Titus 3.9-Paul Commands Titus to Avoid Foolish Pointless Debates, Genealogies, Dissensions and Quarrels About the Law Because They are Unprofitable and Useless
Wenstrom Bible Ministries
Pastor-Teacher Bill Wenstrom
Sunday September 7, 2014
Titus: Titus 3:9-Paul Commands Titus to Avoid Foolish Pointless Debates, Genealogies, Dissensions and Quarrels About the Law Because They are Unprofitable and Useless
Lesson # 36
Please turn in your Bibles to Titus 3:9.
Titus 3:9 But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and strife and disputes about the Law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. (NASB95)
“But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and strife and disputes about the Law” stands in contrast to the previous statement in verse 8, which records Paul communicating to Titus his responsibilities in relation to the Cretan Christian community as his delegate.
The contrast is between Paul’s command in verse 8 and his prohibition in verse 9.
In other words, the contrast is between Titus obeying Paul’s command in verse 8 and obeying his prohibition in verse 9.
“Avoid” is the verb periistēmi (περιΐστημι), which means “to avoid” since it pertains to keeping oneself away from something or someone and refraining from getting involved in a particular practice.
Here it means that Titus was to avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, strife and disputes about the Mosaic Law in the sense that he was to refrain from getting involved with the Judaizers and those who adhered to their legalistic teaching.
He was to refrain from getting involved with these people in the sense that he was to stay away from getting involved in foolish controversies, genealogies, strife and disputes about the Mosaic Law with these people.
The present imperative form of the verb is a “customary present imperative” whose force is for Titus to simply continue making it his habit of avoiding foolish pointless debates, genealogies, dissensions and quarrels about the Mosaic Law.
The middle voice of the verb periistēmi is an indirect middle which means that Titus was for his own benefit spiritually avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, strife and disputes about the Mosaic Law.
“Controversies” is the noun zetesis (ζήτησις), which means “pointless debates” since the word refers to pointless disputing.
It indicates that rather than a true and sincere search for the truth, the false teachers were involved in argumentative debate and dialogues, which were pointless, useless and of no instructional value whatsoever.
“Genealogies” is the noun genealogia (γενεαλογία), which refers to the genealogies in the Old Testament.
“Strife” is the noun eris (ἒρις), which means “dissensions” which manifest itself in quarreling, disputing, or controversy and is a point advanced or maintained in a debate or argument.
It refers to a perverse and stubborn tendency to quarrel and dispute with people, sometimes deteriorating into bitter violent conflict or dissension.
The word speaks of the dissension that arises within an individual due to jealousy and is an expression of envy for another.
The noun eris emphasizes a struggle for superiority rather than the incongruity or incompatibility of the persons or things involved and describes arguing about words because of pride and not truth and originates from envy, ambition, competition and the desire for prestige, and status in life.
“Disputes” is the noun machē (μάχη), which pertains to heated or emotional verbal fights or contentions, emphasizing strained or severed relations which may persist beyond the contention.
It speaks of an intense, emotional and bitter verbal confrontation between individuals of differing views.
“About the Law” is the adjective nomikos (νομικός), which is describing these pointless arguments, genealogies, dissensions and quarrels as being related to the Mosaic Law.
“Foolish” is the adjective mōros (μωρός), which pertains to thoughts or words which are devoid of understanding and pertains to lacking judgment or discretion.
It is describing these pointless debates, genealogies, dissensions and quarrels about the Law as stupid or foolish since they are lacking in judgment and discretion.
The word is in the emphatic position of this prohibition for emphasis meaning that Paul is emphasizing this word to express his attitude towards these pointless debates, genealogies, dissensions and quarrels about the Law.
“For they are unprofitable and worthless” presents the reason for Paul’s previous prohibition that Titus continue making it his habit of avoiding foolish pointless debates, genealogies, dissensions as well as quarrels about the Law.
