Thomas Aquinas, on Titus 1:16

“They profess that they know God: but in their works they deny him; being abominable, and incredulous, and to every good work reprobate.”

“Then when he says, they profess that they know God, he explains their faith with a sign. For if a person claims that their words are true and that they believe in one God and confess him, this must be rejected as impossible. First, he shows the good that was in them, namely, they profess outwardly with their lips that they know God: this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me (Isa 29:13); you are near in their mouth and far from their heart (Jer 12:2). Second, he shows their inward failing: first, in regard to things present; second, in regard to things yet to come, at incredulous. In regard to the present, in their works they deny him. For one who sins actually denies him by his actions, because a person cannot confess God without admitting his power, namely, that he should be obeyed. Hence, if they sin, they disobey and deny by their works the very things they profess by their lips. But you say: whoever denies God is an unbeliever; but sinners deny God in their works. Therefore, sinners are unbelievers. I answer that just as a person with general knowledge can err in particular cases, so a person with a general knowledge of the faith fails in a particular action, because his love is corrupted: he has disowned the faith and is worse than an unbeliever (1 Tim 5:8). But can they fail as far as the future is concerned? They can, because they not only deny God but are not inclined to return to him. For there are three things which incline a person to return to God, namely, God's grace: justified by his grace as a gift (Rom 3:24); the second is faith: he cleansed their hearts by faith (Acts 15:9); the third is the performance of a good work: the doers of the law will be justified (Rom 2:13). But these three ways are not open to unbelievers: not the way of grace because they are abominable, i.e., not disposed to grace; not the faith, because they are incredulous, i.e., not suited for believing; you are among believers and destroyers (Ezek 2:6); third, not the performance of good works, because they are reprobate to every good work: refuse silver they are called (Jer 6:30).”

Imported from an open dataset — not yet checked against the printed edition.