Problem: Paul writes, “Looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus” (Titus 2:13). Does this refer to Christ?
Solution: This passage certainly does teach the deity of Christ. This passage expounds upon what Paul began in his introduction, when he wrote about Jesus, who is “God our Savior” (Titus 1:3). This harkens back to Isaiah 43:11, which states: “I… am the LORD (Yahweh), and there is no savior besides me.” If Yahweh is the only savior, and Jesus is the Savior, then Jesus is Yahweh.
Moreover, grammatically, both of these nouns (“God and Savior”) modify Christ. There is a grammatical rule in NT Greek that whenever the article (“the”), a substantive (“noun”), kai (translated “and, but, even, also, namely”), and a substantive (noun) are used, they always refer to the same person.[1] This is called the TSKS construction.[2] Thus this expression (τοῦ μεγάλου θεοῦ καὶ σωτῆρος) must all refer to Jesus. Greek grammarian Daniel Wallace affirms, “There is no good reason to reject Titus 2:13 as an explicit affirmation of the deity of Christ.”[3]
[1] James White points out, “Sharp’s study of the text of the New Testament led him to recognize that when the writer used a particular construction of “article (the word “the”)—substantive (noun)— καί,—substantive,” and when the personal nouns involved were singular and not proper names, they always referred to the same person.” White, James R. The Forgotten Trinity. Minneapolis, MN. Baker Publishing Group. 1998. 77-78.
[2] Regarding the use of this rule in the NT, Greek grammarian Daniel Wallace writes, “Even Sharp’s opponents could not find any exceptions; all had to admit that the rule was valid in the NT.” Wallace, Daniel. Greek Grammar beyond the Basics: An Exegetical Syntax of the New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan. 1996. 273.
[3] Wallace, Daniel. Greek Grammar beyond the Basics: An Exegetical Syntax of the New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan. 1996. 276
“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; (Tit 2:13)”
