Care and patronage in good deeds, or the good deeds themselves.
Titus 3:9. But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies, and contentions and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and vain.
He speaks of the foolish disputes into which the Jews draw believers. Of the genealogies which they compose for themselves, tracing their lineages from the patriarchs and boasting of them. "Avoid" means: shun. For one must never, leaving aside necessary matters, spend time on idle talk and fruitless disputes. What profit is there in arguing where there is no hope that anyone might be captured for Christ? But how is it that above he commanded to stop the mouths of those who oppose? When they cause harm to others, then their mouths must be stopped. But for their own benefit — do not even undertake to speak to them: you will accomplish nothing, because they are incorrigible.
Titus 3:10. A heretic, after the first and second admonition, reject,
Titus 3:11. Knowing that such a person is perverted and sins, being self-condemned.
How then does Paul say in another place: "if perhaps God will grant them repentance" (2 Tim. 2:25)? There he was speaking of people who give hope of correction; but here he speaks of an incorrigible heretic, completely corrupted, who is condemned by himself, that is, without excuse. For he cannot say: no one admonished me, no one taught me. Therefore, if after admonition he persists in the same thing, he has condemned himself.
Titus 3:12. When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, make haste to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there.
Why does the apostle, having entrusted Titus with such a large island, summon him back again, pulling him away from his duties? It is for his own benefit, so as to better set him on course for the work, having discussed how he carried out what was entrusted to him. Nicopolis is a city in Thrace, situated on the Ister.
Titus 3:13. Take care to send Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way so that they lack nothing.
He thus calls a man experienced in the Jewish laws: such was Zenas; and Apollos was eloquent and mighty in the Scriptures. Churches had not yet been entrusted to them, "that they might be lacking in nothing," that is: take care that they have in abundance everything necessary, namely food and clothing.
Titus 3:14. And let ours also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful.
As if he says: it would have been possible for me to make the aforementioned persons not in need by other means, but I do not wish to — so that "our people," that is, those around you, might learn from the fact that you will supply them with what is necessary for the journey, "to devote themselves to good deeds," that is, to care for those in need — both in money, and in words, and in everything else, not so that those in need might receive such benefit from it, but so that they themselves might enjoy the fruits of their own love for their neighbors. For the Lord, too, who fed the five thousand, could of course always have fed both Himself and His disciples, yet He chose to receive sustenance from women, so that they might benefit. So also with regard to us, the poor benefit not so much from our giving as we do from them. The poor are for us a source of the forgiveness of sins and of boldness before God.
Titus 3:15. All who are with me greet you. Greet those who love us in the faith.
Or: "loving" Him truly and without hypocrisy, or: "loving" His faithful ones, that is, Christians.
Titus 3:15. Grace be with you all. Amen.
He prayerfully wishes them well, that the gift of God may be preserved in them, or that His love for mankind may always abide with them, preserving them by grace. Or: may "grace" always abide with them, who are most in need of it, guarding both their souls and their bodies in the Holy Spirit. To Him be glory forever. Amen.