Oecumenius — Commentary on Scripture | TrulyRandomVerse

On Titus

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Titus 2:9-10
Slaves, be obedient to your own masters with all respect, to please them in everything, not being argumentative or pilfering, but showing all good faith:, so that in everything they may adorn the teaching of our Savior God.

Therefore, it is not proper to take slaves away from their masters under the pretext of virtue.

not being argumentative. Paul urges the observance of obedience and loyalty; for this is what most befits slaves.

they may adorn the teaching of our Savior. Rightly Paul said elsewhere, "As servants of God, not of men." (1 Corinthians 7: and Ephesians 6:6-7) Indeed, although you serve the master with goodwill, he says, the opportunity nevertheless begins with the fear of God. For if they are wicked, they bring insult to Christianity. “For the name of God is blasphemed because of you," (Isa. 52:; Rom. 2:24) But those who do the things that have been said will fulfill the preaching, faithfully serving.

COMMENTARY ON TITUS
Titus 2:11-12

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age. Then Paul also gives a reason why slaves ought to be such toward their masters. For he says that the grace of God has appeared, educating us. Therefore, since we have become pupils of God's discipline, how could we not owe it to act in a manner worthy of His teaching? training us to renounce. The appearance of our Savior God, that is, the revealing in the flesh, not only freed from former sins, but also made us safer for the future. For, as it says, denying signifies great abstinence. ungodliness and worldly passions. Paul speaks of ungodliness as the doctrines of the wicked, and of worldly desires as those both of the soul and of the flesh, and all those that simply do not lead us to heaven. And the term "self-controlled" does not only signify abstinence from bodily pleasures and their love, but also from every passion. in the present age. For this age has the struggle, but the age…

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age.

Then Paul also gives a reason why slaves ought to be such toward their masters. For he says that the grace of God has appeared, educating us. Therefore, since we have become pupils of God's discipline, how could we not owe it to act in a manner worthy of His teaching?

training us to renounce. The appearance of our Savior God, that is, the revealing in the flesh, not only freed from former sins, but also made us safer for the future. For, as it says, denying signifies great abstinence.

ungodliness and worldly passions. Paul speaks of ungodliness as the doctrines of the wicked, and of worldly desires as those both of the soul and of the flesh, and all those that simply do not lead us to heaven. And the term "self-controlled" does not only signify abstinence from bodily pleasures and their love, but also from every passion.

in the present age. For this age has the struggle, but the age that is to come has the rewards.

COMMENTARY ON TITUS
Titus 2:13
waiting for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.

waiting for the blessed hope. Behold also the rewards. For nothing is truly more blessed than His revealing.

of the glory. For the second coming of Jesus will be with glory, unlike the first which was in humility.

of our great God. Where now are the inventors of impious doctrines, who assert that Christ is not God, or is lesser than the Father? For in this place the Apostle openly professes that Christ is even the great God. Truly great, he does not distinguish against some lesser god: by no means! but absolutely so great that no one greater can be understood by it.

COMMENTARY ON TITUS
Titus 2:14
who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a peculiar people for his own possession, eager to do good works.

a peculiar people. This is, different from others, abundantly beloved, having nothing in common with the remaining peoples.

eager to do good works. Do you see that even in our needs? Eager, Paul says, that is, going towards virtue with much excitement. For it was solely out of his own kindness that he freed us from the sins of old. And he accomplished virtue both for himself and for us.

COMMENTARY ON TITUS
Titus 2:15
Speak these things and urged, and reproved with all authority. Let no one despise you.

with all authority. That is, with harshness. For since the characters of these men were harsher, therefore they say that they are rebuked sharply.

Let no one despise you, that is, let no one look down on you. Do you see how the bishop is to be both powerful and authoritative?

COMMENTARY ON TITUS
Titus 3:1
Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work.

to be ready for every good work. That is to be ready and well-prepared.

COMMENTARY ON TITUS
Titus 3:2
to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all people.

to speak evil of no one. Even if he acts badly, even if he makes a mistake in something. For our mouth must generally be free from insult. "For you say, 'Why do you judge your brother?" (Rom.:10" Why do you alter the judgment of God? For he calls the insult against his brother blasphemy.

showing all humility to all people. Both Jews and Greeks, and friends and enemies, and those who wrong you and those who harass.

COMMENTARY ON TITUS
Titus 3:3
For we were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various desires and pleasures, living in hatred and envy, hated by one another.

Do not reproach anyone, Paul says. For we too were evil, not that we still are. Therefore, since you were once such, and were saved by the grace of Christ, and not by your own works, how do you dare to reproach another? When were we such? When, he says, we were in error, when we worshipped idols. For it is clear how the Greeks live irreverently. For among them are adultery, fornication, murders, and shameful all-night partying [παννυχίδες]. And these they commit as if in honor of the gods.

COMMENTARY ON TITUS
Titus 3:4-5
But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy, He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.

kindness and love of God our Savior appeared. Through His incarnation.

not because of works done by us in righteousness. Not because, Paul says, we live so religiously as to urge him to become incarnate, but because God himself wished to have mercy on us, being unworthy.

works done by us. For we did not do it.

