Charles Ellicott Commentary Titus 1:2

"in hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before times eternal;" — Titus 1:2 (ASV)

In hope of eternal life.—Better translated, resting on the hope of eternal life. The connection of the preceding clauses with these words has been well summed up: “The Apostle’s calling had for its object the faith of the elect and the knowledge of the truth; and the basis on which all this rested was the hope of eternal life.”

Which God, that cannot lie.—Possibly, this singular and strong expression was chosen with reference to the peculiar vice of the Cretans, over whose Church Titus was then presiding. (See Titus 1:12: “One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars.”)

Promised before the world began.—More accurately rendered, from eternal ages. (See 2 Timothy 1:9.) The promise of eternal life was the result of a divine purpose fixed from eternity.