While we await our blessed hope, the appearance of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.
Titus 2:13
Epiphany is the English rendering of the Greek epiphaneia, meaning “appearance or manifestation.” In Western Christendom, Epiphany commemorates the coming of the Magi—Christ’s first “appearance” to the Gentile world. In the East, Epiphany celebrates the baptism of Jesus, also commemorating His appearance at the beginning of His public ministry.
Paul uses epiphany to refer to the first appearance of Jesus (Titus 2:11), but more often to refer to His Second Coming as in Titus 2:13. And he connects the two: The grace of God that appeared with Christ is the grace that teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts and to live “soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age” as we wait for His “glorious appearing” at the end of the age (Titus 2:12-13). Christ’s first appearing revealed the grace that teaches us how to live until He appears the second time.
We are saved by grace to be “zealous for good works” until the appearance of our Savior, Jesus Christ (Titus 2:14).
