Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Titus 1:10
For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, especially they of the circumcision:
10 16. The unruly rival teachers are to be repressed
10. many unruly ] Add men, leaving the pair of attributes to go together, as in the Pauline usage, empty talkers and deceivers of the mind. Both compounds occur only here in N.T.; but the substantive, meaning vaniloquentia, has occurred 1Ti 1:6, where the meaning is defined in what follows, ‘though they understand neither what they say, nor whereof they confidently affirm;’ and the verb, meaning seducit, is used Gal 6:3 and defined by the context ‘if a man thinketh himself to be something when he is nothing.’ Peile translates ‘self-deceivers,’ i.e. visionary enthusiasts, comparing Isa 44:20 and Jas 1:26.
specially they of the circumcision ] Judaizing Christians. Jews from Crete are named among the visitors to Jerusalem Act 2:11, and the Christianising of the island cannot have been quite recent, even from Tit 1:6, ‘having faithful children.’
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers – There are many persons who are indisposed to submit to authority (see the word unruly in Tit 1:6); many who are vain talkers – who are more given to talk than to the duties of practical religion (see the character of Talkative, in the Pilgrims Progress); and many who live to deceive others under the mask of religion. They make great pretensions to piety; they are fluent in argument, and they urge their views in a plausible manner.
Specially they of the circumcision – Jews, spoken of here as of the circumcision particularly, because they urged the necessity of circumcision in order that men might be saved; Notes, Act 15:1. This proves that there were not a few Jews in the island of Crete.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Tit 1:10-11
For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers–The conjunction for showeth that the words following contain a reason of the matter preceding, viz.
, why the minister should be a man so qualified with able parts, both to maintain the truth and censure the falsehood. The reason is drawn from the description
1. Of teachers, in these two verses; and
2. Of hearers, in the twelfth.
The teachers are described by three arguments.
1. From their indefinite number, there are many, not two or three, who are easily set down, but many.
2. By their adjuncts, which are two.
1. They are disobedient or refractory, such as will not submit themselves to the true doctrine and discipline of the Church.
2. They are vain talkers; that is, such as being given to ostentation and vanity, contemn the study and delivery of sound and profitable doctrine, and search out words and matters of wit and applause, both of them of more sweetness unto the flesh than soundness unto the soul and spirit.
3. By their most dangerous effects, and these also are two.
1. Their deceiving of minds; for which ungodly practice he especially brandeth them of the circumcision; that is, either by metonymy, the Jews themselves circumcised, or else Gentiles Judaising, embracing Jewish opinions, mixing the law and gospel, Moses and Christ, circumcision and baptism together, making indeed an hotchpotch of religion by confounding things that can never stand together. The second effect of them is their subversion of whole houses; that is, they poison and infect whole houses, yea, and where the grounds and foundation of religion hath been laid they overturn and overthrow all. This last effect is declared by two arguments.
1. From the instrumental cause of it, and that is by their false doctrine, teaching things which they ought not.
2. From the final cause of it, that is, covetousness, for filthy lucre sake. Now these teachers being so many, so dangerous and hurtful, their mouths must needs be stopped. Which is a common conclusion set between the two verses, as having reference unto them both, as a common remedy against all the mischief which anyway may be let in by them, and therefore those that are to be admitted into the ministry must be of ability to stop their mouths. (T. Taylor, D. D.)
Hindrances to religion
I. The chief hindrances to religion are often in the church itself. The persons alluded to were members and professed teachers.
1. Words without sincerity are vain.
2. Great attention may be paid to the letter of the law, while its spirit is violated–they of the circumcision.
3. The distinction between good and bad preachers–the former live to preach, while the latter preach to live.
II. Hindrances in the church must be removed. Whose mouths must be stopped.
1. Discipline must be exercised in love.
2. The prosperity of the Church of God must be considered before that of individuals.
3. Every age has its own obstructions to the truth–intemperance, covetousness, selfishness, the chief hindrances of the present.
III. Communities are affected by the conduct of individuals. The characters of men are transferred to their country; here the Cretians became a byword. So, drunken Englishmen abroad, compromise the character of their fellow countrymen. Four vices
1. Untruthfulness.
2. Passion–evil beasts.
3. Sensuality.
4. Slothfulness. (F. Wagstaff.)
The characteristics of false teachers
1. In that the first thing taxed in these false teachers by the apostle is disobedience, we learn that disobedience commonly is the ground of false doctrine. For
1. It is just with God to give up those to errors and delusion that receive not the truth in the love of it, for wheresoever it is received in love obedience cannot but be yielded unto it.
2. The nature of sin is ever to be excusing itself, and is loath to be crossed, although never so justly, but studieth how to defend itself as long as it can, even by wresting the Scriptures, and by taking up one error for the maintenance of another.
3. The tenor of Scripture joineth these two together (2Pe 2:1; 2Pe 2:10; 2Pe 2:12; Act 13:8; Act 13:10; 3Jn 1:9).
II. Preachers who themselves are disobedient unto the word, for most part become in their ministry no better than vain talkers.
1. In regard of themselves, being vain glorious persons, affect applause rather than godly edifying, which is a most vain thing.
2. In respect of their labour, which is all in vain, never attaining the end and right scope of the preaching of the gospel unto salvation; for he that soweth vanity what else can he look to reap?
3. In regard of the hearers, who also spend their pains in vain: they hear a great noise and pomp of words, and a glorious show of human wisdom, which may wrap the simple into admiration, but they are left without reformation; their ear is perhaps a little tickled, but their hearts remain untouched; neither are their souls soundly instructed nor fed with knowledge, but they go away as wise as they came.
These Paul calleth vain talkers and vain janglers (1Ti 1:6), and again, profane and vain babblers, and that justly.
1. Because their puffed discourses proceed from the profanity of their hearts.
2. They are as strange fire from the Lords altar, opposed to that which the Lord hath sanctified to the salvation of His people.
3. They are so far from the edifying of the Church that they cause men to increase unto more ungodliness and profaneness.
III. How did these false teachers deceive mens minds?
1. By suppressing the truth; for by their vain jangling and speaking, liker poets, philosophers, historians, than prophets, apostles, or any successors of theirs, they made a cleanly conveyance of the light from the people, and, withholding the truth and light, they led them from Christ, from the right knowledge of the Scriptures, from sound godliness and religion in judgment and practice, and so they remained as dark in their understanding, as erroneous in their judgments, as froward in their affections, and as wicked in their lives as ever before.
2. By flattery; for they would not deal directly against the sins of the age, as godly ministers do, but deceitfully, that they might not displease; herein imitating Satan himself, who was wont of old to answer in riddles, as he answered Cresus, that if he would transport himself over the river Halys he should overthrow a most mighty kingdom, namely, his own. But Micaiah will not deceive nor flatter with Ahab, although it stand upon his life.
3. By letting men see their estate in false glasses, so as they never see the truth of it, for people taught by fables and novelties think, and are borne in hand, that they are in heavens highway; their souls are brought on sleep, and coming from such frothy discourses, they sit down and please themselves in that they have done their task required, especially if they can bring home a jest or some witty sentence, when perhaps they scarce heard a word of Christ, of their justification, of their mortification, or of their glory.
4. By placing religion in bodily exercises, not in matters of spirit and truth (Col 2:20); thus did the Pharisees in their times, the Papists in these, and whosoever urge the decrees of men more than the commandments of God.
IV. But whose minds are deceived.
1. First their own and then others, for they are blind leaders of the blind, deceiving, and being deceived, and although our apostle expresseth not here who they be that are deceived, yet elsewhere he doth, as Rom 16:18, they deceive the hearts of the simple, and 2Ti 3:6, they lead captive simple women, and 2Pe 2:14, they beguile unstable souls, whence we see that ignorant, inconstant, and unsettled souls, which hand over head receive any doctrine without examination or trial, whose simplicity disableth them to judge between truth and falsehood, and whose levity makes them like shaken reeds, these are the carouses on which such vultures do seize. (T. Taylor, D. D.)
Danger from false teachers
Herodotus tells of a Scythian river having marvellous sweetness till a little bitter mingles with it, and gives it ever after an uncommon bitterness. So evil counsel, in some emergencies of the soul, will poison the whole current of its existence. You may poison a well from which a neighbourhood drinks, and yet be less guilty than to contaminate the flow of eternal thought. There are times when the greatest trust which one human being can repose in another is the confidence of wise direction. Confiding in the integrity of others, men sometimes commit their credit, their wives and children, to their keeping, and are guided by them through fiery coursers over the land, or by steam vessels over the seas; but when a man goes with his soul, and trusts that to what a fellow being may direct, the trust is as momentous as eternity itself. Yet this is done, for as by man came death, so by man comes life. Oh, ye who watch for souls, as every Christian should, see to it that you ask of God that which is profitable to direct, before you point out the way for a deathless mind to travel in. Example is said to speak louder than words. Whose mouths must be stopped
Faithful teachers must oppose seducers
The duty of every faithful minister is, when occasion is offered, timely to oppose himself against seducers, and stop the mouths of false teachers, wherein also the Church ought to back and strengthen him. For
1. The example of Christ must be our precedent, who most bodily and freely vindicated the law from the corrupt glosses and expositions of the Pharisees, and that in His first sermon.
2. In regard of the particular members of the Church, that they may be preserved in soundness from starting away and forsaking of the truth. And this is made one end of the precept; the madness of the false apostles must be made manifest, that they may prevail no longer.
