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
Done in for of, A.V.; did ourselves for hare done, A.V.; through for by, A.V. By works ( ἐξ ἔργων ); i.e. in consequence of. God's kindness and love to man did not spring from man's good work as the preceding and producing conditions (comp. Galatians 2:16 , and the notes of Bishops Ellicott and Lightfoot). Done in righteousness( τῶν ἐν δικαιοσύνῃ ); the particular description of the works wrought in a sphere or element of righteousness (Alford and Ellicott). ... read more
The mercy of God. "According to his mercy he saved us." Mercy is the key-note of redemption. It is the music of the Psalms; the spirit of Christ's ministry, and the motive of the atonement. It is the very heart of God—as permanent as his justice and his righteousness; "for his mercy endureth forever." I. SALVATION IS NOT A SUPERSTRUCTURE OF MAN 'S. "Not according to works of righteousness which we have done." Good actions do not make a good man; it is the good man that... 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
Not by works of righteousness which we have done - The plan was not based on our own good works, nor are our own good works now the cause of our salvation. If people could have been saved by their own good works, there would have been no need of salvation by the Redeemer; if our own deeds were now the basis of our title to eternal life, the work of Christ would be equally unnecessary. It is a great and fundamental principle of the gospel that the good works of men come in for no share in the... 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
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
Not . App-105 . by . Greek. ek , App-104 . of. Greek. en . App-104 . righteousness. App-191 . have done = did, according to . App-104 ., with texts. by . App-104 .Titus 3:1 . the washing . . . Ghost . Figure of speech Hendiadye . App-8 . Two things mentioned but only one thing meant. A reference here to the gifts abundantly bestowed on us" before the truth was announced regarding the believer's completeness in Christ, apart from ordinces. washing . Greek. loutron . Only here and... 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