“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;”
He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, through the washing of regeneration (palingenesia) and renewing of the Holy Spirit — the denial of works-righteousness (ouk di' ergōn dikaiosynēs) excludes human merit from salvation, grounding it solely in God's mercy (eleos) and initiative. The double-bath metaphor — loutron palingenesias (washing of new-birth) and anakainōsis tou pneumatos — employs baptismal language for spiritual transformation. Palingenesia (restoration of all things) connects individual regeneration to cosmic renewal.
Church Fathers on Titus 3:5
“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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