awaiting the blessed hope, the manifestation of the glory of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ,
2:13 — Here is the reason to live “soberly, righteously, and godly” (ver. 12). While the Christian lives like this, he expects something. — “waiting”. That is, “to be in continual waiting” (NIV.), or expectation. The same Greek word is found in Tue 15:43; Luke 2:25; Luke 12:36; Jude 1:21. — “the blessed hope.” Hope is awaited, by awaiting the object, or realization, of it. It is blessed because it imparts happiness, joy and delight. Compare Gal 5:5; Col 1:5. — and the glorious manifestation.” The Greek text uses only a definite article; that is, “the blessed hope and glorious manifestation.” Instead of “glorious”, translate “of glory”. What is awaited is the hope and epiphany (appearance) of the glory of Christ Jesus at his second coming. Compare 1:2; Gal 5:5; Col 1:5; Phil 3:20-21; Jude 21. In 2Thess 2:8, says the text, “the splendor (appearance, epiphany) of his coming (appearance, parousia). Christ Jesus will be revealed at his second coming. It will be glorious, like the strong brilliance or brilliance of light. The Greek word for “manifestation” is epiphaneia. Also appears in 1Ti 6:14; 2Ti 4:8. The English word, “epiphany,” is a transliteration of the Greek word. When Christ appears the second time, the faithful Christian will be manifested with Him in a glorious way, Col 3:4. — “of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,” or Christ Jesus (according to the manuscript of the Greek text). This passage clearly presents the deity of Jesus; He is God! He is our great God! The Greek text uses a single definite article in this phrase, saying, “The glory of the great God and Savior of us, Christ Jesus.” It does not say, “…of the great God and of the Savior…”, as if referring to two persons. Compare Rev 1:9, “your brother and partner…”. (It does not say, your brother and partner). Jehovah’s Witnesses do not want to admit that Jesus Christ is our great God. (For them Jesus Christ is a created being). They cannot admit that reference is made here to a single person. Its interlinear has only one definite article, but in the translation two are put, “of the God and (of) the Savior”. The New World Version says, “of the great God and of our Savior Christ Jesus,” leaving the impression that two persons are being referred to. 2Pe 1:1-21 :1 parallels this passage in referring to only one person, not two. There the Jehovah’s Witnesses dare to add a definite article to the translation before the word “Savior”. That passage, like here in Tit 2:13, refers to a single person; It says, “of our God and Savior Jesus Christ.” Another argument, aside from the one dealing with the singular article in the passage, which points to only one person in the reference, is that the word “appearance” always applies to Christ, and not to God the Father. For example, 1Ti 6:14; 2Ti 4:1; 2Ti 4:8. Although the “glory” belongs to both (Luke 9:26), the epiphany is of Jesus Christ. See my comments on 2Pe 1:1 in NOTES ON 1 PETER AND 2 PETER. The Arians have always tried to make Jesus something less than the Father. Jehovah’s Witnesses, like modernists, deny that Jesus Christ is God (here, “our great God”). Consider these passages: Joh 1:1; Juh 10:30; Joh 10:33; Joh 20:28; Romans 9:5; Phil 2:6; Col 2:9; Hebrews 1:8; 2Pe 1:1; 1Jn 5:20.
Source: Commentary on the New Testament by Partain
waiting. 1Co 1:7; Phil 3:20, Phil 3:21; 2Ti 4:8; 2Pe 3:12-14.
the hope. Tit 1:2; Tit 3:7; Ac 24:15; Romans 5:5; Romans 8:24, Romans 8:25; Romans 15:13; Col 1:5, Col 1:23, Col 1:27; 2Thess 2:16; Hebrews 6:18, Hebrews 6:19; 1Pe 1:3; 1 John 3:3.
and the glorious manifestation. Job 19:25-27; Isaiah 25:9; Matt 16:27; Matt 25:31; Matt 26:64; Tue 8:38; Tue 14:62; 1Ti 6:13, 1Ti 6:14; Hebrews 9:28; 2Co 4:4, 2Co 4:6; Col 3:4; 2Ti 4:1, 2Ti 4:8; 1Pe 1:7; 1Jn 3:2; Rev 1:7.
of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. Tit 3:4, Tit 3:6; 2Pe 3:18; 1Jn 4:14.
Source: The Treasury of Biblical Knowledge
THE BLESSED HOPE. “The blessed hope” that believers should look forward to is “the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” and union with Him for eternity (see Joh 14:3note, and ARTICLE THE RAPTURE, P. 1724. ). That hope can be fulfilled at any time (cf. Matt 24:42; Luke 12:36-40; Jas 5:7-9). So believers should never give up their pious hope that today the trumpet may sound and the Lord will return.
Source: Full Life Study Bible
the blessed hope. A general reference to the second coming of Jesus Christ that includes the resurrection (cf. Romans 8:22-23; 1Co 15:51-58; Phil 3:20-21; 1Thess 4:13-18; 1Jn 3:2-3) and the kingdom of the saints with Christ in glory (2Ti 2:10). glorious manifestation. cop. 2Ti 1:10. Lit., “the appearance of glory.” This will be our salvation from the presence of sin. great God and Savior. A clear reference to the deity of Jesus. cop. 2Pe 1:1.
Source: MacArthur Study Bible
2:13 — Here is the reason to live “soberly, righteously, and godly” (v. 12). While the Christian lives like this, he expects something.
