Titus 2:2

πρεσβύτας. The word πρεσβύτης is common in the LXX. (see note on 1 Timothy 5:1 and cp. the parallel use there of πρεσβύτερος), but only occurs again in the N.T. at Luke 1:18 and Philemon 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 Titus 2:3), but generally. see on 1 Timothy 3:2; 1 Timothy 3:11 and 2 Timothy 4:5.

σεμνούς, grave. see on 1 Timothy 2:2; 1 Timothy 3:4 and Titus 1:7 above.

σώφρονας. see on 1 Timothy 2:9; 1 Timothy 3:2 and Titus 1:8 above.

ὑγιαίνοντας τῇ πίστει. The similar phrase ἵνα ὑγιαίνωσιν ἐν τῇ πίστει (ch. Titus 1:13 above) would suggest that ἡ πίστις was here to be taken objectively (see on 1 Timothy 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� (Romans 14:1).

τῇ πίστει, τῇ�, τῇ ὑπομονῇ. For the intimate connexion between πίστις and ἀγάπη see on 1 Timothy 1:14.

πίστις and ὑπομονή are coupled at 2 Thessalonians 1:4; Revelation 13:10, and the relation between them is described thus by St James (James 1:3), τὸ δοκίμιον ὑμῶν τῆς πίστεως κατεργάζεται ὑπομονήν.

ἀγάπη and ὑπομονή are grouped in 2 Thessalonians 3:5.

The three graces πίστις, ἀγάπη, ὑπομονή are also placed in juxtaposition, 1 Thessalonians 1:3; 1 Timothy 6:11 (where Timothy is bidden to pursue them), and 2 Timothy 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 2 Peter 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�, ἡ ὑπομονὴ ὡς πανοπλία. See further on 1 Timothy 6:11; 2 Timothy 3:10.

ii. Aged women