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Christmas Season · Nativity of the Lord - Christmas Dawn · Year C

Titus 3:4-7

Doing What is Good

December 25, 2027

The Baptism of Christ, Piero della Francesca
The Baptism of Christ, Piero della Francesca, 1450sNational Gallery, London
An early Piero, painted for a chapel in his home town. The dove is foreshortened into a flat white shape that could be a cloud, and the Jordan reflects the Tuscan hills rather than Palestinian ones.It is the baptism itself, with the heavens opening handled so quietly that a first look misses it.Piero della FrancescaA painter and mathematician of the early Italian Renaissance (c. 1415-1492) who wrote treatises on perspective and painted with a stillness nobody has imitated successfully.National Gallery, LondonFounded in 1824 by buying one banker's collection, and deliberately placed in Trafalgar Square so that people from every part of London could walk to it.National Gallery, London
Roman Lectionary
GospelLuke 2:15-20Lk 2:15-20
Second ReadingTitus 3:4-7Ti 3:4-7
First ReadingIsa. 62:11-12Is 62:11-12
Responsorial PsalmPs. 97:1, 6, 11-12Ps 97:1, 6, 11-12

Overview & Insights

“He saved us by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit.” (Titus 3:5)

After a brief exhortation to Titus (2:15) to “teach these things” (at least 2:1–14), Paul returns in this section to the major concern of the letter—“good works” (i.e., genuinely Christian behavior) for the sake of the outsider (3:1–8) and in contrast to the false teachers (3:9–11).

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Commentary

Commentary on Titus 3:4-7Commentary on Ti 3:4-7 Working Preacher

Luther Seminary commentary on the goodness and loving kindness of God appearing, the Dawn Mass epistle.

Titus 3:4-7 CommentaryTi 3:4-7 Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching

Reformed commentary reading the passage as Christmas testimony rooted in what the birth means.

Titus 3 Commentary: Saved by His MercyTi 3 Commentary: Saved by His Mercy Enduring Word · David Guzik

David Guzik on salvation not by works of righteousness but by the washing of regeneration.

Titus 3:4 CommentariesTi 3:4 Commentaries BibleHub

Aggregated classic commentary on being justified by grace and made heirs of eternal life.

Background & Word Study

Titus 3:4 InterlinearTi 3:4 Interlinear BibleHub

Greek word by word with parsing for the kindness and loving kindness of God our Savior.

Titus OverviewTi Overview BibleProject

Animated overview of Titus tracing how grace that trains for godliness anchors this passage.

The Church Fathers

Titus 3 - Catena Bible & CommentariesTi 3 - Catena Bible & Commentaries Catena

Patristic comment on regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit.

Questions preachers ask

What is the good news of Titus 3?

When the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us not because of our works but according to his mercy, that we might become heirs of eternal life.

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