Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Titus 3:6
Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior;
6. which he shed on us abundantly ] More closely in R.V. which he poured out upon us richly; the verb is the same, in the same tense, as in Act 2:33, ‘he hath poured forth this’; the aorist there being used according to Greek idiom of what has just happened, here of God’s objective act once for all, in which all His successive giving was potentially included.
through Jesus Christ our Saviour ] ‘As its channel and medium,’ Alford. ‘All the spiritual Blessings of the New birth, and of the New life, are represented as flowing down to us from and out of the one fountain and well-spring of the love of God the Father; and are all derived to us through God the Son, God and Man, Who is the sole channel of all grace to men; and are applied to us personally by the agency of God the Holy Ghost. All these Blessings come to us through the Incarnation of God the Son, Who took our nature and died for us, and washed us from our sins by His blood. And the Incarnation is, as it were, the point of contact at which the Channel of Filial Grace joins on to the Well-spring of Paternal Love. And the point of contact at which the living water of Grace, which flows from the Well-spring of Paternal Love through the Filial channel of Grace, is poured forth into our souls is in the laver of our New Birth in Baptism.’ Wordsworth.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Which he shed on us – Greek, Which he poured out on us – exechen; see the notes at Act 2:17. The same Greek word is used there as here. It occurs also in the same sense in Act 2:18, Act 2:33.
Abundantly – Margin, as in Greek, richly. The meaning is, that the Holy Spirit had been imparted in copious measure in order to convert them from their former wickedness. There is no particular allusion here to the day of Pentecost, but the sense is, that the Holy Spirit had been imparted richly to all who were converted, at any time or place, from the error of their ways. What the apostle says here is true of all who become Christians, and can be applied to all who become believers in any age or land,
Through Jesus Christ our Saviour – See Notes, Act 2:33.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 6. Which he shed on us abundantly] . Which he poured out on us, as the water was poured out on them in baptism, to which there is here a manifest allusion; but as this was sometimes only sprinkled on the person, the heavenly gift was poured out, not in drops, but , richly, in great abundance.
Through Jesus Christ] Baptism is nothing in itself; and there had been no outpouring of the Holy Spirit, had there been no saving and atoning Christ. Through him alone all good comes to the souls of men.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Which Holy Spirit, as well for the renewing of us, as for the collation of more common or extraordinary gifts, God poured out upon us
abundantly, through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ our Saviour.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
6. Whichthe Holy Ghost.
he shedGreek,“poured out”; not only on the Church in general atPentecost, but also “on us” individually. This pouringout of the Spirit comprehends the grace received before, in, andsubsequently to, baptism.
abundantlyGreek,“richly” (Col 3:16).
through Jesus Christthechannel and Mediator of the gift of the Holy Ghost.
our Saviourimmediately;as the Father is mediately “our Saviour.” The Father is theauthor of our salvation and saves us by Jesus Christ.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Which he shed on us abundantly,…. “Or richly”; either which love he shed abroad in the hearts of those whom he regenerated and renewed by his Spirit; or which water of regeneration, that is, grace, comparable to water, he plentifully shed, and caused to abound where sin had done; or rather whom, or which Holy Spirit, with his gifts and graces, such as faith, hope, and love, and every other, he poured forth in great abundance on them; see Isa 44:3
through Jesus Christ our Saviour; the love and kindness of God the Father our Saviour, comes through him; the mercy of God streams through him; the salvation itself is by, and through him; the grace communicated in regeneration and renovation is out of his fulness; the Spirit himself is given forth from him; and every supply of grace, by which the work is carried on, comes out of his hands; and everything wrought in us, that is well pleasing in the sight of God, is through him; and even the gift of God, eternal life itself.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Which (). Genitive case by attraction from (grammatical gender) to the case of . We do not have grammatical gender (only natural) in English. Hence here we should say “whom,” even if it does not go smoothly with (he poured out, second aorist active indicative of ). The reference is to the great Pentecost (Ac 2:33) as foretold by Joel (Joe 2:28).
