Paul, a bondservant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect and the acknowledgment of the truth which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began, but has in due time manifested His Word through preaching, which was committed to me according to the commandment of God our Savior; to Titus, a true son in our common faith: grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior. Titus 1:1–4 NKJV
This brief but very important epistle begins with the writer’s name, as letters usually did at that time before the invention of computers and printing presses and even paper and envelopes. Paul, once known as Saul, the persecutor of the followers of the Lord Jesus, now was truly serving God and was an apostle, one sent out by Jesus Christ. What a contrast these introductory verses are to his former life of doing “many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. This I also did” (Acts 26:9–10).
John, in chapter 3 of his Gospel and elsewhere, presents eternal life as a present possession. Paul here presents eternal life as God’s absolutely certain purpose, the fullness of which is still ahead for us to enter into. He emphasizes how sure God’s promise is. God cannot lie, this would be a contradiction of His nature as light. Hope in Scripture is for something future; never is it doubtful or to be doubted: we can count on God to keep His Word.
The recipient of the letter, Titus, was Paul’s trusted helper. He is called “a true son in our common faith,” indicating his maturity and also that he may have come to know the Lord though Paul’s instrumentality. Paul wishes him mercy along with grace and peace. Titus would need God’s mercy, for the task before him was among a difficult people. We too can trust God to help us!