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What the Fathers say
Eastern Fathers
John Chrysostom
Ver. 14, 15. "And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful. All that are with me salute thee. Greet them that love us in the faith." That is, either those that love Paul himself, or those men that are faithful. "Grace be with you all. Amen." "And let ours," he says, "learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful." You observe that he is more anxious for them than for those who are to receive their kindnesses. …
Theophylact of Ohrid
As if he says: it would have been possible for me to make the aforementioned persons not in need by other means, but I do not wish to — so that "our people," that is, those around you, might learn from the fact that you will supply them with what is necessary for the journey, "to devote themselves to good deeds," that is, to care for those in need — both in money, and in words, and in everything else, not so that those in need might receive such benefit from it, but so that they themselves might enjoy the fruits of their own love for …
Oecumenius
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.
Western Saints
Jerome
But also let our people learn to lead in good works for necessary uses, that they may not be unfruitful. He had said above: Send Zenas, the teacher of the law, and Apollo and care for them that nothing be wanting to them. Since therefore a hidden answer might arise, so that anyone who reads this Epistle, not Titus only, might ask whence he should supply those who had no provision for their journey, he solved this difficulty and removed every obstacle by saying: But also let our people learn to lead in good works for necessary uses, …
Thomas Aquinas
Hence he continues, let our men also learn, namely, that the faithful provide for their prelates as the Jews do. And he says, our, namely, subjects, should learn to excel the Jews and others from Asia who provide for their preachers and the needy. And he says, for necessary uses, i.e., in cases of necessity: "but if we have food and clothing, with these we shall be content" (1 Tim 6:8). The reason why they should excel the others is that they be not unfruitful: "who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit?" (1 Cor 9:7). …
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