Having told Titus what he was to teach (“speak”) to various groups in the congregation in Crete, Paul now moves into what God’s salvation means, not for some, but for all Christians.
Read Titus 2:11
“the salvation of God”: “Salvation” is not a noun but an adjective (soterios, found only here in the New Testament). What Paul says is “the saving God.”
Pastor’s translation: “For the grace of the saving God has shone on all people…”
- How did the “saving God [shine] on all people”?
- What does “the saving God” shining His “grace” on all people do?
- Who, then, is this “saving God” to whom Paul refers?
- If God’s grace is for “all people,” is there anything in the text that excludes any particular segment of humanity from that “grace” coming to them (for example, age or mental abilities)? Discuss. (Paul will explain how this “saving grace” comes to someone in chapter 3.)
Read Titus 2:12
Pastor’s translation: “…teaching us, so we are renouncing the impiety and the worldly desires. We should live wisely, righteously, and religiously in the present age…”
“self-controlled” [pastor’s translation, “wisely”]: Greek, sophronos, adverb, modifying the verb “live.” This is the only place in New Testament where we find this word. The Greek Old Testament uses it once: Wisdom 9:11: “For she [wisdom] knows and understands everything, and she will guide me wisely [sophronos] in my actions and guard me with her glory.”
“upright” [pastor’s translation, “righteously”]: Greek, dikaios. This is the word “justify; declare and make righteous” as an adverb, modifying the verb “live”. This is simply living in, and living out, the righteousness that we have in Christ.
“godly [pastor’s translation, “religiously”]: Greek, eusebos, adverb, modifying the verb “live.” The word “God” is not part of this word. This is the living out of one’s religion.
Paul draws on the Greek-language Old Testament and Greek philosophical concepts to present living the Christian faith in a way that Greeks would understand more easily. Greek Platonic and Stoic traditions emphasized three virtues that Paul listed. But Paul first begins with specific Christian virtues, having that shape how one understand the other virtues.
- If a Christian is renouncing the ways of the world, what then shapes how he lives wisely, righteously, and religiously?
- Although Christians are renouncing [present-tense participle] the ways of the world, when are we to be living “wisely, righteously, and religiously”?
Right now, we are living “wisely, righteously, and religiously,” shaped not by the world but Jesus, “the saving grace of God.” But we also live in anticipation.
Read Titus 2:13
“waiting for”: Greek, prosdechomai, anticipating.
- What do Christians live anticipating?
Excursus: “great God and Savior, Jesus Christ” in Titus 2:13
The punctuation of the ESV has “great God” and “Savior Jesus Christ” as referring to two different persons. (We now carefully look at the ESV translation.) However, seeing “God and Savior” as one person, “Jesus Christ,” is the best understanding based on the Greek grammar, New-Testament usage, immediate context, and even from within Greek culture.
Greek Grammar: Paul joins two nouns—”God” and “Savior”—with a kai (and). Now, as it is, a kai often joins two things into one. But to be extra clear, which wasn’t required, Paul used one definite article (the) for both nouns: “The great God and Savior.” This means that “great God and Savior” is the same person, Jesus Christ!
New-Testament Usage: If this verse refers to God the Father and Jesus appearing on the Last Day, then this would be the only instance of “appearing” referring to two different entities. All others New-Testament uses of epiphaneia (where we get our word, “epiphany”) refer only to Jesus on the Last Day: 2 Thessalonians 2:8; 1 Timothy 6:14; 2 Timothy 4:1, 4:8; or, in His incarnation: 2 Timothy 1:10.
The hope of the Christian elsewhere in Paul’s epistles is centered on Christ and His return.
- This “hope” is now unseen but certain, even though it is not yet realized. This hope will become sight when Christ returns (Romans 8:23-25).
- That “hope,” fully fulfilled when Christ returns, is “reserved in heaven” (Colossians 1:5), is for “righteousness” (Galatians 5:5), and the inheritance of eternal life (Titus 1:2, 3:7).
- 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 combines several elements of this “hope”: Christ’s return, the resurrection of the body, and Christians being “always [being] with the Lord.”
Context in Titus: The following verse, Titus 2:14, begins by continuing the thought of “our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,” He gave Himself. Remember this is one sentence in the Greek, with only one person here in view, Jesus Christ.
Greek culture: Also borrowing language from the current-day Greek culture, “God and Savior” are found together as a title designating one person in the Greek usage. In particular, that one person was the emperor as “God and Savior,” for inscriptions with that phrase have been found referring to Ptolemy II (Egypt, 283 – 246 BC) and Julius Caesar (Rome, 100 – 44 BC).
Bottom Line: Paul is calling Jesus, not only “Savior,” but also “God”!
————
- Paul taps into the idea of God’s glory as “light.” When did the grace of the saving God most clearly shine for us?
- Thus, although it may not seem that way, what was Jesus’ crucifixion for us? Why?
- If Jesus is teaching us to renounce the ways of the world and live wisely, righteously, and religiously (that is, according to the Christin faith), how does Jesus do teach us? (Hint: to whom did Paul write these words?)
- Jesus is our blessed Hope. What does that me about what He brings and fulfill when He returns?
Romans 8:24: “For in this hope we were saved, yet hope that is seen is not hope, for who hopes for what he sees?”
- Jesus is our blessed Hope. What does that mean for us now and in the future?
Read Titus 2:14
“redeem… purify”: Paul uses language from Ezekiel 37:23 from the Septuagint. “I [God] will deliver them [His people] from all their lawlessness [MT: “dwelling places” sometimes strangely translated as “backslidings”] in which they have sinned, and will cleanse them.”
- What does God save us from? (Think of God’s Law in the broad sense)
- What does God save us for?
“a people for his own possession”: Here, the ESV mirrors the Masoretic text of Exodus 19:5, instead of the Septuagint. However, Paul quotes the Septuagint: “a chosen people.”
- Who are we in Christ?
Read Titus 2:15
Here, Paul is going back to verse 12. Titus is to teach (paideuo) the Christians in Crete. This word often referred to instructing children, which included teaching, disciplining, and even punishing when needed (See Deuteronomy 21:18, Sirach 7:23). Using the same word, paidueo, we even find God doing that for His people, not just children (Deuteronomy 8:5, Proverbs 3:11-12, Hebrews 12:5-11).
- How is Timothy to teach?
- If Titus is to teach “with all authority,” how can he do so (in other words, who or what is the source of his authority)?
Click here to go to the last Lesson on Titus.
