Titus: 1:10-2:15

Last week we looked the qualifications of a elder. We need to read the last vs of those qualifications because it leads into what Paul is going to tell Titus next.

Titus 1:9

9 He must have a firm grasp of the word that is trustworthy in accordance with the teaching, so that he may be able both to preach with sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict it.

Paul tells Titus that an elder must have a firm grasp on the Scriptures to be able to preach with sound doctrine and refute those who contradict it.

He then says this:

Titus 1:10–16

10 There are also many rebellious people, idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision; 11 they must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for sordid gain what it is not right to teach. 12 It was one of them, their very own prophet, who said, “Cretans are always liars, vicious brutes, lazy gluttons.” 13 That testimony is true. For this reason rebuke them sharply, so that they may become sound in the faith, 14 not paying attention to Jewish myths or to commandments of those who reject the truth. 15 To the pure all things are pure, but to the corrupt and unbelieving nothing is pure. Their very minds and consciences are corrupted. 16 They profess to know God, but they deny him by their actions. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.

The reason for having a firm grasp on the word is so you can recognize and refute falsehood because of

rebellious people - people who contradict what is right

idle talkers - people who speak words that profit no one

and deceivers - people who manipulate for selfish reasons actively leads others astry

He notes specifically that there are those in the circumcision - Jews who are following Jesus.

He says they are to be silenced. Part of the job of leaders is to silence those who are spewing out things opposed to “the word that is trustworthy…”

How are we to silence them? Not let them speak!

He also gives a reason why they are to be silenced…(besides not speaking the truth) “they are upsetting whole families”

by - teaching that for sordid gain and

Our society if full of people who teach for personal gain whether it’s financial, power, or influence.

by - teaching that what is not right to teach

They are teaching things that are false.

The main idea is they are teaching for money, and to get that money they are teaching things that should not be taught.

It was their own, a Cretan prophet, who said…”cretans are always liars, vicious brutes, lazy gluttons”

Because of the truth of this testimony Paul tells Titus what to do:

rebuke them sharply then gives him the reason why, so they would become sound in their faith

Did Paul believe that “all Cretans are always liars, vicious brutes and lazy gluttons? If he did, how could he tell Titus to appoint them as elders?

Consider this: If Cretans have to believe their prophet was right and they were liars brutes and gluttons or they have to admit their prophet was a false prophet.

The Message of 1 Timothy and Titus c. Their Character (1:12–14a)

Church fathers like Clement of Alexandria, Jerome, Chrysostom and Augustine all identified the author of this saying as the sixth-century BC Cretan teacher, Epimenides of Knossos, who was held in high honour by his compatriots as both a prophet and a miracle-worker. His threefold estimate of the Cretan character was decidedly unflattering, but there seems to have been some confirmation of it.

Then Paul gives two examples of being sound in faith

not paying attention to jewish mythes

note this is not Jews requiring Gentiles to become Jewish, but those pushing Jewish myths.

or to commandments of those who reject the truth

To the pure all things are pure, but to the corrupt and unbelieving nothing is pure. Their very minds and consciences are corrupted.

When we get to vs 15 it seems Paul is taking a side tour. But understand the last half of the vs connects to the last half of vs 14. Until you see that, you have a hard time understanding the first half of vs 15,

These same people profess to know God, but they do not, and how do you know, by their actions.