SPECIAL TOPIC: OUR SAVIOR

SPECIAL TOPIC: OUR SAVIOR (title)

“Savior” is an OT title for YHWH (taken from my notes on 2 Tim. 1:10, cf. Ps. 106:21;
Isa. 19:20; 43:3,11; 45:15,21; 49:26; 60:16; 63:8; Hos. 13:4; Luke 1:47). In the NT it is attributed to Jesus as God’s
Messiah (cf. Luke 2:11; John 4:42; 13:23; Eph. 5:23; Phil. 3:20; 1 John 4:14). Notice His name and its explantion in
Matt. 1:21. (See Special Topic:
Salvation (OT term).

Only in the Pastoral Letters are both titles used in close proximity for both
God the Father and God the Son.

A. God

1. God our Savior (1 Tim. 1:1)

2. God our Savior (1 Tim. 2:3)

3. the Savior of all men (1 Tim. 4:10)

4. God our Savior (Titus 1:3)

5. God our Savior (Titus 2:10)

6. God our Savior (Titus 3:4)

B. Christ

1. our Savior Christ Jesus (2 Tim. 1:10)

2. Christ Jesus our Savior (Titus 1:4)

3. our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus (Titus 2:13)

4. Jesus Christ our Savior (Titus 3:6)

The Pastoral Letters, written in the mid to late sixties, were also reacting
against the Roman Emperor’s claims of being both God and savior (as well as
these titles’ use in the Mystery Religions). For Christians these titles were
reserved for YHWH and His Messiah and could not be used for Caesar (also note 1
Pet. 1:11;

2 Pet. 2:20; 3:18).