3. In regard of the false teachers themselves; fools, saith Solomon, must be answered, lest they be wise in their own conceit; neither shall the labour be wholly lost upon them, for it shall be a means either to convert them and bring them to the knowledge of the truth, or else so to convince them as they shall be made excuseless. And further, the Church must strengthen every ministers hands in this contending for the faith, and so manifest herself to be the ground and pillar of truth, which is committed to her trust and safe keeping, against all gainsayers. This ministerial duty requireth a great measure of knowledge, and a man furnished with gifts of variety of reading and soundness of judgment.
(1) He must be well read and skilful in the Scriptures, that by them in the first place he may be able to shut the mouth of the adversary.
(2) To all this knowledge is required a sound judgment, that he may be able to infer good and necessary consequence upon the granting of the truth he standeth for, and on the contrary, the absurdities and inconveniences which necessarily follow his adversaries false positions. (T. Taylor, D. D.)
The silencing of evil talkers
Whose mouths must be stopped, does not mean that you are to throw them into an inquisition and gag their mouths, as was, and is, the practice of the Papacy. The heathen persecutors adopted the same method of dealing with the faithful martyrs of the Lord; for, in order to prevent them speaking of His grace, they cut out their tongues. The Moslems have the same bloody principle from their Koran; so that the Pope, the heathen, the grand Turk, are, on principle, persecutors. This is neither taught in our text, nor in any other part of the New Testament. On the contrary, the saints are persecuted, but they never persecute; they are to follow their Lord and Master to the cross, not the example of those who crucified Him. But their mouths must be stopped in a quite different manner from gagging; they must be opposed by reason, faithfulness, and love; their influence must be destroyed by the faithful preaching of the gospel; and if they be members of the Church, they must be silenced by discipline, and if still refractory, cast out of the communion of the faithful. (W. Graham, D. D.)
Stopping foolish speech
The heights and recesses of Mount Taurus are said to be much infested with eagles, who are never better pleased than when they pick the bones of a crane. Cranes are prone to cackle and make a noise (Isa 38:14), and particularly so while they are flying. The sound of their voices arouses the eagles, who spring up at the signal and often make the talkative travellers pay dearly for their impudent chattering. The older and more experienced cranes, sensible of their besetting foible and the peril to which it exposes them, take care before venturing on the wing to pick up a stone large enough to fill the cavity of their mouths, and consequently to impose unavoidable silence on their tongues, and thus they escape the danger. Persons troubled with unruly tongues may learn a lesson from the elder cranes. All Christians ought to bridle their tongues by watchfulness and prayer. The Psalmist formed a noble resolution: I said, I will take heed to my way, that I sin not with my tongue.
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 10. There are many unruly] Persons who will not receive the sound doctrine, nor come under wholesome discipline.
Vain talkers] Empty boasters of knowledge, rights, and particular privileges; all noise, empty parade, and no work.
Deceivers] Of the souls of men by their specious pretensions.
They of the circumcision] The Judaizing teachers, who maintained the necessity of circumcision, and of observing the rites and ceremonies of the Mosaic law, in order to the perfecting of the Gospel.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
For there are many unruly and vain takers: we have had both of these words before; the first signifieth stubborn, unruly men; the second, idle, foolish, vain talkers: the apostle saith, that in that age there were many of these.
And deceivers; and such who were deceivers of other mens souls, or had their own souls deceived.
Specially they of the circumcision; especially (he saith) the Jews, who mixed the law with the gospel; pressed the necessary observance of their ceremonies, and taught that all the Jews should be saved: of these there were many in Crete, they at this time being scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
10. unruly“insubordinate.”
andomitted in theoldest manuscripts. “There are many unruly persons, vaintalkers, and deceivers”; “unruly” being predicated ofboth vain talkers and deceivers.
vain talkersopposed to”holding fast the faithful word” (Tit1:9). “Vain jangling” (1Ti1:6); “foolish questions, unprofitable and vain” (Tit3:9). The source of the evil was corrupted Judaism (Tit1:14). Many Jews were then living in Crete, according toJOSEPHUS; so the Jewishleaven remained in some of them after conversion.
deceiversliterally,”deceivers of the minds of others” (Greek, Ga6:3).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
For there are many unruly,…. Persons who are not subject to the law of God, or Gospel of Christ; whose spirits are not subject to the prophets; and who will not submit themselves to them that have the rule over them, nor attend to the admonitions of the church, nor be brought into any regularity and order; and there were many of this sort, who were not sent forth by Christ, or his churches, but went forth of themselves, and were corrupters of the word; and therefore Christ’s ministers ought to hold fast the faithful word, and convince such opposers by sound doctrine;
and vain talkers; who deliver out in their discourses empty, trifling, superficial, and frivolous things; which have no solidity and substance in them, nor do they tend to edification; only great swelling words of vanity, vain jangling and babbling about things to no profit.
And deceivers; both of themselves and others; who lie in wait to deceive, and are deceitful workers; and by their good words, and fair speeches, deceive the hearts of the simple; and so are dangerous persons, and of pernicious consequence:
especially they of the circumcision; or “of the Jews”, as the Ethiopic version renders it; that is, not the unbelieving Jews, but such as professed Christianity, judaizing Christians, who joined Moses and Christ and blended the law and Gospel together; who taught that circumcision, and the observance of other ceremonies of the law, were necessary to justification and salvation; and hereby did a great deal of mischief among the churches.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Vain talkers (). Late and rare compound, empty talkers, in Vett. Val. and here. See 1Ti 1:6 for .
Deceivers (). Late and rare compound, in papyri, eccl. writers, here alone in N.T. “Mind-deceivers.” See Ga 6:3 for .
Specially they of the circumcision ( ). Same phrase in Acts 11:2; Gal 2:12; Col 4:11. Jews are mentioned in Crete in Ac 2:11. Apparently Jewish Christians of the Pharisaic type tinged with Gnosticism.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Vain talkers [] . N. T. o. o LXX, o Class. See on vain jangling, 1Ti 1:6.
Deceivers [] . N. T. o. o LXX, o Class. See on frenapatan to deceive, Gal 6:3.
They of the circumcision [ ] . The phrase only here in Pastorals. Oi ejk peritomhv Act 10:45; Act 11:2; Rom 4:12; Gal 2:12; Col 4:11. There can be no doubt of the presence of Jews in Crete. Tacitus (Hist. 5 2) even makes the absurd statement that the Jews were Cretan exiles; and that from their residence in the vicinity of the Cretan Mount Ida they were called Idaei, whence Judaei. There appears to have been some confusion between the Palestinians and the Philistines – the Cherethim or Cherethites, who, in Eze 25:16; Zep 2:5 are called in LXX Krhtev Jews were in the island in considerable numbers between the death of Alexander and the final destruction of Jerusalem. In 1 Macc. 14 23 the Cretan city of Gortyna is mentioned among the places to which letters were written by Lucius, the Rom. consul, on behalf of the Jews when Simon Maccabaeus renewed the treaty which his brother Judas had made with Rome. Josephus (Ant. 17 12, 1; Bell. Jud 2:7, 1) says that Herod ‘s pseudo – son Alexander imposed on the Cretan Jews on his way to Italy. Philo (Leg. ad Cai. 36) makes the Jewish envoys say to Caligula that all the principal islands of the Mediterranean, including Crete, were full of Jews.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “For there are many.” (eisin gar polloi) “For there exist many.” Evil babblers already existed in New Testament days, Mar 7:5-9.
2) “Unruly and vain talkers and deceivers.” (anupotaktoi) “Unruly, irascible men” – (mataiologoi kai phrenapatai) “Vain or empty talkers and deceivers.” Many vain babblers have a one cylinder brain and an eight cylinder tongue, making divine claims, but being emissaries of the Devil, false prophets Mat 7:21-23; 2Pe 2:1-2; 2Pe 2:17-18.
3) “Specially they of the circumcision.” (malista hoi ek tes peritomes) “Specifically those of the circumcision,” the Jews. It was professing Jews who reverted to ceremonies of Judaism that disturbed the Antioch, Jerusalem, and other New Testament churches, Act 15:1-2; Act 15:5; Act 15:23-24. Their mouths must be stopped, their false claims answered, exposed by true prophets, pastors of God, Jas 1:26.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
10 For there are many unruly. (224) After having laid down a general rule, which ought to be everywhere observed, in order that Titus may be more attentive to adhere to it, he holds out to him the urgent necessity which ought to excite him more than all things else. He warns him that he has to deal with many obstinate and incorrigible persons, that many are puffed up with vanity and idle talk, that many are deceivers; and that therefore they ought to choose, on the other hand, such leaders as are qualified and well prepared to oppose them. For, if the children of this world, when dangers arise, increase their solicitude and watchfulness, it would be disgraceful for us, when Satan is using his utmost efforts to remain careless and inactive, as if we were in a state of peace.
Unruly Instead of ( inobedientes) disobedient, which is the rendering in the old translation for ἀνυπότακτοι Erasmus translates it ( intractabiles) incorrigible. He means those who cannot endure to be brought to obey, and who throw off the yoke of subjection. He gives the appellation of vain talkers, (225) not only to the authors of false doctrines, but to those who, addicted to ambitious display, occupy themselves with nothing but useless subtleties. Ματαιολογία (226) (vain talking) is contrasted with useful and solid doctrine, and therefore includes all trivial and frivolous speculations, which contain nothing but empty bombast, because they contribute nothing to piety and the fear of God. And such is all the scholastic theology that is found, in the present day, in Popery. Yet he calls the same persons deceivers of minds. It may be thought preferable to view this as relating to a different class of persons; but, for my own part, I think that it means the same class; for the teachers of such trifles entice and fascinate the minds of men, so as no longer to receive sound doctrine.
