Titus 2

Paul speaks pastorally to Christians already in a first-century household as bondservants. Submissive to their own masters in everything, well-pleasing, not argumentative: Wesley heard “please them in all things—wherein it can be done without sin,” and “not answering again—though blamed unjustly.” The limit is sin; the counsel is costly respect.

Honor is aimed at adorning the doctrine (v. 10), not at baptizing the institution. It is first-century household counsel so that Christ is not blamed. Grace that saves also trains a holy witness in a hard setting.

Calvin is historically plain: Paul does not mean servants such as we have in the present day, but slaves bought with money and held as property. Report that fact without defending the yoke. The desire of pleasing, Calvin adds, must be limited to things which are proper.

God cares how the doctrine looks in a household already under that yoke. Obedience here is witness under providence, not a brief for slavery. The church’s first loyalty is the Savior named in the next verse; contempt and argument that make the gospel look rebellious would slander the Lord who bought them.

Not stealing, but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God, our Savior. Wesley lingered here: more than St. Paul says of kings; how he raises the lowness of his subject—so may they raise the lowness of their condition. Fidelity is a public ornament of the gospel.

“God our Savior” already hints at the grace that has appeared for all (v. 11). Adorning that doctrine is a calling the Spirit enables in the lowest station. Theft and bad faith would make the Savior look like a cover for vice. Teach this as holy witness, not as a defense of the master’s claim.

Calvin: if the life of those men is an ornament to the Christian name, much more let those who are in honor take care that they do not stain it by their baseness. The doctrine of God our Savior is to be made attractive by honest work and good faith, not by a theory of bondage.

The Savior’s teaching can be adorned even in a bought slave’s fidelity—and that fact, Calvin says, indicts the honored who live basely. God joins the gospel to visible trustworthiness. Do not skip the verse; do not baptize the institution; let the aim stand: in everything they may adorn the doctrine.