The Eastern Cross/Bible/Titus/Chapter 2
The Epistle of St. Paul to Titus
Tap Fathers under a verse to read what the saints said about it.
But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:
Σὺ δὲ λάλει ἃ πρέπει τῇ ὑγιαινούσῃ διδασκαλίᾳ.
ii. 1. "But speak thou the things that become sound doctrine." This then is uncleanness. They are themselves unclean. But be not thou silent on that account. Do thy part, although they may not receive thee. Advise and counsel them, though they may not be persuaded. Here he censures them more severely. For they who are…
That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.
Πρεσβύτας νηφαλίους εἶναι, σεμνούς, σώφρονας, ὑγιαίνοντας τῇ πίστει, τῇ ἀγάπῃ, τῇ ὑπομονῇ.
There are some failings which age has, that youth has not. Some indeed it has in common with youth, but in addition it has a slowness, a timidity, a forgetfulness, an insensibility, and an irritability. For this reason he exhorts old men concerning these matters, "to be vigilant." For there are many things which at…
The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;
Πρεσβύτιδας ὡσαύτως ἐν καταστήματι ἱεροπρεπεῖς, μὴ διαβόλους, μὴ οἴνῳ πολλῷ δεδουλωμένας, καλοδιδασκάλους,
Ver. 3. "The aged women likewise, that they be in behavior as becometh holiness." That is, that in their very dress and carriage they exhibit modesty. "Not false accusers, not given to much wine." For this was particularly the vice of women and of old age. For from their natural coldness at that period of life arises…
That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,
ἵνα σωφρονίζωσι τὰς νέας φιλάνδρους εἶναι, φιλοτέκνους,
Ver. 4. "That they may teach the young women to be sober." Observe how he binds the people together, how he subjects the younger women to the elder. For he is not speaking there of daughters, but merely in respect of age. Let each of the elder women, he means, teach any one that is younger to be sober. "To love their…
To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.
σώφρονας, ἁγνάς, οἰκουρούς, ἀγαθάς, ὑποτασσομένας τοῖς ἰδίοις ἀνδράσιν, ἵνα μὴ ὁ λόγος τοῦ Θεοῦ βλασφημῆται.
Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded.
Τοὺς νεωτέρους ὡσαύτως παρακάλει σωφρονεῖν,
Ver. 6. "Young men likewise exhort to be soberminded." See how he everywhere recommends the observance of decorum. For he has committed to women the greater part in the instruction of women, having appointed the elder to teach the younger. But the whole instruction of men he assigns to Titus himself. For nothing is so…
In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,
περὶ πάντα σεαυτὸν παρεχόμενος τύπον καλῶν ἔργων, ἐν τῇ διδασκαλίᾳ ἀδιαφθορίαν, σεμνότητα, ἀφθαρσίαν,
Ver. 7. "In all things showing thyself a pattern of good works." Let the elder women, he says, teach the younger, but do thou thyself exhort young men to be soberminded. And let the luster of thy life be a common school of instruction, a pattern of virtue to all, publicly exhibited, like some original model,…
Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.
λόγον ὑγιῆ, ἀκατάγνωστον, ἵνα ὁ ἐξ ἐναντίας ἐντραπῇ μηδὲν ἔχων περὶ ἡμῶν λέγειν φαῦλον.
Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again;
Δούλους ἰδίοις δεσπόταις ὑποτάσσεσθαι, ἐν πᾶσιν εὐαρέστους εἶναι, μὴ ἀντιλέγοντας,
Ver. 9. "Exhort servants to be obedient to their own masters, and to please them well in all things." Dost thou see what he has previously said, "that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you." He therefore is deserving of condemnation, who under pretense of continence…
Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.
μὴ νοσφιζομένους, ἀλλὰ πίστιν πᾶσαν ἐνδεικνυμένους ἀγαθήν, ἵνα τὴν διδασκαλίαν τοῦ σωτῆρος ἡμῶν Θεοῦ κοσμῶσιν ἐν πᾶσιν.
For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Ἐπεφάνη γὰρ ἡ χάρις τοῦ Θεοῦ ἡ σωτήριος πᾶσιν ἀνθρώποις,
Having demanded from servants so great virtue, for it is great virtue to adorn the doctrine of our God and Saviour in all things, and charged them to give no occasion of offense to their masters, even in common matters, he adds the just cause, why servants should be such: "For the grace of God, that bringeth…
Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
παιδεύουσα ἡμᾶς ἵνα ἀρνησάμενοι τὴν ἀσέβειαν καὶ τὰς κοσμικὰς ἐπιθυμίας σωφρόνως καὶ δικαίως καὶ εὐσεβῶς ζήσωμεν ἐν τῷ νῦν αἰῶνι,
Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
προσδεχόμενοι τὴν μακαρίαν ἐλπίδα καὶ ἐπιφάνειαν τῆς δόξης τοῦ μεγάλου Θεοῦ καὶ σωτῆρος ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ,
"That we should live godly in this present world." And what is this hope? what the reward of our labors? "Looking for the blessed hope and the appearing." For nothing is more blessed and more desirable than that appearing. Words are not able to represent it, the blessings thereof surpass our understanding. "Looking…
Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
ὃς ἔδωκεν ἑαυτὸν ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν, ἵνα λυτρώσηται ἡμᾶς ἀπὸ πάσης ἀνομίας καὶ καθαρίσῃ ἑαυτῷ λαὸν περιούσιον, ζηλωτὴν καλῶν ἔργων.
Ver. 14. "Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people." "Peculiar": that is, selected from the rest, and having nothing in common with them. "Zealous of good works." Dost thou see that our part is necessary, not merely works, but "zealous"; we should…
These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.
Ταῦτα λάλει καὶ παρακάλει καὶ ἔλεγχε μετὰ πάσης ἐπιταγῆς· μηδείς σου περιφρονείτω.
Ver. 15. "These things speak and exhort, and rebuke with all authority." "These things speak and exhort." Do you see how he charges Timothy? "Reprove, rebuke, exhort." But here, "Rebuke with all authority." For the manners of this people were more stubborn, wherefore he orders them to be rebuked more roughly, and with…
Every note is a real passage, quoted word for word from a published English translation, with its source. Nothing here is summarised or written by us. Some verses have many notes and some have none, because the Fathers wrote more on some passages than others.
All of these translations are in the public domain. The passages were matched to their verses by the Historical Christian Commentaries project, which also hosts the full texts we link to. The Fathers are a treasury of the Church's mind, and they are best read alongside the life of the Church: if a passage raises a question, bring it to your priest.