The Greek text of this verse is rather unusual, in that one would have expected another relative clause, but we find instead a direct clause that can in fact stand by itself as a complete sentence. Both Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation, however, translate this verse as a relative clause and identify “the hope of eternal life” as the thing that God manifested in his word.

The Greek text, however, can be translated more or less literally as “and at the proper time he manifested (or, revealed) his word through proclamation (or, preaching), which I was entrusted according to the command of God our Savior.” There are several translations that translate the Greek text rather closely (for example, New Revised Standard Version “in due time he revealed his word…,” New International Version “and at his appointed season he brought his word to light…,” New American Bible, Revised “who indeed at the proper time revealed his word…”), but without clarifying what word stands for, and how the whole of verse 3 is related to the first two verses. It does seem that it is perhaps better to take word, not as the means by which another message is made known (in this case “the hope of eternal life”), but as the message itself. Furthermore, it is possible to identify this message with what is contained in verses 1b-2, which includes “faith,” “knowledge of the truth,” “godliness,” and “hope of eternal life.” It may then be appropriate or even necessary to make this identification clear in the translation (as, for example, Contemporary English Version “So, at the proper time, God our Savior gave this message”).

For the expression proper time see 1 Tim 2.6.

For manifested see 1 Tim 3.16.

For his word see 1 Tim 4.5 (“word of God”).

For preaching see 1 Tim 2.7.

For entrusted see 1 Tim 1.11.

For command see 1 Tim 1.1.

For God our Savior see 1 Tim 1.1.

The whole verse can be restructured as follows: “God our Savior made this message known at the proper time and has commanded me to proclaim it.”

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 .