Fathers

Titus 1

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Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s chosen ones, and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness, in hope of eternal life, which God, who can’t lie, promised before time began; but in his own time revealed his word in the message with which I was entrusted according to the commandment of God our Savior; to Titus, my true child according to a common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior. I left you in Crete for this reason, that you would set in order the things that were lacking and appoint elders in every city, as I directed you, if anyone is blameless, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, who are not accused of loose or unruly behavior. For the overseer must be blameless, as God’s steward, not self-pleasing, not easily angered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for dishonest gain; but given to hospitality, a lover of good, sober minded, fair, holy, self-controlled, holding to the faithful word which is according to the teaching, that he may be able to exhort in the sound doctrine, and to convict those who contradict him. For there are also many unruly men, vain talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, whose mouths must be stopped: men who overthrow whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for dishonest gain’s sake. One of them, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, and idle gluttons.” This testimony is true. For this cause, reprove them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, not paying attention to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn away from the truth. To the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their mind and their conscience are defiled. They profess that they know God, but by their deeds they deny him, being abominable, disobedient, and unfit for any good work.

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What the Fathers say

Titus 1:13

Eastern Fathers

John Chrysostom

Ver. 13. "Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith." This he says, because their disposition was froward, deceitful, and dissolute. They have these numberless bad qualities; and because they are prone to lying, deceiving, gluttonous, and slothful, severe reproof is necessary. For such characters will not be managed by mildness, "therefore rebuke them." He speaks not here of Gentiles, but of his own people. "Sharply." Give them, he says, a stroke that cuts deep. …

Homily on Titus 3 ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

The question is asked, why did he adduce a "testimony" from Greek writers and approve it, even though it is unjust? And who said this? In truth, it was said by Epimenides, who more than all the Greek sages was occupied with prophecies and the propitiation of the gods, and was renowned for the beneficent gift of divination. …

Commentary on Titus ↗

Oecumenius

This testimony is true. For this reason, he rebuked them sharply, so that they might be sound in the faith. For this reason, he rebuked them sharply. Therefore, because some are wicked, he says, rebuke them more harshly, for they could not be led from gentleness to what is right. be sound in the faith. To be sound in faith, however, is if one has introduced nothing external to it, neither Jewish nor Gentile.

Commentary On Titus ↗

Western Saints

Jerome

Therefore rebuke them sharply, he says, they are liars and evil beasts, and lazy gluttons, who deceive with falsehoods and thirst for the blood of the deceived like wild animals, and not working in silence, eat their own bread, whose god is their belly, and their glory is in their shame, and rebuke them so that they may be sound in the faith. Speak of the health of faith and what follows: that old men be sober, honorable, chaste, sound in the faith and love and patience, to whose faith the health of teachings is also called. …

Commentary on Titus ↗

Thomas Aquinas

Then he confirms this testimony when he says, this testimony is true. A Gloss says: this gives us to understand that a teacher of Sacred Scripture takes the testimony of truth wherever he finds it. Hence the Apostle frequently cites the sayings of gentiles, as in 1 Corinthians: bad company ruins good morals (1 Cor 15:33); and in Acts: we are indeed his offspring (Acts 17:28). …

Commentary on Titus ↗