– “waiting”. That is, “to be in continual waiting” (NIV.), or expectation. The same Greek word is found in Mark 15:43; Luke 2:25; Luke 12:36; Jude 1:21.
– “the blessed hope”. Hope is awaited, by awaiting the object, or realization, of it. It is blessed because it imparts happiness, joy and delight. Compare Gal 5:5; Col 1:5.
–and the glorious manifestation.” The Greek text uses only a definite article; that is, “the blessed hope and glorious manifestation.” Instead of “glorious”, translate “of glory”. What is awaited is the hope and epiphany (appearance) of the glory of Christ Jesus at his second coming. Compare 1:2; Gal 5:5; Col 1:5; Phil 3:20-21; Jude 21.
In 2Thes 2:8, the text says, “the brightness (appearance, epiphany) of his coming (appearance, parousia). Christ Jesus will be revealed at his second coming. It will be glorious, like the strong brilliance or brilliance of light.
The Greek word for “manifestation” is epiphaneia. It also appears in 1Ti 6:14; 2Ti 4:8. The English word, “epiphany,” is a transliteration of the Greek word.
When Christ appears the second time, the faithful Christian will be revealed with Him in a glorious way, Col 3:4.
–“of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,” or Christ Jesus (according to the manuscript of the Greek text). This passage clearly presents the deity of Jesus; He is God! He is our great God! The Greek text uses a single definite article in this phrase, saying, “The glory of the great God and Savior of us, Christ Jesus.” It does not say, “…of the great God and of the Savior…”, as if referring to two persons. Compare Rev 1:9, “your brother and partner…”. (It does not say, your brother and partner).
Jehovah’s Witnesses do not want to admit that Jesus Christ is our great God. (For them Jesus Christ is a created being). They cannot admit that reference is made here to a single person. Its interlinear has only one definite article, but in the translation two are put, “of the God and (of) the Savior”. The New World Version says, “of the great God and of our Savior Christ Jesus,” leaving the impression that two persons are being referred to. 2Pe 1:1-21:1 parallels this passage in referring to only one person, not two. There the Jehovah’s Witnesses dare to add a definite article to the translation before the word “Savior”. That passage, as here in Tit 2:13, refers to a single person; It says, “of our God and Savior Jesus Christ.”
Another argument, aside from the one dealing with the singular article in the passage, which points to only one person in the reference, is that the word “appearance” always applies to Christ, and not to God the Father. For example, 1Ti 6:14; 2Ti 4:1; 2Ti 4:8. Although the “glory” belongs to both (Luke 9:26), the epiphany belongs to Jesus Christ.
See my comments on 2Pe 1:1 in NOTES ON 1 PETER AND 2 PETER.
The Arians have always tried to make Jesus something less than the Father. Jehovah’s Witnesses, like modernists, deny that Jesus Christ is God (here, “our great God”). Consider these passages: Joh 1:1; Joh 10:30; Joh 10:33; Joh 20:28; Romans 9:5; Phil 2:6; Col 2:9; Hebrews 1:8; 2Pe 1:1; 1Jn 5:20.
Source: Reeves-Partain Notes
— glorious manifestation: Lit. epiphany. See second note to 2Thess 2:8 and note to 1Ti 6:14.
— Jesus Christ: It can also be translated: of the great God and of our Savior Jesus Christ.
Source: Hispano-American Interdenominational Translation
GRADES
(1) For a consideration of this v., see App. 6E.
CROSS-REFERENCES
f83 1Pe 1:13; 1Pe 1:21
g 84 Hab 3:3
Source: New World Translation
great God and Savior Jesus Christ. This is one of several passages in the NT where the title of God is explicitly given to Jesus Christ (Jn 1:1, 18; 20:28; Rom 9:5; 2 Pet 1:1).
Source: The Bible of the Americas
13 (1) Confidently waiting for what is accepted by faith.
13 (two) The blessed hope is the manifestation of Christ in His glory. The manifestation of Christ will lead us to full sonship, that is, to the redemption of our body, so that we can enjoy the freedom of the glory of the children of God, for which we were saved (Rom_8: 21-25) . This is the hope of eternal life (1:2), a hope of eternal blessing, a blessed hope in the eternal life of the Triune God; Paul became an apostle on the basis of such hope.
13 (3) The glory of the Father (Mat_16:27), which has been given to the Son (Jua_17:24) and to which we, as the many children of God, will be taken (Heb_2:10). By his wisdom God predestined us before the ages to this glory (1Co_2: 7), and the God of all grace called us and saved us in this eternal glory (1Pe_5: 10; 2Ti_2: 10). The weight of this glory is overwhelming and eternal (2Co_4:17), and with this glory we will be glorified (Rom_8:17, Rom_8:30). The appearance of the glory of Christ, our great God and Savior, is the blessed hope we are waiting for.
13 (4) Through the centuries there have been two schools of interpretation about this sacred and divine title, which is also remarkable, wonderful and excellent: (1) that it refers to two persons, God and Christ; (2) that there is only one person, Jesus Christ as our great God and Savior, thus affirming the deity of Christ. Here we prefer the second interpretation.
This corresponds to the two sacred titles revealed at the birth of Christ: Jesus Jehovah the Savior and Immanuel God with us (Matt_1:21-23). Our Lord is not only our Savior, but He is also God, and not only God, but the great God, the God who is great in nature, in glory, in authority, in power, in works, in love, in grace and in every divine attribute.; In 1Ti_2:5 our Lord is revealed as a man; here he is revealed as the great God. He is man and God. He will manifest in his…