Anakalypsis / Unveiling the Word
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⚙ Annotations & References ▾
Passage sections 1 ▾
The Grace of God Has Appeared theology 2:11–3:8
Themes 10 ▾
Obedience and Disobedience 1-3, 8, 14 Humility 2 Peace 2 Sin 3 Grace 4, 7 Love 4 Baptism 5 Holy Spirit 5 Eternal Life 7 Faith 8, 14
People 4 ▾
Phut Primeval 1 Jesus Life of Christ 6 Tychicus Apostolic Age 12 Apollos Apostolic Age 13
Places 1 ▾
Nicopolis Epirus 12
Historic voices 32 ▾
1 Clement (Letter to the Corinthians) 1× 1 Belgic Confession 3× 1, 5 Second Helvetic Confession 2× 1, 5 Homilies on the Gospel of John 2× 3, 5 Heidelberg Catechism 3× 3, 5 London Baptist Confession of 1689 2× 4-5, 7 Catechism of the Catholic Church 2× 5-7 Homilies on the Epistle to the Romans 1× 5 Commentary on the Gospel According to John 1× 5 Large Catechism 1× 5 Small Catechism 1× 5 On the Bondage of the Will 1× 5 Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew 1× 5 Summa Theologica 1× 5 Council of Trent, Session 5: Decree on Original Sin 1× 5 Council of Trent, Session 6: Decree on Justification 2× 5, 7 Council of Trent, Session 7: Decree on the Sacraments 1× 5 The Method of Grace 1× 5 The Scripture Way of Salvation 1× 5 NAE Statement of Faith 1× 5 Twenty-Five Articles of Religion 1× 5 Statement of Fundamental Truths 1× 5, 7 The Great Catechism 1× 5 On the Mysteries (De Mysteriis) 1× 5 Formula of Concord 1× 8 Against Heresies (Adversus Haereses) 2× 10 Confession of Dositheus 1× 10 Church History (Historia Ecclesiastica) 1× 10 Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible 1× 1-15 John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible 1× 1-15 Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary 1× 1, 9 Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary 1× 2-15
Manuscript witnesses 4 ▾
Codex Sinaiticus Aleph c. AD 330-360 Codex Alexandrinus A c. AD 400-440 Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus C c. AD 450 Codex Claromontanus D2 c. AD 500-550
Cross-references 212 ▾
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What is Titus 3 about?

From conduct within the household, Paul directs Titus to the believer's life before the watching world, bidding him remind the Cretans to submit to rulers, to be ready for every good work, and to show meekness toward all men. The reason reaches back to what they once were, for we ourselves were sometimes foolish and disobedient, until the kindness and love of God our Saviour appeared. Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Ghost, that being justified by His grace we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. On this footing Titus is to affirm these things constantly so that believers maintain good works, to avoid foolish questions and strivings about the law, and to reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, before the letter closes with personal errands and a final word of grace. So the whole book comes to rest: mercy, not merit, saves, and the grace that makes sinners heirs is the same grace that sends them out to adorn the gospel with good works.

Historical backdrop

Crete lay in the Roman province of Creta et Cyrenaica, a long mountainous island astride the sea lanes of the eastern Mediterranean, famed once for its hundred cities and for a proverb that branded its own people liars. Roman ships filled its harbors and Roman law governed its towns, and its people carried a hard reputation the apostle himself would quote.

Matthew Henry on Titus 3
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Titus 3
The Church Fathers on Titus 3
Cited by the confessions

Titus 3

Titus Chapter 3
3

1Put them in mind to be in subjection to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready unto every good work, 2to speak evil of no man, not to be contentious, to be gentle, showing all meekness toward all men. 3For we also once were foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. 4But when the kindness of God our Saviour, and his love toward man, appeared, 5not by works done in righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6which he poured out upon us richly, through Jesus Christ our Saviour; 7that, being justified by his grace, we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 8Faithful is the saying, and concerning these things I desire that thou affirm confidently, to the end that they who have believed God may be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men: 9but shun foolish questionings, and genealogies, and strifes, and fightings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. 10A factious man after a first and second admonition refuse; 11knowing that such a one is perverted, and sinneth, being self-condemned. 12When I shall send Artemas unto thee, or Tychicus, give diligence to come unto me to Nicopolis: for there I have determined to winter. 13Set forward Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey diligently, that nothing be wanting unto them. 14And let our people also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful. 15All that are with me salute thee. Salute them that love us in faith. Grace be with you all.

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What is Titus 3 about?

From conduct within the household, Paul directs Titus to the believer's life before the watching world, bidding him remind the Cretans to submit to rulers, to be ready for every good work, and to show meekness toward all men. The reason reaches back to what they once were, for we ourselves were sometimes foolish and disobedient, until the kindness and love of God our Saviour appeared. Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Ghost, that being justified by His grace we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. On this footing Titus is to affirm these things constantly so that believers maintain good works, to avoid foolish questions and strivings about the law, and to reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, before the letter closes with personal errands and a final word of grace. So the whole book comes to rest: mercy, not merit, saves, and the grace that makes sinners heirs is the same grace that sends them out to adorn the gospel with good works.