Translation commentary on Titus 3:6

The subject of this verse is the Holy Spirit, who is mentioned in the previous verse as the agent of renewal. Revised Standard Version keeps the form of the Greek text and renders this verse as part of the sentence that began in verse 4, with which referring to the Holy Spirit, and he referring to God. It may be more appropriate to start a new sentence here, as many translations have done (for example, Good News Translation, New Revised Standard Version “This Spirit he poured…”).

The word for poured out literally means “to pour,” “to spill.” The figure of the Holy Spirit being poured out is used in the book of Acts (see, for example, Acts 2.17-18, 33; 10.45), but it originates from the Greek translation of the book of Joel (2.28-30). This figure can of course be retained if it is appropriate in the receptor language. But if retaining the figure causes difficulties, then it can be dropped in favor of a more direct expression; for example, “gave,” “bestowed,” “sent.”

The bestowing of the Holy Spirit is described by the word richly or “abundantly” (Good News Translation), which is appropriate to the figure of liquid being poured out. This of course does not mean that we have received a large dose of the Holy Spirit, but that the Holy Spirit was given to us freely and generously, and that the Holy Spirit is always available to help us.

The means by which God poured out the Holy Spirit is Jesus Christ our Savior. This expression occurs only here in the whole New Testament. However, there are equivalent expressions identifying Jesus Christ as Savior, as for instance “our Savior Christ Jesus” (2 Tim 1.10); “Christ Jesus our Savior” (Titus 1.4); “great God and Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2.13). For the term Savior see 1 Tim 1.1. In some languages the phrase through Jesus Christ our Savior will be expressed as an instrumental; for example, “God used Jesus Christ our Savior to freely give us…” or “God used Jesus Christ, the one who frees us from sin, to freely give us….” In other languages one may express this in a similar way to Contemporary English Version: “God sent Jesus Christ our Savior to give us….”

The ordering of the elements of this verse will vary from language to language. One possible order is represented by Good News Translation, with the agent, God, in initial position, and the instrument, Jesus Christ, in final position. It is also possible to begin with the instrument and end with the recipients, us.

As in the rest of the letter, us should be translated as inclusive.

Alternative translation models for this verse are:

• God freely gave the Holy spirit to us [inclusive] through Jesus Christ our Savior.

Or:

• Through Jesus Christ our Savior, God, without reservation, caused his Spirit to live in us.

Or:

• God sent Jesus Christ our Savior to let us freely have the Holy Spirit.

Quoted with permission from Arichea, Daniel C. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Paul’s Letter to Titus. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1995. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator's Notes on Titus 3:6

3:6a

This is the Spirit He poured out on us abundantly: In Greek the sentence continues here using a pronoun that refers to the Holy Spirit. In some languages it may be natural to make this reference explicit and begin a new sentence here, as does the Berean Standard Bible. More examples:

God poured out the Spirit generously
-or-
God caused this Holy Spirit to descend upon us in abundance/fullness/richness

He poured out: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as poured out is a figure of speech that describes the way God gave the Holy Spirit to his people. This same figure of speech is used in Acts 2:17–18, 33. To “pour out” something is to let it flow or come down. This figure of speech indicates that God caused the Holy Spirit to come down, descend, upon his people.

abundantly: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as abundantly means “richly, in full measure.” In this context it indicates that God gave the Holy Spirit to believers without holding back, that is, fully or completely. Here are some other ways to translate this:

in God’s great generosity
-or-
generously
-or-
completely

3:6b

through Jesus Christ our Savior: This “pouring out” of the Holy Spirit (3:6a) was done through Jesus Christ our Savior. Commentators understand this in two ways:

(1) The life and death of Jesus saved us and made it possible for God to pour out the Holy Spirit. For example:

He generously poured out the Spirit upon us because of what Jesus Christ our Savior did. (New Living Translation (2004 Revision))

(2) God sent Jesus to give us his Spirit. For example:

God sent Jesus Christ to give us his Spirit. (Contemporary English Version)

Both of these statements are true. Paul may have had either or both in mind. If you must choose between them, it is recommended that you choose interpretation (1), since Paul referred to Jesus Christ as our Savior.

General Comment on 3:6a-b

In some languages it may be necessary to reorder these parts. For example:

6bBecause Jesus Christ died to become our Savior, 6aGod has caused the Holy Spirit to come down upon us in full/generous measure.

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Commentaire sur la traduction de Tite 3.6

À l’époque où Paul rédigeait ses lettres, la notion de la Trinité n’était pas encore formulée, mais certains voient dans ce verset un précurseur de cette notion théologique qui sera développée au cours du 2e siècle et formalisée dans les doctrines des 4e siècle.

En grec la phrase continue avec « qu’il a versé sur nous… ». La Traduction œcuménique de la Bible choisit de couper la phrase, en répétant Cet Esprit, qui figure en Tite 1.4. La Bible en français courant et la Parole de Vie rendent aussi explicite le pronom il : « Cet Esprit Saint, Dieu l’a répandu généreusement sur nous… »

a répandu sur nous : il s’agit du verbe « verser » qui est utilisé dans beaucoup de contextes dans le NT : jeter des pièces (Jean 2.15), verser du vin (Luc 5.37) ou du sang (Rom 3.15), etc. Ici il s’agit d’un langage figuré parlant du Saint-Esprit. La même image est employée pour parler de l’Esprit en Act 2.17-18,33 ; 10.45, des textes qui rappellent Joël 2.28-30. Les traducteurs doivent décider si ce langage figuré convient ou s’il faut utiliser un autre verbe comme répandu, « donnée » ou « envoyé ». Si possible, les traducteurs garderont cette image qui traverse les deux testaments.

avec abondance rend un adverbe apparenté à l’adjectif « riche ». Paul l’emploie deux autres fois dans ses lettres, en Col 3.16 à propos de la Parole du Christ qui habite parmi vous « dans toute sa richesse » et en 1 Tim 6.17 dans un contexte similaire à celui-ci, parlant de « Dieu qui nous accorde tout avec abondance ». On pourra dire « généreusement », « à profusion », etc. En effet, lorsque Dieu donne des dons à ceux qui croient en lui, il ne se retient pas, mais donne avec abondance.

par Jésus Christ notre Sauveur : comme déjà noté le titre Sauveur s’applique parfois à Dieu, parfois, comme ici, à Jésus Christ Voir Tite 3.4.

Source: Zogbo, Lynell & Ellingworth, Paul La lettre à Tite – Manuel de traduction – Commentaire linguistique et exégétique de la Bible. Alliance biblique universelle, 2021.