Since he has spoken of the future, he adds confirmation to his word. For it is clear from the past: Who has bestowed such blessings, bestows these also.

And I desire that you confirm this, so that those who believe in God may strive to be diligent in good works.

Having mentioned the ineffable goodness of God, he says: I want you to teach about this in such a way, that believers may learn not only to be humble and not to offend others, but also to show them all mercy. For whoever remembers the mercy of God, which he has been vouchsafed, will himself be merciful. That they should try to be diligent, he says, that is, that they should always have the work and constant care to help those who are offended: to provide for widows, orphans, and for all those in need. For this is the meaning of the words: to be diligent in good works, not to wait for those in need to come to them, but to take care of them ourselves.

This is good and useful for people.

Care and protection in good deeds, or good deeds themselves.

But turn away from foolish contests and genealogies, and disputes and strife about the law, for they are useless and vain.

He speaks of the foolish contests in which the Jews draw believers. Of the genealogies which they make for themselves, deriving their genealogies from the patriarchs, and being proud of them. Withdraw instead of: avoid. For it is not necessary, abandoning necessary matters, to waste time on superstition and fruitless disputes. What is the use of arguing where there is no hope that anyone will be taken captive into Christ? But how higher did he command to stop the mouths of those who oppose? When they do harm to others, then their mouths must be stopped. For their benefit, do not presume to tell them at all: you will not succeed in anything, because they are incorrigible.

Turn away from the heretic, after the first and second admonitions, knowing that such a person has become depraved and is sinning, being self-condemned.

How then does Paul say in another place, "Will not God give them repentance" (2 Timothy 2:25)? There he spoke of people who gave hope for reform; and here he speaks of an incorrigible heretic, completely depraved, who is condemned by himself, that is, unanswerable. For he cannot say: no one has taught me, no one has taught me. If, therefore, after exhortation, he persists in the same thing, he has condemned himself.

When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, hasten to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have determined to spend the winter there.

Why did the apostle, having entrusted Titus with such a large island, again summon him to himself, distracting him from his office? This is for his own benefit, in order to better set him up for work, having discussed how he has fulfilled what he has entrusted to him. Nikopol is a city in Thrace, located on the Istra.

Take care to send Zina the lawyer and Apollos so that they will not lack anything.

Thus he calls a man who is experienced in the laws of the Jews: such was Zena; and Apollos was eloquent and powerful in the Scriptures. They have not yet been entrusted to the Church, so that they do not lack anything, that is, to see to it that they have in abundance everything they need, namely, food and clothing.

Let our people also learn to exercise themselves in good works, in the satisfaction of necessary needs, so that they may not be fruitless.