Titus 2:14
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He gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
gave himself--"The forcible 'Himself, His whole self, the greatest gift ever given,' must not be overlooked." for us--Greek, "in our behalf." redeem us--deliver us from bondage by paying the price of His precious blood. An appropriate image in addressing bond-servants (Tit 2:9-10): from all iniquity--the essence of sin, namely, "transgression of the law": in bondage to which we were till then. The aim of His redemption was to redeem us, not merely from the penalty, but from the being of all iniquity. Thus he reverts to the "teaching" in righteousness, or disciplining effect of the grace of God that bringeth salvation (Tit 2:11-12). peculiar--peculiarly His own, as Israel was of old. zealous--in doing and promoting "good works."
Open source ↗The apostle here directs Titus about the faithful discharge of his own office generally (Tit 2:1), and particularly as to several sorts of persons (Tit 2:2-10) and gives the grounds of these and of other following directions (Tit 2:11-14), with a summary direction in the close (Tit 2:15).
Open source ↗2:14 Salvation produces a people who have the desire and capacity for the good deeds outlined in 2:2-10. • He gave his life: See also 1 Tim 2:6. • to free us: See Gal 3:22; 4:4-5; cp. Exod 6:6-8. • The phrase his very own people recalls the formation of Israel as a nation (see Exod 19:5; Deut 7:6; 14:2). Those who follow Christ are now God’s people—his nation—and the Spirit leads them to keep God’s covenant. • totally committed to doing good deeds: See Titus 1:16; Eph 2:10.
Open source ↗Cross-references
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how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, purify our consciences from works of death, so that we may serve the living God!
For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life.
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life you inherited from your forefathers,
This saying is trustworthy. And I want you to emphasize these things, so that those who have believed God will take care to devote themselves to good deeds. These things are excellent and profitable for the people.
And they sang a new song: “Worthy are You to take the scroll and open its seals, because You were slain, and by Your blood You purchased for God those from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us. For it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.”
I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols.
I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
Since you have purified your souls by obedience to the truth so that you have a genuine love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from a pure heart.