ACC ~ Titus 3 v1 - 8

OVERVIEW:

Paul calls us to be humble and self-effacing, always thereby manifesting the new life given in baptism (CHRYSOSTOM). We are enjoined to be properly respectful of earthly authority and in all our relationships to show forth that already accomplished participation in immortality that is ours through Christ’s death and resurrection and that is given in baptism (THEODORE).

Be subject to governing authorities (APOSTOLIC CONSTITUTIONS) yet without idolatry (TERTULLIAN). At some point it may be necessary to say that it is better to obey God than humans (JEROME). We honor earthly governance in relation to the King of kings (JOHN OF DAMASCUS). Both Jews and Gentiles have been deceitful and foolish (ORIGEN). We should be gently disposed toward all and not search too closely at evil doing (CHRYSOSTOM). Even if his saving work seems to us delayed, he in his own time by a wise providence (LEO) redeems us as Bridegroom and heals us as Physician (BASIL). The infinite God, while remaining in himself changeless, assumed flesh and fought with death, freeing us from suffering by his own suffering (BASIL). It is not by our works but by his inscrutable will that God saves us and draws us toward the love of all things (AUGUSTINE). God has not repaired the old nature in us but made us anew (CHRYSOSTOM). The symbols of baptism and Eucharist come from the side of Christ, from his blood mixed with water (CHRYSOSTOM). Anyone who is baptized with the Holy Spirit is the one referred to as born again through water and the Holy Spirit (AMBROSE). We are saved by hope in the regenerative work of the Spirit in baptism (AUGUSTINE).

3:1 | Submissive to Rulers and Authorities

BE GOOD CITIZENS. ANONYMOUS: Be subject to all governmental power and dominion in things which are pleasing to God, as to the ministers of God and the punishers of the ungodly. Render all the fear that is due to them, all offerings, all customs, all honor, gifts and taxes. For this is God’s command, that you owe nothing to anyone but the pledge of love, which God has commanded by Christ. CONSTITUTIONS OF THE HOLY APOSTLES 4.13.

SUBJECT TO MAGISTRATES YET WITHOUT IDOLATRY. TERTULLIAN: Therefore, with regard to the honors due to kings or emperors, we have a sufficient rule, that it is fitting to be in all obedience, according to the apostle’s instruction, “subject to magistrates, and princes and powers.” But this must be within the limits of discipline, so long as we keep ourselves separate from idolatry. ON IDOLATRY 15.

OBEY GOD. JEROME: If what the emperor or leader orders is good, follow the will of him who orders. But if it is evil and is contrary to God, answer to it from the words of the Acts of the Apostles, “it is more important to obey God than men.” COMMENTARY ON TITUS.

THE ANALOGY BETWEEN CIVIL AND DIVINE GOVERNANCE. JOHN OF DAMASCUS: If men honor emperors, who are often corrupt and impious sinners, as well as those appointed by them to rule over provinces, who often are greedy and violent, in obedience to the words of the divine apostle, “Be submissive to rulers and authorities” and “Pay all of them their dues, honor to whom honor is due; respect to whom respect is due” and “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s”—if we do all this, how much more ought we to worship the King of kings? ON DIVINE IMAGES 3.41.

3:3 | For We Were Once Foolish

THE BLINDNESS OF JEWS AS WELL AS GENTILES. ORIGEN: Paul, the apostle from Israel, came to us as one “blameless according to the justice in the law.” Yet he says “we ourselves,” those from Israel, “were then deceitful, foolish.” So not only those from the pagan nations were “deceitful,” nor only sinners, but we “also,” who have been taught by the law, were such before the coming of Christ. HOMILIES ON JEREMIAH 5.1.

HUMBLY CONSIDER YOUR OWN FORMER LIFE. CHRYSOSTOM: Therefore we ought to be gently disposed to all. For he who was formerly in such a state and has been delivered from it ought not to reproach others but to pray, to be thankful to him who has granted both to him and them deliverance from such evils. Let no one boast. All have sinned. If then, doing well yourself, you are inclined to revile others, consider your own former life and the uncertainty of the future, and restrain your anger. HOMILIES ON TITUS 5.

NOT SEARCHING TOO CLOSELY AT EVIL DOING. CHRYSOSTOM: One who breaks down the wall and steals something from within is not the only burglar, but also he who corrupts justice and wrongfully takes something from his neighbor. Let us not, then, overlook our own faults and sit in judgment on those of others. When it is the time for mercy, let us not search too closely into evil doing, but, keeping in mind what we ourselves have been previously like, let us now become gentle and merciful. HOMILIES ON JOHN 60.5.

THE OLD MAN. AUGUSTINE: Paul could be fulfilling the open works of the law, either by fear of man or God, and yet have evil affections within himself. … Knowing himself to be such in his internal affections, before the grace of God which is in Jesus Christ our Lord, the apostle elsewhere confesses this very plainly. … “For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish and unbelieving, erring, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and holding one another in hatred.” Such was Saul even when he says that he was touching the righteousness which is in the law, without reproach. AGAINST TWO LETTERS OF THE PELAGIANS 1.9.15.

