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Christmas Season · Nativity of the Lord - Christmas Dawn Proper 2 · 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
Revised Common Lectionary
GospelLuke 2:(1-7), 8-20Lk 2:(1-7), 8-20
EpistleTitus 3:4-7Ti 3:4-7
Old TestamentIsa. 62:6-12Is 62:6-12
PsalterPs. 97Ps 97

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

A commentary drawing out how the appearing of God's kindness speaks to Christmas.

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

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

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

An evangelical verse-by-verse study on justification by grace and renewal by the Spirit.

Titus 3:5 CommentaryTi 3:5 Commentary Precept Austin

An inductive word study on the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.

Titus 3:4 CommentariesTi 3:4 Commentaries BibleHub

Classic commentaries stacked verse by verse on God's saving kindness.

Background & Word Study

Overview: TitusOverview: Ti BibleProject

An animated overview showing how grace transforms a community, the frame around this baptismal gospel.

Titus 3:4 InterlinearTi 3:4 Interlinear BibleHub

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

The Church Fathers

Titus 3 (Catena)Ti 3 (Catena) Catena

Early church comments gathered on rebirth, renewal, and becoming heirs of eternal life.

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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