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Christmas · Christmas Dawn · Year A

Titus 3:4-7

The Goodness of God Appeared

December 25, 2025

The Baptism of Christ, Andrea del Verrocchio and Leonardo da Vinci
The Baptism of Christ, Andrea del Verrocchio and Leonardo da Vinci, c. 1475Uffizi Gallery, Florence
Verrocchio's workshop picture, with the kneeling angel at the left painted by his young apprentice Leonardo. Vasari says Verrocchio gave up painting after seeing it.It is the baptism, and it is also the moment one painter realised he had been overtaken.Andrea del Verrocchio and Leonardo da VinciVerrocchio ran the Florentine workshop that trained Leonardo, Perugino and probably Botticelli; here master and pupil are on the same panel.Uffizi Gallery, FlorenceBuilt as Medici offices, hence the name, and turned over to the family's art collection, which was left to the city on condition it never leave.Uffizi Gallery, Florence
LSB Three-Year Lectionary
GospelLuke 2:(1-14) 15-20Lk 2:(1-14) 15-20
EpistleTitus 3:4-7Ti 3:4-7
Old TestamentIsa. 62:10-12Is 62:10-12
PsalterPs. 98Ps 98

Overview & Insights

“He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy.” (Titus 3:5)

These four verses are one of the compact creedal passages in the Pastoral Epistles, and the letter marks them as quoted material with the formula that follows in v. 8, “the saying is trustworthy.” In Greek they are a single period. The verb in v. 4 is the one from which the word epiphany comes, a public appearing or manifestation, used the same way at 2:11, and the noun paired with it, God’s love of humankind, is a term from Hellenistic praise of generous rulers; the New Testament applies it to God only here. The shape of the sentence is the whole argument: an appearing, then a saving, with the ground stated negatively and positively, not from works of righteousness but according to mercy, and the Spirit poured out richly (cf. Acts 2:33). The result is inheritance. Read at Christmas Dawn, the epistle keeps the manger tied to justification, which is why Lutheran use appoints it beside the shepherds.

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Take it further: Titus 3:4-7

Commentary

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

Luther Seminary exegesis linking this text to the Christmas Eve epistle on grace appearing.

CEP: Titus 3:4-7CEP: Ti 3:4-7 Center for Excellence in Preaching

Reformed preaching commentary on why Jesus' birth in Bethlehem matters for salvation.

Enduring Word: Titus 3Enduring Word: Ti 3 Enduring Word · David Guzik

Verse by verse evangelical notes on God's kindness and the washing of rebirth.

Precept Austin: Titus 3 ResourcesPrecept Austin: Ti 3 Resources Precept Austin

Study helps and cross references on regeneration and renewal by the Spirit.

BibleHub: Titus 3:4 CommentariesBibleHub: Ti 3:4 Commentaries BibleHub

Aggregated classic commentaries on the kindness and love of God our Savior.

Background & Word Study

BibleHub Interlinear: Titus 3:4BibleHub Interlinear: Ti 3:4 BibleHub

Greek text with parsing for the words translated kindness and loving kindness.

BibleProject: Titus OverviewBibleProject: Ti Overview BibleProject

Animated overview of the letter's design and call to good works.

The Church Fathers

Catena: Titus 3Catena: Ti 3 Catena

Patristic comment chain on the washing of regeneration as new birth in Christ.

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