that is, that by the force of reproofs they may not even be permitted to speak, and so listeners may be found here as well. “Teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain.” There is nothing that this affection does not persuade one to transgress. B
I, 12-14. “One of them, a prophet of their own, said, ‘Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.’ This testimony is true: for which cause reprove them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn away from the truth.”
The question is asked, why ever did he bring in a testimony from the Greeks, and commend it, especially when it was not rightly spoken? And what is the testimony? “The Cretans built a tomb for Zeus.” Therefore one of the poets says: “A tomb, O King, the Cretans fashioned for you: but you did not die, for you live forever.” Part of this utterance is, “Cretans are always liars,” etc. The Apostle, however, has testified that this statement is true. But if this testimony is true, then Jupiter will be immortal. But we say that in this sole point he said the testimony was true—that he called them liars. Whence he says: “This testimony,” namely, that he says they are liars. To be sure, one might say, let this be so; but why did he produce a testimony from the Greeks? And we say that he was causing them the greatest shame to bring forward a domestic and proper testimony of their own impropriety. For since they do not have faith in those who are among us, he brought their own accusers to them. God was doing this also when He indicated Christ to the Magi through a star, because they were occupied with astronomy, as if admonishing them by their own means. And again, [the prophets] from the oxen dragging the ark. And Saul from the woman having a familiar spirit, since he believed in her. By these means, God was lowering Himself. Nor do these things contradict the fact that Christ and, later, the Apostles forbade demons to speak; for signs were being performed which were able to persuade, and there was no need to persuade men by those in whom they believed. C
“For which cause reprove them.” Since, then, he says they are headstrong, he reproves them more sharply. These men, he says, could not be persuaded by gentleness, “that they may be sound in the faith.” To be sound in the faith is when one introduces nothing alien into it, neither Jewish nor Gentile. “Jewish fables.” Jewish matters are called fables for a double reason: both because their time has passed, and because when they were in their own vigor, they were a type of truth and not the truth itself. “And commandments of men.” He means the observances concerning foods, as is manifest from what follows.
“To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure, but both their mind and conscience are defiled. They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny him, being abominable and disobedient, and to every D
...an evil work, and reprobate. But do you speak what is fitted for sound doctrine. A Why then did the law given to the Jews hold an observance of unclean foods? And we say: It is not because they were impure that God so decreed it, but that by this means He might restrain the great self-indulgence and carelessness of the Jews, who were eating everything without distinction. For the pure and the impure is produced strictly from the mind of those who eat. Since, according to nature, all things are pure to those who do not inquire too curiously; but to those who are not like this, all things are impure, though they are not in themselves impure: for only sin is impure. "But to the defiled." So, according to the defiled way of thinking, things become impure; just as to one laboring under a disease, everything is unpalatable because of the sickness. "But their mind is defiled." No food, he says, is impure; but their mind and conscience is impure, and they render foods impure by their own suspicion. "They profess to know God." This is truly impure. For without works faith is dead. "But do you speak what is fitted." But even if these are such, he says, do not on that account grow sluggish, but do what is yours and teach, even if no one is obeying. B
CHAPTER III.
Admonitions which ought to be delivered according to the age of each.
II, 2-5. Older men to be vigilant, prudent, modest, sound in faith, in love, in patience. Older women likewise in a demeanor that befits religion, not slanderers, not enslaved to much wine, teaching what is honorable, so that they may make the young women sensible, to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sober, chaste, home-keepers, good, subject to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.
"Older men to be vigilant." For to old age, tardiness and slothfulness mostly follow. Therefore he corrects this. "To be." That is, they ought to be, for from common intelligence "ought" is understood. "Prudent." He says prudent. For "prudence" (*sophrosyne*) is, as it were, "soundness of mind" (*sapho-phrosyne*), the salvation or health of the intellect. For he would not have required on the part of those who have grown old the temperance that concerns profligacy, as this is conceded to be what they have. "In patience." He rightly says that they ought to have tolerance. For surely irritability does not befit old age. C "Older women likewise." He speaks of the deaconesses. And by "demeanor" (*habit*) he means the garments that cover them. "That befits religion." From the very clothing, he says, let them show honorableness, and that they are ready for sacred ministries. "Not slanderers." For from wine follows slander; and especially because the vehemence of wine is hostile to the weaker old age. "Teaching what is honorable." And how does he elsewhere forbid women to teach? And we say that here he speaks of an exhortatory discourse which is held at home, whereas there it concerns presiding publicly and haranguing. And that he allowed them to participate only in the teaching which is delivered at home, the following text indicates: "that they may make the young women sensible," he says. He does not say this about daughters only, but about youth in general, so that... D