Richly (). Then and to each one in his own experience. See Rom 10:12; 1Tim 6:17.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Shed [] . Or poured forth. Only here in Pastorals. Most frequent in Revelation. The pouring out of the Spirit is an 0. T. metaphor. See Joe 3:1, 2, cit. in Act 2:17, 18; Zec 12:10. In Paul the verb occurs but once, of shedding blood, Rom 3:15, cit.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) ‘Which he shed on us abundantly.” (ou eksecheen eph’ hemas plousios) “Which (mercy or kindness) he shed on us richly (plutocratically). This abundant, rich, plutocratic-like kindness Paul commends to the Ephesian brethren, Eph 2:4; See also Psa 103:8-11. His mercy is great, high, deep and sufficient.
2) “Through Jesus Christ our Saviour.” (dia iesou christou tou stoeros hemon) “Through Jesus Christ our Saviour or deliverer” – Our deliverer from hating and envy and hedonistic pleasures. What a Saviour! What mercy, Act 4:12.
THE MERCY SEAT
There is a place of sweet repose, From every tide of stormy woes, A calm, steadfast retreat; A shelter from the wind that blows. And where it is, the Christian knows -‘Tis at the mercy seat.
A place where joys of life abound, Where we may hear the soothing sound Of Jesus’ voice so sweet, We know, because of grace redound, A closer walk with God is found While at the mercy seat.
Because of prayer when day is done, Or at the early rise of sun, We suffer no defeat;
Whene’er we pray through with the Son, How many are the victories won Around the mercy seat.
John Caldwell Craig
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
6. Which he shed, (or, whom he shed.) In the Greek, the relative may apply either to the “washing” or to the “Spirit;” for both of the nouns — λουτρόν and Πνεῦμα — are neuter. It makes little difference as to the meaning; but the metaphor will be more elegant, if the relative be applied to λουτρόν the “washing” Nor is it inconsistent with this opinion, that all are baptized without any distinction; for, while he shews that the “washing” is “shed,” he speaks not of the sign, but rather of the thing signified, in which the truth of the sign exists.
When he, says, abundantly, he means that, the more any of us excels in the abundance of the gifts which he has received, so much the more is he under obligations to the mercy of God, which alone enriches us; for in ourselves we are altogether poor, and destitute of everything good. If it be objected that not all the children of God enjoy so great abundance, but, on the contrary, the grace of God drops sparingly on many; the answer is, that no one has received so small a measure that he may not be justly accounted rich; for the smallest drop of the Spirit (so to speak) resembles an ever-flowing fountain, which never dries up. It is therefore a sufficient reason for calling it “abundance,” that, how small soever the portion that has been given to us it is never exhausted.
Through Jesus Christ (261) It is he alone in whom we are adopted; and therefore, it is he alone, through whom we are made partakers of the Spirit, who is the earnest and witness of our adoption. Paul therefore teaches us by this word, that the Spirit of regeneration is bestowed on none but those who are the members of Christ.
(261) “When we wish to ascertain the method of our salvation, we must begin with the Son of God. For it is he who hath washed us by his blood — it is he who hath obtained righteousness for us by his obedience — it is he who is our Advocate, and through whom we now find grace — it is he who procured for us the adoption by which we are made children and heirs of God. Let us carefully observe that we must seek all the parts of our salvation in Jesus Christ; for we shall not find a single drop of it anywhere else.” — Fr. Ser.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(6) Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour.In other words, whichnamely, the Holy Ghostthe Father poured abundantly on us through Jesus Christ cur Saviour. The argument continues thus: He (God) saved us first by the laver of regeneration and of renewal of the Holy Ghost, which Godhe proceeds to sayshed (or poured out) abundantly on us, and this constant renewal of the Holy Ghost poured out on the heart of each individual believer was owing to the mediation of Jesus Christ, without whose blessed atonement this effusion of the Holy Spirit never had taken place. In this verse the several operations of each of the Persons of the blessed Trinity are clearly set forth.
