Titus 2
Summary for Titus 2:1-15: 2:1-15 a Wholesome teaching was especially urgent on account of the false teachers, who had wreaked havoc on “whole families” (1:11 b). In 2:1-10 c, Paul addresses different groups within the household of faith, showing his concern for the public testimony of the church (2:5 d, 8 e, 10 f; see also 1 Tim 5:1–6:2 g). Paul then elaborates on the coming of Christ (Titus 2:11-14 h) before giving a direct charge to Titus (2:15 i).Summary for Titus 2:9-10: 2:9-10 j The purpose of these commands is to make the teaching about God . . . attractive (see 1 Tim 6:1-2 k).
Summary for Titus 2:11-15: 2:11-15 l For: The commands of 2:1-10 m are here grounded in the past and future coming of Christ. God’s grace is a model for the church’s own conduct, even as salvation by grace makes a good life possible and creates people devoted to good works (see also 3:3-7 n). 2:11 o has been revealed (literally has appeared): See study note on 1 Tim 6:14.
• salvation to all people: Paul intends that God’s grace will fully accomplish its ends among the Cretans and that, in doing so, it will enlist them into God’s saving work of evangelism (Titus 2:12 p; see 1 Tim 2:1-7 q; 4:10 r).
2:12 s we are instructed: The emphasis of this instruction falls on the positive virtues: wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God. In Greco-Roman writings, these three virtues represent virtuous conduct in general. These virtues counter the Cretan vices listed in 1:12 t and are transformed into thoroughly Christian qualities (see 2:13 u).
• Paul exhorts the Cretans to bring these virtues to life, in order to make plain to their compatriots that a virtuous life derives only from God’s grace in Jesus Christ.
2:13 v we look forward: This implies hope as well as future accountability, both of which stimulate godly conduct in the present.
• will be revealed: This phrase translates a prominent Greek word in the letters to Timothy and Titus (“epiphany” or “appearing”; also 2:11 w; see study note on 1 Tim 6:14).
• great God and Savior: This is one of the few places in the New Testament where Jesus Christ is called “God” outright (see also John 1:1 x; 20:28 y; Rom 9:5 z; Heb 1:8 aa; 2 Pet 1:1 ab; possibly John 1:18 ac). Yet this claim is entirely consistent with the roles and attributes of Christ and the worship that he receives. Possibly this designation is used here to insist that Christ is not a mere human promoted to membership in the pantheon of gods (see study note on Titus 1:12). At the time of this letter, Christians were insisting more and more that Christ alone, rather than rulers and emperors, should be called divine.
2:14 ad Salvation produces a people who have the desire and capacity for the good deeds outlined in 2:2-10 ae.
• He gave his life: See also 1 Tim 2:6 af.
• to free us: See Gal 3:22 ag; 4:4-5 ah; cp. Exod 6:6-8 ai.
• The phrase his very own people recalls the formation of Israel as a nation (see Exod 19:5 aj; Deut 7:6 ak; 14:2 al). Those who follow Christ are now God’s people—his nation—and the Spirit leads them to keep God’s covenant.
• totally committed to doing good deeds: See Titus 1:16 am; Eph 2:10 an.
Titus 3:1-11
Summary for Titus 3:1-11: 3:1-11 ao The emphasis on wholesome teaching (1:9 ap; 2:1 aq) continues; Paul turns now to the relationship of the Christian community with society at large (cp. 1 Tim 2:2-4 ar). As in Titus 2:1-15 as, God’s instructions for his people (3:1-2 at) are based on his dealings with them (3:3-7 au; cp. study note on 2:11-15). Paul then instructs Titus to avoid fruitless disputes and to insist on beneficial teaching (3:8-11 av). 3:1 aw Paul might be telling the believers to make a clear distinction between themselves and the unruly common masses. Alternatively, the troublemakers (1:10-15 ax; 3:10 ay) might have adopted unruly behaviors that stemmed from their erroneous teachings (as is likely the case in 1 Tim 2:1-7 az).• On relations to government ... officers, see 1 Tim 2:2 ba; Rom 13:1-7 bb.
3:3 bc Humility (3:2 bd) is fitting, considering our state when God’s kindness and love came to us (3:4 be; see Eph 2:1-4 bf; 5:8 bg; Col 3:7 bh; 1 Pet 4:3 bi).
Summary for Titus 3:4-7: 3:4-7 bj This passage might be a summary or quote from traditional teaching (see 1 Tim 1:15 bk; 2:5-6 bl). 3:4 bm 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 bn, 13 bo; see study note on 1 Tim 6:14).
3:5 bp 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 bq). Salvation is through faith in God’s mercy alone (Eph 2:8 br).
• He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth: See Ezek 16:9 bs; John 3:1-15 bt; Eph 5:26 bu; Heb 10:22 bv; 2 Pet 1:9 bw.
• 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 bx; 2 Cor 5:17 by; Col 3:10 bz).
3:7 ca The first half of this verse sums up 3:4-6 cb. The second half supplies the purpose for what God did.
• made us right in his sight: See Rom 3:20-28 cc; Gal 2:16-17 cd.
• inherit eternal life: The Spirit (Titus 3:5 ce) is often linked with our status as heirs (see Rom 8:15-17 cf; 1 Cor 6:9-11 cg; Gal 4:6-7 ch; Eph 1:13-14 ci).
3:8 cj The trustworthy saying is 3:4-7 ck (cp. 1 Tim 1:15 cl).
Summary for Titus 3:10-11: 3:10-11 cm have nothing more to do with ... people like that: This refers to incorrigibly quarrelsome and divisive people (see 1:11 cn, 13 co).
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