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Christmas Season · Nativity of the Lord - Christmas Eve Proper 1 · Year A

Titus 2:11-14

What Must Be Taught to Various Groups

December 24, 2025

Adoration of the Shepherds, Gerard van Honthorst
Adoration of the Shepherds, Gerard van Honthorst, 1622Wallraf-Richartz Museum, Cologne
The whole scene lit by the child himself, with the shepherds leaning in out of the dark. Honthorst was nicknamed Gherardo delle Notti in Italy for exactly this.For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all … while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.Gerard van HonthorstA Utrecht painter (1592-1656) who went to Rome, learned Caravaggio's night lighting there, and brought it home. The Italians called him Gherardo delle Notti, Gerard of the Nights.Wallraf-Richartz Museum, CologneCologne's oldest museum, founded on a canon's bequest in 1824, strongest in medieval Cologne painting.Wallraf-Richartz Museum, Cologne
Revised Common Lectionary
GospelLuke 2:1-14, (15-20)Lk 2:1-14, (15-20)
EpistleTitus 2:11-14Ti 2:11-14
Old TestamentIsa. 9:2-7Is 9:2-7
PsalterPs. 96Ps 96

Overview & Insights

“The grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all.” (Titus 2:11)

Instructions for Groups of Believers Although this section has affinities to several passages in both the PE and the rest of the NT, the material nonetheless appears here in a unique way. It picks up the framework of 1 Timothy 5:1–2, where people are grouped by age and sex, and in verses 2–8 fleshes out some details, not in terms of Titus’ relationship to them but of their own attitudes and conduct. The language of the details echoes that used for the overseers, deacons, and women in 1 Timothy

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Commentary

Titus 2:11-14Ti 2:11-14 Working Preacher

A reading of grace appearing and training us while we await the blessed hope.

Titus 2Ti 2 Enduring Word · David Guzik

A verse-by-verse evangelical commentary on grace that teaches godly living.

Classic commentaries on Titus 2Classic commentaries on Ti 2 BibleHub

A classic aggregator with many historic commentators on the verse.

Titus 2 resourcesTi 2 resources Precept Austin

An evangelical hub of commentaries, sermons, and word studies on the chapter.

Background & Word Study

Titus 2:11-14Ti 2:11-14 Enter the Bible

An accessible introduction to the passage's setting and argument.

Overview: TitusOverview: Ti BibleProject

An animated overview placing the epistle's ethics within its whole design.

Titus 2:11 InterlinearTi 2:11 Interlinear BibleHub

The Greek of the passage word by word with parsing and lexical helps.

The Church Fathers

Titus 2, patristic commentaryTi 2, patristic commentary Catena

Early church comments gathered verse by verse on the appearing of grace.

Questions preachers ask

Why does a Christmas reading talk about self-control?

Titus treats grace as a teacher. What appeared at Bethlehem trains those who receive it to live differently in the present age, between the appearing that has happened and the blessed hope that has not.

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