Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;
a servant.
1 Chronicles 6:49 But Aaron and his sons offered upon the altar of the burnt offering, and on the altar of incense, and were appointed for all the work of the place most holy, and to make an atonement for Israel, according to all that Moses the servant of God had commanded.
Romans 1:1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,
Philippians 1:1 Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:
faith.
John 10:26,27 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you…
Acts 13:48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
the acknowledging.
Colossians 2:2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;
2 Timothy 2:23,25 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes…
1 John 2:23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.
after.
Titus 2:11,12 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, …
1 Timothy 1:4 Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.
1 Timothy 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
and an apostle of Jesus Christ
Paul's apostleship is a divine calling, not from human appointment (Galatians 1:1). As an apostle, Paul is a messenger and representative of Jesus Christ, tasked with spreading the Gospel. The term "apostle" means "one who is sent," and it underscores the authority and responsibility given to Paul to establish churches and teach sound doctrine (1 Corinthians 9:1-2). His apostleship is validated by his encounter with the risen Christ on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:3-6).
for the faith of God’s elect
Paul's mission is directed towards the faith of God's elect, those chosen by God for salvation (Ephesians 1:4-5). The concept of election is rooted in the Old Testament, where Israel is described as God's chosen people (Deuteronomy 7:6). In the New Testament, this extends to all who believe in Christ, emphasizing God's sovereignty in salvation (Romans 8:29-30). Paul's work aims to strengthen and nurture the faith of these believers.
and their knowledge of the truth
Knowledge of the truth refers to understanding the Gospel and the teachings of Christ. This knowledge is not merely intellectual but transformative, leading to a deeper relationship with God (John 8:32). Paul often stresses the importance of sound doctrine and discernment to guard against false teachings (1 Timothy 4:1-2). The truth is centered on Jesus Christ, who is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6).
that leads to godliness
The ultimate goal of faith and knowledge is godliness, a life that reflects God's character and holiness (1 Timothy 6:11). Godliness involves living in a manner that honors God, marked by virtues such as love, humility, and obedience (2 Peter 1:5-7). This transformation is a work of the Holy Spirit, enabling believers to live out their faith in practical ways (Galatians 5:22-23). Paul emphasizes that true knowledge of God results in a life that mirrors His righteousness.
- From persecutor to preacher (Acts 9:15, “Go! said the Lord. ‘This man is My chosen instrument…’”).
- He consistently identifies himself by name to highlight God’s grace in redeeming a former enemy of the church (1 Timothy 1:12-16).
- His life story demonstrates that no one is beyond Christ’s reach (Philippians 3:7-8).
- “Servant” underscores absolute ownership: Paul belongs to God, body and soul (Romans 1:1).
- The title links him with past servants like Moses (Exodus 14:31) and the prophets, showing continuity in God’s plan.
- Practical takeaway: believers today echo Paul’s attitude—“You are not your own; you were bought at a price” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).
- Apostle means “sent one”; Paul’s authority is divine, not human (Galatians 1:1).
- As an ambassador (2 Corinthians 5:20), he carries Christ’s message with the same commissioning Jesus gave in John 20:21.
- This authority secures the letter’s teachings; rejecting them is rejecting Christ who sent him.
- Paul’s mission aims to spark and strengthen saving faith among those God chose before creation (Ephesians 1:4).
- He endures every hardship so the elect may “obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 2:10).
- Faith comes through hearing the gospel he proclaims (Romans 10:17).
- Truth is not abstract; it produces transformed living. Jesus asked, “Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth” (John 17:17).
- Godliness grows as believers grasp sound doctrine (1 Timothy 6:3) and rely on “everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him” (2 Peter 1:3).
- Right belief and right behavior are inseparable; Paul ties them together at the verse’s close to guard against empty talk and ungodly living (cf. Titus 1:16).
In one verse Paul sets the tone for the whole letter: a redeemed man, utterly owned by God and commissioned by Christ, writes to cultivate faith and truth-shaped lives in God’s chosen people. The aim is not information alone but transformation—faith that saves and knowledge that shapes everyday godliness.
