Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Titus 2:10

"not purloining, but showing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things." — Titus 2:10 (ASV)

The second negative demand is “not to steal from them”—not underhandedly to divert to themselves part of anything their masters had not intended for them. Petty theft was common among slaves in Roman households. Employment in various trades and occupations offered slaves ample opportunity to resort to the various tricks of the trade for their own advantage.

Their positive duty is “to show that they can be fully trusted,” demonstrating “good faith” in their whole relationship to their masters. They must not only be Christians but actively show this by proving themselves dependable in everything “good” or beneficial to their masters.

Such ethical conduct Paul again undergirds with a profound spiritual motive, “so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.” For a Christian there can be no higher motive. Slaves’ acceptance of the teaching about “God our Savior” must find expression in their transformed conduct in every aspect of their lives. The very difficulty of their position would make such conduct a powerful recommendation of the Gospel, proving to the master the power of the Gospel.