Titus 1.13b-Titus Was To Severely Rebuke the Cretan Apostate Teachers In Order That They Would Be Sound With Regards to the Christian Faith
Wenstrom Bible Ministries
Pastor-Teacher Bill Wenstrom
Sunday February 9, 2014
Titus: Titus 1:13b-Titus Was To Severely Rebuke the Cretan Apostate Teachers In Order That They Would Be Sound With Regards to the Christian Faith
Lesson # 9
Please turn in your Bibles to Titus 1:1.
Titus 1:1 From Paul, God’s servant indeed an apostle of Jesus, who is the Christ for the purpose of producing faith in God’s chosen out ones resulting in an experiential knowledge of the truth, which is for the purpose of producing godliness 2 resulting in the confident expectation of eternal life, which the truthful God promised before eternal ages. 3 However, He has manifested His message at His own appointed time through the proclamation which I myself was entrusted with because of the decree originating from God the Father, our Savior. 4 To Titus, a legitimate spiritual child on the basis of a mutual faith: Grace resulting in peace from God the Father as well as the Christ who is Jesus, who is our Savior. 5 For this purpose, I left you behind in Crete so as to set in order that which is lacking, specifically, so as to appoint in each and every town elders as I myself commanded you. 6 If and let us assume that it is true for the sake of argument that any man is of a good reputation, a one-woman man, possessing faithful children, who are not accused of dissipation or rebellion, then you are to appoint them. 7 For it is, as an eternal spiritual truth, absolutely imperative the overseer as God’s steward be of a good reputation, not arrogant, not prone to anger, not an alcoholic, not violent, not greedy 8 but rather hospitable, loving what is divine good in quality and character, sound-minded, righteous, holy, self-controlled. 9 He must, as an eternal spiritual truth be characterized as firmly adhering to the trustworthy message which is according to the teaching in order that he would be able to exhort by means of that which is sound doctrine as well as to refute those who oppose. 10 For many are rebellious, empty talkers as well as deceivers, especially those from the circumcision 11 who must be silenced who because of their evil and sinful character are upsetting whole families by habitually teaching things which are improper for dishonest gain. 12 A certain one from them, their own prophet said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” 13 This testimony is true. For this reason, begin the process of severely rebuking them and continue to do so in order that they would be sound with regards to the Christian faith. (My translation)
Titus 1:13 This testimony is true. For this reason reprove them severely so that they may be sound in the faith. (NASB95)
“For this reason reprove them severely” presents the reason for the previous statement that it is true what one of Crete’s prophets proclaimed about the Cretans, namely that they are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.
“Reprove them severely” is composed of the following: (1) verb elegchō (ἐλέγχω), “reprove” (2) intensive personal pronoun autos (αὐτός), “them” (3) adverb of manner apotomōs (ἀποτόμως), “severely.”
The verb elegchō is used with reference to Titus and the Cretan church confronting apostate Christian teachers on the island of Crete as an expression of church discipline.
Here it means “to reprove” in the sense of censuring someone for a committing a particular wrong.
The word refers to stating to someone that they have done wrong with the implication that there is adequate proof of such wrongdoing.
It speaks of bringing a person to the point of recognizing they have committed wrongdoing and is used in context with regards to the false teachers as indicated by Paul’s statements in Titus 1:10-16.
Therefore, in Titus 1:13, the verb elegchō indicates that Paul is ordering Titus to severely rebuke these apostate pastors on the island of Crete since their character and actions reflect unregenerate Cretan culture and society.
The adverb of manner apotomōs is modifying the verb elegchō and means “severely” pertaining to dealing harshly with someone and the intensive personal pronoun autos means “them” referring to the apostate Cretan pastor-teachers.
The present imperative form of the verb elegchō is an ingressive-progressive which emphasizes both the inception and progress of an action commanded and indicates that Titus must “begin and continue” to severely rebuke these teachers.
Titus was to begin in the sense that he was to enter into the third and final stage of church discipline which is indicated by the fact that Titus is to severely rebuke these apostate Cretan pastors, which the final stage of church discipline would be.
Titus was to continue performing this final stage of church discipline in the sense that he was to deal with each of these pastors individually.