Chiefly they who are of the circumcision. He says that they are chiefly of the Jews; for it is highly requisite that such plagues shall be known by all. We ought not to listen to those who plead that we should spare the reputation of this or that individual, when the matter in question is the great danger of the whole Church. And so much the greater danger was to be apprehended from that nation, because it claimed superiority above others on account of the sacredness of its lineage. This is therefore the reason why Paul reproves the Jews more sharply, in order to take from them the power of doing injury.
(224) “ Car il y en a plusieurs qui ne se peuvent ranger.” — “For there are many of them who cannot submit.”
(225) “ Parlans vanitez.” — “Speaking vanities.”
(226) “ Vanite de paroles.” — “Vanity of words.”
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
CRITICAL AND EXPLANATORY NOTES
Tit. 1:10. Vain talkers.Men of aimless speech, which is devoid of any good result. Men whose speech tendeth to poverty. Deceivers.The word, which is peculiar to St. Paul, and perhaps coined by him (see Gal. 6:3), brings out the idea of subjective fancies (Lightfoot).
Tit. 1:11. Whose mouths must be stopped.The verb means something must be put on their mouthsthey must be muzzled; but it afterwards came to mean, to check speech.
Tit. 1:12. A prophet of their own.Epimenides, the poet alluded to, was a contemporary of the seven wise men, and by some was reckoned as one of them. He was born in the sixth century B.C. The saying quoted by St. Paul is from a lost work. The Cretians are alway liars.Chrysostom refers the words chiefly to the pretence that Jupiter lay buried amongst the Cretans; but in ancient times they were notorious for falsehood, so that to Cretise was equivalent to, to lie and deceive.
Tit. 1:13. This witness is true.Not only does a competent person attest it, but it agrees with fact. Rebuke them sharply.With a sharply cut style, curtly, with thorough-going Sternness (Meyer).
MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.Tit. 1:10-14
The Mischief of Reckless Speech.
I. Reckless speech occasions great disorder.For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers who subvert whole houses (Tit. 1:10-11). Excessive speech is always foolish, and is the index to a mind too full of conceit to have any room for wisdom. Churches and families are led into quarrels and divisions by reckless talkers. They indulge in unkind and calumnious words, perverse meanings are given to the sayings of those they dislike, bitter and provoking things are said of our neighbours characters, and, above all, they utter those evil, corrupt words that do the devils work, enticing others on to sin. Such vain talkers exult in the confusion and uproar they themselves create.
II. Reckless speech is morally degrading.
1. Has no regard for the true gospel. Specially they of the circumcision (Tit. 1:10). Giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth (Tit. 1:14). Josephus tells us there were many Jews in Crete. The Jewish leaven remained in them after conversion, and they would become an easy prey to the advocates of a corrupted Judaism and an emasculated Christianity. The voluble Jewish talkers made sad havoc of the gospel.
2. Will say anything for gain. Teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucres sake (Tit. 1:11). They talked for a living, and were utterly unscrupulous as to what they said, so long as they got the money. Their chief object was gain, not profitable instruction.
3. Degenerates into lying and sensuality. The Cretians are always liars. This witness is true (Tit. 1:12-13). The quotation is from the Cretan writer Epimenides. He was sent for to purify Athens from its pollutions occasioned by Cylon, and was regarded as a diviner and prophet. To Cretanise was proverbial for to lie, as to Corinthianise was for to be dissolute. Lying and sensuality go together. Some people lie for the love of lying, and become almost incapable of speaking the truth. In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin (Pro. 10:19).
III. Reckless speech should be emphatically condemned.Whose mouths must be stopped (Tit. 1:11). Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith (Tit. 1:13). The inveterate talker is not easily cured. Gentle methods are of no avail in dealing with him: his perversity must be boldly attacked and sharply rebuked. If he is not silenced, others he has led astray may be reclaimed.
Words are mighty, words are living,
Serpents with their venomous stings;
Or bright angels crowding round us,
With heavens light upon their wings.
Every word has its own spirit,
True or false, that never dies;
Every word mans lips have uttered
Echoes in Gods skies.
Lessons.Reckless speech
1. Is a sign of pitiable ignorance.
2. Is mischievous both to speaker and listener.
3. Will meet with its just punishment.
GERM NOTES ON THE VERSES
Tit. 1:10-12. The Vice of Aimless Talk.
I. The chief hindrances to religion are often in the Church itself.
II. Hindrances in the Church must be removed.
1. Discipline must be exercised in love.
2. The prosperity of the Church must be considered before that of individuals.
3. Every age has its own obstructions to the truth.
III. Communities are affected by the conduct of individuals.Aimless talk leads to
1. Untruthfulness.
2. Sensuality.
3. Sloth.
Tit. 1:13. Christian Reproof
I. Should always be based on a certain conviction.
II. Should be thorough and effective.
III. Should be for the sinners good.
Tit. 1:14. The Perverting Power of Trivialities.
I. By distracting attention from the essentials of religion.
II. By dissipating the strength of the mind.
III. By attributing to the human an authority belonging only to the Divine.F. W.
Fuente: The Preacher’s Complete Homiletical Commentary Edited by Joseph S. Exell
2.
THE DESCRIPTION AND REFUTATION OF FALSE TEACHERS Tit. 1:10-16.
Text 1:1016
10 For there are many unruly men, vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision, 11 whose mouths must be stopped; men who overthrow whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucres sake. 12 One of themselves, a prophet of their own, said,
Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, idle gluttons.
13 This testimony is true. For which cause reprove them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, 14 not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men who turn away from the truth. 15 To the pure all things are pure: but to them that are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but both their mind and their conscience are defiled. 16 They profess that they know God; but by their works they deny Him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate,
Thought Questions 1:1016
42.
Please show the connection of verse ten with the preceding verses.
43.
In what sense would the men described in verse ten be unruly or vain talkers?
44.
Is Paul discussing the Jews in Tit. 1:10?
45.
Just how was Titus going to gag such false teachers?
46.
Is Paul discussing a problem in the churches of Crete? Prove your answer,
47.
Why would anyone be willing to pay to hear such false teaching?
48.
Why quote from one of the Cretan prophets? Can we identify him?
49.
Why would Cretans be tempted above others to be liars, evil beasts, idle gluttons?
50.
Who is to be reproved sharply?
51.
From Tit. 1:13 it would seem the ones to be reproved sharply are Cretan Christiansis this true?are they also the unruly men?
52.
A discussion of Jewish fables has already been consideredwhere? Discuss.
53.
Show how Tit. 1:15 relates to the context.
54.
Discuss a very basic principle of psychology involved in Tit. 1:15.
55.
How are the words mind and conscience used in Tit. 1:15?
56.
How was God denied in the works of certain men?
57.
What is the meaning and use of the word abominable in Tit. 1:16?
58.
Discuss the term reprobate.
Paraphrase 1:1016
10 For there are many teachers, who, being unsubjected to us, talk in a foolish manner concerning genealogies and fables, and deceive others; of this sort especially are the Jewish teachers,
11 Whose mouths must be stopped, neither by persecution nor force, but by clear and strong reasoning, because they carry off whole families to Judaism, teaching things which they ought not, for the sordid purpose of drawing money from their disciples.
12 The Judaizers in this are true Cretians, agreeably to what one of themselves, a prophet of their own, hath said, The Cretians are exceedingly addicted to lying, and of a savage noxious disposition, and lazy gluttons.
13 This testimony concerning the Cretians is just; for which cause I order thee to rebuke them and their disciples sharply, that, laying aside their wicked principles and practices, they may be healthy in the faith;
14 Not giving heed to Jewish fables concerning the law, and to precepts concerning meats, enjoined by men who turn away true doctrine from themselves and others as a thing noxious.
15 All meats indeed are pure to the well-informed and well-disposed: but to those who are polluted by intemperance, and who are unfaithful to Christ, no kind of meat is pure; for both their understanding and conscience is polluted by their intemperate use of the meats which the law reckons clean.
16 They of the circumcision profess to know the will of God better than others; but by their works they deny himbeing abominable on account of their sensuality, and disobedient to the express commands of God, and to every good work without discernment: They neither know nor approve of any good work.
Comment 1:1016
Tit. 1:10. We are now introduced to the gainsayers or those who contradict. Paul says four things about them: (1) they are insubordinate, (2) they are empty talkers, (3) they are deceivers, (4) they are Jewish.
Such men were very numerous on the isle of Crete. Are we to understand that they were Christians? If they were not members of the church they were very closely associated, because they were upsetting whole houses in the church.
Timothy had the same problem in Ephesusand must deal with it in the same manner (Cf. 1Ti. 1:6-8). The admonition to gag such persons can be understood when we look at their character: insubordinate, proud, and deceitful or dishonest. Such persons are not all Jews, but most of them are. The elders are to be so taught that they could recognize such teachers.
Tit. 1:11. With some heretics it is better to ignore them than to challenge their teaching; not so with these teachers. They must be muzzled! A simple authoritative charge to cease teaching, backed up with an apostolic letter, would stop such mouths.
It does make a vast difference what is taught! It is always a constant wonder why there are some among the saints who will hear and heed a false teacher, Paul knew of whole families who were being infected by this diseased doctrine. The deceived members of the churches on Crete were paying money to be duped! Such a tragic condition must be changed; elders were to be appointed for this purpose,
Tit. 1:12. Paul characterizes the Cretans by the words of Epimenides, one of the prophets of this people, Epimenides lived about 600 B.C. and was held in almost divine regard. His testimony concerning his own countrymen was anything but complimentary. Three things are said of Cretans: (1) they are habitual liars, (2) evil, brute-like people, (3) indolent belly-worshippers, What is known from all sources confirms this testimony, A special expression was coined to describe the lying of the Cretans. The expression to Cretize meant to lie, and to play the Cretan with a Cretan meant to out-trick a trickster (Hiebert) The expression evil beasts indicated the level on which they were livingtheir lower natures were in full control, No attempt was made to curb any selfish, sensual or vengeful desire, The expression lumpish greedy-guts is used by Simpson to describe the third quality of such persons. When no attempt is made to control the appetites of the body, such a person will carry around an advertisement of his lack of self-control. It will be a large stomach!
