Titus 3: 2-3

Tom says that the theology in Titus is organized around four keys issues that emerge from the structure and which are important for the health of the church. They are proper leadership, handling of error, gospel-appropriate living and proper doctrine. Based on this categorization, Titus 3:3-8 falls under the issue for proper doctrine. Titus 3:3 and 3:4-7 are two sentences. The first sentence describes the former way of life ignoring God. It provides a contrast to the next sentence about a life that is changed by the conversion. The theology of the second sentence has much involved into a single sentence mentioning of metaphors illustrating salvation. However, the grammatical relations are not perfect and the sentence is not easily understood.

Rom 6:20-22; 11:30-32; Gal 1:23 etc.) that creates the same dramatic effect as the revelation formula in 1:2-3 (2 Tim 1:9-10) to focus on the ethical change introduced through the appearance of God's grace in human culture". In verse 3 it shows the former way of life which is rough. Paul admits that he himself once lived this way and it indicates it is still relevant to the house churches under Titus's charge. Verses 4-7 focus on the conversion change that is on the "now" in Christ. Considering the details, verse 5 centers around on the work of Christ with direct emphasis on enablement of God's grace on Holy Spirit activity, not on human work. In the phrase "through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit", I have question on whether Paul is describing what happens in or through the ritual of water baptism here so that we should treat the term "rebirth" and "renewal" as synonymous or apposition - two differing ways to describe the water ritual or its effect. Or may be Paul is describing two distinct works of grace. Also, is 'rebirth and renewal are both results of the washing and both are caused by the Holy Spirit? This research paper will consider the relationship of these words, washing, rebirth and renewal, in the phrase in Titus

Rebirth and renewal are nearly synonymous metaphors. If the intent is for to have "washing of rebirth" and "renewal by Holy Spirit" as two separate events., it seems to need a repeated preposition "through" (διὰ) to make it clear. Zehr says that "Interpreting the text as referring to two separate experiences creates a danger in some Christian traditions of making infant baptism an outward ceremony without an inner transformation of the heart". By understanding as two events it will create the problem of separating salvation from sanctification. It runs the risk of having salvation for forgiveness only and believers will have a change in life. They need to wait for the subsequent experience of baptism by the Holy