Commentary on Titus

Theodore of Mopsuestia (350–428)

Paul emphasizes that correct teaching must accompany these ordinations. He mentions only presbyters, since theirs is the most general office.

Paul does not measure the virtue of fathers by the depravity of their children, nor did the misbehavior of his sons make Samuel unworthy of the priesthood; Paul wishes only to show the likely intentions of the father from what has been created in the sons.

Paul here shows that at this time "elders" and "bishops" were interchangeable and that some were put in charge of towns, some of whole regions. These latter became the bishops of later times.

He is not given to useless discord.

Having criticized the dangers that arise from Christians of Jewish background, Paul now does the same with Gentile believers. "Of their own" does not refer to the Jews but to a poet or prophet of Gentile background, even one of the Cretans. He wished to criticize the Cretans because they believed they could show the tomb of Jove, even though Jove existed not as a man (as the poet thought) but as a god.

These are elders in age only, though some have taken the position that the women held an office analogous to that of male presbyters.

See also

• More works by Theodore of Mopsuestia

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