The passage
      v1-2. Paul asks Titus to remind the Cretan believers of some of the basic implications that flow from the gospel. When it comes to relating to secular society consider the following: i] Civil obedience, cf. Rom.13:1-8, 1Tim.2:2. Of course, if the State demands that we act against the will of God then we may have to defy the State, Rev.6:9-11, 12:11, 13-14; ii] Be ready for every good work. A general cover-all exhortation; iii] Slander no one; iv] Don't be quarrelsome; v] Be conciliatory; vi] Show true humility. These exhortations may have the intention of maintaining the reputation of believers in the secular society for evangelistic purposes, but then they are, in themselves, worthy of a follower of Christ.
      v3. Paul now lists some vices that were part of his readers' old life and certainly should not be part of the new: i] Without understanding; ii] Disobedient to God; iii] Misguided - duped by Satan; iv] Driven by passion; v] Living with malice and envy; vi] Full of hate.
      v4. It seems likely that v4-7 is a creedal gospel outline. It is one sentence in the Greek and supplies the theological basis for the ethical exhortations of v1-3. Although a Christmas Epistle, "the goodness and loving-kindness of God" in this passage is more likely referring to the regenerative work of the Spirit and the justifying work of Christ, than the incarnation.
      v5. Out of kindness God saved us, not because of our effort (eg. works of the Law), but because of his mercy. God's salvation entails: i] a washing of the Spirit that brings regeneration - rebirth and renewal (both are synonymous metaphors).
      v6. It is the Father, "he", who pours out the Spirit, expedited through the work of Christ. Note the Trinitarian formula here.
      v7. The salvation referred to in v5 also entails: ii] a justification through the work of Christ - the restoration of a new relationship with God. The means is "grace". The "by faith" is missing because it is not offsetting "by works (obedience to) the Law". "By grace through faith" is the full Pauline formula, Eph.2:8-9. Salvation primarily flows from God's mercy. The goal of this salvation is that we might become heirs of God's glory (become as Christ is) and possess eternal life.
      v8. The above creedal statement is a "trustworthy (faithful) saying." Other "trustworthy" sayings are found in 1 and 2 Timothy. Paul wants Titus to drive home this doctrinal statement to the congregation. Paul's aim is that the Cretan believers' behavior and attitudes will be worthy of their standing in Christ. Such good deeds have a positive effect on everyone.

Presents
      What do we buy the kids for Christmas? Now there it is, the most pondered question of all times. Getting the answer requires stacks of nervous energy, for the answer is not easily gained.
      There is a classic blunder we often make in the present-buying stakes. We head off to the shops to get some good ideas. Pure stupidity, really! Whenever we do this we end up with hundreds of possibilities and no present. A clear knowledge of what we want is essential.
      Anyway, the presents are all purchased now, although maybe not paid for. Some of them may survive till Boxing Day, a week even. What can we give the kids or grandkids that will actually last? The "little people" are all going to travel roads that we have never even thought of. Our world is changing. What can we give them to negotiate the pitfalls of life? What do we give them to take on the journey?
        Attention.
        A hope of each person's inalienable place in the scheme of things.
        A sense of humour.
        The meaning of discipline.
        The will to work. Satisfying work is certainly a lasting joy.
        The knowledge of being loved beyond the demand of praise or blame, for those so loved grow strong to meet the challenges of life?
      So, what should we give our children this day and every day?
      An awareness of the beauty of life. The brilliance of a full moon, the glow of the setting sun. The flowers of spring, of growing grass, of crickets and birds. A good book on a wet day in soft lounge. A warm bed, and a harty meal. A hand grasping and helping, impromptu praise, an unexpected kiss and a straight answer. Enthusiasm and a sense of wonder. A sense of God's immanence, stories of Jesus. A respect for a fellow traveler who long ago trod the dusty roads of Palestine.
      Yes indeed, a living faith in Christ. There is no greater gift than rebirth and renewal, an eternal gift of God's grace. It is then we possess "the hope of eternal life."

v2
      blasfhmein (blasfhmew) pres. inf. "to slander" - to blaspheme, treat with contempt, slander. The infinitive again expressing indirect discourse. Usually of God, but here of people, so "insult", "speak evil of", TEV.
      endeiknumenouV (endeiknumi) part. "to show" - displaying, demonstrating, showing forth. The participle is possibly imperatival, "display perfect gentleness to all people", but more likely an attendant circumstance participle identifying action accompanying the infinitives, as NIV, "showing" = "and to show." Also used in the sense of doing something to someone. The sense of "doing" seems best here as Paul is obviously not saying we should "display" our humility, but rather that we should "do" it; "they should be gentile and kind to everyone", CEV.