3:4 | The Goodness of God Our Savior

BRIDEGROOM AND PHYSICIAN. BASIL THE GREAT: Every kind of help comes to our souls through Christ. Various appropriate titles have been devised for each particular kind of care. When he presents a blameless soul to himself, a soul which like a pure virgin has neither spot nor wrinkle, he is called Bridegroom. But when he receives someone paralyzed by the devil’s evil strokes and heals the heavy burden of his sins, he is called Physician. Because he cares for us, will this make us think less of him? Or will we not be struck with amazement at our Savior’s mighty power and love for mankind, who patiently endured to suffer our infirmities with us and condescended to our weakness? No heaven, or earth, or the great oceans, or all creatures living in the waters and on dry land, or plants, stars, air, or seasons or the vast expanse of the universe can illustrate the surpassing greatness of God’s might so well as he has himself. The infinite God, remaining changeless, assumed flesh and fought with death, freeing us from suffering by his own suffering! ON THE HOLY SPIRIT 8.18.

WISE PROVIDENCE. LEO THE GREAT: By the delay of his saving work, he has made us better disposed to accept his calling. In this is shown the “goodness and kindness of God.” By this means, what had been foretold through so many ages by numerous signs, numerous words and numerous mysteries would no longer be open to doubt in these days of the gospel. That way, the birth of the Savior—which was to exceed all wonders and the whole measure of human intelligence—would engender in us a faith all the more steadfast, the more often and the earlier it had been proclaimed beforehand. SERMONS 23.4.

3:5a | In Virtue of His Own Mercy

THE LENGTH, BREADTH, DEPTH AND HEIGHT OF LOVE. AUGUSTINE: For this reason, charity, which has more regard for the common good than for its own, is said “not to seek the things that are its own.”. . . Hence, this charity is practiced now in the good works of love, by which it reaches out to give aid in whatever direction it can, and this is its breadth. It bears adversity with longsuffering, and perseveres in what it holds as true, and this is its length. But it does all this in order to attain eternal life which is promised to it on high, and this is its height. This charity, indeed, is hidden in the place where we are founded and, so to speak, rooted in depth. Hence we do not search into the reasons for God’s will, by whose grace we are saved. This has come “not by the works of justice which we have done but according to his mercy.” “For of his own will he has begotten us by the word of truth,” and this will of his is hidden. LETTERS 140.25.62.

3:5b | The Washing of Regeneration

REBUILT FROM THE FOUNDATION. CHRYSOSTOM: Strange, isn’t it, how we were so drowned in wickedness that we could not be purified? We needed a new birth! For this is implied by “regeneration.” For as when a house is in a ruinous state no one places props under it nor makes any addition to the old building, but pulls it down to its foundations and rebuilds it anew. So in our case, God has not repaired us but made us anew. HOMILIES ON TITUS 5.

AS WATER AND BLOOD CAME FROM HIS SIDE. CHRYSOSTOM: “There came out from his side water and blood.” Beloved, do not pass this mystery by without a thought. For I have still another mystical explanation to give. I said that there was a symbol of baptism and the mysteries in that blood and water. It is from both of these that the church is sprung “through the bath of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit,” through baptism and the mysteries. But the symbols of baptism and the mysteries, water and blood, come from the side of Christ. It is from his side, therefore, that Christ formed his church, just as he formed Eve from the side of Adam. BAPTISMAL INSTRUCTIONS 3.17.

WASHED CLEAN. AUGUSTINE: If the forgiveness of sins were not to be had in the church, there would be no hope of a future life and eternal liberation. We thank God, who gave his church such a gift. Here you are; you are going to come to the holy font, you will be washed in saving baptism, you will be renewed in “the bath of rebirth.” You will be without any sin at all as you come up from that bath. All the things that were plaguing you in the past will be blotted out. SERMONS 213.8.

SAVED IN HOPE. AUGUSTINE: It is true we have not yet risen as Christ has, but we are said to have risen with him on account of the hope which we have in him. So again he says: “According to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration.” Evidently what we obtain in the washing of regeneration is not the salvation itself but the hope of it. And yet, because this hope is certain, we are said to be saved, as if the salvation were already bestowed. REPLY TO FAUSTUS THE MANICHAEAN 11.7.

3:5c | Renewal in the Holy Spirit

BAPTIZED THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT. AMBROSE: Who is the one who is born of the Spirit and is made Spirit? It is one who is renewed in the Spirit of his mind. It is one who is regenerated by water and the Holy Spirit. We receive the hope of eternal life through the laver of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit. And elsewhere the apostle Peter says: “You shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” For who is he that is baptized with the Holy Spirit but he who is born again through water and the Holy Spirit? Therefore the Lord said of the Holy Spirit, “Truly, truly, I say to you, except a man be born again by water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” And therefore he declared that we are born of him into the kingdom of God by being born again by water and the Spirit. OF THE HOLY SPIRIT 3.10.64.

CONDEMNED UNLESS DELIVERED. AUGUSTINE: Little children alone who have performed no deeds of their own, either good or bad, will be condemned solely because of original sin, unless the grace of the Savior has freed them from it through “the laver of regeneration.” All others [are condemned], who have used their free will to add their own sins to original sin, but also for the deliberate acts of their own will. This is so unless they are delivered from the power of darkness and translated to the kingdom of Christ by the grace of God. LETTERS 215.1.1.

WHETHER WE ARE SAVED BY BAPTISM. AUGUSTINE: For if anyone should ask of me whether we have been saved by baptism, I shall not be able to deny it, since the apostle says, “He saved us by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit.” But if he should ask whether by the same washing he has already in every way immediately saved us, I shall answer: It is not so. Because the same apostle also says, “For we are saved by hope.” AGAINST TWO LETTERS OF THE PELAGIANS 3.3.5.