Titus 3:9 However, for your own benefit continue to make it your habit of avoiding foolish pointless debates, genealogies, dissensions as well as quarrels about the Law because they are, as an eternal spiritual truth characterized as being unprofitable, yes, useless. (My translation)
“Continue to make it your habit of avoiding” means that Titus was not to get involved with or participate in foolish pointless debates, genealogies, dissensions and quarrels about the Mosaic Law.
He was to refrain from getting involved with the Judaizers and those apostate pastors who adhered to their legalistic teaching in the sense that he was to stay away from getting involved in foolish pointless debates, genealogies, dissensions and quarrels about the Mosaic Law.
This command is a reminder since Titus was already faithful in performing this task.
This task was also for his benefit spiritually since pointless debates, genealogies, dissensions and quarrels about the Mosaic Law would not help but hurt him spiritually and the Cretan Christian community if he became involved in these things.
“Pointless arguments” indicates that the Judaizers and those apostate teachers who adhered to their legalistic teaching never were in a true and sincere search for the truth but were involved in argumentative debates and dialogues, which were of no instructional value whatsoever.
“Genealogies” refers to the genealogies in the Old Testament.
Paul was not against the study of the genealogies of the Bible since they can teach us quite a bit about God’s creation, His desire to redeem mankind, and His sovereign control over history.
The apostle was against the misuse of genealogies.
Though it is true that the Old Testament genealogies were important with respect to the claims of Jesus of Nazareth as the promised Jewish Messiah and taught the sovereignty of God over the human race, they did not promote the administration of God’s household by these pastors.
They would not help these pastors to fulfill their responsibilities.
“Dissensions” refers to a perverse and stubborn tendency to quarrel and dispute with people over the Law sometimes deteriorating into bitter violent conflict or dissension.
It speaks of the dissension that arises within an individual due to jealousy and is an expression of envy for another.
It emphasizes a struggle for superiority rather than the incongruity or incompatibility of the persons or things involved.
It describes arguing about the Law because of pride and not truth and originates from envy, ambition, competition and the desire for prestige, and status in life.
“Quarrels” pertains to heated or emotional verbal fights or contentions with regards to the Mosaic Law.
It emphasizes strained or severed relations between people which may persist beyond the contention.
It speaks of an intense, emotional and bitter verbal confrontation between individuals of differing views over the various aspects of the Mosaic Law.
“Foolish” pertains to thoughts or words which are devoid of understanding and lacking judgment or discretion.
It is describing these pointless debates, genealogies, dissensions and quarrels about the Law as stupid or foolish since they are lacking in judgment and discretion.
It is in the emphatic position of this prohibition for emphasis meaning that Paul is emphasizing this word to express his negative attitude towards these pointless debates, genealogies, dissensions and quarrels about the Law.
It expresses his disgust for these things.
“Because they are, as an eternal spiritual truth characterized as being unprofitable, yes, useless” presents the reason for the prohibition.
This prohibition is important because getting involved with foolish pointless debates, genealogies, dissensions as well as quarrels about the Law with the apostate pastors on the island of Crete would be unprofitable, yes useless for Titus and the Cretan Christian community.
It would result in disunity and hurt their testimony, not to mention it would hinder their spiritual growth.
This prohibition in Titus 3:9 reveals the Jewish nature of the heresy on the island of Crete and the apostle’s statements in Titus 1:10 also indicate this as well.
The apostate pastor-teachers on the island of Crete who adhered to the legalistic teaching of the Judaizers were guilty of becoming involved in foolish pointless arguments, genealogies, dissensions as well as quarrels regarding the Mosaic Law.
One of the characteristics of the apostate teachers and Judaizers was that they fought over the Mosaic Law and specifically what commands and prohibitions should be obeyed by the Christian and which should not.
Their contentious behavior is mentioned by Paul with Timothy in 1 Timothy 1:4-11 and with Titus in Titus 1:10-14.