The letter from Paul to Titus

In his letter to Titus, the apostle Paul writes of the

“Appearance of the glory of the great God and our Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us.”
Titus 2:13

Is it being taught here now that Jesus is being addressed as God? That is the question here. Those who quote this verse do so so that the “deity of Jesus” can be proven. So the verse is to say that Jesus is God as God the Father is God.

However, the relationship between God the Father and Jesus has already been mentioned by the apostle and he wrote to the Corinthians:

“For although there are so-called gods (whether in heaven or on earth, just as there are many gods and many lords), for us only One God, the Father, from whom is the All (and we are turned to Him), and only One Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom the universe became (and we are through Him.”
1Cor 8,5-6

Paul describes in these verses a clear distinction between the One God, the Father and the One Lord, Jesus Christ. There is a difference between the two. Jesus is not equal to the Father. These verses in Corinthians are unsurpassed in clarity.

Now, should the letter to Titus say something completely different? If that were the case, then the statement in First Corinthians is not true. One of the statements is then misinterpreted. Which? The question must be met not with insinuations but with a search for answers. If one notices a difference, then the neutral is first of all only a difference. Only in a second step an explanatory interpretation is given.

Back to the Epistle to Titus.

Paul’s statement in the Letter to Titus can be read in two ways:

  • The whole sentence refers to Jesus, who is “great God and our Savior”. This is the position that proponents of a Trinity like to use.
  • The whole sentence consists of two parts, namely:
    1. the appearance of the glory of the great God
    2. and of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

In the second reading, both God and Jesus Christ are spoken of as two distinct persons. God, that is only the Father, while Jesus Christ is seen here as our Savior. From the beginning of the letter one reads:

“Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.”
Titus 1:4

Here it is as clear as day that we are talking about two different people who are not mixed together. Paul is consistent in this. God, that is the Father, and Christ Jesus is the Savior.

There is much to be said for seeing this the same way in Titus 2:13.

Ambiguity in the term “God

In the previously quoted passage from Corinthians, Paul has already indicated that “there are many gods”. Many Christians, on the other hand, think that the term God is something like a proper name. However, this is not the case. God is a fairly neutral umbrella term. Rather, it is a function. Paul said there were many gods. The term describes a function, as Moses was set to be God to Aaron – by God nota bene (Ex 7:1).

So, when the word “God” appears anywhere, it often, but not always, means the absolute Godhead. Humans are also called gods and idols are linguistically “gods”. The same word is used everywhere. Therefore, Paul can use this in Corinthians and add that although there are many gods, “yet for us only One is God, the Father, from whom is the universe.” Paul makes this distinction and we should follow him.

So in Titus 2:13 both God the Father and Jesus are mentioned. They are both mentioned one after the other, as earlier in the letter. Thus, this biblical passage is no longer an argument for a deity of Jesus, nor for a Trinity.

Bible texts critically examined in favor of a trinity

In Christianity, it is predominantly assumed that God is One, but still Three in an unknown way. No one knows exactly, but many are sure that there is a so-called “Trinity”, even if one does not find any information about it in the Bible. Neither the prophets, nor Jesus, nor the apostles, nor anyone else from biblical times speaks about it.

Various biblical passages are cited to support the teaching. Therefore, you can check this information. This post is about one of those scriptures. The only consideration here is whether this one biblical passage can be interpreted in favor of a Trinity. Maybe she can, maybe she can’t. Maybe at the end you have one argument more, maybe one argument less. That is all that is done here. I share here what I have found to be the best, clearest interpretation. Maybe you have a better interpretation?

The arguments pro-Trinity doctrine divide into two groups:

  1. Arguments around the number “3
  2. Arguments around the “deity of all participants

What I have gathered and found in this regard is not a default, but only the result of my personal examination. This article can therefore be seen as only a small part of a much larger argument towards a positive discussion that weighs how we can see and know God. This post, like this website in general, is all about fostering a “learning culture.” It is about topics and questions that have been mentioned as such in countless conversations. That wants to be heard, discussed. Of course, this is demanding, especially when it comes to controversial topics. See also the introductory text on the topic “Who is God?” and on the differences in discussions the contribution “Living with contradiction“.

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