This is a faithful saying, and these things I desire that you affirm constantly, that they who have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.
All Commentaries on Titus 3:8 Go To Titus 3
John Chrysostom
AD 407
Having spoken of the love of God to man, of His ineffable regard for us, of what we were and what He has done for us, he has added, These things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works; that is, Discourse of these things, and from a consideration of them exhort to almsgiving. For what has been said will not only apply to humility, to the not being puffed up, and not reviling others, but to every other virtue. So also in arguing with the Corinthians, he says, You know that our Lord being rich became poor, that we through His poverty might be rich. 2 Corinthians 8:9 Having considered the care and exceeding love of God for man, he thence exhorts them to almsgiving, and that not in a common and slight manner, but that they may be careful, he says, to maintain good works, that is, both to succor the injured, not only by money, but by patronage and protection, and to defend the widows and orphans, and to afford a refuge to all that are afflicted. For this is to maintain good works. For these things, he says, are good and profitable unto men. But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law, for they are unprofitable and vain. What do these genealogies mean? For in his Epistle to Timothy he mentions fables and endless genealogies. 1 Timothy 1:4 [Perhaps both here and there glancing at the Jews, who, priding themselves on having Abraham for their forefather, neglected their own part. On this account he calls them both foolish and unprofitable; for it is the part of folly to confide in things unprofitable. ] Contentions, he means, with heretics, in which he would not have us labor to no purpose, where nothing is to be gained, for they end in nothing. For when a man is perverted and predetermined not to change his mind, whatever may happen, why should you labor in vain, sowing upon a rock, when you should spend your honorable toil upon your own people, in discoursing with them upon almsgiving and every other virtue? How then does he elsewhere say, If God perhaps will give them repentance 2 Timothy 2:25; but here, A man that is an heretic after the first and second admonition reject, knowing that he that is such is subverted and sins, being condemned of himself? In the former passage he speaks of the correction of those of whom he had hope, and who had simply made opposition. But when he is known and manifest to all, why do you contend in vain? Why do you beat the air? What means, being condemned of himself? Because he cannot say that no one has told him, no one admonished him; since therefore after admonition he continues the same, he is self-condemned.
