Appeared (2014) (epiphaino from epà = over, upon + phaÃno = to shine) literally means to shine upon. It means to bring to light or to show upon. In the passive (as in the present verse) epiphaino means to appear or become visible. For example Luke recorded that "neither sun nor stars appeared" (Acts 27:20). Figuratively epiphaino is equivalent to become clearly known or to show oneself as did God's kindness and His love for mankind here in Titus 3:4. God our Savior's kindness and love "has shined upon" us in the incarnation of the Messiah, Christ Jesus. The ideas conveyed by epiphaino include to cause something to be seen, to give light to something (Luke 1:79), to make one's presence known and so to become apparent (Acts 27:20) and finally to show oneself or make an appearance (eg, as did God's grace in Titus 2:10 (note). Epiphaino - 4x in NAS -Luke 1:79; Acts 27:20; Titus 2:11; 3:4 NAS = appeared , 3; shine, 1. The aorist tense points to the incarnation as occurring at a specific point of time in history. Today we divide time as BC/AD based on this historical fact. Epiphaino in the passive voice means to show oneself openly or before others, and in secular writing was often associated with the idea of a sudden or unexpected appearance. Interestingly, Messiah's epiphany should not have been unexpected because of over 300 OT Messianic prophecies and in fact was not unexpected by men such as "Simeon (who) was righteous and devout" and who was "looking for (present tense - continually, earnestly, expectantly) the consolation of Israel" (what a beautiful Name for the Messiah!) (Lk 2:25) and women such as the prophetess Anna who never left the Temple and continued to speak of Him (the Messiah) to all those who were (earnestly and expectantly) looking for the redemption of Jerusalem (another beautiful Name for Messiah!) (Lk 2:36, 37, 38). In Greek culture epiphaino was used to describe the visible manifestation of a hidden deity to men in order to bring help and deliverance. Paul extracted epiphaino from this pagan, mythological morass and elevated its use in this epistle in his description of the "epiphany" par excellence. Indeed, Christ's epiphany was not mythological but soteriological (theology of salvation) for it made available true help and deliverance to mankind held fast by the power of sin. Our English word epiphany (from epiphaino) is defined by Webster as "an appearance or manifestation especially of a divine being; a usually sudden manifestation or perception of the essential nature or meaning of something; an illuminating discovery; a revealing scene or moment." The use of the verb appeared clearly implies that these qualities of God (kindness, philanthropy) were always there but received their clear manifestation in the coming of Christ and the consequent proclamation of the Gospel. Glimpses of these characteristics had been given in the OT, but it was especially in the proclamation of the Gospel that was announced to the world this benignity of "God our Saviour. (Hiebert) Luke uses epiphaino in his beautiful description of the incarnation of the Christ, explaining that salvation was made possible "because of the tender mercy of our God, with which the Sunrise (Dayspring - Messiah's coming would be like coming of dawn, His light driving away darkness of sin, cf Jn 8:12) from on high shall visit us, to shine upon (epiphaino) those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace." (Luke 1:78, 79) Milne writes that... When everything on the human plane was pitch—dark and hopeless, the God of love burst into the darkness of this world in the person of his earth—born Son, in a definitive moment of divine epiphany. His advent was like the dawning of a bright new day, the beginning of a truly new age. (Milne, D. J. Focus On The Bible: 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy and Titus) The first use of epiphaino in the Greek translation of the Septuagint (LXX) records that Jacob "built there an altar, and called the name of the place Bethel for there God appeared (epiphaino) to him..." (Ge 35:7) Another use is in the well known Aaronic blessing -- The Lord make His face to shine upon (epiphaino) thee, and have mercy upon thee. (Nu 6:25) It is interesting that a frequent prayer in the psalms is for God to make His face shine (epiphaino) upon His servants (see Ps 31:16, 67:1, 80:3, 80:7, 80:19, 119:135) Three times in Psalm 80, the psalmist pleads with God to cause Thy face to shine upon (epiphaino) us and we will be saved. Have you ever prayed for God to shine His face upon you? You might consider doing so even as your read this note. Note how the psalmist links God's shining with God's salvation just as Paul does in this section of Titus. In the previous chapter Paul declared that the grace of God has appeared (epiphaino), bringing salvation to all men (Titus 2:11-note). Clearly