It is the Father who is ever pouring out upon us the Holy Ghost. It is owing to the Sons atonement and intercession that this blessed outpouring takes place at all. It is the Holy Ghost poured out on us abundantly who builds us up in the new life, and trains us for the glories of eternity. Here the Son is given the same title of Saviour, which, in the preceding verse (Tit. 3:5), was applied to the Father. The appellation belongs to both the First and Second Persons of the blessed Trinity, inasmuch as the Father may be said to have been the architect of our salvation, while the Son was its builder.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
6. Which Refers not to washing, but to Holy Ghost. Spiritually, our regeneration is wrought by the shedding, or affusion, of the Holy Ghost; by parity, corporeally, we are regenerated by the affusion of the baptismal element. If baptism by water is duly to picture and symbolize God’s baptism by the Holy Spirit, the water must be shed by affusion on us.
Abundantly Literally richly, not only in quantity but in affluent value and gracious liberality.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘Which he poured out on us richly, through Jesus Christ our Saviour,’
And if we are Christians this washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit was poured out on us richly through Christ Jesus our Saviour. Note the ‘poured out’. What was poured out? The water of the washing of regeneration as heavenly rain. Compare Isa 32:15; Isa 44:1-5.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Tit 3:6-7. Which he shed on us abundantly, &c. “Even by that Spirit which he poured out upon us richly and abundantly, in his various gifts and graces, by Jesus Christ our Saviour, by virtue of whose intercession it has been imparted to the children of men; that being justified by his grace, we might become heirs of the most valuable blessings, according tothe hope of eternal life, which as the gift of that grace he has exhibited to our believing views, as the great and noble object of our pursuit.”
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
Ver. 6. Which he shed ] Gr. , Poured out (as it were by pail fulls) his Spirit (the best thing) upon all flesh (the basest thing), Joe 2:28 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
6 .] which (attr.; not = , as Heydenr. , viz. the Holy Spirit, not , as even De W. confesses, who yet maintains the dependence of both genitives on ) He poured out (reff.) on us richly (again, it is mere waste of time to debate whether this pouring out be the one general one at Pentecost, or that in the heart of each individual believer: the one was God’s objective act once for all, in which all its subjective exemplifications and applications were potentially enwrapped) through (as its channel and medium, He having purchased it for us, and made the pouring out possible, in and by His own blessed Sacrifice in our nature) Jesus Christ our Saviour (which title was used of the Father above: of Him, ultimately: of our Lord, immediately: “Pater nostr salutis primus auctor, Christus vero opifex, et quasi artifex,” as Justiniani in Ellicott, whose own remarks are well worth consulting),
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Tit 3:6 . : Joe 3:1 (Joe 2:28 ) is the passage alluded to. Cf. in addition to reff. given above, Act 10:45 , Rom 5:5 , Gal 4:6 . The refers of course to . . by attraction, not to . All gifts of the Holy Spirit that come through Jesus Christ are a continuation of the Pentecostal outpouring. The aorist is due to the Apostle’s thought of that occasion, although the shows that the immediate reference is to the experience of St. Paul and other Christians.
: to be connected with . See Joh 15:26 , Act 2:33 . The finished work of Jesus Christ was the necessary pre-condition to His effusion of the Holy Spirit.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
shed. Greek. ekcheo. See Act 2:17, Act 2:18, Act 2:33. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. App-6. “Pouring out” attributed to God, and the Spirit spoken of as if water.
on. App-101.
abundantly. Greek. plousios. Elsewhere, Col 3:16. 1Ti 6:17. 2Pe 1:11.
through. App-104.
Jesus Christ. App-98.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
6.] which (attr.; not = , as Heydenr. , viz. the Holy Spirit, not , as even De W. confesses, who yet maintains the dependence of both genitives on ) He poured out (reff.) on us richly (again, it is mere waste of time to debate whether this pouring out be the one general one at Pentecost, or that in the heart of each individual believer: the one was Gods objective act once for all, in which all its subjective exemplifications and applications were potentially enwrapped) through (as its channel and medium, He having purchased it for us, and made the pouring out possible, in and by His own blessed Sacrifice in our nature) Jesus Christ our Saviour (which title was used of the Father above: of Him,-ultimately: of our Lord, immediately: Pater nostr salutis primus auctor, Christus vero opifex, et quasi artifex, as Justiniani in Ellicott, whose own remarks are well worth consulting),
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Tit 3:6. ) -, through) This depends on He saved, etc., Tit 3:5; as the conjugates saved and Saviour prove. [Through Jesus our Saviour is not to be connected, as in Engl. Vers., with He shed on us.]
