Titus 3:6 - Printer Friendly

ESV: whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,

NIV: whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior,

NASB: whom He richly poured out upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior,

CSB: He poured out his Spirit on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior

NLT: He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior.

KJV: Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;

NKJV: whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior,

Verse 5 ended with a reference to the Holy Spirit. Verse 6 specifies that He is what is "poured out." The Holy Spirit came in power at Pentecost, which was the birth of the church (Acts 2). Here, Paul emphasizes the pouring out of the Holy Spirit in the life of each individual as he or she comes to faith in Christ. This is not a later experience, but something that takes places when a person is saved.

It's important to know that the spirit is referred to using the Greek word hou, which is a masculine "personal pronoun." This is a fancy way of saying that the term means "whom," in reference to a person. The Holy Spirit is being described in personal terms, not as an object or impersonal force.

The Holy Spirit was poured out "richly" or "abundantly." Jesus sent the Holy Spirit, as described in Acts 1:4–5. Paul again refers to Jesus Christ as "our Savior." This stresses the fact that both Paul and Titus are followers of Christ, and of the same Savior. This is despite the fact that Paul was a Jew and Titus was an uncircumcised Gentile.

Titus 3:4–7 is a poetic description of how God saves us. Rather than depending on our good deeds, God rescues us on the basis of His mercy. When a person accepts Christ, they experience “regeneration,” meaning a spiritual cleansing. God generously gives us the Holy Spirit and forgives our sin through His grace.

Paul reminds Titus of seven positive behaviors, and seven contrasting sins, which he is to insist on teaching correctly. False teachers are to be cut off, not given a public platform. Believers are not to waste time bickering, but focus on good works and urgent needs. This passage also explains how salvation is entirely the result of God’s grace, not our own good deeds.

Titus chapter 1 focused on the character traits of a church leader, contrasted to the immoral culture of Crete. Chapter 2 explained the ideal traits of church members, especially in their acts towards each other. Chapter 3 focuses on the relationship between Christians and their surrounding culture. Through goodness and peace, we are to make a positive impact, so people will see Christ in us.

The book of Titus is a letter written by the apostle Paul, to a Christian leader on the island of Crete. This is one of Paul’s three Pastoral Epistles, where he offers instructions to younger believers caring for large groups of others. Paul uses the book of Titus to emphasize the importance of selecting church elders carefully. Many of the topics discussed in Titus are mentioned elsewhere in the New Testament. Though the details of this message are specifically for Titus, and the believers of Crete, they offer insight useful for churches today.

Accessed 5/2/2024 7:05:40 AM