A Study of Titus 3:1-8

“Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people.”

Titus 3:1-8 ESV

Observation/Summary (short explanation of what the passage says in your own words):

Paul instructed Titus to remind the believers in Crete to submit to authority figures, to be obedient and ready for every good work, as well as to not speak evil of anyone, to stay away from arguing, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy to all. Paul then went on to say, “we ourselves” used to be foolish and disobedient, led astray to a life enslaved to worldly passions and pleasures, spending life in malice and envy while hating and being hated by others. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, He saved us because of His mercy, not by our good works, but by the gracious “washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit” who God generously gave to us, in liberal measure, through Jesus Christ our Savior.

God did this to justify us by His grace and to make us heirs according to the hope of eternal life. These words are trustworthy and true, and Paul told Titus to insist on these things to help those who believe in the true God to be careful to dedicate themselves to good works, because these things are excellent and profitable for people.

Textual Analysis and Implication (what is being said and what does this mean?):

This final chapter of Paul’s letter to Titus begins with Paul instructing Titus to remind believers in Crete to be submissive to rulers and authorities and to be obedient. The grammar of the phrase “remind them” in the ancient Greek of the text is in the present tense, so it could also be read in English as “Go on reminding.” Titus needed to continually remind the Cretan Christians to humbly honor and respect everyone, but especially those in positions of authority and to be obedient. This applies to all of us. Obviously we are to be obedient to God above all, but wherever the commands of those in authority do not violate God’s commands, we are to be submissive and obedient to them.

Next, we read we are to “be ready for every good work.” Beyond giving honor and obedience due to authorities, we should actively look for opportunities to do good where we can. Paul then ends this sentence in verse 2 by also telling Titus to go on reminding the believers “to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.” These instructions define simple Christian courtesy and kindness. We are to treat all people in these ways out of love for them and for Christ who died for them.

In verse 3 Paul tells Titus why he should instruct the Cretans to act in such a way. It is because “we ourselves…” once lived estranged from God, hating others and enslaved to worldly passions. Christians are not better than anyone else. We are simply fellow sinners who have been saved by a gracious and merciful act of our loving God. And we must not despise those who, like  we once did, live apart from God, still separated by their sin. We are in fact proof in ourselves that our fellow sinners can be saved by God’s grace. The knowledge that we are no better should serve to humble us, fill us with gratitude to God for loving and saving us, inspire us to show kindness to others, and give us faith that God can and wants to save other people still trapped in the same place we once were in too.

In verse 4 Paul begins a description of how we as believers were saved out of the same situation non-believers still live in saying, “But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared…”. This means none of us saved ourselves. There is nothing in us that made us more worthy of rescue. It is simply because of the loving kindness of God our Savior who came to us in our brokenness. We could never have accepted His gracious gift of salvation if He had not first offered it to us. Just as verse 5 says, “he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy…”.

No amount of good and righteous works done by us can save us. They are good and honor God, but good works do not wash away our sin. It is only by the merciful and selfless sacrifice of our God and Savior Jesus Christ on the cross that we are saved. And as He saves us we undergo a spiritual cleansing here referred to as the “washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit.” All this comes to us through Jesus Christ our Savior who, when we trust in Him, justifies us purely by grace and makes us “heirs according to the hope of eternal life. In Christ we are not only saved from sin, death and Hell, but also saved for glorious eternal life and made children and heirs in God’s kingdom as we are adopted into God’s royal family.

Again though, while we are not saved by good works, Paul instructs Titus to remind the believers of these things in order to encourage them to “devote themselves to good works,” because “These things are excellent and profitable for people.” In addition to being saved for eternal life we are also saved for good works. Having been raised from death to life in Christ our Lord we are His servants who have been equipped to do good works in His name for His glory and the good of others. It is faith that saves us, but true faith should also affect how we live. In reliance on the Holy Spirit in us, and out of love for Christ we should live in such a way that honors Him and blesses the people around us.

Response (How does this change how I think, act and pray?):

This passage reminds us of God’s command to be submissive to authorities and to show love and courtesy to all people. We used to live as slaves to worldly passions, and existed in a state of mutual animosity with our fellow man, but by a loving and gracious act of God we have been saved out of this old, dead way of life to live for Him. Now, we do not pursue righteous living to obtain salvation, but rather, we pursue righteous living because we have already been saved through faith in Jesus Christ our Savior. 

Self Reflection:

1. Are there authority figures in my life who I have not been submissive to?
2. How does the grace and loving kindness of God towards me motivate me to show kindness to others?
3. How can I “be ready for every good work” in regard to the people around me today?