(1) Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ.--The titles here assumed by St. Paul in his introductory greeting are in some respects slightly different to any of his usual designations. In the other two so-called Pastoral Epistles addressed to Timothy, St. Paul simply styles himself "an Apostle of Jesus Christ." Possibly, the longer and more formal title is here adopted because his relations were hardly ever of so intimate a character with Titus as with Timothy; the latter would seem to have held the position of St. Paul's adopted son. (See Note below on Titus 1:4, "To Titus.")According to the faith of God's elect.--The English version here entirely fails to give the meaning of the Greek preposition. The rendering should be, "for (the furtherance of) the faith," or, in other words, "the object of my (Paul's) apostleship was, that through my instrumentality the chosen of God should believe." The whole question respecting these "elect," or "chosen of God," is surrounded with deep mystery; three or four guiding thoughts may, however, be safely laid down. (1) In the visible world such an apparently arbitrary election to special privileges, fortune, happiness. utterly irrespective, in the first instance, of individual merit, does exist. This is clear to all of us. (2) In grace we are distinctly told repeatedly that a similar election exists, and our own observation certainly coincides here with revelation. (3) Such election in no case seemingly affects our position here as free agents; surrounded with the most precious privileges, gifted with much knowledge, it is possible, as we, alas, too often see, deliberately to refuse the good and to choose the evil. (4) All such allusions to the "elect" as, for instance, the one here before us, are intended, not as a stumbling-block for the believer, but as a comfort for the faithful, struggling man of God, for it tells him how the Eternal "before the ages" had chosen him to be His servant.
And the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness.--More accurately rendered, and the full knowledge of the truth which is designed for godliness, or, which leadeth to godliness. Here the further purpose of St. Paul's apostleship is specified. St. Paul was appointed an Apostle that through him the elect of God might believe and heed "the truth"--that truth, the knowledge of which produces as its fruit in the individual a holy, useful life.
Verse 1. - - Knowledge for acknowledging, A.V.; according to for after, A.V. A servant of God (δοῦλος Θεοῦ); so in the superscriptions: Romans 1:1; Philippians 1:1, Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ; James 1:1; 2 Peter 1:1; Jude 1:1; Revelation 1:1. St. Paul also calls himself "the servant of Christ" (Galatians 1:10); and the phrase, δοῦλον Κυρίου, occurs in 2 Timothy 2:24. But neither "servant of God" nor any equivalent is in the superscription of either 1 or 2 Timothy. "Servant" is a better rendering than "slave," as Farrar renders it. An apostle, etc.; as in both 1 and 2 Timothy, and also in Romans 1:1; 1 Corinthians 1:1 2 Corinthians 1:1, etc.; showing that this is not a private letter, but a public and official document, conveying official authority to Titus over the Church in Crete. According to the faith of God's elect. The phrase is peculiar to this passage, and the exact force of κατὰ is not easy to determine (see Bishop Ellicott's notes, who renders κατὰ "for," and explains that "the faith of God's elect is the destination of the apostleship," with the further explanation that this meaning of κατά is about equivalent to "with special reference to," or "destination for," as its object). It is nearly the same thing to say that the true faith, and the perfect knowledge of the truth, and the hope of eternal life promised by God, are the sphere in which the apostolic office moves and acts. "The faith of God's elect," etc., seems to imply that there was in some who were not elect (1 John 2:19, 20) a corruption of the faith, a departure from it - a faith that was no faith, and something calling itself truth which was not "according to godliness," and so to point to rising heresies. The authors of these heresies were chiefly Jews (ver. 10), of whom there was a considerable colony in Crete (Conybeare and Howson, vol. it. p. 475; and Lewin, vol. 2. p. 337). According to godliness (for the use of εὐσεβεία in the pastoral Epistles, see 1 Timothy 2:2; 1 Timothy 3:16; 1 Timothy 4:7, 8; 1 Timothy 6:3, 5, 6, 11; 2 Timothy 3:5, and notes).