Titus 2:7. In all things showing yourself a pattern of good works,
Let the older women teach the younger women, and you yourself teach the young men. However, let the common school and model of virtue be your radiant life, set before all like a master image displayed in the sight of everyone who wishes to learn something good from it.
Titus 2:7. Teaching with integrity,
This expression depends on the general phrase: show. So that what you teach, he says, may not be corrupt and false, but sound and having the correct meaning.
Titus 2:7. Dignity,
So that the teaching may have nothing youthful or disturbing to the foolish, but that everything may be reverent and worthy of God.
Titus 2:8. Sound speech, that cannot be condemned.
That is, orthodox, containing nothing blameworthy.
Titus 2:8. so that the opponent may be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us.
The adversary he calls either the devil, or anyone who serves him.
Titus 2:9. Exhort servants to be obedient to their own masters, to please them in all things,
Therefore, he is worthy of condemnation who separates wives and husbands under the pretext of continence, and who separates servants from masters under the pretext of piety. For he gives much occasion for reproach to all and opens the mouths of all against the faith.
Titus 2:9. Do not be quarrelsome,
Titus 2:10. Not pilfering, but showing all good fidelity,
Do you see what he requires of slaves? That which most of all puts masters at ease, namely, that they "not talk back, not steal, but be faithful." For worldly people this is most of all desirable.
Titus 2:10. That they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.
If slaves are such, they serve to the glory of Christianity. For when a pagan sees his slave, so educated by Christianity, will he not marvel at the teaching which had such power that it improved even such a soul? And how insolent and stubborn this slavish race always is, but this is because, being neglected by their masters, they are poorly raised and not guided by the instructions and company of honorable people. Therefore Paul rightly said in another place: "doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men" (Eph. 6:7). Although you serve your master, the honor pertains to God, because the disposition toward the master also has its beginning in that fear.
Titus 2:11. The grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,
Since the apostle demanded much that was great from slaves – I mean precisely that they should adorn the teaching of the Lord by their virtuous life – he now shows why he justly demands such high qualities from them. For grace appeared for them also, even though they are slaves. "For all," he says, "men." To them also the Lord granted the cleansing of many sins, and they ought to live the rest of their time to the glory of their Benefactor.
Titus 2:12. Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts,
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. By "worldly lusts" — covetousness, luxury, and the other vices that do not lead to heaven but are useful in this world and cease together with it. Therefore Christ came so that we would renounce ungodly teachings and a sinful life, hating both with equal force.
Titus 2:12. lived soberly, righteously, and godly
"Chastely" means not only abstinence from fornication, but also from the other passions. And if you are covetous, then you are also "not chaste"; on the contrary, you are even more incontinent, since this passion is not natural. In general, one who is overcome by all the passions is not chaste.
Titus 2:12. in the present age,
This "age" represents the struggle, and the future one represents the recompense.