Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,
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Clement Of Rome
AD 99
Ye mourned over the transgressions of your neighbours: their deficiencies you deemed your own. Ye never grudged any act of kindness, being "ready to every good work.".
Ye mourned over the transgressions of your neighbours: their deficiencies you deemed your own. Ye never grudged any act of kindness, being "ready to every good work."
Princes and powers. At the time St. Paul wrote this epistle to Titus, there were many Jews, particularly the disciples of Judas of Gaulan, who maintained that the Hebrews were under no obligation of obeying any other than God, or at most the rulers of their own nation. St. Paul here admonishes them, that in conformity with the example and instruction of our divine Saviour, they ought likewise to obey every other temporal prince set over them by the Almighty, provided they commanded nothing contrary to the law of God. (St. Jerome; Estius; Menochius)
Piety teaches, and pastors should enforce three duties towards princes: submission to their authority, obedience to their laws, and a disposition of heart to meet all their just desires.
If what the emperor or leader orders is good, follow the will of him who orders. But if it is evil and is contrary to God, answer to it from the words of the Acts of the Apostles, “it is more important to obey God than men.” .
What then? Even when men do evil, may we not revile them? Nay, but to be ready to every good work, to speak evil of no man. Hear the exhortation, To speak evil of no man. Our lips should be pure from reviling. For if our reproaches are true, it is not for us to utter them, but for the Judge to enquire into the matter. For why, he says, do you judge your brother? Romans 14:10 But if they are not true, how great the fire. Hear what the thief says to his fellow-thief. For we are also in the same condemnation. Luke 23:40 We are running the same hazard. If you revile others, you will soon fall into the same sins. Therefore the blessed Paul admonishes us: Let him that stands, take heed lest he fall. 1 Corinthians 10:12
If men honor emperors, who are often corrupt and impious sinners, as well as those appointed by them to rule over provinces, who often are greedy and violent, in obedience to the words of the divine apostle, “Be submissive to rulers and authorities” and “Pay all of them their dues, honor to whom honor is due; respect to whom respect is due” and “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s”—if we do all this, how much more ought we to worship the King of kings?.
Therefore, with regard to the honors due to kings or emperors, we have a sufficient rule, that it is fitting to be in all obedience, according to the apostle’s instruction, “subject to magistrates, and princes and powers.” But this must be within the limits of discipline, so long as we keep ourselves separate from idolatry.
Be subject to all governmental power and dominion in things which are pleasing to God, as to the ministers of God and the punishers of the ungodly. Render all the fear that is due to them, all offerings, all customs, all honor, gifts and taxes. For this is God’s command, that you owe nothing to anyone but the pledge of love, which God has commanded by Christ.
