7/01/19 

Titus 1:2

 ¹Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness,

²in hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before times eternal

“Before times eternal”.

There are two big questions in this statement:

1.       To whom could God promise in this situation:

a.       This suggests the Trinity.  And it is as if they are in conference.

b.      It suggests a pre-mundane covenant with the mediator receiving what we can understand as a promise.

2.      That in this pre-mundane setting the salvation of those who are termed “the elect” in verse one.  They are those who are the recipient of the information included in these verses 1:1-3.

3.      This is all dependent on the absolute veracity of God, “who cannot lie”.  The impossibility of God being anything other than truth is the essence of God as His attribute of Truth is His person.  He is truth.

4.      This information is “manifested” or disclosed through Paul’s preaching or by his inspired writings.  It is note-worthy that Paul connects himself to the eternal covenant of Grace in this fashion.  We can say by the inspiration of an Apostle the preaching of the Gospel is at least a part of the eternal purpose of God.  No surprises.