Chapter Three
Continuation of teachings about holiness of life (1–11). Conclusion: various instructions and greetings (12–15).
Titus 3:1. Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, The teachings beginning here apply to all Christians – without distinction of gender, age, and condition, and determine mainly the relation in which Christians should stand to the non-Christian neighbors around them (compare 1 Pet 2:12 and following). Especially does the apostle command to remind the Cretans of the necessity of obedience to authority – of course, civil authority, since it is known that the inhabitants of Crete were always inclined toward rebellion. “Ready for every good work.” With these words the apostle, on one hand, limits the extent of obedience to civil authority: one must obey authorities, therefore, only in good works, when authority does not go directly against clear divine commands. On the other hand, by calling Christians to participate in every good work, the apostle thereby urges us to participate in all beneficial public enterprises and, in particular, blesses us to occupy ourselves with every good art and science (compare Phil 4:8).
Titus 3:2. to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing complete courtesy toward all people. Titus 3:3. For we ourselves also were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various passions and pleasures, spending our lives in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. The apostle teaches Christians to show gentleness and forbearance toward unbelieving fellow citizens because Christians know from their own experience how hard it is to live in paganism and how difficult it is for pagans to abandon their vices.
Titus 3:4. But when the grace and the love of mankind of our Savior God appeared, Titus 3:5. He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to his mercy, by the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, Titus 3:6. which he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ, our Savior, Titus 3:7. so that having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Being merciful toward the unbelieving should be motivated in Christians by the boundless love of God toward themselves. For when divine goodness (grace – χρηστότης) and God’s love of mankind (here, as in the second chapter verse 11, is not meant the fact of the incarnation, but the spread of the Gospel of Christ throughout the world and in particular in Crete) appeared, then God saved us not by virtue of our merits, but solely by his mercy. From this it follows that we, imitating God, should show goodwill toward pagans even when they do not deserve it at all. In doing this the apostle, to produce an even greater impression on the hearts of believers, commands Titus to remind them that through baptism (“by the washing of rebirth” compare Eph 5:26) they have been cleansed from sins and renewed, have become a new creation, and then (through another sacrament – anointing with chrism – renewal by the Holy Spirit) received the gifts of the Holy Spirit in abundance so as to become at least de jure (according to hope) heirs of eternal life, that is, in time to receive it into their possession.
Titus 3:8. This statement is trustworthy; and I want you to speak confidently about these things so that those who have believed in God may be careful to engage in good works: these things are good and beneficial for people. About all this Titus must speak so persuasively (so that you speak confidently) that his speech might actually make Christians care for the correction of their life. “Faithful is the saying” – compare 1 Tim 1:15.
Titus 3:9. But avoid foolish disputes and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law; for they are useless and futile. Titus 3:10. As for a heretic, after a first and second admonition, reject him, Titus 3:11. knowing that such a person is perverted and is sinning, being self-condemned. If in this the heretics (that is, people who have turned aside to the path of delusion, choosing from Christian teaching only what pleases them and even distorting Christian teaching and leading others after them) interfere with him, provoke him to dispute, then Titus should withdraw from them, having first once or twice addressed them with exhortation. If they do not listen to this exhortation – it means they are people completely corrupted, for whose correction there is no hope.
Titus 3:12. When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, make haste to come to me in Nicopolis, for I have decided to winter there. Titus 3:13. Zenas the lawyer and Apollos send forward on their journey in such a way that they lack nothing. Titus 3:14. Let our people also learn to engage in good works so as to meet pressing needs, so that they may not be unfruitful. Titus 3:15. All who are with me greet you. Greet those who love us in faith. Grace be with you all. Amen. In conclusion the apostle gives some instructions to Titus, sends him greetings from his fellow workers, and asks him to convey greetings to all who love Paul. At the end he calls down God’s blessing on all readers of the letter. “Zenas the lawyer,” that is, a man who previously occupied himself with study of the Law of Moses. “Tychicus” – see Acts 20:4. “Artemas” – a name mentioned only here. “Apollos” – see Acts 18:24. “Those who love us in faith,” that is, believing Christians who love the apostle.