this glorious shining forth of God's grace was another way of picturing the incarnation of Christ, the Source of grace for salvation of sinners. Paul links grace with Christ in his closing benediction to the Corinthians asking that The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. (2Cor 13:14) Writing to his young protégé Timothy, Paul instructed him that although grace in Christ Jesus was granted in eternity past now (that grace) has been revealed (openly shown and made known) by the appearing (epiphaneia, noun form of epiphaino) of our Savior Christ Jesus, Who abolished death, and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. (2Ti 1:10-note) Clarke summarizes this section noting that God the Savior flows from God the Philanthropist. Where love is it will be active, and will show itself. So the philanthropy of God appeared, or it shone out, in the incarnation of Jesus Christ, and in His giving His life for the life of the world. In summary, Paul points to the incarnation of Christ Jesus Who stepped out of eternity, into time, in the form of a man, shining forth openly and making known His grace, kindness and love and making salvation available to all men. As the writer of Hebrews puts it now once at the consummation of the ages He (Jesus) has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself." (Heb 9:26-note). Peter adds that Christ "was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared (brought out to public view at a given time in history) in these last times for the sake of you" (1Pe 1:20-note) The incarnation of Christ is a historical event testified to by numerous witnesses and is the bedrock truth for the doctrine that follows. ><> ><> ><> F B Meyer - Our Daily Homily - THE emphasis must surely rest on appeared. Kindness and love toward man were always in the heart of God, but they were not clearly revealed. They might have been perceived in the order of nature and human life; but there are stormy winds as well as zephyrs in the one--and in the other deaths as well as births; knells of hope as well as marriage peals. But in Jesus the true heart of God toward man was manifested. It is thus in human life. At first God blessed us anonymously.--In Cowper's memoirs we read how Theodora, his cousin, pursued him throughout his sad life with her gifts; but they always came without indication of their source. As the poet unwrapped his new-come treasure, he would say, "Dear Anonymous has come again; God bless him." So, through years of thoughtless childhood, and afterward in opening youth, we were the recipients of myriads of gifts contrived with the most exquisite skill to give us pleasure; but we did not trace them to their source. They were from God. Since then His grace and loving kindness have appeared.--We have had eyes to see, and hearts to understand. The Anonymous Benefactor is now recognized as our Father and Friend. We no longer praise our earthly loves for our cornfields and vineyards, but our Heavenly Spouse (Hosea 2.). In the breaking of the bread we have recognized the Son of God, and we know now who it was that walked with us along the path of life, and why our hearts burned. Oh to grace how great a debtor Daily I'm constrained to be; Let that grace, Lord, like a fetter, Bind my wandering heart to Thee. ><> ><> ><> A LITTLE KINDER - Aldous Huxley (1894-1963), one of the world's leading intellects, was visiting with Houston Smith, a well-known professor of philosophy and religion. As they were driving to an engagement, Huxley said, "You know, Houston, it's rather embarrassing to have spent one's entire lifetime pondering the human condition and . . . find that I really don't have anything more profound to pass on by way of advice than, 'Try to be a little kinder.'" The apostle Paul saw kindness in a different light. In Ephesians 4:32, he linked being kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving with the way God has treated us. In Titus 3:4, he said that it was "the kindness and the love of God" that provided eternal salvation. In a world where callous thoughtlessness and selfish indifference are all too common, kindness can make our lives fruitful when motivated by Christlike love. When our walk harmonizes with our words of witness, it will make a compelling impact on others by pointing them to the kind of love God has for them in Jesus Christ. If Huxley had learned what Paul had learned, he would have seen that trying to be a little kinder is one of the most profound truths of all. What motivates us to try? There's no better reason than the love of God as shown to us by Jesus. —Vernon C Grounds (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved) He saw me ruined by the fall, Yet loved me notwithstanding all; He saved me from my lost estate, His lovingkindness, oh, how great! —Medley Kindness is treating others the way God treats you