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 1:4

Eastern Fathers

John Chrysostom

"To Titus mine own son," that is, my true son. For it is possible for men not to be true sons, as he of whom he says, "If any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, with such an one no not to eat." (1 Cor. v. 11.) Here is a son, but not a true son. A son indeed he is, because he has once received the grace, and has been regenerated: but he is not a true son, because he is unworthy of his Father, and a deserter to the usurped sovereignty of another. …

Homily on Titus 1 ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

A son can also be not true, as a fornicating Christian, or a covetous one: such a son, although regenerated through baptism, is not true, because he is unworthy of the father. Having called Titus a son and having assumed for himself the title of father, the apostle again diminishes this honor, saying: in faith I have nothing more in comparison with you, for it is common, and by it both I and you were regenerated. Why then does the apostle call him his son? Either to show his love for him, or because he himself baptized Titus. …

Commentary on Titus ↗

Oecumenius

To Titus, my true child in a common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior. to Titus, my true child. For one is a child because they have been baptized by them, but not legitimately, because they are sinful. The reason for you being my child, Paul says, is shared faith. He praises Titus as having nothing more than faith in him. Another way. Titus, the child of Paul, as he was taught faith by him, and according to common faith, that is, from baptism, is a brother of Paul. …

Commentary On Titus ↗

Western Saints

Jerome

And the Apostle writes to his beloved son Titus, which is called in Greek, γνησίῳ τέκνῳ: and cannot be explained in Latin: for γνήσιος means this rather, when someone is called faithful and proper, and (so to speak) legitimate or genuine without comparison to another. …

Commentary on Titus ↗

Thomas Aquinas

The person greeted is mentioned when he says, to Titus, whom he describes from three marks: first, from his name; second, from his love; third, from his sonship. He is a son or child through love and the faith, which should be common, so that all say the same thing. Hence he says, according to the common faith, which is also called Catholic, i.e., universal. Hence, it is said: one Lord, one faith, one baptism (Eph 4:5). The good he wishes him is grace and peace. …

Commentary on Titus ↗