Глава III.

Continued instructions on the sanctity of life (1–11). Conclusion: various messages and greetings (12–15). Titus 3:1. Remind them to obey and submit to superiors and authorities, to be ready for every good work, The instructions that begin here apply to all Christians - without distinction of gender, age or condition, and mainly determine the attitude in which Christians should stand towards the non-Christians around them (cf. 1 Pet. 2:12 et seq.). The apostle especially orders the Cretans to be reminded of the need to obey their superiors - of course, the civilian ones, since it is known that the inhabitants of Crete were always prone to indignation. "For every good deed." With these words, the apostle, on the one hand, limits the limit of obedience to civil authority: it is necessary to obey the authorities, therefore, only in good deeds, when the authority does not directly contradict the clear divine commands. On the other hand, calling Christians to participate in every good work, the apostle thereby encourages us to participate in all good public enterprises and, in particular, blesses us to practice all kinds of good arts and sciences (cf. Phil 4:8). Titus 3:2. not to speak evil of anyone, not to be quarrelsome, but quiet, and to show all gentleness to all people. Titus 3:3. For we too were once foolish, disobedient, erring, we were slaves to lusts and various pleasures, we lived in malice and envy, we were vile, we hated each other. The Apostle teaches Christians to show meekness and condescension towards their unbelieving fellow citizens, because Christians know from their own experience how difficult it is to live in paganism and how difficult it is for pagans to give up their vices. Titus 3:4. When the grace and love for mankind of our Savior, God, appeared, Titus 3:5. He saved us, not by works of righteousness which we had done, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, Titus 3:6. whom he poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, Titus 3:7. so that, having been justified by His grace, we may become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Christians should be encouraged to be lenient towards unbelievers by God's immeasurable love for them. For when divine kindness (grace - χρηστότης) and God's love for mankind were revealed (here, as in the second chapter, verse 11, of course, not the fact of the incarnation, but the spread of the Gospel of Christ throughout the world and, in particular, in Crete), then God saved us not because of our merits, but solely by His mercy. It follows from this that we, imitating God, must show affection for the pagans even when they do not deserve it at all. At the same time, the apostle, in order to make an even greater impression on the souls of believers, tells Titus to remind them that through baptism ("the washing of regeneration" cf. Eph 5:26) they were cleansed from sins and renewed, became a new creation, and then (through another sacrament - anointing - renewal of the Holy Spirit) received the gifts of the Holy Spirit in abundance, so as to become at least De jure (by hope) heirs of eternal life, that is, over time, receive it into your possession. Titus 3:8. The word is true; and I want you to confirm this, so that those who believe in God will try to be diligent in good works: this is good and beneficial to people. Titus must speak about all this so impressively (so that you confirm) so that his speech really makes Christians care about correcting their lives. “The word is true” - cf. 1 Tim 1:15, 3:1. Titus 3:9. Avoid foolish competitions and genealogies, and disputes and strife about the law, for they are useless and vain. Titus 3:10. The heretic, after the first and second admonition, turn away, Titus 3:11. knowing that such a one has become corrupt and sins, being self-condemned. If, at the same time, heretics (that is, people who have strayed onto the path of error, choosing from the Christian teaching only what they like and even distorting the Christian teaching and dragging others along with them) interfere with him, challenge him to a competition, then Titus must move away from them, having previously addressed them once or twice with an admonition. Since they do not listen to this admonition, it means that they are completely corrupt people, for whose correction there is no hope. Titus 3:12. When I send Artema or Tychicus to you, hurry up and come to me in Nikopol, for I have decided to spend the winter there. Titus 3:13. Make sure to send Zina the lawyer and Apollos so that they will not lack anything. Titus 3:14. Let ours also learn to practice good deeds, to satisfy necessary needs, so that they are not fruitless. Titus 3:15. All those who are with me greet you. Greet those who love us in faith. Grace be with you all. Amen. In conclusion, the apostle gives some instructions to Titus, sends him greetings from his associates and asks him to convey greetings to all those who love Paul. At the end, he invokes God's blessing on all readers of the message. “Zina the lawyer,” that is, a person who previously studied the Law of Moses. "Tychicus" - see Acts 20:4. "Artema" is a name mentioned only here. "Apollos" - see Acts 18:24. “Those who love... in faith,” that is, Christian believers who love the Apostle. You might be interested in: