Titus--Christ Our Savior

Titus--Christ Our Savior This Epistle was addressed to Titus, the Bishop of Crete, a hard post (Titus 1:12-13). To him had been committed the difficult task of settling the differences at Corinth (2 Corinthians 2:13; 2 Corinthians 12:18; 2 Corinthians 7:6-15). Paul’s second Epistle to the Corinthians proves how successfully he had accomplished the mission. The Epistle deals with the qualifications of a Bishop or Elder (Titus 1:1-16); with the need of sound doctrine (Titus 2:1-15); with the need of good works (Titus 3:1-15). The words “God our Savior” and “Christ our Savior” both occur in the same order in each of the three chapters of this Epistle, as if to emphasize the deity of our Lord.240 The Epistle embodies two rich and comprehensive outlines of salvation by grace (Titus 2:11-14; Titus 3:4-8).

Titus 2:11-14, God’s grace brings salvation (Titus 2:11). Past.--Christ gave Himself to redeem us from all iniquity (Titus 2:14). Present.--To purify unto Himself a peculiar people, “zealous of good works” (Titus 2:14; Titus 2:12). Future.--“Looking for the appearance of the glory of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ.” Christ’s personal, pre-millennial Coming, of which Paul wrote to the Thessalonians about thirteen years before, was still his blessed hope as he neared the close of his life. See also 1 Timothy 6:14 and 2 Timothy 4:8, almost his last word.