ACC ~ Titus 3 v13 - 14

ACTIVE CHARITY. CHRYSOSTOM: Paul urges that they not wait for those who are needy to come to them but that they seek out those who need their assistance. Thus the considerate man shows his concern, and with great zeal he will perform his duty. For in doing good actions, it is not those who receive the kindness who are benefitted, so much as those who do the kindness that make gain and profit, for it gives them confidence toward God. HOMILIES ON TITUS 6.

SERVING THE SERVANTS OF GOD. AUGUSTINE: Nevertheless, after the apostle had said in such instruction and advice: “Now such persons we charge and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ that they work quietly and eat their own bread,”he was mindful of such needs of the holy persons who, although they would obey his commands to work quietly and eat their own bread, would, for many reasons, lack some provision of such necessary commodities. Hence, with foresight he added immediately: “But you, brothers, do not grow tired of well-doing,” so that those who had the means of furnishing sustenance to the servants of God would not grow careless in this respect. Furthermore, when in writing to Titus he said: “Help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way, taking care that nothing be wanting to them.” He continued thus, in order to show why nothing should be lacking in their regard: “And let the people also learn to excel in good works, in order to meet cases of necessity, that they may not be unfruitful.” THE WORK OF MONKS 15.16.

THE EPISTLE TO PHILEMON

ARGUMENT: In writing to Philemon, Paul addresses himself to a household of devout Christians, from whom Onesimus, the slave, has run away and from whom he has stolen. The apparent triviality of this letter disguises the fact that it displays the virtue and godly humanity of the apostle in concrete terms, it shows that wicked slaves should not be abandoned, and it implies that slavery as an institution is such that slaves ought not to be withdrawn from their masters (CHRYSOSTOM). Paul means to demonstrate the moderation with which those in ecclesiastical authority should treat brothers in the faith, this moderation coming through in his tone and humility. Finally, he clarifies the fact that men and women are spiritually equal but have different functions (THEODORE). The central thrust of Paul’s message is that Onesimus, the runaway slave, is a man for whom Christ died and therefore is worthy of Philemon’s tender care, whatever his crimes (THEODORET). Paul demon-strates in this short letter the humility of true holiness (PELAGIUS). While it is the case that some have doubted the Pauline authorship of this letter and others relegate it solely to the area of practice and not of doctrine, it is a valuable and authentic composition by the apostle, as even Marcion recognized (JEROME).