ACC ~ 2 Timothy 4 v21

MANY WOMEN SUFFERED MARTYRDOM. CHRYSOSTOM: You see how zealous for the faith the women were, how ardent! Such was Priscilla and this Claudia, already crucified, already prepared for the battle! But why, when there were so many faithful, does he mention only these women? Clearly because they in purpose had already withdrawn from worldly affairs and were illustrious above others. … Such holy women are not prone to be discouraged by impediments in the affairs of this life. This is a work of divine grace given to this sex. A woman undertakes no small share of the whole administration, being the keeper of the house. And without her not even political affairs could be properly conducted. For if their domestic concerns were in a state of confusion or disorder, those who are engaged in public affairs would be kept at home and political business would be ill managed. So that neither in these matters, as neither in spiritual, is she inferior. For she is able, if so inclined, to endure a thousand deaths. Accordingly many women have suffered martyrdom. HOMILIES ON 2 TIMOTHY 10.

THE EPISTLE TO TITUS

ARGUMENT: Paul’s intention is to write a letter of encouragement, so that believers will persevere in virtue and so that they may be protected from Judaizing tendencies (CHRYSOSTOM). Having evangelized the Cretans, Paul, after dispatching Timothy to Ephesus, turns over the mission in Crete to Titus, who needs instruction on matters of organization and guidance in countering the arguments of the Jews (THEODORE). More specifically, it is particular instruction about the importance of the incarnation that Paul intends as Titus’s mainstay (THEODORET). Paul’s instructions to Titus the bishop are intended to make him appropriately careful about ordinations, since there are many who seek this by pretending that they are worthy (AMBROSIASTER). Despite objection by some heretics to the authority of this letter, it must be accepted as ancient and genuine (JEROME).

GREETINGS TITUS 1:1-4

OVERVIEW: Paul describes his great confidence in Titus and emphasizes the central importance of reliance on God’s grace as it builds on and transforms the human striving for godliness (CHRYSOSTOM). Paul’s apostleship is for the sake of those whom God has chosen to receive his goodness and to know the truth of eternal life. The natural drift of the letter is toward Paul’s spiritual relationship with Titus and the instructions to follow. Paul hands on to Titus faith in the coequal Father and Son, a reality from all eternity and a belief essential to the success of his mission (THEODORET).

As servant and apostle, Paul occupies a position of great honor, one to which God has chosen him on the basis of spiritual virtues and which requires Paul to proclaim the fatherhood of God in all creation, a fatherhood that manifests the essential immortality of God, far above that of the angels (JEROME). Paul’s entrustment to apostolic leadership of the elect (JEROME) was not due to his own achievements but to grace (CHRYSOSTOM). God existed before time (AUGUSTINE). Nothing is impossible to God except to lie (CLEMENT OF ROME). God has no difficulty knowing the future, since God exists in an entirely different relation to time than we do (AMBROSE, AUGUSTINE). The excellence of a herald consists in boldly proclaiming to all what has really happened, not in adding or taking away anything. Commands are not left to our choice (CHRYSOSTOM). The sonship of Titus is in relation to a common faith into which both Paul and Titus have been born—a sonship by choice rather than natural birth (CHRYSOSTOM, THEODORET).

2 Tim