03/16/2025 – Day 259 – Titus – Chapters 1 – 3 / Early 60s – Titus was apparently in Crete where Paul combated false teaching (1: 6,12), similar to that faced by Timothy in Ephesus.
My commentary is entirely from “The Apologetics Study Bible” for today’s reading:
“while we wait for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.” (Titus 2:13)
“2.13 Grammatically and contextually, this verse is a powerful reference to Christ’s deity. Paul’s belief in Jesus’ deity was based on his life-changing experience of seeing Jesus clothed in divine glory ( Acts 9: 3 – 9), his exegesis of important Old Testament messianic texts (Acts 9: 20 – 22), and Jesus’ personal claims and miraculous activities as reported to him by eyewitnesses. Pauls also personally saw Jesus’ divine power at work in His disciples through the miracles that Paul and other disciples performed…”
Also corroborated in 1 Timothy 2:5 commentary as follows:
“Although this verse emphasizes Jesus’ humanity, Paul also affirmed Jesus’ deity in this letter. He referred to Jesus’ special relationship with the Father (1: 1-2; 6:13) who grants Him the divine title Lord (1:2, 12; 6:3,14). He implied Jesus’ heavenly existence before the incarnation (3:16), and said that Jesus’ saying of sinners (1:15) is a divine activity (4:10).”
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“He saved us — not by works of righteousness that we had done; but according to His mercy, through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit.” (1 Titus 3:5)
“3:5. This verse is consistent with texts affirming the importance of good works. The New Testament uniformly teaches that although good works are not a requirement for salvation, they are an inevitable result of salvation. The same gospel that saved sinners like Paul, transformed them morally and ethically (v. 3). Verse 8 further insists on the importance of good works as true faith’s necessary expression.”
Soli Deo Gloria!
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Questions for fellowship generation, the lifelong sanctification process:
- What does the text reveal about God’s character?
- How has this reading generated prayer for you and/or us?
- What themes stand out to you in this bible study?
- How does our reading fit into the bigger picture (creation, the fall, restoration, etc.)?
- What verse(s) jumped out at you like never before? Is it explainable at this point?
- Do you have any questions you would like to put before the group as to how to interpret any particular verse(s) in our reading. Let scripture testify to scripture: Share with us where you sense contradiction between passages elsewhere.
- What did you find convicting and inspiring at the same time? Share with us how the Spirit of God is working within you as a messenger, both within and outside of our fellowship group.
- Share with the group how our study is calling or confirming to you a new mission to glorify God in our times.