Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Titus 1:3

"but in his own seasons manifested his word in the message, wherewith I was intrusted according to the commandment of God our Saviour;" — Titus 1:3 (ASV)

The reliability of the above-mentioned promise was demonstrated through the clear, public revelation it received in the preaching of the Gospel. “His word” is not the personal Christ, the Logos (cf. Jn 1:1), but rather the saving message of the Gospel. This message was made known “at his appointed season,” the opportune time established by God in his eternal wisdom. All history was the preparation for that revelation. The historical appropriateness of the time is evident from the existence of the Roman peace that gave a favorable setting for the preaching of the Gospel and the development of Greek as the linguistic medium of its proclamation throughout the entire world.

The message was brought to the world “through the preaching entrusted to me.” This refers, not to the act of preaching, but to the message that was heralded, the message of the Gospel. There is no substitute for that message, and Paul was writing so that its purity might be preserved on the island of Crete. That life-giving message was committed to Paul personally as a divine trust. He could never escape the wonder that this assignment should be given to him, unworthy as he was (1 Corinthians 15:9; Ephesians 3:8; 1 Timothy 1:11–13).

The assignment came to him “by the command of God our Savior.” It is a vigorous assertion of his divine commission, underlining the authority behind this letter. The One who saves and preserves us is none other than God; we must personally appropriate and publicly confess him in this capacity. Paul’s usage of “God our Savior” suggests that his reference here is to the Father. In the Pastorals the term is applied to both the Father (1 Timothy 1:1; 1 Timothy 2:3; 4:10, Titus 1:3; 1 Timothy 2:10; 1 Timothy 3:4) and the Son (2 Timothy 1:10; Titus 1:4; Titus 2:13; Titus 3:6). As the ultimate source of all salvation, the designation is appropriately applied to the Father.