renounced ungodliness and worldly lusts. By the expression "having denied" he signifies a complete turning away, proceeding from the disposition of the entire soul. By "ungodliness" he means idolatry and perverted doctrines. By "worldly lusts" — covetousness, luxury, and the other vices that do not lead to heaven but are useful in this world and cease together with it. Therefore Christ came so that we would renounce ungodly teachings and a sinful life, hating both with equal force.
Titus 2:12. lived soberly, righteously, and godly
"Chastely" means not only abstinence from fornication, but also from the other passions. And if you are covetous, then you are also "not chaste"; on the contrary, you are even more incontinent, since this passion is not natural. In general, one who is overcome by all the passions is not chaste.
Titus 2:12. in the present age,
This "age" represents the struggle, and the future one represents the recompense.
Titus 2:13. awaiting the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,
Here is the reward: the Second Coming, truly blessed. He well said: "glory." He speaks of two appearances. The first, as was said above, had grace and forgiveness, which was accomplished with mercy and simplicity. The second is retribution, which is to be revealed with glory, as it is also said in the Gospel: "when the Son of Man shall come in His glory" (Matt. 25:31). Where are those who demean the Son and do not wish to call Him God? Let them hear that He is both God and great. Great, it is said, as God—not in comparison with something else that is small, but absolutely, since He is great in Himself, by nature. If He saved us when we were enemies, what will He not give then, when He finds us pleasing to Him?
Titus 2:14. Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity
And this is a sign of His power, that He gave Himself—and not so as to deliver from one iniquity but not from another, but "from all iniquity." Let us then honor our redemption.
Titus 2:14. And to purify for Himself a special people,
To cleanse by the font of divine baptism and by the fulfillment of His divine and purifying commandments. "Peculiar" (περιούσιος), that is, His own — this expression is metaphorically taken from servants who revolve around the property and possessions of their master, just as one calls a person chosen, set apart, having nothing in common with the rest of mankind.
Titus 2:14. Zealous for good works.
That is, a people zealously striving for virtue and showing "zeal for all good works" and fervent emulation. Redemption is His work alone, but being zealous in works is also ours.
Titus 2:15. These things speak, exhort, and rebuke with all authority,
First "speak and exhort," that is, teach with gentler speech; and then "rebuke," and not simply, but "with all authority," that is, insistently and authoritatively. Since they were rough, he brings forth severity against them. There are vices that do not need severity, but only exhortation and persuasion, such as completely despising money. But there are also those that need severity, such as adultery, theft, robbery, and sorcery.
Titus 2:15. Let no one despise you.
That is: let no one despise you for rebuking opportunely and strictly; for whoever rebukes strictly but not opportunely is all the more despised.
Titus 2:1. But as for you, speak what is consistent with sound doctrine.
You should do your work even if they are unbelieving and dishonorable people: do not be silent, even if they do not accept the teaching.
Titus 2:2. that the old men be sober,
Since the deficiency of old age is laziness, slowness, and difficulty of movement, he therefore says that they should "be vigilant," that is, be watchful and ready for every duty.
Titus 2:2. Dignified, self-controlled,
By temperate he here means those who are prudent, possessing a sound state of mind. For even among the elderly there are people who are frenzied, raging, and senseless — some from wine, others from faintheartedness.
Titus 2:2. Sound in faith, in love, in patience;
Patience is especially fitting for the elderly, on account of their irritability and short temper.
Titus 2:3. that the aged women likewise dress in a manner befitting holiness,
The passage speaks of elderly women who should appear dignified both in their outward appearance and in their clothing. Some, however, think that the reference here is to deaconesses, from whom the apostle requires that even in their very attire they should appear befitting, that is, in keeping with their sacred ministry.
Titus 2:3. Not be slanderers, not be enslaved to drunkenness,
Since in old age a person grows cold, an inclination toward wine appears, and then, being unable to restrain himself, as one who is weak, he is overcome not by moderate but by excessive use of wine, and from this arises a tendency toward slander.
Titus 2:3. Teachers of good things;
How then does he say in another place: "but I suffer not a woman to teach" (1 Tim. 2:12)? There he speaks of public teaching in the church, which is not permitted to women, but here of teaching at home, and moreover only of younger women. That this is what the apostle says, listen to what follows.
Titus 2:4. that they may teach the young women to love their husbands,
Not only their own daughters, but all who are young in age. Let each older woman "instruct" the younger, and above all in the most important domestic good — "to love their husbands." When this is present, everything else will follow: order in the home and abundance in possessions; but when this is absent, even if everything else were present, it will all slip away.
Titus 2:4. To love their children,
He who loves the root, that is, the father, will all the more love the fruits as well, that is, the "children."
Titus 2:5. to be chaste, pure, caring for the home, kind,
A wife who loves her husband will be both chaste and blameless, that is, pure in both body and mind, free from mingling with outsiders and from lustful desire; and she will also be a good manager of the home, that is, a housewife. Loving her husband, she also takes care "of the house," not being occupied with adornments, nor luxury, nor untimely expenditures. And whom else would she seek to please, having already pleased her beloved? See how Paul, who previously drew people away from worldly cares, now devotes great diligence to domestic affairs, because when these matters are in good order, spiritual matters will be in good order as well.
Titus 2:5. That the word of God may not be blasphemed.
Do you see that he is primarily concerned with preaching, and not with worldly affairs? If a believing wife, living with an unbelieving husband, is not virtuous, then the blame is transferred to the faith.