COMMENTARY ON TITUS
Titus 3:6-7
whom He poured out richly upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

He poured out richly upon us. Which spirit? The one whom, Paul says, poured out richly upon us through Jesus Christ. He says that we needed great spiritual grace, so that not only might we be justified from past sins, but also become heirs of life; for this reason, He poured out.

by His grace. Of Christ, and of the Holy Spirit.

we might become heirs. He says, Let us become heirs of eternal life, which is now in hope for us. — So be it. Let us become heirs of eternal life, as we also hope.

COMMENTARY ON TITUS
Titus 3:8
The saying is trustworthy; and concerning these things I want you to insist on, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to excel in good works. These things are good and beneficial to people.

Since Paul spoke about future things, which were unclear to most, he adds, The saying is trustworthy, that is, true and certain to come to pass.

and concerning these things I want you. And about those things which have been said above and about these things. About which?

may be careful to excel in good works. That is, of widows, orphans, those who are troubled, those in need; not only with money, but also with sincerity. These are the good things. To lead to good works.

COMMENTARY ON TITUS
Titus 3:9

but avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law, for they are unprofitable and vain. but avoid foolish disputes, genealogies. Genealogies or concerning the Greeks, who were recounting the lineage of their gods. They say, 'such a one begot such a one'. Concerning the Jews, who do not assert anything, but resort to genealogies and from them hold great esteem. Abraham, they say, Isaac and Jacob are our ancestors. But they bring foolish things, that is, nothing beneficial. For what benefit is there to a sinner if Abraham is his father? Indeed, rather it will bring harm if, having come from these, they were made reprobate. Flee, and beware. How then does Paul elsewhere command that he should stop the mouths of those who contradict, if it is absolutely necessary to believe and to forsake? And we say: That it is necessary to stop the mouths of those who teach to the destruction of others: but when they contend against you not about dogma, yield and forsake. for they are unprofitable. For, Paul says, they will have no good end. Exhortations concerning the…

but avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law, for they are unprofitable and vain.

but avoid foolish disputes, genealogies. Genealogies or concerning the Greeks, who were recounting the lineage of their gods. They say, 'such a one begot such a one'. Concerning the Jews, who do not assert anything, but resort to genealogies and from them hold great esteem. Abraham, they say, Isaac and Jacob are our ancestors. But they bring foolish things, that is, nothing beneficial. For what benefit is there to a sinner if Abraham is his father? Indeed, rather it will bring harm if, having come from these, they were made reprobate. Flee, and beware. How then does Paul elsewhere command that he should stop the mouths of those who contradict, if it is absolutely necessary to believe and to forsake? And we say: That it is necessary to stop the mouths of those who teach to the destruction of others: but when they contend against you not about dogma, yield and forsake.

for they are unprofitable. For, Paul says, they will have no good end.

Exhortations concerning the avoidance of heretical seekers.

COMMENTARY ON TITUS
Titus 3:10-11
Warn a heretical man once or twice, and then reject him; knowing that such a person is perverted and sins, being self-condemned.

— [OECUMENIUS] And elsewhere Paul says, "May God not grant them repentance." (2 Tim. 2:25) How then does he here order to cease? There he speaks about correction for those who have hope; here, however, about those suffering incurable diseases. [end of the excerpt by Oecumenius R f. 300r] —

being self-condemned. For Paul has no defense to offer, saying, "No one told me; no one advised me." Being self-condemned means either being without defense or being condemned by oneself and one's own conscience.

COMMENTARY ON TITUS
Titus 3:12
When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, make haste to come to me at Nicopolis; for I have decided to spend the winter there.

make haste to come to me. Why indeed, having established Titus in Crete, does Paul call him back to himself again? In order that he may be better structured and may advise on what is to be done. Nicopolis is a city of Thrace.

— [THEODORET] at Nicopolis. Nicopolis is in Thrace, and it borders on Macedonia. It is therefore clear that Paul wrote the Letter at that time when he was staying in Macedonia and Achaia. [end of the excerpt by Theodoret PG 82.869b] —

COMMENTARY ON TITUS
Titus 3:13
I have earnestly sent Zenas the lawyer and Apollos, so that nothing may be lacking for them.

I have earnestly sent Zenas the lawyer. Experienced in the Jewish laws. Yet these had not yet been entrusted to the Church. But Apollos was a certain great man, both learned and mighty in the Scriptures.

so that nothing may be lacking for them. In every abundance, provide for them, perhaps with food and clothing.

COMMENTARY ON TITUS
Titus 3:14
Let our own also learn to devote themselves to good works for necessary needs, so that they may not be unfruitful.

Let our own also learn. The statement concerning teaching, or concerning instruction, as if Paul said: They themselves showed themselves to be generous towards those in need, and let them draw them to themselves, whether they are in need of teaching or of necessities.

so that they may not be unfruitful. For Paul wishes to benefit those who give rather than those who receive.

COMMENTARY ON TITUS
Titus 3:15
All who are with me greet you. Greet those who love us in faith. Grace be with you all. Amen.

Greet those who love us in faith. Or it means those who love him, generally the faithful. And the phrase "in faith," as through faith.

Finished, with divine help, of the Epistle to Titus.

It was written from the city of Nicopolis in Macedonia to Titus, the ordained bishop of the first Church of the Cretans.

COMMENTARY ON TITUS