ACC ~ Titus 2 v1 - 10

OVERVIEW:

Paul has made it clear that purity is a matter of the heart, that the pure person will venture in all things, the impure in none. Physical acts become unclean only as they contaminate the soul with impure desires. All of this is seen in the doctrine and virtue that Paul urges Titus to teach. Such virtue will win the respect of unbelievers (CHRYSOSTOM). It is the moral rigor and seriousness of believers, their good order and uprightness, that mark doctrine as true (THEODORE). Paul lays out more of the practical aspects of Christian living in order to show how sound doctrine translates into sound living and the practical appropriation of salvation (HILARY OF POITIERS). When the soul is unclean, it thinks all things unclean (CHRYSOSTOM).

Be attentive both to good conscience and reputation (AUGUSTINE). Paul wanted church leaders to possess learning, the consciousness of the true faith and a knowledge of argument that would withstand godless objections (HILARY). Christ gave the same price for both slave and master (AUGUSTINE). If observers see a slave who has been taught the philosophy of Christ displaying more self-command than their own philosophers, they will in every way admire the power of the gospel (CHRYSOSTOM). Women are to be decently adorned, reverent and dignified (ORIGEN, JEROME, THEODORE).

2:1 | Sound Doctrine

CLEAN AND UNCLEAN. CHRYSOSTOM: When the soul is unclean, it thinks all things unclean. Therefore scrupulous observances are no mark of purity, but it is the part of purity to be bold in all things. … What then is unclean? Sin, malice, covetousness, wickedness. HOMILIES ON TITUS 3.

2:3 | Bid Older Women to Be Reverent

OFFICEHOLDERS? THEODORE OF MOPSUESTIA: These are elders in age only, though some have taken the position that the women held an office analogous to that of male presbyters. COMMENTARY ON TITUS.

NOT SLAVES TO DRINK. ORIGEN: Therefore, he wants those for whom “the Lord is their portion” to be sober, to fast, to be vigilant at all times, but especially when they are present at the altar to pray to the Lord and to offer sacrifices in his presence. These commands preserve their force. They ought to be maintained in strict observance. The apostle confirms these as laws of the new covenant. In the same way, setting up the rules of life for the priests or the chief priests to this, he tells them that they ought not to be enslaved “to much wine” but to be “sober.” Sobriety is the mother of virtues, drunkenness the mother of vices. HOMILIES ON LEVITICUS 7.1.

HOLY DECORUM. JEROME: The women are, like the older men, to be honest, sober, chaste, strong in faith and charity and patience. They are also to bear themselves in a way proper for their sex, to maintain a holy manner in bodily movements, facial expressions, words, silence, and whatever tends to the dignity of a holy decorum. COMMENTARY ON TITUS.

PROPERLY DRESSED. THEODORE OF MOPSUESTIA: The women are to be decently adorned, reverent and dignified. COMMENTARY ON TITUS.

2:4 | Young Women to Love Their Husbands

IN HARMONY. CHRYSOSTOM: This is the chief point of all that is good in a household: “that a man and his wife agree together.” For where this exists, there will be nothing that is unpleasant. For where the head is in harmony with the body and there is no disagreement between them, how shall not all the other members be at peace? HOMILIES ON TITUS 4.

2:7 | A Model of Good Deeds

SOUND SPEECH. HILARY OF POITIERS: Finally, Paul instructed Titus, whom he addresses directly about attaining perfection in the practice of the true religion, in this admonition: “Show yourself in all respects a model of good deeds, and in your teaching show integrity, gravity and sound speech that cannot be censured, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say of us.” This teacher of the Gentiles and the chosen leader of the church, conscious of Christ who spoke and dwelt within him, knew that the plague of a deadly eloquence would rise up against him. … For this reason, he wished the bishop to possess learning, the consciousness of the faith and the knowledge of argument that would withstand godless lying and insane objections. ON THE TRINITY 8.1.

CONSCIENCE AND REPUTATION. AUGUSTINE: As far as we are concerned, our consciences are all that matters. As far as you are concerned, our reputation among you ought not to be tarnished but influential for good. Mark what I’ve said, and make the distinction. There are two things, conscience and reputation; conscience for yourself, reputation for your neighbor. Those who, being clear in their consciences, neglect their reputations, are being cruel; especially if they find themselves in this position. The apostle writes about this to his disciple: “Showing yourself to all around you as an example of good works.” SERMONS 355.1.

EQUAL TREATMENT. ANONYMOUS: Therefore, O man, do not cease to recommend and to teach the things that are holy down to the last soul entrusted to you. And “present yourself as an example of good works.” Be especially careful not to love one and hate another. Show an equal attitude to all, lest the one whom you love God might hate, and the one whom you hate God might love. THE TESTAMENT OF HORIESIOS 9.

2:9-10 | Bid Slaves to Show Fidelity

GOOD EVANGELISM. CHRYSOSTOM: For if you serve your master with good will, yet the occasion of this service proceeds from your fear of God, and he who with so great fear renders him service, shall receive the greater reward. For if he restrains not his hand or his unruly tongue, how shall the Gentile admire the doctrine that is among us? But if they see their slave, who has been taught the philosophy of Christ, displaying more self-command than their own philosophers and serving with all meekness and good will, he will in every way admire the power of the gospel. For the Greeks judge not of doctrines by the doctrine itself but make the life and the conduct the test of the doctrines. HOMILIES ON TITUS 4.

CHRIST GAVE THE SAME PRICE FOR SLAVE AND MASTER. AUGUSTINE: A bishopric necessarily pertains to him who is the head of the household. It is a superintendence of the faith of the members of the household, lest any fall into heresy. It extends to the wife, to a son or a daughter; it extends also to a slave, for he has also been redeemed at so great a price. The apostolic teaching assumes the placement of the master above the slave and the slave beneath the master, but Christ has given the same price for each of them. Do not neglect even the lowliest among your household. SERMONS 94.