Tit 3:3-7 | TNotes | STEP | 3:3 Humility (3:2 ) is fitting, considering our state when God’s kindness and love came to us (3:4 ; see Eph 2:1-4 ; 5:8 ; Col 3:7 ; 1 Pet 4:3 ).

3:3 ^a Humility (3:2 ^b) is fitting, considering our state when God’s kindness and love came to us (3:4 ^c; see Eph 2:1-4 ^d; 5:8 ^e; Col 3:7 ^f; 1 Pet 4:3 ^g).
Summary for Titus 3:4-7: 3:4-7 ^h This passage might be a summary or quote from traditional teaching (see 1 Tim 1:15 ⁱ; 2:5-6 ^j). 3:4 ^k We should behave toward our compatriots as God acted toward us—in kindness and love. God’s salvation makes this possible.

• revealed (literally appeared): The Greek word relates to the coming of Christ (also in 2:11 ^l, 13 ^m; see study note on 1 Tim 6:14).
3:5 ⁿ not because ... but because: The contrast is between human actions that might be thought to merit salvation and God’s grace (see Gal 2:16 ^o). Salvation is through faith in God’s mercy alone (Eph 2:8 ^p).

• He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth: See Ezek 16:9 ^q; John 3:1-15 ^r; Eph 5:26 ^s; Heb 10:22 ^t; 2 Pet 1:9 ^u.

• and new life through the Holy Spirit: This signifies a complete departure from the life of sin and death and a transfer into the realm of life and purity (see also Rom 12:2 ^v; 2 Cor 5:17 ^w; Col 3:10 ^x).
3:7 ^y The first half of this verse sums up 3:4-6 ^z. The second half supplies the purpose for what God did.

• made us right in his sight: See Rom 3:20-28 ^aa; Gal 2:16-17 ^ab.

• inherit eternal life: The Spirit (Titus 3:5 ^ac) is often linked with our status as heirs (see Rom 8:15-17 ^ad; 1 Cor 6:9-11 ^ae; Gal 4:6-7 ^af; Eph 1:13-14 ^ag).