Catholic Commentary on Titus 2

"For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say no to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age." (Titus 2:11-12)

Sound Doctrine and Right Living

Titus is to teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine: older men are to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, sound in faith, love, and endurance. Older women likewise are to be reverent in the way they live, not slanderers or addicted to much wine, but teachers of what is good. They can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, busy at home, kind, and subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God. Encourage the young men to be self-controlled. In everything Titus is to set an example by doing what is good. His teaching must be sound, for those who oppose him may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about the community.

The Grace That Educates

For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say no to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. Grace is not a passive gift: it teaches. It is an active force in the life of the believer, educating the will toward holiness. The Catechism identifies this as the sanctifying function of grace: beyond forgiveness, grace shapes the whole moral life, producing the self-controlled, upright, godly conduct that adorns the Gospel (CCC 1996).

Living the Word

Brothers and sisters, we live between the appearing of grace, the Incarnation and Cross, and the blessed hope, the return of Christ in glory. In that interval, grace teaches us to say no to ungodliness and yes to the self-controlled, upright, godly life. Every act of self-denial, every act of justice, every act of piety: this is grace at its teaching work. Let yourself be taught.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, you gave yourself to redeem us from all wickedness and purify for yourself a people eager to do what is good. Let the grace that has appeared teach us to say no to ungodliness and yes to the godly life. We wait for your blessed appearing. Come, Lord Jesus. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

2
Teaching Sound Doctrine
1 But as for you, speak the things that are consistent with sound doctrine.
 
2 Older men are to be temperate, dignified, self-controlled, and sound in faith, love, and perseverance.
 
3 Older women, likewise, are to be reverent in their behavior, not slanderers or addicted to much wine, but teachers of good. 4 In this way they can train the young women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled, pure, managers of their households, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be discredited.
 
6 In the same way, urge the younger men to be self-controlled.
 
7 In everything, show yourself to be an example by doing good works. In your teaching show integrity, dignity, 8 and wholesome speech that is above reproach, so that anyone who opposes us will be ashamed to have nothing bad to say about us.
 
9 Slaves are to submit to their own masters in everything, to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, 10 not stealing from them, but showing all good faith, so that in every respect they will adorn the teaching about God our Savior.
God’s Grace Brings Salvation
 
11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to everyone. 12 It instructs us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live sensible, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 as we await the blessed hope and glorious appearance of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. 14 He gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.
 
15 Speak these things as you encourage and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you.

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