But has in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Savior;
All Commentaries on Titus 1:3 Go To Titus 1
John Chrysostom
AD 407
But has in due times manifested His word through preaching, which is committed unto me.
That is, the preaching is committed unto me. For this included everything, the Gospel, and things present, and things future, life, and godliness, and faith, and all things at once. Through preaching, that is, openly and with all boldness, for this is the meaning of preaching. For as a herald proclaims in the theater in the presence of all, so also we preach, adding nothing, but declaring the things which we have heard. For the excellence of a herald consists in proclaiming to all what has really happened, not in adding or taking away anything. If therefore it is necessary to preach, it is necessary to do it with boldness of speech. Otherwise, it is not preaching. On this account Christ did not say, Tell it upon the housetops, but preach upon the housetops Matthew 10:27; showing both by the place and by the manner what was to be done.
Which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour.
The expressions, committed unto me, and according to the commandment, show the matter to be worthy of credit, so that no one should think it discreditable, nor be hesitating about it, or discontented. If then it is a commandment, it is not at my disposal. I fulfill what is commanded. For of things to be done, some are in our power, others are not. For what He commands, that is not in our power, what He permits, is left to our choice. For instance, Whosoever shall say to his brother, You fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. Matthew 5:22 This is a commandment. And again, If you bring your gift to the altar, and there rememberest that your brother has anything against you, leave there your gift before the altar, and go your way; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Matthew 5:23-24 This also is a command. But when He says, If you will be perfect, go and sell all that you have Matthew 19:21: and, He that is able to receive it, let him receive it Matthew 19:12: this is not a command, for He makes His hearer the disposer of the matter, and leaves him the choice, whether he will do it or not. For these things we may either do or not do. But commandments are not left to our choice, we must either perform them, or be punished for not doing so. This is implied when he says, Necessity is laid upon me; yea woe is unto me, if I preach not the Gospel. 1 Corinthians 9:16 This I will state more plainly, that it may be manifest to all. For instance, He that is entrusted with the government of the Church, and honored with the office of a Bishop, if he does not declare to the people what they ought to do, will have to answer for it. But the layman is under no such obligation. On this account Paul also says, According to the commandment of God our Saviour, I do this. And see how the epithets fit in to what I have said. For having said above, God who cannot lie, here he says, According to the commandment of God our Saviour. If then He is our Saviour, and He commanded these things with a view that we should be saved, it is not from a love of command. It is a matter of faith, and the commandment of God our Saviour.
To Titus my own son, that is, my true son. For it is possible for men not to be true sons, as he of whom he says, If any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, with such an one no not to eat. 1 Corinthians 5:11 Here is a son, but not a true son. A son indeed he is, because he has once received the grace, and has been regenerated: but he is not a true son, because he is unworthy of his Father, and a deserter to the usurped sovereignty of another. For in children by nature, the true and the spurious are determined by the father that begot, and the mother who bore them. But it is not so in this case, but it depends on the disposition. For one who was a true son may become spurious, and a spurious son may become a true one. For it is not the force of nature, but the power of choice, on which it depends, whence it is subject to frequent changes. Onesimus was a true son, but he was again not true, for he became unprofitable; then he again became a true son, so as to be called by the Apostle his own bowels. Philemon 12
