But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
Parallel translations
- WEB But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love toward mankind appeared,
- BSB But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared,
- NKJV But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared,
- NASB But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared,
- NLT But— When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love,
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
But then the kindness and love of God our Savior toward mankind appeared. It matters because God's gracious initiative, not our worth, is the turning point of salvation.
Overview
Against the bleak picture of verse 3 stands the decisive 'But when.' God's kindness and 'love toward mankind' appeared in the coming of Christ. The emphasis falls entirely on God's saving character, setting up the clear statement of grace-based salvation in the verses that follow.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Eph 2:4–10But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
- Titus 2:10–11Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.
- 1 Tim 4:10For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.
- Rom 5:20–21Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
- Rom 2:4Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
- 2 Tim 1:10But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:
- Heb 9:26For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
- 1 Tim 2:3For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
- Titus 1:3But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;
- 1 Tim 1:1Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope;
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
We await 'the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us' and purify a people of his own.
How Titus 3:4 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.