The three pastoral letters or epistles are books of the canonical New Testament: the First Epistle to Timothy (1 Timothy) the Second Epistle to Timothy (2 Timothy) and the Epistle to Titus. They are letters from Paul the Apostle to Timothy and to Titus. They are generally discussed as a group (sometimes with the addition of the Epistle to Philemon) and are given the title pastoral because they are addressed to individuals with pastoral oversight of churches and discuss issues of Christian living, doctrine and leadership. While the title is not technically quite correct in that the Epistles do not deal with pastoral duties in the sense of the cure of souls, yet it is popularly appropriate as denoting the essentially practical nature of the subject matter as distinguished from the other Epistles attributed to Paul. The term "pastorals" was popularised in 1703 by D. N. Berdot and in 1726 by Paul Anton.

Titus 3:4, 5 Washed, Renewed

Titus 3:4, 5 But when the kindness and love of God our Saviour appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit
The final chapter of Titus begins with a call to remind the people of some six things - to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone. Such traits are not native to men as men but Paul reflects that he and Titus and their fellow believers were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures living in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But all that was changed by God. Paul wants Titus to stress this so that the people will do good. The book ends with a warning against quarrelling, some final practical remarks and a greeting. To outline the change that God has wrought Paul introduces one of the trustworthy sayings in verses 4-7. Here we will focus just on the first part, in verses 4 and 5, which speak of what leads God to save why God saves and how God saves. So firstly, having spoken of depravity, he says that, however, when the kindness and love of God our Saviour appeared God saved us. The appearance of God's love and kindness can be located both in history with the incarnation and in experience with the realisation of the fact. Secondly, the reason God saves people is not because they are righteous (none are) but because he is merciful. Thirdly, Paul refers to how God saves as the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. We are both cleansed and renewed by the Spirit.
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