"The previous paragraph [2:1-10] has been a challenge to the several groups in the Cretan churches to accept the specifically Christian pattern of behavior. Its presuppositions may at first sight seem prosaically humdrum and conventional, but Paul now eloquently reminds Titus that they have their basis in the gospel itself. It was precisely in order to raise men to a higher quality of life that God intervened in history in the incarnation."54
"There are few passages in the New Testament which so vividly set out the moral power of the Incarnation as this passage does."55
2:11 "For"introduces Paul's full theological reason for requiring the conduct above, why such conduct harmonizes with sound doctrine (v. 1).56In short, it is the proper response to God's grace. God has manifested His grace (unmerited favor) in Christ and the gospel. This has resulted in two things: the possibility of salvation for all and the actual salvation of all who believe in Christ (1 Tim. 2:4, 6; 4:10).
"In the Greek, has appeared' stand emphatically at the beginning, stressing the manifestation of grace as a historical reality. The reference is to Christ's entire earthly life--his birth, life, death, and resurrection. The verb epephane, from which we derive our word epiphany,' means to become visible, make an appearance,' and conveys the image of grace suddenly breaking in on our moral darkness, like the rising sun. (It is used of the sun in Acts 27:20.) Men could never have formed an adequate conception of that grace apart from its personal manifestation in Christ, in his incarnation and atonement."57
2:12 When the Christian appreciates this grace it teaches him or her. It instructs us negatively to deny ungodliness, the root problem, and worldly passions, the manifestation of the root problem. These passions are the desires that unbelievers find so appealing but which are not in harmony with God's character and will, though they are typical of the world system. It instructs us positively to live sensibly (Gr. sophronos; self-controlled inwardly, cf. vv. 2, 5, 6), righteously (Gr. dikaios; morally upright outwardly), and godly (Gr. eusebos; reverently upwardly) in this age.
2:13 The blessed hope of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ's appearing in glory at the Rapture also motivates the sensitive Christian to honor God by his or her behavior now.58The Greek verb prosdechomenoi("looking for") is in the present tense indicating that this waiting should be our characteristic attitude, always ready to welcome the returning Lord. We do not want to feel ashamed when we meet Him face to face (1 John 2:28; 3:3). In the Greek text one article, "the,"introduces both "blessed hope"and "glorious appearing"suggesting that Paul was viewing one event from two aspects. The blessed hope is the glorious appearing of our Savior.
"In the New Testament hopedoes not indicate merely what is wished for but what is assured."59
"In light of the concept of the imminent coming of Christ and the fact that the New Testament does teach His imminent coming, we can conclude that the Pretribulation Rapture view is the only view of the Rapture of the church that comfortably fits the New Testament teaching of the imminent coming of Christ. It is the only view that can honestly say that Christ could return at any moment, because it alone teaches that Christ will come to rapture the church before the 70th week of Daniel 9 or the Tribulation period begins and that nothing else must happen before His return."60
"Paul . . . does not ask us to look for the Tribulation, or the Antichrist, or for persecution and martyrdom, or for death, but for the return of Christ. If any of these events must precede the Rapture, then how can we help looking for them rather than the Lord's coming? Such a view of the coming of the Lord can at best only induce a very general interest in the blessed hope.'"61
"The unusual phrase the great God,' found only here in the New Testament, is best accounted for as a Christological application of an Old Testament description of God."62
In other words, Paul described the appearing and glory of one Person, our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.63
2:14 Christ's intent in providing salvation for us was to buy our freedom from slavery to sin and wickedness.
"First, the verb gave(and indeed the entire saying--who gave himself for us) portrays Christ's death as a ritual offering made specifically to atone for sins (Rom 4:25; 8:32; compare Gal 1:4). . . .
"Second, the note of willingness is emphasized, for it is said that he gave himself. . . .
"Third, the phrase for usreveals that this offering was both representative and substitutionary."64
Christ's purpose was also to purify a people for Himself who are eager to do what is right and good.
"When a royal visit is expected, everything is cleansed and decorated, and made fit for the royal eye to see."65
"The highest and purest motivation for Christian behavior is not based on what we can do for God but rather upon what God has done for us and yet will do."66
To summarize this section (vv. 11-14), the grace of God should result in our present commitment to deny what He detests and to pursue what He values. We see God's grace in His past provision of salvation in Christ and the prospect of Christ's future return to take us to be with Himself forever. The fact that so few Christians make this commitment is disappointing, but it is true to life, and Jesus Christ anticipated it (Luke 17:11-19).
