Fathers

Titus 2

Tap a verse to read the Fathers. Press and hold, then drag, to make a card.

But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded. In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, 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. Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again; Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

About · Privacy · Credits · Support VRSZ

What the Fathers say

Titus 2:12

Eastern Fathers

Theophylact of Ohrid

And here he puts them to shame. Having God as your teacher, he says, should you not live worthily of Him? This grace, he says, extends not only to the forgiveness of former sins, but also secures us for the future. It teaches us to live the rest of our time in sobriety, since we have utterly renounced ungodliness and worldly lusts. By the expression "having denied" he signifies a complete turning away, proceeding from the disposition of the entire soul. By "ungodliness" he means idolatry and perverted doctrines. …

Commentary on Titus ↗

Lucius Caecilius Firmianus Lactantius

Whatever, therefore, wicked princes plan against us, God Himself permits to be done. And yet most unjust persecutors, to whom the name of God was a subject of reproach and mockery, must not think that they will escape with impunity, because they have been, as it were, the ministers of His indignation against us. …

The Divine Institutes Book 5, Chapter XXIV ↗

Western Saints

Augustine of Hippo

Now fasting, in its large and general sense, is to abstain from the iniquities and unlawful pleasures of the world, which is perfect fasting: "That, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we may live temperately, and righteously, and godly in this present world." What reward does the apostle join to this fast? …

Tractates On John 17.4 ↗

Jerome

This grace has shone upon all men in order to instruct us to renounce impiety and worldly desires and to live chastely, justly, and piously in this world. However, to deny impiety and worldly desires, as we have explained above, they confess to knowing God, but deny it by their deeds. I believe that this can be understood through opposing arguments. Therefore, worldly desires are those that are suggested by the prince of this world, and since they belong to this world, they pass through it like a cloud. …

Commentary on Titus ↗

Thomas Aquinas

Second, it appeared as an instruction to the human race, because before the coming of Christ, the world languished in ignorance and heresy: the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light (Isa 9:2). Hence he says, instructing us, as a father instructs his son. But he instructs us about two things, because all men are in need of two things, namely, good works and a right intention. First, he shows how Christ instructed us in regard to good works; second, in regard to a right intention, at looking for the blessed hope. …

Commentary on Titus ↗