Robert W. Yarbrough (Protestant): The "washing of rebirth" (Titus 3:5) as a Refence to Water Baptism

 

 

Paul writes first of “the washing of rebirth,” which is surely related to the divine regeneration of the human heart through faith in Christ alluded to in John 3:3–8. Water baptism is a recognition of and catalyst for this spiritual but real transformation. It is difficult, and unnecessary, to make a radical separation between the two. (Robert W. Yarbrough, The Letters to Timothy and Titus [Pillar New Testament Commentary; Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans, 2018], 546)

 

For more, be sure to see my forthcoming book, "Born of Water and of the Spirit": The Biblical Evidence for Baptismal Regeneration.