Tit. 1:13. Paul used the words of a respected prophetnot that he believed in the prophetic powers of suchto say with sharper meaning and condemnation what he also wanted to say. It is not to be imagined that all Cretans were under such condemnation, for some of them were new creatures in Christ Jesus, but some among the believers were being influenced, To such members of the churches, Titus was to deliver a charge with the force and cutting power of a sharp ax. Such diseased teaching must be cut off with an accurate clean stroke! The result will be very good: health and vigor will return and they will be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus,
Tit. 1:14. The Jewish fables have been discussed before in I Timothy, Please notice Pauls estimate of such teachingfables, and commandments of men. There is no foundation in reality, and no divine authority behind such teachings. The expression turn away means that they continue turning away. Such men are willful and do not want to follow the truth. There is Satanic influence at work in these men to blind their eyes to the truth; such influence is to be avoided at all costs, hence the urgency of the admonition.
Tit. 1:15. Paul states in this verse a principle that will both cure and condemn. To the pure all things are pure. Please keep this principle in its context. The distinctions made by the Jewish law to clean and unclean meats and men, is probably in view. The apostle is saying that such distinctions have been removed, and therefore, such teaching is to be ignored. The point implicit in Pauls principle is: You, not the meats, are impure! When the heart is clean, then all non-moral objects are clean, but when your heart is polluted, then all you use is also unclean.
To such law teachers in Crete (even as in Ephesus) Paul has no hesitancy in saying they are defiled and unbelieving, When we will not believe the truth, we must look deeper than an intellectual difficulty. The defilement of the heart precedes the disbelief of the mind. The effects of moral dishonesty are tragic: nothing is puremind diseasedconscience seared. Only in humble acceptance of Gods word is there moral and intellectual purity.
Tit. 1:16. Profession without possession spells condemnation. To claim a knowledge and association with the infinitely holy God, while we live the loose life of the self-indulgent, is to make ourselves liars and to deny the very one we profess to follow. Such persons are seen by God as detestable and loathsome. The hypocrisy of those who declare their faith, and live in denial of it, are plainly willful in their conduct; such men are not sick or maladjusted, they are disobedient. The word reprobate has reference to the testing of coins for genuineness. The errorists have been tested and have been found spurious. Their works have been examined and have been found worthless.
Fact Questions 1:1016
23.
Show the distinction in the use of the words unrulyvain talkersdeceivers.
24.
How was Titus going to carry out the injunctions of Paul to gag or muzzle certain men?
25.
Were the false teachers on the inside, or the outside of the church? Explain.
26.
Try to reconstruct the situation in which certain men would be paid to deceive,
27.
Wouldnt Paul antagonize the very ones he was trying to help, in citing the very critical comment of Epimenides? Discuss.
28.
Who was to be reproved sharply? Why?
29.
Are Jewish fables, and the commandments of men the same thing? Explain.
30.
Give your exegesis of Tit. 1:15. Please relate this verse to the context.
31.
Show how the principle stated in Tit. 1:15 relates to our life.
32.
Is it possible to defile the conscience beyond repair? Discuss.
33.
If professing we know God will not make it sowhat will?
34.
Is Paul saying in Tit. 1:16 b that the works of such men are worthless, or that they are worthless regardless of their works?
Fuente: College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
(10) For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers.Nominally in the congregations of Christians, but in reality refusing all obedience, acting for themselves, factious, insubordinate. Titus would, alas, discover many such; these often would be found to be possessed of the gift of fluent and deceptive speech, and would deceive many. Professor Reynolds characterises such restless, uneasy spirits as loquacious, restless talkers, who must say something, and who have broken the peace of many a home and shattered the prosperity of many a church; the multitude of teachers who have nothing true to say is the curse of the kingdom of God.
Specially they of the circumcision.Here St. Paul points out to Titus where he must look for the origin of this hostility. These unhappy men evidently did not belong to the stern and rigid Jewish party who hated with a bitter hate all the followers of the Nazarene, but were of the number of those sleepless opponents of St. Paul and his schoolthe Judaising Christians.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
‘For there are many unruly men, vain talkers and deceivers, especially they of the circumcision, whose mouths must be stopped. Men who overthrow whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.’
The Cretan church was clearly plagued with men who ignored the church leadership and did their own thing, ‘unruly men’. And they were called this because their message was also unorthodox. They were vain talkers about idle speculations and deceivers in that they portrayed their ideas as being true to Christian teaching, when they were not. And a great number of them were Jewish so-called ‘Christians’, who replaced the central message of the cross and resurrection (Tit 2:14; Tit 3:4-6) by offering fanciful interpretations of the Old Testament (1Ti 1:4; 1Ti 1:7; 1Ti 6:20; 2Ti 2:16) and the way of asceticism which resulted in a requirement to observe laws of cleanliness (1Ti 4:3), abstain from marriage (1Ti 4:3) and the observance of particular feasts (Col 2:16-17; Col 2:20-23). Their aim was to make themselves ‘pure’.
Thus Paul says, ‘their mouths must be stopped (muzzled).’ This will be best achieved by so presenting the truth that falsehood falls away. But the more persistent ones must, if necessary, in the end be disciplined (1Ti 1:20). The fact that that is not mentioned here suggests that Paul is hopeful that Titus will be able to win them back to Christ.
‘Men who overthrow whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.’ In some parts things were getting pretty bad. They were inveigling themselves into households and then ‘overthrowing them’ by convincing them of their false speculations. This may mean that they set them in disarray, or even that they converted them altogether. And all the time many of them were doing it in order to make a profit out of it. Such is the depths to which their ‘Christian’ testimony had fallen. Paul probably knew of one or to cases where this had happened. p> Tit 1:12 ‘One of themselves, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, idle gluttons”.’
He then cites a quotation from Epimenides, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, idle gluttons”. Epimenides was described in Greek literature as a prophet, and Paul is therefore putting them on the spot. Either they reject this description of them, thus decrying one of ‘their own prophets’, or they accept his description and condemn themselves. Meanwhile he is citing something that the majority of Greeks would have confirmed, and doing it in terms of one of their own.
The writing is not extant, but is referred to in the early fathers. Some, however, impute it to Callimachus who cites half of it in a hymn to Zeus. The Cretians in fact had a reputation for being liars because they claimed that the tomb of Zeus was in Crete, which offended those who saw him as a god and very much ‘alive’. Indeed they coined the word ‘kretizein’ meaning a ‘Cretan liar’. Here, however, Paul uses pseustai, the normal word for liars.
The description fits the false teachers. They are lying, they are behaving like animals, and they are greedy.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
The Reason Why He Needs To Be Such A Paragon Is Because Of The False Teaching That He Will Have To Deal With ( Tit 1:10-16 ).
We are now given a picture of the false teachers whom Titus has been sent to combat, not by disputing with them, but by leading the true believers into righteous thinking and living.
Analysis.
a
b One of themselves, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, idle gluttons”. This testimony is true. For which reason reprove them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith (Tit 1:12-13).
c Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men who turn away from the truth (Tit 1:14).
b To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure, but both their mind and their conscience are defiled (Tit 1:15).
a They profess that they know God, but by their works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate (Tit 1:16).
Note that in ‘a’ they are men of evil tongue who must be stopped, while in the parallel they are men of evil behaviour who must be stopped. In ‘b’ Cretans are seen to be of low morals, while Christians are to live rightly according to their faith, and in the parallel the to the pure all things are pure, while the emphasis is on those who are defiled so that it has even defiled their minds and their consciences. In ‘c’ he must take no notice of Jewish fables, or what is demanded by people who have turned away from the truth.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Warnings against False Leaders – After Paul tells Titus how to identify those church members who qualify for ordination as bishops, or elders, by listing qualifications to look for in their character (Tit 1:5-9), he then explains to him the characteristics of false teachers and how to deal with them (Tit 1:10-16). For as godly leaders will influence many lives, so will ungodly leaders “subvert whole households” (Tit 1:11). In this passage in Tit 1:10-16 Paul uses three adjectives in a progressive order to describe those who reject the truth and attempt to lead others in their own vain way. These people present themselves as “church leaders”, but are in fact deceivers. Paul calls them “unruly and vain talkers and deceivers.” They “reject” the truth, present themselves as leaders through “idle talk” and thus “deceive” the hearts of many (Tit 1:10). Paul describes an individual who has rejected the pathway of divine authority established by God within the local church, and who has embarked upon his own journey to gather followers (Tit 1:11), as did Absalom who rebelled against his father King David and tried to gain control over the kingdom. Paul quotes one of their own prophets to show Titus of their characteristics (Tit 1:12) and then Paul further explains their behaviour and false pretenses (Tit 1:13-16).
Tit 1:10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:
Tit 1:10
Tit 1:10 “there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers” Comments – We can see in these three negative characteristics listed by Paul the corruption of the three-fold make-up of a man. The term “unruly”, or “undisciplined,” would apply to a person’s physical behaviour, while “vain talkers” would refer to the tongue, or the mind of man, and “deceivers” would refer to a corrupt heart. Thus, Paul describes some of the most common behaviours of a depraved person’s body, mind and spirit.