v3
      pote "at one time" - once. Paul is referring to his pre-Christian state. "For we ourselves have known what it is to be ......", Phillips.
      anohtoi adj. "foolish" - without understanding. Spiritually foolish, "senseless", is intended.
      apeiqeiV adj. "disobedient" - Obviously disobedient to God, unrepentant.
      planwmenoi (planaw) pas. part. "deceived" - being led astray, deceived, misguided. The participle is possibly functioning as a substantive, "for we ourselves were once senseless, disobedient, astray, ...", Moffatt, or better an attendant circumstance participle identifying action accompanying the main verb, here the verb to-be, "we were", "foolish and disobedient and had lost our way ..." For Paul, it was "led astray by the Law."
      hdonaiV (h hV) "pleasures" - physical pleasures (often sexual). This is the only time Paul uses this common word. Possibly "luxuries", JB, but linked to "passions". Paul probably has "sexual pleasures" in mind.
      diagonteV (diagw) part. "we lived" - living, spending time at something. The participle is probably again attendant circumstance, "passing our lives / and we passed our lives in malice and envy". "Passing our days", NRSV.

v4
      de "but" - Adversative, underlining the altered situation that developed. "But when once there shone upon us the kindness of God our Saviour, his love for mankind, then he saved us from all these things", Bruce. "Saved", the main verb, is found in v5; "saved" from our state of loss rather than an outward expression of that state.
      epefanh (epifainw) aor. pas. "appeared" - "Appear" in the same sense as the light of the sun appears in the morning. "Appeared upon the scene", Barclay. Paul uses the word of Christ's second coming, but also of his incarnation.

v5
      kata + acc. "because of" - according to, in accordance with, in the manner of. Our salvation is dependent on the mercy of God.
      dia + gen. "[he save us] through" - through, by means of. Introducing a clause made up of four genitive nouns and a genitive adjective, "holy", all of which make translation difficult. The NIV, as with RSV, NRSV, JB, REB ..., take "rebirth" and "renewal" as two separate events, the first achieved by "washing" and the second "by the Holy Spirit". It is likely that the genitive, "of the Holy Spirit", is a genitive of means = "by means of the Holy Spirit", but he is probably the agent of both rebirth and renewal, in fact, probably the agent of "washing", which serves as an image of both rebirth and renewal. "God saved us by means of the renewing power of the Holy Spirit."
      loutrou (on) "washing" - Here in the sense of cleansing. Not used here as a reference to water baptism.
      paliggenesiaV (a) "rebirth" - regeneration. The idea is of recreation / renewal and was used by the Jews of a restored Eden in the new kingdom, to be realized at the time of the messiah's coming. Here the idea is of personal recreation.
      anakainwsewV (iV ewV) "renewal" - renewing, making new. Probably of our relationship with God. "He gave us new birth and a fresh beginning", CEV. Possibly, but unlikely (see above), in an ethical sense as a consequence of regeneration, thus "moral renewal", Phillips.

v6
      execeen (ekcew) aor. "poured out" - pour out, shed. cf. Joel 2:28-30. The "washing" image continues, but a simple "bestowed", "gave", CEV, is less confusing to the modern mind. Since regeneration seems to be on Paul's mind in v5b, a simple "which he gave us so generously", Phillips, probably makes the point.
      dia + gen. "through" - through, by means of. That Jesus is the agent / instrument of the gift of the Holy Spirit and his work of regeneration, serves here as a once-only Pauline statement.

v7
      iJna + subj. "so that" - that. Forming either a final (purpose) clause, "in order that ...... [we might become]", or a consecutive (result) clause, "with the result that." "The result is that", Phillips.
      dikaiwqenteV (dikaiow) aor. pas. part. "having been justified" - Although the root is "justify", in the sense of "make right", Paul's usage is usually forensic. God puts a person into a right relationship with himself by "declare right / righteous" (although what God declares so is so = "make right"!!). Beasley Murray argues that, as in 1Cor.6:11, the meaning here is not forensic but rather dynamic. "We are acquitted by his grace", Phillips.
      klhronomoi (oV) "heirs" - For a Jew this means inheritors of the promised land, which of course is a "hope."
      kata "having [the hope]" - [we might become heirs] according to [the hope of eternal life]. Becoming heirs in line with the hope. The phrase is confusing, but well paraphrased by Phillips, "and (we) can look forward to inheriting life for evermore."