Читать толкование: К Титу послание ап. Павла, Глава 1, стих 7. Толкователь — Иероним Стридонский блаженный

То есть не легко поднимает руку для удара.

***

Что священник должен избегать любостяжательности, этому научает и Самуил, свидетельствуя перед народом, что он ни у кого ничего не брал (1 Цар. 12:1-3), и нищета апостолов, которые, получая от братии средства к содержанию, хвалились, что, кроме пищи и одежды, они ничего другого не имеют и не желают (Ср. 1 Тим. 6:8).

Among stewards, then, it is sought that one be found faithful.” Let him not eat and drink with drunk¬ards and strike his male and female servants. Instead, let him await the uncertain advent of God and give food to the fellow servants at the proper time. Now the sole distinction between a household steward and the family is that a fellow slave is appointed over his fellow slaves.
And so, let the bishop and priest know that the people are not slaves, but they are fellow slaves with him. The other things that follow are recorded on our behalf. Let the bishop not be “brash,” that is, not “puffed up” and one who pleases himself, but like a good household steward, let him seek what is beneficial to the majority. “Not subject to anger.” He who is always angry is “subject to anger.” He is provoked by the light breeze of a response and of a sin, as if by the wind through the leaves. And in fact there is nothing more disgraceful than an enraged teacher, who, though he ought to be gentle and act according to what is written, “But a servant of the Lord ought not be quarrelsome, but humble toward all, a teacher, patient, instructing in gentleness those who contradict.” That one, on the other hand, clamors and shouts with a twisted expression, quivering lips, wrinkled brow, unbridled in¬sults, a countenance that alternates between pale and bright red. He does not so much lead back toward the good those who are astray, as plunge them headfirst into evil by his savageness. This is what Solo¬mon also says, “Anger destroys even wise men,” and, “A man’s anger does not work the justice of God.” But neither is he “subject to anger” who now and then becomes angry, but he is said to be “subject to anger” who frequently is overcome by this passion.
He also forbids that a bishop be “given to wine.” He writes to Tim-othy about this: “not given to much wine.” Now what sort of thing is it to see a bishop “given to wine,” so that while his senses are overrun he raises a laugh contrary to proper decorum and dignity. His lips let loose with uncontrollable laughter; or, if he suddenly remembers some¬thing sad, in the midst of his cups he breaks down in sobs and tears. It would take too long to go into detail and describe the madness that drunkenness gives rise to. You should see how some men turn their cups into missiles and hurl goblets at the face of their own dinner guests. Another rushes forth with clothes that have been torn by wounds inflicted by others; some shout, others fall asleep. The one who drinks the most is reckoned to be strongest. It is an occasion for an ac¬cusation when one who has sworn loyalty to the king has not gotten drunk frequently enough. They vomit in order to drink; they drink in order to vomit. The belly’s digestion and the throat are occupied with a single duty. Let it suffice for now to have said this, which accords with the apostle: “In wine there is excess.”
And wherever there is overabundance and drunkenness, there lust is in control. Look at the belly and the genitals, the arrangement of the members has in view the nature of the vices. I will never regard a drunken man as chaste. Even if he is lulled to sleep by the wine, never-theless he could have sinned through the wine. But are we surprised that the apostle condemned wine drinking in bishops or priests, when in the old law too it is commanded that priests, when they enter the temple to minister to God, not drink wine at all? Moreover the Naza- rene is not defiled as long as he takes care of his sacred hair, does not look upon anything dead, abstains both from wine, dried grapes, weaker drinks that usually come from grape-skins, and from all strong drinks, which distort the mind from complete soundness. Let each one say what he wants to; I speak my conscience. I know that absti¬nence, when interrupted, has harmed me, and when renewed has brought benefit.
Now after wine drinking he commands this: “he should not be a striker.” This, of course, edifies the hearer when understood literally, that he should not readily stretch forth his hand to strike; he should not burst out in a rage to punch someone else in the mouth. But it is better to say that one is “not a striker” who is gentle and patient so that he knows what should be said at the moment, what should be held in si¬lence; not to “strike” the conscience of the weak with unhelpful words. For the apostle, when forming the ruler of a church, forbids him to be a boxer and a pancratiast (which is reproached even among the com¬mon people and in pagans if it happens), but as I have said pay heed to this: let not the abusive and garrulous man ruin one whom he was able to correct with modesty and mildness.
He who will be a bishop ought to be estranged too from being a seeker after “disgraceful gain.” For there are many who teach what is not fitting for the sake of “disgraceful gain,” who subvert entire house¬holds and think that piety is profit. But according to Solomon “a mod¬est acceptance is better with justice than much produce with iniquity.”And one should rather choose a good name with poverty than an evil name with riches. A bishop who desires to be an imitator of the apos¬tle, “having food and clothing,” ought to be content with these alone.
Those who serve at the altar live from the altar. They do not live, he says, who become rich. This is why copper is shaken out of our belts, we wear only one tunic; we do not think about tomorrow. The ap¬petite for “disgraceful gain” indicates that one is thinking more about the present. Up to this point the apostle’s words have instructed what the bishop or priest should not have; now, on the other hand, he ex¬plains what he should have.