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Tit 3:6
which he poured out upon us richly,-God shed forth his Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ abundantly on the apostles at Pentecost. The power was shed forth in such abundance that they were overwhelmed, baptized in the Spirit.
through Jesus Christ our Saviour;-Jesus Christ said: I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may be with you for ever. (Joh 14:16.) But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall bear witness of me. (Joh 15:26.)
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
Saviour
(See Scofield “Rom 1:16”).
Fuente: Scofield Reference Bible Notes
he shed: Pro 1:23, Isa 32:15, Isa 44:3, Eze 36:25, Joe 2:28, Joh 1:16, Joh 7:37, Act 2:33, Act 10:45, Rom 5:5
abundantly: Gr. richly, Eph 4:2, Eph 3:8
through: Tit 1:4, Joh 4:10, Joh 14:16, Joh 14:17, Joh 16:7, Rom 8:2
Reciprocal: Exo 38:8 – the laver Lev 8:11 – General Num 31:23 – ye shall make 2Sa 22:3 – my saviour Isa 52:15 – sprinkle Isa 53:11 – justify Jer 33:6 – and will Eze 37:14 – shall put Zec 12:10 – I will pour Mat 3:6 – were Mar 1:8 – he shall Joh 1:33 – the same Act 8:36 – See Act 11:16 – but Act 26:18 – sanctified Eph 1:7 – to Col 2:12 – baptism Col 3:16 – richly 1Th 1:5 – in the 1Ti 1:1 – God 1Ti 6:17 – richly Tit 2:13 – our
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Tit 3:6. The pronoun which stands for the favor of salvation that is mentioned in the preceding verse and in chapter 2:11. This salvation was shed on us or was brought within our reach by Jesus Christ.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Tit 3:6. Which, i.e. the Holy Ghost.
Shed, or poured out (allusion to act of baptizing), including both Pentecost and all the subsequent effusion of the Spirit on the successive members of the Church.
Abundantly; literally, richly.
Through the mediation and merits of Christ. Note the part assigned to the Three Persons: Father, the fountain who pours; Son, the channel through whom; Spirit, the poured out Water of Life.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
That is, which Holy Spirit was in its gifts and graces plentifully poured forth upon us, and dwelleth in us, not essentially, but energetically, illuminating, guiding, strengthening, and confirming of us: and the end of God herein is, That being justified by his grace, that is, by faith in his Son, we should be made heirs of eternal life, according to the hope which the promises of God have given us thereof.
Learn hence, 1. That all the grace which is so plentiful poured forth upon believers, is by the means and mediation of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Learn, 2. That justification being a sinner’s absolution from guilt and punishment by the satisfaction of Christ the Redeemer, is yet an act of special grace and free favour in God, That being justified by his grace.
Learn, 3. That it is the blessed privilege of all justified persons, that they are now heirs to, and shall ere long be possessors of, eternal life; they shall ere long have in hand, what they now possess in hope: Being justified by grace, we are heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Fuente: Expository Notes with Practical Observations on the New Testament
Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
Again, we see that God is the overall provider of salvation, but the action came via Christ and His work on the cross.
The term “shed” means “to pour” or “gush forth.” When at home our daughter was quite effective at pouring juice and milk. It always panicked her parents as she would almost attack the glass and the liquid would gush forth into the glass. Never a drop would spill, but we often wondered at the methodology. It also amused us recently to see her teenage daughter pour some milk the same way.
God gushed forth our salvation abundantly through Christ.
We have here that completion of the idea of God the trinity being our savior, while accomplishing this through Christ and his work on the cross.
Fuente: Mr. D’s Notes on Selected New Testament Books by Stanley Derickson
God poured out His Holy Spirit on believers richly. He did this first at Pentecost (Acts 2), but He does it since then whenever individuals experience conversion (cf. Rom 5:5). His grace always exceeds our need. God has not only graciously declared us righteous, but He has also graciously made us the heirs of eternal life. Paul’s whole emphasis was on the grace of God. We owe everything to God’s grace.
In Tit 3:5-7 Paul explained what God did (saved, washing, regeneration, renewing, justified), its basis (God’s mercy), its means (the Holy Spirit), and its goal (hope of eternal life).