Tit 1:10 “specially they of the circumcision” Comments – The KJV gives a literal translation of the phrase “especially those of the circumcision.” Within the context of Paul’s charge to find qualified leaders over the churches of Crete, this group of circumcision of which Titus was to caution was within these churches. They were Jewish converts to the faith. For this reason a few modern English translations take the liberty to translate this text using the word “Jewish.”
NAB, “For there are also many rebels, idle talkers and deceivers, especially the Jewish Christians.”
NET, “For there are many rebellious people, idle talkers, and deceivers, especially those with Jewish connections.”
Paul refers to the Jews in Tit 1:10 as “they of the circumcision” in order to emphasize their vain traditions. Circumcision represented their best known tradition, which Paul had to confront in the council of Jerusalem in Acts 15 by bringing Titus with him as an uncircumcised Gentile believer (Gal 2:1-10). Paul will refer to these Jewish traditions in Tit 1:14 by saying, “Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.”
Tit 1:10 Comments – In Tit 1:10 Paul warns Titus of the characteristics of some problem people that he should watch out for in order to protect the doctrine of the Church as well as church members. We would think in the pagan Greco-Roman culture of Paul’s day that the Jews would represent the divine virtues of their society better than the heathens, who were know for their vices of pagan worship and debauchery. Unfortunately, it was “especially they of the circumcision” who were Paul’s greatest opponents to the spread of the Gospel; for they had a veil over their eyes so that they could not recognize their Messiah (2Co 3:14). Such Judaizers went to great lengths to resist and chase away these follows of Jesus of Nazareth. They saw Christians as an unhealthy sect of Judaism, to which they had little tolerance. We get some hints in Paul’s first epistle to Timothy of problems and oppositions caused by Jews in Ephesus (1Ti 1:6-7; 1Ti 1:20). In contrast, these Gentile pagans willing embraced whatever new religion that met the needs in their desperate lives.
Even when these Jews were converted to faith in Christ, there were some who tried to put Paul’s churches under the covering of the church of Jerusalem, as seen in 2 Corinthians. Other local Jewish converts fell into the deception of clinging to their old traditions and myths as a part of their new-found faith in Christ.
Tit 1:10 Scripture References – Note similar verses:
Mat 5:19, “Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”
Mat 15:9, “But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”
Note other passages on false teachers:
1Ti 1:3-10; 1Ti 4:1-5; 1Ti 6:1-10
2Ti 4:1-5
2Pe 2:1-3
Tit 1:11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.
Tit 1:11
2Ti 4:2, “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.”
Tit 1:11 “who subvert whole houses” – Comments – In most nations on earth, when the head of the house chooses a belief, the entire family chooses to follow out of respect for the father. The wife and children whole-heartedly embrace the decisions made by the head of the household, or the head of a clan. We see examples of this in the household conversions of Cornelius (Acts 10) and of the Philippians jailer (Acts 16). In contrast, our modern western culture is very individualistic, where family members often make decisions independent of one another.
It is very possible that Paul had witnessed the loss of entire families from church membership as a result of such deception and idle talk, especially from those of the circumcision (Tit 1:10).
Tit 1:11 “for filthy lucre’s sake” Comments – This same Greek word ( ) is used earlier in Tit 1:7 to describe those who are unqualified for leadership in the church. Yet, according to the context of this passage, it was such Jews who were fighting for positions of power and influence in these congregations.
Tit 1:12 One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.
Tit 1:12
John Chrysostom [25] and Clement of Alexandria [26] tell us that Paul’s quote in Tit 1:12 comes from a Cretan prophet named Epimenides (6 th c. B.C.), generally believed to be written in his poem Cretica. F. F. Bruce provides the following translation of this poem from the Syriac of Isho’dad, Bishop of Hadatha:
[25] John Chrysostom writes, “For when Paul was discoursing to the Athenians, in the course of his harangue he quoted these words, To the Unknown God; and again, For we also are His offspring, as certain also of your own poets have said. It was Epimenides who said this, himself a Cretan, and whence he was moved to say it is necessary to mention. It is this. The Cretans have a tomb of Jupiter, with this inscription. ‘Here lieth Zan, whom they call Jove.’ On account of this inscription, then, the poet ridiculing the Cretans as liars, as he proceeds, introduces, to increase the ridicule, this passage. ‘For even a tomb, O King, of thee They made, who never diedst but aye shalt be.’” ( Epistle of St. Paul to Titus: Homily III) See John Chrysostom, The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople, on the Epistles of St. Paul the Apostle to Timothy, Titus, and Philemon, Translated, with Notes and Indices (Oxford: John Henry Parker, 1843), 292.
[26] Clement of Alexandria writes, “The Greeks say, that after Orpheus and Linus, and the most ancient of the poets that appeared among them, the seven, called wise, were the first that were admired for their wisdom. Of whom four were of Asia-Thales of Miletus, and Bias of Priene, Pittacus of Mitylene, and Cleobulus of Lindos; and two of Europe, Solon the Athenian, and Chilon the Lacedaemonian; and the seventh, some say, was Periander of Corinth; others, Anacharsis the Scythian; others, Epimenides the Cretan, whom Paul knew as a Greek prophet, whom he mentions in the Epistle to Titus, where he speaks thus: ‘One of themselves, a prophet of their own, said, The Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. And this witness is true.’ You see how even to the prophets of the Greeks he attributes something of the truth, and is not ashamed, when discoursing for the edification of some and the shaming of others, to make use of Greek poems.” ( The Stromata, or Miscellanies 1.14)
They fashioned a tomb for thee, O holy and high one
The Cretans, always liars, evil beasts, idle bellies!
But thou art not dead: thou livest and abidest forever,
For in thee we live and move and have our being.” [27]
[27] F. F. Bruce provides this quote, which he says comes from the Syriac version of the ninth century commenties of Isho’dad, Bishop of Hadatha. This quote can be found in the Syriac in The Commentaries of Isho’dad of Merv Bishop of Hadatha (c. 850 A.D.) in Syriac and English, vol. 5, ed. and trans. Margaret Dunlop Gibson, in Horae Semiticas no XI (Cambridge: The University Press, 1916), 40. See F. F. Bruce, The Book of Acts, in The New International Commentary on the New Testament, ed. Gordon D. Fee (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 1988), 339.
However, some scholars believe this quote comes from the ancient Greek poet Callimachus in his Hymn to Zeus, which says, “O Zeus, say in Arcadia; did these or those, O Father, lie? ‘Cretans are ever liars.’ Yea, a tomb/O Lord, for thee the Cretans builded; but thou didst not die, for thou art for ever.” ( Hymn to Zeus 7-9) [28]
[28] Callimachus, Lycophron, Aratus, trans. A. D. Godley, in The Loeb Classical Library, eds. T. E. Page, E. Capps, and W. H. D. Rouse (London: William Heinemann, 1921), 36-37.
This description of Cretans in Tit 1:12, to which Paul the Apostle agrees to in the following verse, sets the mood of the epistle. Paul deals with the Cretan’s problem of laziness by speaking of good works in many of the verses of this epistle.
Tit 1:16, “They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.”
Tit 2:7, “In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works : in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,”
Tit 2:14, “Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works .”
Tit 3:8, “This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works . These things are good and profitable unto men.”
Tit 3:14, “And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.”
Tit 1:13 This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;
Tit 1:13
Tit 1:13 Scripture References – Note similar verses:
Mat 18:16-18, “But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
Luk 17:1-3, “Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come! It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.”
Eph 5:11, “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.”
2Ti 4:2, “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.”
Tit 1:14 Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.
Tit 1:14
Tit 1:14 Scripture References – Note similar verses about the dangers of the doctrines of man:
Mar 7:8, “For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.”
Col 2:8, “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.”
Col 2:18-19, “Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.”
1Ti 1:4, “Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.”
2Ti 4:4, “And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”
Tit 1:15 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.
Tit 1:15
1Ti 1:5, “Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart , and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:”
Tit 1:15 “but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled” – Comments – Our minds can become defiled, even as Christians. For example, gossip can take a pure heart and defile it with false information, so that a listener developed an unhealthy attitude towards someone. He may no longer look at others with a pure heart, but rather, from an attitude of distrust from the words sown into his mind.
Tit 1:15 Illustration – During my second or third year as a seminary student, I was home for the summer and attended a family gathering. There I shared with some relatives how the ladies at Hiland Park Baptist had given me a shower and clothes for seminary. One of my uncles, who was not a professing Christian, jokingly said they were older ladies who go after younger men. The Lord then quickened Tit 1:15 to me as my uncle was joking about this issue. A sinner and a child of God can see the same event and interpret it two different ways. A sinner sees out of a dirty heart. He only sees sin. A child of God sees from a clean heart, and can rightly divide the truth.
