“But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,”
But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared (epephanē), he saved us — the second epiphany statement marks the historical eruption of divine benevolence (agathotes — goodness, and philanthropia — loving kindness) into human darkness. The verb epephanē (appeared) echoes 2:11, creating a threefold epiphany motif in Titus (1:2, 2:11, 3:4), grounding all ethics in the manifestation of salvation. The appearance itself constitutes the salvation (esōsen hēmas); grace is not abstract doctrine but historical event.
Church Fathers on Titus 3:4
“But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared.” How? “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.” Strange! How were we drowned in wickedness, so that we could not be purified, but needed a new birth? For this is implied by “Regeneration.” For as when a house is in a ruinous state no one places props under it, nor makes any addition to…
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