he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,
English Standard Version (ESV)
The phrase "washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit" doesn't just refer to an outward ritual; it emphasizes the radical, internal transformation that God works through His Spirit, making us new creations in Christ. This powerful renewal isn't earned by our actions, but is a gift of God's mercy, initiating a new spiritual life that empowers us to live righteously.
he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is urging Titus to teach the Cretan believers sound doctrine, contrasting it with the divisive and deceptive teachings of some Jewish false teachers. He's emphasizing that salvation comes purely from God's mercy and grace, not from adherence to the Mosaic law or good deeds, which humans are incapable of performing perfectly. This teaching is crucial because these false teachers were trying to add their own requirements for salvation.
Think about the last time you felt truly good about something you accomplished. Now, imagine that feeling being the basis for your eternal standing with God. This verse challenges that very idea.
Paul is clear: salvation isn't earned through our own 'righteous works.'
No Self-Made Righteousness
Even our best efforts, done with good intentions, fall short of God's perfect standard. The desire to earn God's favor through our deeds is a fundamental misunderstanding of His grace.
The Source of Salvation
Instead, Paul points to the source of our salvation: God's own 'mercy.' This isn't a response to our merit, but an overflow of His love and compassion for our fallen state.
The verse speaks of a 'washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit.' What does this powerful imagery actually mean for us?
Paul uses vivid language to describe the inner transformation that accompanies salvation.
The 'Washing'
This 'washing' points to a cleansing, often associated with baptism as an outward sign. However, the crucial element is the internal reality it signifies.
Regeneration: A New Birth
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'Regeneration' is a spiritual rebirth, a new beginning where God imparts new life. It's not about improving our old selves, but about becoming something entirely new in Christ.
Renewal: Ongoing Transformation
'Renewal of the Holy Spirit' speaks to the continuous work of God's Spirit in our lives. It's the ongoing process of reshaping our minds, desires, and actions to reflect Christ.
Understand the original words
sōzō · Greek Verb
The act of delivering a person from the power, guilt, and penalty of sin, accomplished solely through the work of Christ.
eleos · Greek Noun
Divine compassion that does not give the sinner what they deserve, but instead provides forgiveness and grace according to God's sovereign will.
palingenesia · Greek Noun
The new birth or spiritual 're-creation' that occurs when a person is united with Christ; it is the fundamental change of state from death to life.
anakainōsis · Greek Noun
The ongoing process by which the Holy Spirit imparts new life and transforms the believer into the image of Christ, reversing the effects of the Fall.
This verse was written during a time when the early church was grappling with the tension between grace and law. Paul's words emphasize that salvation is a divine act rooted in God's mercy, symbolized in baptism and empowered by the Holy Spirit's renewal, directly countering the notion that salvation could be earned through humanly devised 'righteous works'.
c. AD 60-62— this verse
Paul Writes the Epistle to Titus
The Apostle Paul, likely while imprisoned or traveling, writes to Titus, his companion and fellow minister, who is serving on the island of Crete. Paul instructs Titus on how to organize the churches and appoint qualified leaders.
c. AD 60-62
Controversy with Jewish Legalists
Paul addresses issues on Crete, including the influence of false teachers who were likely promoting a blend of Jewish customs, Gnostic ideas, and strict adherence to the Law, undermining the simplicity of the Gospel.
c. AD 60-62
Emphasis on God's Mercy
In response to these legalistic teachings, Paul strongly emphasizes that salvation is purely a gift from God's mercy, not earned by human effort or adherence to the Law. This contrasts sharply with the works-based righteousness promoted by the false teachers.
c. AD 60-62
The Role of Baptism and Renewal
Paul highlights baptism as the outward sign of an inward reality: regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. This signifies a new life in Christ, completely separate from the old life under sin and the Law.
This passage echoes Titus 3:5 by emphasizing that salvation is a gift of God's grace, not earned by works, highlighting the same core theological truth.
John 3:3-7Jesus' conversation with Nicodemus about being 'born again' directly parallels the concept of 'regeneration' mentioned in Titus 3:5, explaining the necessity of a spiritual rebirth.
Romans 12:2This verse speaks about being 'transformed by the renewal of your mind,' connecting to the 'renewing of the Holy Spirit' in Titus 3:5 and showing how this spiritual renewal manifests in a transformed life.
Acts 2:38Peter's call to 'repent and be baptized' for the 'forgiveness of your sins and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit' links baptism, the Holy Spirit, and salvation, resonating with the 'washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit' in Titus 3:5.
ellicottTitus 3:5: "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;"
(5) Not by works of righteousness. —This by no means asserts that such works ever had been done, and then produced, as it were, before the bar of God, and weighed and found insufficient; but it simply maintains that to win salvation such must be done. Sad experience, more forcibly than any theological assertion, has demonstrated t…
cambridgeTitus 3:5: "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;"
5 . not by works of righteousness ] The exact grammatical form is rendered by not by virtue of works, works in righteousness which we did . We should read the neut. accus. of the relative with the best authorities, rather than the genitive here. Bp Wordsworth well explains the reason of the clause: that when those false teachers w…
The phrase "washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit" doesn't just refer to an outward ritual; it emphasizes the radical, internal transformation that God works through His Spirit, making us new creations in Christ. This powerful renewal isn't earned by our actions, but is a gift of God's mercy, initiating a new spiritual life that empowers us to live righteously.
Paul is urging Titus to teach the Cretan believers sound doctrine, contrasting it with the divisive and deceptive teachings of some Jewish false teachers. He's emphasizing that salvation comes purely from God's mercy and grace, not from adherence to the Mosaic law or good deeds, which humans are incapable of performing perfectly. This teaching is crucial because these false teachers were trying to add their own requirements for salvation.
Paul is urging Titus to teach the Cretan believers sound doctrine, contrasting it with the divisive and deceptive teachings of some Jewish false teachers. He's emphasizing that salvation comes purely from God's mercy and grace, not from adherence to the Mosaic law or good deeds, which humans are incapable of performing perfectly. This teaching is crucial because these false teachers were trying to add their own requirements for salvation.
"he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit," — The phrase "washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit" doesn't just refer to an outward ritual; it emphasizes the radical, internal transformation that God works through His Spirit, maki…
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Last reviewed October 2026