Titus 3:14

The δέ does not mark an antithesis between οἱ ἡμέτεροι and the persons who have just been mentioned, but is rather resumptive of Titus 3:8; repeating and emphasising at the close of the letter that which St. Paul had most at heart, the changed lives of the Cretan converts. οἱ ἡμέτεροι of course means those of our faith in Crete.

καλῶν ἔργων προΐστασθαι : See on Titus 3:8.

εἰς τὰς ἀναγκαίας χρείας : The best commentary on this expression is 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12. Although καλῶν ἔργων προΐστασθαι does not mean to profess honest occupations, yet it is plain from St. Paul's letters that he would regard the earning one's own bread respectably as a condition precedent to the doing of good works. The necessary wants to which allusion is made are the maintenance of oneself and family, and helping brethren who are unable to help themselves (Acts 20:35; Romans 12:13; Ephesians 4:28). This view is borne out by the reason which follows, ἵνα μὴ ὦσιν ἄκαρποι. See John 15:2; Philippians 4:17, Colossians 1:10, 2 Peter 1:8.