The New Testament · The Letters of St. Paul · Book 63 of 73
Prophecy in Titus
A short letter to a church on Crete, mostly about elders, households and good conduct. At its heart is a view of all history in two appearances: the grace of God has appeared, and the Church lives “as we await the blessed hope, the appearance of the glory.”
In progress: 3 passages so far
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The book at a glance
Titus was a Gentile co-worker of Paul (Galatians 2:1–3; 2 Corinthians 8:23), left on Crete to “appoint presbyters in every town” (1:5). The letter, one of the three Pastoral Letters with 1 and 2 Timothy, is received by the Church as inspired Scripture whether it comes from Paul himself or, as many modern scholars hold, from a disciple writing in his name.
Its prophetic content is a promise stretched across time: eternal life promised “before time began,” revealed in Christ, poured out in Baptism, and awaited at his appearing. Twice the letter grounds ordinary Christian conduct in this hope (2:11–14; 3:4–7). The Church still prays in its words at every Mass (CCC 1404).
Key to the labels
How a passage stands
Fulfilled Accomplished in history, above all in Christ.
Unfolding Being worked out now in the life of the Church.
Future Clearly still to come at Christ's return.
Mystery Its meaning or moment is not yet settled.
What kind of passage it is
Prophecy God's word through a prophet, or Christ, about what will come.
Promise A pledge God makes, kept over generations.
Type A person or event that foreshadows Christ or the Church.
Image A picture Scripture returns to and completes at the end.
Apocalypse A vision unveiling history from heaven's side, in symbols.
More on the labels
| Passage | Subject | Standing |
|---|
| 1:1–3 | Eternal life promised before time began | Fulfilled Future |
| 2:11–14 | Awaiting the blessed hope | Future |
| 3:4–7 | The bath of rebirth; heirs in hope | Fulfilled Future |
The passages
“…in the hope of eternal life that God, who does not lie, promised before time began…”
- Reading
- The letter opens with the oldest promise of all, made in God's eternal plan before creation. At “the proper time” he revealed his word in the apostolic preaching (1:3). The promise rests on God's character: he “does not lie.”
- Why two labels
- The word has been revealed and preached; the eternal life it promises is still hoped for.
- See also
- Ephesians 1:4; 2 Timothy 1:9–10.
“…as we await the blessed hope, the appearance of the glory of the great God and of our savior Jesus Christ…”
- Reading
- “For the grace of God has appeared, saving all” (2:11). Between that first appearance and the last, grace trains us “to live temperately, justly, and devoutly in this age” (2:12). Christ “gave himself for us to deliver us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for himself a people as his own, eager to do what is good” (2:14). The NABRE note gives another possible translation, “of our great God and savior Jesus Christ,” which would name Jesus himself as God.
- Note
- The Church echoes this verse at every Mass, in the prayer after the Our Father. The Catechism takes up the same words, from that prayer, for the Eucharist as the pledge of the glory to come: “we celebrate the Eucharist ‘awaiting the blessed hope and the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ’” (CCC 1404).
- For now
- The blessed hope is not an escape from this age but a way of living in it, temperately, justly and devoutly.
“…he saved us through the bath of rebirth and renewal by the holy Spirit…”
- Reading
- “When the kindness and generous love of God our savior appeared,” he saved us “not because of any righteous deeds we had done but because of his mercy” (3:4–5). The Spirit, “whom he richly poured out on us through Jesus Christ our savior” (3:6), is the gift of the new age foretold by the prophets (Joel 3:1; Ezekiel 36:25–27). The Catechism cites this verse when it calls Baptism “the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit” (CCC 1215).
- Why two labels
- The rebirth has happened in Baptism; its goal is still ahead: “so that we might be justified by his grace and become heirs in hope of eternal life” (3:7).
Still to come on this pageFurther passages to add: the warning about those who “claim to know God, but by their deeds they deny him” (1:16), and the false teachers to be silenced (1:10–14).
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