Tit 1:16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
Tit 1:16
Fuente: Everett’s Study Notes on the Holy Scriptures
The False Teachers Characterized and the Question of How to Deal with Them Discussed.
v. 10. For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision,
v. 11. whose mouths must be stopped; who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.
v. 12. One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, the Cretians are always liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.
v. 13. This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply that they may be sound in the faith,
v. 14. not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.
v. 15. Unto the pure all things are pure; but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.
v. 16. They profess that they know God; but in works they deny Him, being abominable and disobedient and unto every good work reprobate. The term “objectors” or “gainsayers” used by the apostle in the previous paragraph was not a general term, which might cover almost any form of heresy that Titus chose to connect with it, but Paul wanted it applied to a certain class of people, who, indeed, bore the distinguishing characteristics common to the heretics of all times. He writes: For there are many insubordinate people, vain talkers, and seducers, for the most part they of the circumcision, whose mouths must be stopped. There were difficulties to battle with in Crete which resembled those that were troubling Timothy in Ephesus, 1Ti 1:4-7. There were certain Judaistic teachers that professed adherence to the Christian religion and therefore had little difficulty in entering the congregations. Their number was by no means small, and that fact probably accounts for the boldness which they displayed. They were disobedient, insubordinate, to their Pharisaic minds the simple truths of the Gospel were not sufficiently strict, they refused to acknowledge the authority of the apostolic doctrine. This conviction of theirs they, moreover, did not keep for themselves, but took every opportunity to spread it by loose and vain talk, by empty arguments, with a great show of wisdom. In doing so, they displayed the dangerous ability of presenting falsehood in the garb and guise of truth, a proceeding which naturally resulted in their deceiving many people that did not penetrate the disguise. Very likely these men claimed to have just as much right to teach as Paul himself, and their efforts to introduce Jewish rites and ceremonies into the Christian congregations could well arouse apprehension in the mind of the apostle. He therefore insists upon using only one method of dealing with them, namely, that of stopping their mouths, of continuing the rebuke of their false position so long until they no longer were able to answer and would keep the peace for the sake of their own peace of mind. The same method ought to be applied in similar cases also in our days, lest the pernicious activity of such disturbers of the peace harm the work of the Lord.
The apostle now substantiates his recommendation of such a radical suggestion: Who are subverting entire households, since they teach what they ought not, for the sake of gain. If these false teachers, who made a specialty of insinuating themselves into individual families, would continue in their pernicious activity unmolested, the omission of proper reproof would soon result in a most deplorable condition. For entire households had given car to their seductive talk, dissension had been eon-n in the midst of families, and the end promised to be still worse. This situation was the result of their teaching such doctrines as should not be taught at any time. They pretended that their empty tall; was sound Gospel-truth. What made the entire matter SO extremely sordid and disgusting was the fact that they were active along the lines just indicated only for the sake of filthy gain; their avowed object was to make money. Note: Even today people will become the ready dupes of similar enthusiasts, readily paying the false teachers great sums of money, as the history of various recent sects shows, while the Church of the pure confession is almost invariably battling with financial difficulties.
Since the false teachers of whom Paul speaks were Jews by descent, but Cretans by nationality, St. Paul adds a sentence for their benefit: There said one of them, their own prophet: Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons. The apostle here places deceivers and deceived into one category, reminding them of the saying of one of their own poets, Epimenides, of the sixth century before Christ, who was regarded by the Cretans themselves as a prophet. The Cretans as a people are represented as liars, as men who deliberately made use of hypocritical, shady methods. Like evil beasts they are, that lie in wait to pounce upon unsuspecting men. Lazy gluttons they are, that shun the work and yet want to live profligate lives. It was not vindictiveness which caused Paul to quote this remark, which certainly is anything but flattering, but the desire to work a consciousness and knowledge of their national weaknesses in the Cretans, and thus probably lay the foundation for the proper remedy.
For the Holy Spirit here confirms the judgment contained in the ancient verse: This testimony is true. The divine inspiration declares that the remark agrees with the situation. For that reason Paul urges his young coworker: On this account rebuke them sharply, that they may show wholesomeness in the faith. No consideration should induce them to identify themselves with the morbid methods of the errorists. With the most emphatic sharpness Titus was to impress upon the Christians the need of wholesome saneness in all matters of faith. They had accepted the Word of Reconciliation, but they were not yet steadfast and certain in their faith. They were like a convalescent person, who is on the way to recovery, but is still in danger of a relapse.
The apostle points out the specific danger and the manner in which faith should overcome it: Not paying attention to Jewish fables and commandments of men that turn from the truth. Both the Jewish traditions and fables concerning genealogies and the Jewish precepts taken from the ceremonial law mere doctrines of men which could under no circumstances be coordinated with the Gospel-teaching. Just as today many people find it extremely interesting to speculate about many things concerning which the Bible is silent, as, for instance, the youth of Christ, so the Judaizing teachers, following the lead of the rabbinical doctors, placed their empty speculations above the Word of God and in its stead. They still wanted to be regarded as members of the Christian congregations, but had, as a matter of fact, already turned from the sound and wholesome truth of the Gospel to their own foolish ideas.
The apostle continues to characterize the false teachers by adding: All is pure to the pure: But for the polluted and unbelieving nothing is pure, but both their mind and their conscience are polluted. As with the Pharisees, so with these false teachers all the thoughts of men revolved about the terms “pure” and “impure. ” Mat 15:1-11; Mat 18:23; Mat 16:1-28; Mat 17:1-27; Mat 18:1-35; Mat 19:1-30; Mat 20:1-34; Mat 21:1-46; Mat 22:1-46; Mat 23:1-39; Mat 24:1-51; Mat 25:1-46; Mat 26:1-75; Mat 27:1-66; Mat 28:1-20. But in the New Testament this distinction is no longer valid. The purity of the soul and of the body does not depend upon eating or rejecting certain foods, but the condition of the heart in the sight of God is the deciding factor. He that comes into contact with, and makes use of, God’s creatures with a heart purified by faith, is free from all legal prejudice and sees in all things only pure creatures of Almighty God. But the opposite is true in the case of the polluted and unbelievers. The very people that insist most loudly upon the fulfillment of the Ceremonial Law and of many other precepts that men have devised, are often suffering with impurity of heart and mind. Their unbelief will not permit them to accept the true purity of the heart. They cannot get rid of their evil conscience, because they reject the purifying power of the Gospel. Even things that are in themselves pure and holy are contaminated by the attitude of these people. They are conscious always of acting under false pretenses, and therefore they always pollute their mind and their conscience anew.
The most objectionable feature of their behavior, however, is this, that they have the temerity to insist upon being considered teachers: They profess to know God, but with their works they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient and unfit for every good work. They confess boldly, with a deceitful pretense that they know God. Their declaration of loyalty to Christ was intentionally brief and general, lest someone might hold them to a clear statement. At the same time such people deny the Lord with their works: their works mark their words as lies. It is not necessary to think of flagrant transgressions and crimes, for it is altogether sufficient to know that they sow dissension in the congregations. Detestable such people are: they are an abomination in the eyes of God; they deserve that God and men should turn from them as nauseous and offensive. Disobedient they are: they refuse to yield to the truth, they do not want to fulfill the will of God. And so they are finally unfit for any good work, they are of no use in the Christian congregation. Nothing that they do flows from the fear and love of God. Therefore the warning contained in these words, bidding Christian congregations be very careful about receiving members that are not fully approved, is altogether timely, also in our days.
Summary
After the salutation and address the apostle gives instructions regarding the qualifications of bishops, adding a few hints regarding the treatment of false teachers and their followers.
Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann
Tit 1:10. For there are many unruly, &c. St. Paul had his eye from the beginning of the epistle all along, upon the persons whom he describes in this and the following verses. This close and excellent writer never loses sight of his subject; but he proceeds so gradually to speak plainly, that we may lose sight of it, if we do not attend very carefully. See 1Ti 1:6-7.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Tit 1:10 . ] shows that this verse serves to explain the preceding words.
[ ] ] If be read, the phrase should be explained by the usage common in Greek of joining with an adjective following it (see Matthiae, 444, 4, p. 830), and taken as an adjective. If be omitted, may be taken as a substantive. The heretics are so named because they set themselves in opposition to the gospel and refuse obedience to it; the word is found also in 1Ti 1:9 ; Tit 1:6 .
The heretics are further styled ] see 1Ti 1:6 , and ( . .; the verb in Gal 6:3 ), “ misleaders ,” almost synonymous with , 2Ti 3:13 .
] A name for the Jewish-Christians, as in Gal 2:12 .
indicates that the preachers of heresy in Crete were chiefly Jewish Christians, but that they had also found followers among the Gentile Christians. These appended words do not compel us to take as the predicate, and the Christians of Crete as the unexpressed subject of (in opposition to Hofmann). Of course Paul by . . . means to say that Crete is the place where such chatterers are to be found.
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:
Ver. 10. For there are many unruly ] Lawless, yokeless, masterless men, untractable, untameable, that refuse to be reformed, hate to be healed. God will hamper these Belialists, 2Sa 23:6 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
10 16 .] By occasion of the last clause, the Apostle goes on to describe the nature of the adversaries to whom he alludes, especially with reference to Crete .
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
10 .] For (explains of Tit 1:9 ) there are many [ and ] insubordinate ( Tit 1:6 above. The joining with another adjective by is a common idiom. So Herod. viii. 61, : Aristoph. Lys. 1159, : Plato, Rep. x. p. 325, : Xen. Mem. ii. 9. 6, . Matthi, 444) vain talkers (see 1Ti 1:6 , and ch. Tit 3:9 ) and deceivers (see Gal 6:3 deceivers of men’s minds), chiefly (not only there were some such of the Gentile converts) they of the circumcision (i.e. not Jews, but Jewish Christians: for he is speaking of seducers within the Church: cf. Tit 1:11 . On the Jews in Crete, see Jos. Antt. xvii. 12. 1: B. J. ii. 7. 1: Philo, Leg. ad Cai. 36, vol. ii. p. 587), whose mouths ( , , Thl.) it is necessary to stop (we hardly need introduce here the figure of a bit and bridle, seeing that is so often used literally of ‘ stopping the mouth ,’ without any allusion to that figure: e.g. Aristoph., Eq. 841, | : Plato, Gorg., p. 329 d, : and see other examples in Wetst. And Plut., Alcib. 2, speaks of . Cf. Palm and Rost’s Lex.): such men as (“ inasmuch as they ,” Ellic.: which perhaps is logically better) overturn (ref. 1 Tim.: so, literally, Plato, Rep. v. p. 471 b, , : and fig., Demosth. 778. 22, , and so often) whole houses (cf. Juv. Sat. x. 5: “evertere domos totas optantibus ipsis | Di faciles.” Here it will mean, “pervert whole families.” Thl. says, , ), teaching things which are not fitting (on the use of (things which are definitely improper or forbidden), and (things which are so either in the mind of the describer, or which, as here, derive a seeming contingency from the mode in which the subject is presented), see Ellic.’s note here and his references to Herm. on Viger, 267, and Krger, Sprachlehre, 67. 4. 3) for the sake of base gain (cf. 1Ti 6:5 ).
