Who hath saved us. — St. Paul now specifies the manner in which the power of God has been displayed towards us. This is an inclusive word, and comprehends all God’s dealings with us in respect to our redemption. (See Notes on Titus 3:5.) Again, as so frequently in these Pastoral Epistles, is the First Person of the blessed Trinity referred to as the Saviour.
Us. — Paul and Timothy, and all who believe on the name of the Lord Jesus, are included under “us.”
And called us with an holy calling. — This explains the means by which God was pleased to save St. Paul and Timothy. He called them. He — God the Father, to whom the act of calling is regularly ascribed (Galatians 1:6); and the calling is said to be “holy,” because it is a summons to share in the blessed communion of Christ (1 Corinthians 1:9). There is an inner as well as an outer calling; the “outer” comes through the preaching of the word, the inner by means of the voice of the Holy Ghost in the heart.
Not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace. — We are told in the next clause that “the grace” was given before the world began; therefore “our works” could have had nothing to do with the divine purpose which was resolved on by God. As Chrysostom observes, “No one counselling with Him, but of His own purpose, the purpose originating in His own goodness.” Calvin pithily remarks, “If God chose us before the creation of the world, He could not have considered the question of our works, which could have had no existence at a period when we ourselves were not.” “But according to” (in pursuance of) “His own purposes,” with emphasis on “own” — that purpose which was prompted by nothing outward, but which arose solely out of the divine goodwill, or goodness, or love. (See Ephesians 1:11.) The “grace” here is almost equivalent to the “mercy” of Titus 3:5, “according to His mercy He saved us.”
Which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began. — This grace was “given,” not “destined,” to us. It was given to us, in the person of Jesus Christ, before time was, and when our Redeemer, in the fulness of time, appeared, then was it made manifest. “Before the world began” — quite literally, “before eternal times;” the meaning here is “from all eternity,” before times marked by the lapse of unnumbered ages.