Titus
Chapter 3
Exemplary Civic Behavior
Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, and to be prepared for every good work.
Tell them not to insult anyone; they should not be quarrelsome, but gentle and understanding with everyone.
God’s Goodness and Tenderness
For we were once foolish, disobedient, and misled ourselves. We were slaves to our desires, pursuing all kinds of pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.
Still, when the great goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared,
he saved us not because of any good deeds we did, but because of his mercy, through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit
poured out on us richly through Christ Jesus our Savior,
so that, being justified by his grace, we might become heirs, with the hope of eternal life.
The saying is sure; I want you to emphasize these points so that those who believe in God will be motivated to do good deeds. That’s what matters and benefits us.
Avoid pointless arguments, genealogical debates, and quarrels about the law, because they are useless and worthless.
After a first and second warning, have nothing more to do with anyone who causes division,
knowing that such a person is misled, sinful, and self-condemned.
Final Greetings
When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, try to join me at Nicopolis because I have decided to spend the winter there.
Send Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way quickly, and make sure they have everything they need.
Our people must learn to excel in good works and respond to urgent needs, instead of staying idle and useless.
All who are with me send you greetings. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all.
Commentaries
Exemplary Civic Behavior.
The virtuous behavior previously recommended (2:1-10) is now extended by the author to include civil society, of which the Church is a part. A good Christian must also be a good citizen. The first advice, then, given to the rebellious Cretans, is submission to civil authority (cf. Rom 13:1-10) and cooperation in the common good, as long as the task is honorable.
God’s Goodness and Tenderness.
In his second doctrinal synthesis, the author discusses the source of the universal love that should characterize every believer: the appearance of “the great goodness and loving kindness of our God and Savior” (4). Christ has revealed God’s universal, definitive, gratuitous, and unconditional love. Without any merit on our part, according to Paul’s core teaching, it is this goodness and mercy of God that has transformed believers from their previous life—marked by death, driven by passions, envy, and hatred—into “a rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit” (5). The author summarizes the two virtues of baptism into two words: a purification bath (cf. Eph 5:26) that forgives our sins, and new birth (cf. Jn 3:5; 1 Pt 1:3), which signifies renewal by the Spirit. Consequently, the believer becomes an heir of eternal life through hope (cf. Mt 19:29). This transformative grace of baptism must be lived out and demonstrated through good conduct. Therefore, he urges Titus to emphasize and teach this sound doctrine (8). Regarding those who reject this teaching and disrupt the community’s unity through their charlatanism and sectarianism, Paul offers Titus three pieces of advice: avoid arguing with them, admonish them, and, if they persist, expel them from the community.
Final Greetings.
As with other letters, instructions and greetings are given by mentioning people known to the recipient (cf. Rom 16; 2 Tim 4:19-21). At the end, the author’s core concern reappears: good works. Christians cannot avoid their responsibility to the tasks of this world. On the contrary, they must stand out in society and in this way bear witness to the salvation they have received through their lifestyle. The plural form of the final greeting (“grace be with you all”) indicates that the letter is addressed to the entire community and not only to Titus (cf. 1 Tim 6:21; 2 Tim 4:22).