Thus, Titus was to continue administering this final stage of discipline until he had dealt with each of these apostate pastors.
The second person singular form of the verb refers to Titus.
However, the entire Cretan church would be involved in this process of church discipline since the third stage of discipline would require these apostate teachers to come before the entire congregation.
“So that they may be sound in the faith” presents the purpose for which Paul is commanding Titus to begin to severely rebuke these apostate Cretan pastors and to continue doing so until they are all dealt with.
“They may be sound” is the verb hugiainō (ὑγιαίνω), which means “to be sound” in the sense of being free from error or falsehood and promotes spiritual growth and is used of the state of these apostate Cretan pastors after repenting, i.e. confessing their sins and obeying Paul’s apostolic teaching.
“In the faith” refers to the content of what Paul taught the churches or in other words it is another description of the gospel and refers to the gospel from the perspective of a body of doctrine or that which is believed by the church.
So here in Titus 1:13 we see that Paul is directing Titus and the Cretan church to confront apostate Christian teachers on the island of Crete as an expression of church discipline.
They were to rebuke these men in the sense that they were to administer the third and final stage of church discipline and they were to do this by stating to these apostate teachers the charges Paul’s lists in verse 11.
That the third and final stage of church discipline is being referred to here in verse 13 is indicated by the verb elegchō and the adverb of manner apotomōs, “severely.”
The severe rebuke is public before the entire church, which constitutes the third and final stage of church discipline.
The purpose of this severe rebuke is so that these teachers would be sound with regards to the Christian faith meaning that they would be free from error doctrinally and able to promote spiritual growth in the body of Christ once again with their teaching.
This purpose clause in Titus 1:13 teaches that one of the purposes of church discipline is always restoration and not revenge.
The purpose of this discipline is to deliver the offender from sinful patterns of behavior and not to drive him or her away from the fellowship of the church.
Only Christians can be sound in the faith, thus, Paul is ordering Titus to confront Christians.
He would have no authority over a non-believer and so by ordering Titus to confront these men, he is exercising authority over these men, thus, these individuals whom Titus was to confront and rebuke severely were Christians.
In fact, they were apostate Christian pastor-teachers.
The scriptural procedure for administering church discipline is clear and specific steps are prescribed.
We must first go to the offender in private and seek to correct the situation privately (Matthew 18:15).
If the person fails to respond, warn them that, according to the instructions of Scripture (Matt. 18:16), you will have to get others as witnesses and return with them to deal with the problem.
If the first step fails, take witnesses to strengthen the effect of the discipline, preferably spiritual leaders, so that if it has to be brought before the whole church it can be firmly proven and established (Matt. 18:16-17; 1 Tim. 5:19).
If the second step fails, seek reconciliation and restoration through the whole body.
If further action is necessary, it is to be taken before the whole church (2 Thess. 3:14-15; Matt. 18:17; 1 Tim. 5:20).
2 Thessalonians 3:14 and 1 Corinthians 5:9-13 along with Matthew 18:17 indicate that the church is to exercise group disapproval by way of social ostracism (refusal to have intimate fellowship).
If this does not work, the church is to remove the offender from the church fellowship, which must be approved of and done by the entire congregation (2 Cor. 2:6).
The Lord is exercising this discipline through the church’s actions.
Griffin writes “Failure to confront problems within the church, whether theologically or practically based, may be indicative of a basic indifference with regard to God's truth or the nurturing of truly Christian relationships. The fear of giving offense and a highly individualized view of personal faith may discourage church leaders from following the biblical mandate to rebuke. The restoration that is possible both in fellowship and in sound doctrine is compromised by this reluctance to confront. Loving, sensitive, yet firm confrontation can result in stronger relationships and restored unity or perhaps a needed purging of those who deny the truth.”
For the individual offender Paul’s practice is clearly intended to produce repentance in an atmosphere of support and forgiveness. For the community, to hold its members accountable through disciplinary measures would maintain the moral integrity of the group.
How was Titus to treat these false teachers? Was he to unite with them and try to see their point of view? No! He was to stop their mouths (v. 11) and rebuke them sharply (v. 13). After all, their teachings were upsetting (subverting) entire families (v. 11). And their motive was simply to gain money (“filthy lucre”); they did not wish to honor the Lord.
