Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus according to the commandment of God our Savior, and Christ Jesus our hope;
"The designation of God as Savior, unusual in Paul, is in keeping with the Old Testament presentation of God (Deuteronomy 32:15; Psalms 24:5; Psalms 27:1; Isaiah 12:2; Isaiah 17:10). It described the God who delivered his people from their bondage in Egypt and many times thereafter as the initiator and originator of salvation. In the New Testament, of course, God as the Savior is the initiator of the program of deliverance through Christ." [Note: Towner, 1-2 Timothy . . ., p. 40.] 