Titus 3:4–7
God saved us out of mercy, not because of what we did
Study it word by word4But when the kindness and the love for humankind of God our Savior appeared,
5not by works of righteousness that we did, but according to his mercy, he saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,
6whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus the Messiah our Savior,
7so that, having been declared righteous by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
In its context
2to slander no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all meekness toward all people.
3For we also were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various desires and pleasures, spending our lives in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another.
…
8The word is trustworthy, and concerning these things I want you to insist, so that those who have believed God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are good and useful for people.
9But avoid foolish speculations and genealogies and strife and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and futile.
Its words in the original
- χρηστότηςchrēstotēs· kindness, goodness
Kindness, goodness: generous goodness of heart; also uprightness, doing what is good.
- φιλανθρωπίαphilanthrōpia· kindness
Kindness, goodwill to others.
- ἐπεφάνηepephanē· shine, appear
Shine on, give light; appear.
- σωτῆροςsōtēros· Savior
Savior.
- θεοῦtheou· God, god
God. In the plural or in another sense, "gods".
- ἔργωνergōn· work
Work, deed, what someone does.
- δικαιοσύνῃdikaiosynēi· righteousness
Righteousness: what is right before God, and living by it.
- ἐποιήσαμενepoiēsamen· do, make
Do, make, produce.
- ἔλεοςeleos· mercy
Mercy: compassion that acts.
- ἔσωσενesōsen· save
Save, rescue from danger or death; also heal from an illness.
- λουτροῦloutrou· washing
Washing, bath.
- παλιγγενεσίαςpalingenesias· renewal, new birth
Renewal, new birth: of all things in the new creation, and of the person whom God makes new.
- ἀνακαινώσεωςanakainōseōs· renewal
Renewal: making new again.
- πνεύματοςpneumatos· spirit, Spirit
Spirit; also wind and breath. With "holy", the Holy Spirit of God.
- ἁγίουhagiou· holy
Holy: set apart for God, pure, belonging to him.
- ἐξέχεενexecheen· pour out
Pour out.
- πλουσίωςplousiōs· richly
Richly, abundantly.
- ἸησοῦIēsou· Jesus
Jesus, the Greek form of the Hebrew Yehoshua (Joshua), which means "YHWH saves". It is the name the angel told Joseph to give him (Matthew 1:21).
- ΧριστοῦChristou· Messiah
Messiah: literally "anointed", the king or envoy God consecrates with oil. It is a title, not a surname; in Hebrew, mashiach.
- δικαιωθέντεςdikaiōthentes· declare righteous
Declare righteous: pronounce someone right before God, acquit; also show to be right. In the passive, "be declared righteous", "be acquitted".
- χάριτιchariti· grace
Grace, favor.
- κληρονόμοιklēronomoi· heir
Heir.
- γενηθῶμενgenēthōmen· become, happen
Become, happen, come about; be born.
- ἐλπίδαelpida· hope
Hope: confidence in what God will do.
- ζωῆςzōēs· life
Life; the true life that God gives.
- αἰωνίουaiōniou· eternal
Eternal: belonging to God's age and without end.