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Tit 1:10-16 . I have just mentioned rebuke as a necessary element in a presbyter’s teaching. This is especially needful in dealing with Cretan heretics, in whom the Jewish strain is disagreeably prominent. Alike in their new-fangled philosophy of purity, and in their pretensions to orthodoxy, they ring false. Purity of life can only spring from a pure mind; and knowledge is alleged in vain, if it is contradicted by practice.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
Tit 1:10 . The persons spoken of here were Christian Jews. (without , see crit. note) has this meaning in reff. (in Act 10:45 it is qualified by the addition of ). Rom 4:12 , is not really an instance of the phrase. That they were at least nominally Christians is also implied by the epithet . We cannot call those persons unruly on whose obedience we have no claim.
: occurs in 1Ti 1:6 .
: seductores . The verb occurs in Gal 6:3 .
: it is probable that there were very few false teachers who were not “of the circumcision”.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Tit 1:10-16
10For there are many rebellious men, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, 11who must be silenced because they are upsetting whole families, teaching things they should not teach for the sake of sordid gain. 12One of themselves, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” 13This testimony is true. For this reason reprove them severely so that they may be sound in the faith, 14not paying attention to Jewish myths and commandments of men who turn away from the truth. 15To the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their mind and their conscience are defiled. 16They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient and worthless for any good deed.
Tit 1:10
NASB”rebellious men”
NKJV, NJB”insubordinate”
NRSV”rebellious people”
TEV”who rebel”
This is the term “be subject” (hupotass) with an alpha privative (cf. Tit 1:6). This means “not under authority.” This relates contextually to “those who contradict” in Tit 1:9. They are described in Tit 3:9-11.
NASB”empty talkers and deceivers”
NKJV, NRSV”idle talkers and deceivers”
TEV”deceive others with their nonsense”
NJB”who talk nonsense and try to make others believe it”
These two words are found only here in the NT. The primary problem of the Pastoral Letters is false teachers (characterized by these terms in Tit 1:10) and their converts. What we believe and how we live are crucial aspects of Christianity.
“those of the circumcision” This phrase reminds one of Paul’s theological opponents at the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15) and in the churches of Galatia (Gal 2:12 ff). It is uncertain how these early Jewish legalists, who asserted that people had to become Jewish and keep the Mosaic Law before they could trust Jesus and become Christians, are related to the false teachers of Colossians, Ephesians, and the Pastoral Letters. These later heresies seem to be a combination of Jewish legalism and Greek philosophical thought (Gnostics ). See Introduction to 1 Timothy, C. False Teachers and the Special Topic at 1Ti 1:8.
With the death of the Apostles and the rapid spread of Christianity, many factious groups developed through the Ancient Near East and Mediterranean world. The NT gives guidelines on how to identify these false teachers, especially Matthew 7 and the book of 1 John, which focus on appropriate lifestyle and true doctrine.
Tit 1:11 “who must be silenced” This is a present active infinitive of the compound “to put on the mouth” (i.e. to muzzle, to gag, or silence). Church leaders must control who speaks in the house churches. The same principle is true today. Religious and academic freedoms do not give anyone and everyone the right to address the gathered people of God!
“they are upsetting whole families” This could refer to house churches (cf. Rom 16:5; 1Co 16:19; Col 4:15; 1Ti 3:15) or to the exploitation of widows and those they talk to (cf. 2Ti 3:6).
“for the sake of sordid gain” This shows the true nature of the false teachers (cf. 1Ti 1:7; 1Ti 6:5; 1Ti 6:10; 2Pe 2:3; 2Pe 2:14; Jud 1:16). The church leaders of 1 Timothy 3 must be free of this temptation (cf. 1Ti 3:3; 1Ti 3:8; 1Ti 6:9-10).
False teachers and cult groups can be quickly identified by three characteristics.
1. exploitation of money
2. exploitation of sexual freedom
3. a claim to unique and direct revelation
If your religious leaders want your money, your wife, and claim God told them run!
Tit 1:12 “One of themselves a prophet” Epimenides lived in the sixth century B.C. and was from Crete. The fact that Paul quotes one of their poets shows the Greek influence on this island and in the heresy. Paul quotes from Greek philosophers and poets at least three times in his writings (cf. Act 17:28; 1Co 15:13; Tit 1:12). His home town of Tarsus was known for its educational institutions. Paul was highly educated in both Greek and Hebrew culture.
Paul may have called Epimenides a prophet because he wrote truly about the inhabitants of Crete or possibly because the Cretans considered him a speaker inspired by the Greek gods. He was known as one of the wisest men of Crete.
“Cretans are always liars” This is in hexameter poetic form. The Cretans believed and bragged that Zeus was buried on their island. The term “cretinous” meant “a liar.” In this context this characterization seems to relate to the false teachers, not the churches or the general public.
“lazy gluttons” The basic meaning of the phrase is greed (cf. Php 3:19).
Tit 1:13 “reprove them severely” This literally means “cut off with a knife.” This is a present active imperative. This strong term is used only here in the NT. Additional admonitions to strongly rebuke can be seen in 1Ti 5:25; 2Ti 4:2; Tit 2:15.
“so that they may be sound in the faith” This shows that discipline is to be redemptive, not punitive (cf. 1Co 5:5; Heb 12:5-13). The pronouns in Tit 1:13 refer to the false teachers (cf. 2Ti 2:25-26).
The term “sound” is a recurrent theme in the Pastoral Letters, which refers to something being healthy (cf. 1Ti 1:10; 2Ti 1:13; 2Ti 4:3; Tit 1:9; Tit 1:13; Tit 2:1-2; Tit 2:8).
Tit 1:14 “Jewish myths” These myths may be connected to Jewish speculation about the genealogy of the Messiah (cf. Tit 3:9; 1Ti 1:4; 2Ti 4:4). For a good discussion of the differing connotations of “myth” see G. B. Caird, The Language and Imagery of the Bible, pp. 219-242.
“and commandments of men” This, in context, seems to refer to the Oral Tradition of the Jews, later codified in the Babylonian and Palestinian Talmuds (cf. Isa 29:13; Mar 7:7-8; Col 2:16-23).
“who turn away from the truth” This is a present middle participle. These false teachers continue to turn away from the gospel. See Special Topic: Truth at 1Ti 2:4.
Tit 1:15 “To the pure, all things are pure” “Everything” is put first in the Greek sentence for emphasis. This truth is hard for some believers to understand (cf. 1Ti 4:4; Mar 7:15-23; Luk 11:41; Rom 14:14; Rom 14:20; 1Co 10:23-33)! This possibly relates to asceticism so common in Greek religious philosophical traditions (cf. 1Ti 4:3; Col 2:20-22). Legalistic Christians often lose the biblical balance at this very point (cf. Rom 14:1 to Rom 15:13)!
“but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure” The first cognate verbal is a perfect passive participle and the second is a perfect passive indicative, which speaks of a settled state produced by an outside agent, here possibly the evil one. This type of person twists everything and everyone for personal interest (ex. Act 20:29).
Tit 1:16 “They profess to know God” “God” is placed first in the Greek sentence for emphasis. These false teachers claim to be religious! They claim godliness based on human regulations (cf. Isa 29:13; Col 2:16-23), but in reality, they are defiled. Some see this as another evidence of the Jewish element of the heresy because of the term “God” rather than Christ. For “profess” see SPECIAL TOPIC: CONFESSION at 1Ti 6:12.
“but by their deeds they deny Him” This is a present middle indicative. Believers’ lifestyle choices give evidence of their true conversion (cf. Mat 7:16; Mat 7:20; 1 John and James).
“detestable” This is a term used often in the Septuagint translated “abominable” (cf. Rev 17:4) and is often associated with idolatry. It literally means “smelly” (cf. Rev 21:8).
“and disobedient and worthless for any good deed” What a shocking phrase (cf. 1Co 3:10-15; 2Pe 1:8-11)!
The word “disobedient” is also used in Tit 3:3 to describe how believers lived before the grace of God/Christ changed them (Tit 3:4)!
The word “worthless” literally means “failure to pass the test” (dokimos with the alpha privative, cf. 1Co 9:27; 2Ti 3:8). See Special Topic: The Greek Term for “Testing” at 1Ti 6:9.
