Exposition of Paul’s Letter to
TITUS
LESSON 4: SEEING THE DISORDER
Review
As Titus seeks to “put in order” what is necessary in Crete he will need
spiritual leaders who model what is required. The emphasis on knowing the Truth
and practicing what you preach – the emphasis on embodying the Gospel in life
resulting in godliness is the type of leadership required in Crete.
Why? Paul now introduces us to the conditions that
need this correction:
Text Titus 1:10-16 (ESV)
10 For there are many who are insubordinate, empty
talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party. 11 They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by
teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach. 12 One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always
liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” 13 This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply,
that they may be sound in the faith, 14 not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the
commands of people who turn away from the truth. 15 To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving,
nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. 16 They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are
detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.
Exposition Titus 1:10-16
(ESV)
Who Are These People?
This section starts with the word “for” which gives us the
reason why Titus is to appoint elders – and appoint elders with the character
and qualities that Paul has necessitated.
There are a group of people that are “teaching what they ought not to
teach” (v.11). This is a group that
comes from within the Church (v10 & possibility v16). They had a “Jewish” element to their
instruction (v10 & v14).
Note: 1. There were
“many”.
2. They
were “insubordinate” (Gr: ἀνυπότακτοι, meaning unruly, rebellious or disobedient).
3. They are “empty
talkers” whose speech lacks any importance.
4. They are
“deceivers”.
What Are They Doing?
Paul’s use of the term “circumcision” to
refer to this group makes us think at what might be at the heart of their
aberrant teaching, e.g., some sort of Judaistic, religious, works added
faith. “To the pure, all
things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both
their minds and their consciences are defiled.” (Titus 1:15, ESV). This is a fascinating verse. Paul is referring to the Jewish legalists
who were extremists about Old Testament Jewish ceremonies. “For Paul, believers are considered pure solely on the basis of their faith.
As a result, all things are clean and permissible for them.”[1] Material things receive their moral character
from the inner attitude of the user; not vice versa.
The issue of the myths is unknown except
that they must have been fanciful fiction that had been added to the text of
Scripture rather than drawn from it.
One might call it “speculation”.
“These myths seemingly were speculative and fanciful inventions drawn
from the OT records such as are found in the apocryphal and pseudepigraphical
writings of Judaism.”[2] False
teachers always either misuse the Bible (as taking verses out of context) or
add to it (some rule or religious duty done for merit) or take away from it
(like denying the sufficiency of Christ).
When the meaning of the Bible, exegetically exposed is replaced with
some insatiable desire to find a “deeper meaning” you can literally make the
Bible say whatever you want.
Their practices were incredibly disconcerting. For we note: “They must be
silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain
what they ought not to teach.” (Titus 1:11, ESV). There is not only a
disturbing, disrupting affect on families, it is devious. There is a selfish motive to their behavior
and teaching.
What Was Their Lifestyle Like?
They lived as Cretans lived: evil, lazy liars (v12). Just like sodomy refers to the well-known sin
of the city of Sodom; and “to Corinthianize” became known for rampant sexual
immorality, so to be “Cretan” was to be a compulsive liar. Paul accuses these teachers in the church
with the same accusation as the immediate culture.
There is, however, an ultimate condemnation. “They profess to know God, but they deny
him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.”
(Titus 1:16, ESV). Here we are faced
with this theme that runs through the letter.
These false teachers “profess to know God” but their lives prove that
they do not know God at all. They are
hypocrites. “Profession and
performance should not contradict. Faith and works go together. True faith
produces true works.”[3]
“They are
detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.”[4]
What Is Titus To Do?
1.
“They must be silenced” (v11).
2.
“Rebuke them sharply” (v13).
One of the responsibilities of eldership is to “refute” those who oppose
sound doctrine. They must also prevent
false teaching from gaining an audience in the Church.
Conclusion
Like Ephesus (1 Timothy) and Galatia (Galatians) it seems
that some in the church in Crete were trying to enforce Jewish ceremonial laws
(circumcision, food issues, etc.) to be acceptable to God – to be saved. It also seems that the same group were
engaging in useless
controversy, obsessing over Jewish myths, and causing dissension. But more than that these people were proving
the falsehood of their beliefs by their actions; they were acting against God’s
purposes rather than in harmony with God’s purposes.
“The works
of the false teachers prove that they are unbelievers, despite their claim to
know God. Paul is not the least bit hesitant to make such a judgment.”[5]
The New
Testament teaches that behavior that is inconsistent with a changed life suggests
that one’s faith in Christ dubious:
Matthew 7:16–20 (ESV)
16 You will recognize them by their
fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17
So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit.
18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree
bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut
down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will recognize them by
their fruits.
James 2:14–16 (ESV)
14 What good is it, my brothers, if
someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15
If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16
and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without
giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?
Questions
[1] Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S.,
Custis, M., Ritzema, E., … Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife
Study Bible (Tt 1:15). Bellingham,
WA: Lexham Press.
[2] Expositor's Bible Commentary, The, Pradis
CD-ROM:Titus/Exposition of Titus/II. Concerning Elders and Errorists in Crete
(1:5-16)/B. The Refutation of False Teachers (1:10-16)/2. The response to the
situation (1:13b-14), Book Version: 4.0.2
[3] Hindson, E. E., & Kroll, W. M. (Eds.). (1994). KJV
Bible Commentary (p. 2521).
Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
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