THE EPISTLE OF PAUL TO TITUS - Chapter 3 - Verse 4

Verse 4. But after that. Gr., when -- ote. The meaning is, that "when the love of God was manifested in the plan of salvation, he saved us from this state by our being washed and purified." The idea is not, that "the love of God appeared" after we had sinned in this way; but that when his mercy was thus displayed we were converted from our sins, and made pure in his sight.

The kindness. h crhstothv, -- the goodness, or the benignity. The word is rendered goodness and good in Ro 2:4; Ro 3:12; Ro 11:22, thrice; kindness, 2 Co 6:6; Ephesians 2:7; Colossians 3:12; Titus 3:4; and gentleness, Ga 5:22. The act of redeeming us was one of great kindness, or goodness.

And love of God. Marg., pity. The Greek word is filanyrwpia -- philanthropy -- the love of man. The plan of salvation was founded on love to man, and was the highest expression of that love. See Barnes "John 3:16".

The Greek of this verse is, "When the kindness and love of God our Saviour to man was manifested, he saved us," (Titus 3:5,) to wit, from those sins of which we had before been guilty.

{1} "kindness and love" "pity"