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
and. Omit.
vain talkers. Greek. mataiologos. Only here. Compare 1Ti 1:6.
deceivers. Greek. phrenapates. Only hare. Not peculiar to N.T. The verb occurs Gal 1:6, Gal 1:3,
of. App-104.
circumcision. Those here referred to were Jewish Christians.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
10-16.] By occasion of the last clause, the Apostle goes on to describe the nature of the adversaries to whom he alludes, especially with reference to Crete.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Tit 1:10. , vain-talkers and deceivers) Two nouns, of which the epithet is , unruly. As to who are vain-talkers, see 1Ti 1:6-7. , those who deceive mens minds: , unruly; like horses, that hold the bit with their teeth, they are unwilling to submit to the obedience of the faith.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Tit 1:10
For there are many unruly men, vain talkers and deceivers,-There were many who did not reverence the word of God. [They were nominally in the congregations of the Christians, but in reality refusing all obedience, acting for themselves, factious, and insubordinate, and unfortunately their tribe is with us today. They have broken the peace of many a home and disrupted the peace and prosperity of many congregations.]
specially they of the circumcision,-The Judaizing Christians. These unhappy men evidently did not belong to the stern and rigid Jewish party who bitterly hated all the followers of the Lord Jesus but were of the number of those vicious opponents of Paul.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
Reprove Those Whose Works Deny God
Tit 1:10-16
The Judaizing teachers, who insisted that men must become Jews before they could be Christians, were always on Pauls heels, visiting his churches and diverting his converts from the simplicity of the faith. Their motive in many cases was very largely self-aggrandizement. Such men were to be resisted to the uttermost and sharply rebuked. Where the work of grace is really commenced in the heart, a sharp rebuke will often turn the soul back to God. The gardener must not hesitate to use a pruning-knife, if the well-being of the tree is at stake.
Note the marvelous power we possess of viewing things in the light or gloom cast upon them from our own temperament. We see life and the world in a glass colored from within. Oh, that we might possess that pure and untarnished nature that passes through the world like a beam of sunshine, irradiating all but contaminated by none! The true test of the knowledge of God is a holy life. These act and react. The better you know God, the more you will resemble Him; compare Psa 111:1-10; Psa 112:1-10. The more you are like God, the better you will know Him.
Fuente: F.B. Meyer’s Through the Bible Commentary
there: Act 20:29, Rom 16:17-18, 2Co 11:12-15, Eph 4:14, 2Th 2:10-12, 1Ti 1:4, 1Ti 1:6, 1Ti 6:3-5, 2Ti 3:13, 2Ti 4:4, Jam 1:26, 2Pe 2:1, 2Pe 2:2, 1Jo 2:18, 1Jo 4:1, Rev 2:6, Rev 2:14
specially: Act 15:1, Act 15:24, Gal 1:6-8, Gal 2:4, Gal 3:1, Gal 4:17-21, Gal 5:1-4, Phi 3:2, Phi 3:3
Reciprocal: Lev 15:8 – General Lev 21:18 – a blind man 2Ch 13:7 – vain men Psa 63:11 – the mouth Pro 6:12 – walketh Pro 12:11 – he that followeth Pro 15:28 – the mouth Pro 18:21 – Death Ecc 9:18 – sinner Eze 13:4 – like Mat 23:14 – for ye Mar 1:45 – and began Luk 20:26 – and they marvelled Rom 16:18 – by 2Co 11:3 – so 2Co 11:13 – deceitful Gal 1:7 – pervert Col 2:4 – lest Col 4:11 – who 1Th 5:14 – that 1Ti 1:7 – to 2Ti 3:8 – resist Tit 1:6 – or Jam 2:20 – O vain
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Tit 1:10. Unruly and vain talkers are those who will not submit to the apostolic rules, and who deal in use-less conversation for the purpose of misleading unsuspecting disciples. They of the circumcision means the Juda-izers, who were the most prominent trouble makers in Paul’s day.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Character of both the Teachers and the People of Crete, to show the danger to which that Church was exposed, and from which the new Presbyters were to rescue it, 10-16.
Tit 1:10. Unruly; for Jews of that age, of whom many inhabited Crete, were noted for seditious tendencies.
Vain talkers (1Ti 1:6), or chatterers, and deceivers, or misleaders of opinion, are two leading substantives, to which the adjective unruly applies.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
A reason is here subjoined by our apostle, why Titus should take such special care to fill the church with able guides, namely, because there was a multitude of false teachers dispersed abroad, and scattered up and down everywhere, particularly the judaizing doctors, those of the circumcision, mentioned Act 15:1 who would make Christianity nothing more that a supplement to the law of Moses. These he tells Titus must have their mouths stopped, not by force, for Titus had no power of the sword, but by confutation; he must take care to ordain such as might silence them, though not satisfy them. For mark the efficacy of error, and the power of seduction, they subvert whole houses, they make proselytes without number.
Learn hence, That such is the strength of error, and the weakness and unsteadiness of many Christians, that whole households may be subverted by the most gross deceivers. If the apostle’s converts were thus easily and universally misled, no wonder if ours be so.
Fuente: Expository Notes with Practical Observations on the New Testament
Tit 1:10-11. For there are many unruly Subject to no order; and vain talkers , persons who utter a multitude of foolish and trifling things, especially concerning genealogies and fables; and deceivers , deceived in their own minds, or deceivers of the minds of others; who delude their disciples with false opinions, in order to reconcile their consciences to wicked practices; specially they of the circumcision Namely, the Jewish teachers, who, though converted to Christianity, taught the necessity of observing the Jewish law, together with faith in Christ, Act 21:20. Whose mouths must be stopped Namely, by conviction from reason and Scripture; who subvert whole houses Overthrow the faith of whole families by their false doctrine, and as he seems to mean, carry them over to Judaism; teaching things which they ought not Which are most false and mischievous; for filthy lucres sake For the sordid purpose of drawing money from their disciples.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Tit 1:10-16. Titus Attitude to False Teachers.Loyalty to sound doctrine is needful for silencing many deceitful teachersnot outside the Church (Hort), but self-constituted instructors within its borders, who reject its discipline (unruly = insubordinate). These men, exemplifying Epimenides judgment (600 B.C.) of the Cretan character, teach error for monetary profit (cf. 1Ti 6:5). Chiefly, and therefore not wholly, of Jewish origin (Tit 1:10), they base their empty talking on Jewish legends (1Ti 1:3-11*) and mere human traditions which foster asceticism. Their asceticism is manifestly false, since pure men can make a pure use of everything (1Ti 4:1-5*), while those who are impure and unbelieving can use nothing purely, their whole mind being contaminated and their conduct denying their profession (Tit 1:14-16). All such errorists Titus must summarily refute.
Tit 1:11. lucre: Cretans were notorious lovers of money.
Tit 1:12. With this quotation cf. those from Aratus (Act 17:28) and Menander (1Co 15:33). The view that Paul enjoyed a liberal education is probably true, but cannot be inferred solely from these citations.liars: to speak like a Cretan was synonymous with lying. For the allusion and its significance see Rendel Harris in Exp., Oct. 1906, April 1907, Oct. 1912, Jan. 1915.
Tit 1:15. Rather for the pure (c. Rom 14:20).
Tit 1:16. profess: better, confess. Far too mild a term for the second-century Gnostic!
Fuente: Peake’s Commentary on the Bible
Verse 10
They of the circumcision; the Jews.
Fuente: Abbott’s Illustrated New Testament
Week 3: Tit 1:10-16 THE PROBLEM
Why have all these qualifications? Because of the following series of cultural/social characteristics evident in the area of the church.
Take a moment and describe your own neighborhood. Make a list of qualities of the people that are around your area. I will just list some of mine so you have an idea. Drug dealers, drug addicts, homeless people, multiple families living in one house, robbers, crass, slobby, garbage collectors, sloppy, loud, obnoxious and generally self centered to the point that no one around them matters in any way. I think you get the point.
Now, as in Paul’s day there are people in my neighborhood that are quiet, upright, honest, hard working, trustworthy and all those good traits. The key is getting these qualities into church leadership rather than those that will cause harm to the church.
Paul moves on from the qualifications for leaders to the why, the reason that strong leadership is needed. He describes the Cretans from what he knows of them, most likely his first hand experience while out planting churches.
For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:
Fuente: Mr. D’s Notes on Selected New Testament Books by Stanley Derickson
1:10 {10} For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the {l} circumcision:
(10) An applying of the general proposition to a particular: the Cretians above all others need sharp reprehensions: both because their minds are naturally given to lies and slothfulness, and because of certain covetous Jews, who under a pretence of godliness, partly combined certain vain traditions, and partly old ceremonies with the Gospel.
(l) Of the Jews, or rather of those Jews who went about to join Christ and the Law.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
B. The correction of false teachers 1:10-16
Paul emphasized the need to guard the church against false teaching to inform Titus how to deal with the problems false teachers create. The instructions in this pericope naturally grew out of Paul’s emphasis on the elder’s responsibility to handle the Scriptures accurately and to correct those who misrepresent them (Tit 1:9).
Fuente: Expository Notes of Dr. Constable (Old and New Testaments)
Paul characterized the false teachers as rebellious (against God’s truth) and empty talkers; their words were only human opinion rather than God’s Word. He also said they were deceivers. [Note: See López.] Their listeners expected that what they were teaching was the truth, but it was not. Such men existed especially among the Jews, perhaps orthodox Jews, but mainly among Jewish Christians. Many Jews lived on the island of Crete. [Note: Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, 17:12:1.] Titus had to shut their mouths because they were causing great upheaval in the church. Their motive, Paul revealed, was money obtained illegitimately, probably by teaching falsehood under the guise of truth. According to Polybius, the Cretans had a reputation for loving money. [Note: Quoted by Mounce, p. 397. See also Towner, The Letters . . ., p. 699, footnote 90.]
"When a teacher or a preacher looks on his teaching or preaching as a career designed for personal advancement and personal profit and gain, he is in a perilous condition." [Note: Barclay, p. 276. Cf. 1 Timothy 3:15.]
"The term ’households’ may refer specifically to actual family units; however, the term probably refers to house-churches where most Christian instruction was conducted." [Note: Griffin, p. 289.]
I prefer the normal meaning of the word, which is family units.