1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness; 2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; 3 But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour; 4 To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour. (Titus 1:1-4 KJV)
Greeting
In this chapter, we have the preface or introduction to the epistle, showing from whom and to whom it was written, with the apostle’s salutation and prayer for Titus (Titus 1:1-4).
The writer is Paul—a Gentile name used by the apostle of the Gentiles (Acts 13:9, 46-47). After the Jews rejected the gospel and the Gentiles received it, Scripture no longer refers to him as Saul but as Paul. He describes himself as a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ. As a servant, he ministered the gospel of God’s Son (Romans 1:9). Even the highest officers in the church are still servants, for it is the glory of angels to minister to those who will inherit salvation (Hebrews 1:14). As an apostle, Paul had seen the Lord, was called and commissioned by Him, and received his doctrine directly from Christ.
He was sent to proclaim the faith of God’s elect. There are indeed elect of God (1 Peter 1:2), chosen to salvation through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and belief in the truth (2 Thessalonians 2:13-14). Faith is the root of sanctification. Paul’s mission was also to bring people to the knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness. The gospel is the word of truth (Colossians 1:5). Divine faith rests not on human reasoning but on the infallible word of God. All gospel truth leads to godliness, producing reverence for God and obedience to Him. It is truth to be known, confessed, and practiced (Philippians 2:15-16; Romans 10:10). The goal of gospel ministry is to produce faith, to strengthen it, and to bring believers to acknowledge the truth that is according to godliness.
This is also in view of the hope of eternal life (Titus 1:2). Faith and godliness lead to the confident expectation of life eternal, which God, who cannot lie, promised. God cannot deceive, and this is the comfort of believers whose treasure rests in His promises. Paul says this promise was made “before the beginning of time.” This may be understood as God’s eternal decree, or as the promise given long ago, beginning with the first gospel word in Genesis 3:15. Thus, the promise of eternal life is both ancient and unshakable. Now, in the proper time, God has revealed His word through preaching (Titus 1:3). What was once obscure is now made clear. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17). The ministry is therefore a trust committed to Paul, who was commanded by God our Savior. This also testifies to the deity of Christ, who called and sent Paul (Acts 9:15-17). The Father, Son, and Spirit together commission ministers.
The person addressed is Titus, a Gentile by birth, yet called both to faith and to ministry. This shows the free and powerful grace of God. Paul calls him “my true son in our common faith” (Titus 1:4), not by natural birth but by spiritual rebirth, as Paul had been the means of his conversion (1 Corinthians 4:15). Ministers are spiritual fathers to those they bring to Christ and care for, and they should be honored in return. Calling Titus his genuine son in the common faith distinguished him from hypocrites and false teachers and commended him to the Cretans as a faithful minister of the gospel.
Paul then offers his salutation and prayer: “Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior” (Titus 1:4). Grace is the free favor of God, mercy is its fruit in forgiveness and deliverance from sin, and peace is the blessed result—peace with God through Christ, peace within, and peace with others. Grace is the fountain of all blessings. These blessings come from God the Father, the source of every good gift, and from the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior, through whom they are conveyed. Jesus is Lord by nature, Redeemer, and head of the church, and He brings salvation to those who believe in Him. This completes the preface to the epistle, followed by Paul’s reason for leaving Titus in Crete (Titus 1:5).