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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadCambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges - Titus 2:2 - 2:2
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2. πρεσβύτας. The word πρεσβύτης is common in the LXX. (see note on 1Ti 5:1 and cp. the parallel use there of πρεσβύτερος), but only occurs again in the N.T. at Luk 1:18 and Phm 1:9 (in which last place it is probably for πρεσβευτής, ‘an ambassador’). It simply means an old man, and is not a title of office.
νηφαλίους εἶναι, should be temperate, not only in the use of wine, though this would be included (cp. the parallel μηδὲ οἵνῳ πολλῷ δεδουλωμένας in Tit 2:3), but generally. see on 1Ti 3:2; 1Ti 3:11 and 2Ti 4:5.
σεμνούς, grave. see on 1Ti 2:2; 1Ti 3:4 and Tit 1:7 above.
σώφρονας. see on 1Ti 2:9; 1Ti 3:2 and Tit 1:8 above.
ὑγιαίνοντας τῇ πίστει. The similar phrase ἵνα ὑγιαίνωσιν ἐν τῇ πίστει (ch. Tit 1:13 above) would suggest that ἡ πίστις was here to be taken objectively (see on 1Ti 1:19), but it will be observed that the defining preposition ἐν is lacking here, and further the words which follow shew that πίστις, ἀγάπη, ὑπομονή are here a triad of Christian graces, and that therefore πίστις must be taken subjectively. The old men are to be bidden ‘to be sound in their faith.’
With the phrase ὑγιαίνοντας τῇ πίστει cp. τὸν ἀσθενοῦντα τῇ πίστει (Rom 14:1).
τῇ πίστει, τῇ ἀγάπῃ, τῇ ὑπομονῇ. For the intimate connexion between πίστις and ἀγάπη see on 1Ti 1:14.
πίστις and ὑπομονή are coupled at 2Th 1:4; Rev 13:10, and the relation between them is described thus by St James (Jam 1:3), τὸ δοκίμιον ὑμῶν τῆς πίστεως κατεργάζεται ὑπομονήν.
ἀγάπη and ὑπομονή are grouped in 2Th 3:5.
The three graces πίστις, ἀγάπη, ὑπομονή are also placed in juxtaposition, 1Th 1:3; 1Ti 6:11 (where Timothy is bidden to pursue them), and 2Ti 3:10 (where St Paul speaks of his own example in respect of them); and they form three of the eight graces enumerated in the catalogue 2Pe 1:6-7, πίστις being the beginning, ἀγάπη the end, and ὑπομονή an intermediate stage, of the Christian course as there described. Ignatius (Polyc. 6) thus distinguishes them as parts of the Christian’s equipment, ἡ πίστις ὡς περικεφαλαία, ἡ ἀγάπη ὡς δόρυ, ἡ ὑπομονὴ ὡς πανοπλία. See further on 1Ti 6:11; 2Ti 3:10.
ii. Aged women