The Salutation

In any give letter there are parts. You know, things like the salutation, the body, the complimentary close ... those kinds of things. The salutation is the "Dear Mom" part. So if we were to write a letter to, say, someone named "Titus," we'd likely start with "Dear Titus." Not Paul.

Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began and at the proper time manifested in His word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior; To Titus, my true child in a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior. (Titus 1:1-4)

That, dear readers, is what we call "the salutation." Where you and I would write, "Dear Titus," Paul wrote a paragraph. Oh, but what a paragraph!

In this salutation we have Paul, a self-proclaimed slave. This translation uses "servant," but the most literal translation is "slave" or "bond-slave." It refers to someone who is not his own. It is what Jesus demonstrated when He washed His disciples' feet (John 13:3-15). Jesus said, "Whoever would be first among you must be slave of all" (Mark 10:44). "Me?" I can already hear, "A slave?? No way!" Well, okay, but it was Jesus's command and Paul's position. He embraced serving the King of kings.

We have the reason that he is servant and apostle. "For the sake of the faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth." Paul served as slave and God's appointed ambassador (the idea behind "apostle") in order to bring about faith and knowledge. And not just in general; it was for God's elect, God's chosen, God's preplanned people. God chooses whom He will save and that salvation is brought about by faith and knowledge of the truth. This salvation by faith and knowledge of the truth results in godliness. For this, Paul was called to be a slave and apostle.

To what end does Paul's task resulting in faith and knowledge of the elect operate? To eternal life. We are saved with the hope of eternal life. But notice what he says about that eternal life. Paul says that eternal life was promised by God before the ages began. Now, before time there was nothing but God. The angels were created at the beginning of creation and, therefore, the beginning of time. And there were no people before time. Who was this promise made to? It is an inter-trinitarian promise. It is a promise between Father and Son and Holy Spirit. God decided before He made people that He would save some for eternal life. We are not, dear reader, living some sort of "Plan B." His creation, our fall, and His salvation was always Plan A.

Where we would offer "Dear Titus" Paul offered a sermon in a sentence. A long sentence, sure, but a sentence. A sermon on bond-slaves and ambassadors, on the faith of the elect based on the knowledge of truth that produces godliness. A sermon about God's redeeming love from before the beginning of time. Nice one, Paul.