Titus 2:6. Young men likewise exhort to be sober-minded.
He appointed the elders as teachers for the younger, women for women; for the "young men" – Titus himself, a man for men: everywhere he observes propriety. In what, then, should they be instructed and admonished? "To be self-controlled," for in youth the fire of shameful pleasures causes the most harm, which must be extinguished, and one must strive "to be self-controlled."
Titus 2:7. In all things showing yourself a pattern of good works,
Let the older women teach the younger women, and you yourself teach the young men. However, let the common school and model of virtue be your radiant life, set before all like a master image displayed in the sight of everyone who wishes to learn something good from it.
Titus 2:7. Teaching with integrity,
This expression depends on the general phrase: show. So that what you teach, he says, may not be corrupt and false, but sound and having the correct meaning.
Titus 2:7. Dignity,
So that the teaching may have nothing youthful or disturbing to the foolish, but that everything may be reverent and worthy of God.
Titus 2:8. Sound speech, that cannot be condemned.
That is, orthodox, containing nothing blameworthy.
Titus 2:8. so that the opponent may be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us.
The adversary he calls either the devil, or anyone who serves him.
Titus 2:9. Exhort servants to be obedient to their own masters, to please them in all things,
Therefore, he is worthy of condemnation who separates wives and husbands under the pretext of continence, and who separates servants from masters under the pretext of piety. For he gives much occasion for reproach to all and opens the mouths of all against the faith.
Titus 2:9. Do not be quarrelsome,
Titus 2:10. Not pilfering, but showing all good fidelity,
Do you see what he requires of slaves? That which most of all puts masters at ease, namely, that they "not talk back, not steal, but be faithful." For worldly people this is most of all desirable.
Titus 2:10. That they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.
If slaves are such, they serve to the glory of Christianity. For when a pagan sees his slave, so educated by Christianity, will he not marvel at the teaching which had such power that it improved even such a soul? And how insolent and stubborn this slavish race always is, but this is because, being neglected by their masters, they are poorly raised and not guided by the instructions and company of honorable people. Therefore Paul rightly said in another place: "doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men" (Eph. 6:7). Although you serve your master, the honor pertains to God, because the disposition toward the master also has its beginning in that fear.
Titus 2:11. The grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,
Since the apostle demanded much that was great from slaves – I mean precisely that they should adorn the teaching of the Lord by their virtuous life – he now shows why he justly demands such high qualities from them. For grace appeared for them also, even though they are slaves. "For all," he says, "men." To them also the Lord granted the cleansing of many sins, and they ought to live the rest of their time to the glory of their Benefactor.
Titus 2:12. Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts,
And here he puts them to shame. Having God as your teacher, he says, should you not live worthily of Him? This grace, he says, extends not only to the forgiveness of former sins, but also secures us for the future. It teaches us to live the rest of our time in sobriety, since we have utterly renounced ungodliness and worldly lusts. By the expression "having denied" he signifies a complete turning away, proceeding from the disposition of the entire soul. By "ungodliness" he means idolatry and perverted doctrines. By "worldly lusts" — covetousness, luxury, and the other vices that do not lead to heaven but are useful in this world and cease together with it. Therefore Christ came so that we would renounce ungodly teachings and a sinful life, hating both with equal force.
Titus 2:12. lived soberly, righteously, and godly
"Chastely" means not only abstinence from fornication, but also from the other passions. And if you are covetous, then you are also "not chaste"; on the contrary, you are even more incontinent, since this passion is not natural. In general, one who is overcome by all the passions is not chaste.
Titus 2:12. in the present age,
This "age" represents the struggle, and the future one represents the recompense.
Titus 2:13. awaiting the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,
Here is the reward: the Second Coming, truly blessed. He well said: "glory." He speaks of two appearances. The first, as was said above, had grace and forgiveness, which was accomplished with mercy and simplicity. The second is retribution, which is to be revealed with glory, as it is also said in the Gospel: "when the Son of Man shall come in His glory" (Matt. 25:31). Where are those who demean the Son and do not wish to call Him God? Let them hear that He is both God and great. Great, it is said, as God—not in comparison with something else that is small, but absolutely, since He is great in Himself, by nature. If He saved us when we were enemies, what will He not give then, when He finds us pleasing to Him?
Titus 2:14. Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity
And this is a sign of His power, that He gave Himself—and not so as to deliver from one iniquity but not from another, but "from all iniquity." Let us then honor our redemption.
Titus 2:14. And to purify for Himself a special people,
To cleanse by the font of divine baptism and by the fulfillment of His divine and purifying commandments. "Peculiar" (περιούσιος), that is, His own — this expression is metaphorically taken from servants who revolve around the property and possessions of their master, just as one calls a person chosen, set apart, having nothing in common with the rest of mankind.
Titus 2:14. Zealous for good works.
That is, a people zealously striving for virtue and showing "zeal for all good works" and fervent emulation. Redemption is His work alone, but being zealous in works is also ours.
Titus 2:15. These things speak, exhort, and rebuke with all authority,
First "speak and exhort," that is, teach with gentler speech; and then "rebuke," and not simply, but "with all authority," that is, insistently and authoritatively. Since they were rough, he brings forth severity against them. There are vices that do not need severity, but only exhortation and persuasion, such as completely despising money. But there are also those that need severity, such as adultery, theft, robbery, and sorcery.
Titus 2:15. Let no one despise you.
That is: let no one despise you for rebuking opportunely and strictly; for whoever rebukes strictly but not opportunely is all the more despised.