Salvation, not of works, but of grace. "But after that the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared," etc. The great subject here is salvation. This includes the restoration of the soul to the knowledge, the image, the fellowship, and the service of the great God. The passage leads us to offer two remarks on the words. I. THAT WORKS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS WE CANNOT PERFORM , AND THEREFORE THEY CANNOT SAVE US . "Not by works of [done in]... read more
Poured out upon us richly for shed on us abundantly, A.V. Which ( οὖ ); viz. the Holy Ghost. It is in the genitive (instead of the accusative ὁ , which is another reading), by what [he grammarians call attraction. Poured out ( ἐξέχεεν ); the same word as is applied to the Holy Ghost in Acts 2:17 , Acts 2:18 , Acts 2:33 , and in the LXX . of Joel 2:28 , Joel 2:29 . Richly ( πλουσίως ); as 1 Timothy 6:17 ; Colossians 3:16 ; 2 Peter 1:11 (compare the... read more
Might for should, A.V. Being justified by his grace ; showing very clearly that righteousness in man did not precede and cause the saving mercy of God, but that mercy went before and provided the justification which is altogether of grace, and which issues in the possession of eternal life. Heirs according to the hope of eternal life. This seems to be the right rendering rather than that in the margin, heirs, according to hope, of eternal life, making " eternal life" depend upon... read more
Justification; faith; works. "That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs," etc. There are three subjects in these verses of vital interest to man which require to be brought out into prominence and impressed with indelible force. I. THE MORAL RECTIFICATION OF THE SOUL . "Being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life." This means, I presume, not that being pronounced right, but that being made right. Forensic... read more
Which he shed on us - Greek, “Which he poured out on us” - ἐξέχην exechēn; see the notes at Acts 2:17. The same Greek word is used there as here. It occurs also in the same sense in Acts 2:18, Acts 2:33.Abundantly - Margin, as in Greek, “richly.” The meaning is, that the Holy Spirit had been imparted in copious measure in order to convert them from their former wickedness. There is no particular allusion here to the day of Pentecost, but the sense is, that the Holy Spirit had been imparted... read more
That being justified by his grace - Not by our own works, but by his favor or mercy; see the notes at Romans 3:24.We should be made heirs - See the notes at Romans 8:15, Romans 8:17.According to the hope of eternal life - In reference to the hope of eternal life; that is, we have that hope in virtue of our being adopted with the family of God, and being made heirs. He has received us as his children, and permits us to hope that we shall live with him forever. read more
Titus 3:4-7. But after that the kindness Χρηστοτης , the goodness, the benignity, και φιλανθρωπια , and philanthropy, love toward man, of God our Saviour, appeared Επεφανη , was manifested, or shone forth, namely, through the preaching of the gospel. The Father is here called God our Saviour, as is evident from Titus 3:6, where the same person is said to have poured out the Holy Ghost on believers, through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Indeed, the title of our Saviour justly... read more
God’s grace changes lives (2:11-3:11)People are saved only by God’s grace - that loving and merciful attitude of God that freely gives his immeasurable blessings to those who do not deserve them. When people accept the salvation that this grace brings, they learn that their most fitting response is to turn from their former sinful ways and follow the ways of God. They have a desire for holiness, and this desire is increased by their anticipation of Christ’s return (11-13). Christ died not... read more
shed . Greek. ekcheo . See Acts 2:17 , Acts 2:18 , Acts 2:33 . Figure of speech Anthropopatheia . App-6 . "Pouring out" attributed to God, and the Spirit spoken of as if water. on. App-101 . abundantly . Greek. plousios . Elsewhere, Colossians 3:16 . 1Ti 6:17 . 2 Peter 1:11 . through . App-104 . Jesus Christ. App-98 . read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Titus 3:4-7
The origin, nature, means, and end of salvation. The apostle reflects that he and other believers had no excuse for treating the heathen with haughtiness, since it was owing to no merit of his or theirs that their own lives had become purer. I. THE MANIFESTATION OF THE DIVINE GOODNESS AND LOVE TO MAN . "But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love to man appeared." 1. The time of this manifestation. The expression implies a definite point of time. It... read more