commentaries
Titus 2:10
Titus 2:10
“not pilfering, but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.” – Titus 2:10
In this verse, Paul continues on with what the bondservant must be taught. We have already seent hat they ought to be obedient and well-pleasing and not answering back. And as we saw in the last verse – Paul calls himself a bondservant of God, and so these characteristics can be applied to our own lives.
“not pilfering“
“pilfering” is an interesting word, because in Greek it means to “to set apart, separate, divide”, it can also mean to embezzle or to withdraw covertly. So as Paul has prefixed this with “not”, the point is, we are not to set part or divide ourselves or what we have for our master. This reminds us of what Jesus said, “you can’t serve two masters”. We must either be all of God’s or none of His.
Slaves were often employed in duties besides those connected with the house or farm. Some were entrusted with business ventures and permitted much personal freedom. This gave them an opportunity for dishonesty. At times they received an elaborate education as artists or physicians, in which capacity they worked for their masters. Thus, in the days of Paul, a slave had many opportunities to cheat his owner. Thieving or embezzling of the master’s property was so common in Crete that frequently servants were called thieves. Christian slaves were to be manifestly superior in loyalty and honesty. (SDABC7 Titus 2:10)
“showing all good fidelity“
This word “fidelity” can be translated as “persuasion”, “belief”, “assurance” – it contains the idea of “trust” – so that servant ought to have strong convictions in the faith.
“that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.“
What the bondservant has these attributes and characteristics in their life, thy adorn “or are as an ornament” to the doctrine of God – why? Perhaps because they are a testament to the power of the Gospel, of how it can bring change in one’s life?
Paul asserts that the Christlike life alone can rightly commend the gospel to the world. New men, not new methods, constitute God’s plan for the advancement of the gospel.
An application:
As an “overseer”, Lord, the kind of bondservant that is described here, I often am not. Please, grant me with the power of the gospel, that I may be an ornament to the teaching of your great love and power to us humans. Please save me, please transform me, please let me bring glory to your holy name and character. Amen.