Fathers

Titus 2

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But say the things which fit sound doctrine, that older men should be temperate, sensible, sober minded, sound in faith, in love, and in perseverance: and that older women likewise be reverent in behavior, not slanderers nor enslaved to much wine, teachers of that which is good, that they may train the young wives to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sober minded, chaste, workers at home, kind, being in subjection to their own husbands, that God’s word may not be blasphemed. Likewise, exhort the younger men to be sober minded. In all things be showing yourself an example of good works. In your teaching, be showing integrity, seriousness, incorruptibility, and soundness of speech that can’t be condemned, that he who opposes you may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say about us. Exhort servants to be in subjection to their own masters and to be well-pleasing in all things, not contradicting, not stealing, but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God, our Savior, in all things. For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to the intent that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we would live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present age; looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify for himself a people for his own possession, zealous for good works. Say these things and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one despise you.

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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 ↗