Titus 3:1Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Second, in his everyday dealings with fellow citizens, even with pagans, a Christian must behave fittingly. This remains true however corrupt they may be, and however many occasions they give for displeasure and anger.

He must "speak evil of no one, be not contentious, but gentle, showing all meekness toward all men" (Tit 3:2).

Truly, the Kingdom of God would be revealed on earth if all men agreed together and unanimously guided themselves by this apostolic rule in their mutual social relations.

"He taught that no one should be called ruler except God, and that those who brought tithes into the temple should not pay tribute to Caesar.

This heresy grew so much that it led many people astray and even disturbed the Pharisees. They approached the Lord Himself with the question: 'Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?'

They received the most wise answer: 'Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's' (Mt 22:17-21).

In accordance with this answer, the Apostle Paul also teaches that believers must obey rulers and authorities."

Then, speaking of abstaining from reviling, he writes: "If Michael the Archangel, disputing about the body of Moses, did not dare bring a reviling word against the devil (Jude 9), how much more must we keep ourselves clean from evil speech?"

St. John Chrysostom says: "Let us obey this admonition. Our mouth must be clean from reproach. Even if our reproaches were just, it is not our business to utter them.

To investigate is the judge's task. But you, why do you judge your brother? (Rom 14:10). Besides, if you reproach others, you yourself will soon undergo the same.

Therefore Blessed Paul offers this exhortation: 'Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall' (1 Cor 10:12)."

"To be not contentious, not fighters, not to start quarrels, disputes, and lawsuits, and not to plot or raise evil against evil, is the same as what the Lord said: 'But I say to you, do not resist evil' (Mt 5:39).

Yielding seems to some to be loss and harm. In reality it always gains, if not in the present, then in the future; not in the eternal future only, but also in the temporal.

What is lost returns with abundance" (Bishop Theophan).

This follows directly from faith in the providence of God, which orders all things. Saint Paul does not set this forth here because he writes not to the believers, but to Titus. Titus knew the principles Saint Paul held in this matter.

He writes: “Remind them,” that is, the Christians. This submission was universal according to the ordinary civil order. Some forgot themselves, but at once received correction from the authority itself. The Apostle desires that this be prevented by admonitions at home. He wants no Christian to give the authorities occasion to remind him of submission.

Christians could have occasion to forget themselves because, by faith, they had become citizens of another world and had another King, Christ the Lord. Remind them, he says, that they may not fall into such an error.

“To rulers and authorities,” αρχαις και εξουσιαις, to principalities and powers. More likely, this designates every civil authority without distinction, both great and small. Yet the Slavonic translation suggests that the Apostle wishes to teach Christians to submit not only to kings, those who rule, but also to nearer authorities, those who govern. One cannot assert that this was necessarily so. The Greek words are in the opposite order: αρχαι points to higher authorities, and εξουσιαι to lower ranks.

“To obey and submit,” υποτασσεσθαι, πειθαρχειν. The first means subordination in general, whether willing or unwilling. The second means heartfelt submission, obedience with the whole soul, with the conviction that this is what ought to be.

Blessed Jerome offers the following consideration here: “Something similar is written to the Romans: ‘Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except from God,’ Rom 13:1. I think such a commandment is set forth both here and there because at that time the dogma of Judas the Galilean was still strong and had many followers, as is also mentioned in the book of Acts, cf. Acts 5:37. He, as may probably be supposed, taught on the basis of the Law that no one should be called ruler except God alone. He also taught that those who bring tithes into the temple should not pay tribute to Caesar. This heresy grew so much that it not only led many people astray, but also troubled the Pharisees. Thus they approached the Lord Himself with the question: ‘Is it lawful to pay tribute to Caesar, or not?’ They received the wise answer: ‘Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s,’ cf. Mt 22:17, 21. In conformity with this answer, the Apostle Paul also teaches that believers must obey principalities and authorities.”

“And to be ready for every good work.” This either indicates generally exemplary good conduct among fellow citizens, so that all may see and know that Christians are a good, meek, helpful, and beneficent people. Oecumenius interprets “ready,” ετοιμοι, as ευτρεπισμενοι: well-disposed, well-mannered, good not only outwardly, but such also in the deepest disposition of the heart.

Or it means ready for every good work to which rulers and authorities invite them, so that they too may know that Christians are first in doing good. For example, among us now people are invited to help those whose homes have burned, to contribute for the healing of the wounded, to lighten the lot of those suffering hunger because of crop failure, and the like.

Blessed Theodoret sees in these words an indication of how far obedience to rulers must extend. “For one must not submit to rulers in everything, but must pay duties and tribute and render due honor. Yet if they command impiety, one must openly contradict them.”

Jerome says the same: “If the governor commands something good, obey the will of the one commanding. But if he commands something evil and opposed to God, answer him with the apostolic response: ‘We must obey God rather than men,’ Acts 5:29.”