Grace Be With You All

Titus 3:9-15 But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. 10 A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; 11 Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself. 12 When I shall send Artemas unto thee, or Tychicus, be diligent to come unto me to Nicopolis: for I have determined there to winter. 13 Bring Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey diligently, that nothing be wanting unto them. 14 And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful. 15 All that are with me salute thee. Greet them that love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen. It was written to Titus, ordained the first bishop of the church of the Cretians, from Nicopolis of Macedonia.

Introduction

In the conclusion of the Apostle Paul’s pastoral epistle to Titus, he gives him four commands:

· Avoid

· Reject

· Return

· Greet

Final Warning and Things to Avoid

9 But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.

“…avoid…”

· Foolish questions – “dull, sluggish, stupid, folly.”

· Genealogies – “the making a pedigree.”

· Contentions – “contention or rivalry for prizes or winning a contest.”

· Strivings about the law – “battle or fight or combat, quarreling, or fighting on a field of battle.”

“…for they are unprofitable and vain.”

· Unprofitable – “not beneficial or useful.”

· Vain – “thoughtless, rash, irreverent, profane.”

Reject A Divisive Man

“10 A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;”

The word heretick/heresy means “choosing one’s own ideas.” However, through the New Testament it refers to something that is untrue.

I must point out here that not everyone who makes an incorrect doctrinal statement is a heretic. For example:

When Apollos was further instructed concerning the gospel, he grew into a mighty Christian leader (Acts 18:24–28). By contrast, Hymeneus and Philetus were heretics when they rejected God’s truth and hurt the faith of some believers (2 Tim. 2:16–18).[1]

This command deals with those people who promote false teaching. Judgment comes in the warnings. Warn once. Warn twice, but after that have nothing to do with them.

“11 Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.”

Paul concluded, “You may be sure that such a man is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.” Because the “factious man” refused to change,[2]

Be Diligent to Return to Me

“12 When I shall send Artemas unto thee, or Tychicus, be diligent to come unto me to Nicopolis: for I have determined there to winter.”

The Apostle Paul has made the decision to winter in Nicopolis, and he wants Titus to join him there. In his absence, Paul is sending other pastors/missionaries to relieve him

“13 Bring Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey diligently, that nothing be wanting unto them.”

We are introduced to Zenas, a lawyer, not mentioned elsewhere in the Bible. Apollos is an apostle that has some notoriety in the Bible (Ac 18:24; 19:1; 1Co 1:12; 3:4-6,22; 4:6; 16:12; Tit 3:13)

“14 And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.”

Throughout the Pauline epistles, he has fervently held to the importance of “good works.” Paul emphasizes that Titus is to show good works in his treatment of those that Paul was sending his way, Zenas and Apollos.

Greet Them That Love Us in the Faith

“15 Titus 3:15 All that are with me salute thee. Greet them that love us in the faith. Grace bewith you all. Amen. It was written to Titus, ordained the first bishop of the church of the Cretians, from Nicopolis of Macedonia.”

Paul confirms that the work of Titus in Crete is known by those within the circle of the Apostle Paul. An odd statement to me is the closing, “Grace be with you all.” This epistle was written to Titus. Therefore, Paul understood that this letter would be read by others, perhaps his own congregation as everyone would be interested in the man who founded their church.

Conclusion

A great portion of Paul’s letter to Titus deals with refuting false doctrine and false teaching. Shortly after the introduction, Paul begins his treatise on defending the truth beginning in the first chapter and tenth verse (Tit 1:10). In the closing of his letter he reiterates the importance of dealing with false teaching (3:9-11).

Therefore, standing firm against heresy and false doctrine should be a key point in any New Testament Church…including this church.

Two times in this letter, Paul addresses “sound doctrine,” (Tit 1:9; 2:1). His desire is that Titus teach and promote sound doctrine which would bring about “good works,” (Tit 2:7, 14; 3:8; 3:14).

All the activities, Sunday School, and discipleship classes should be centered on Jesus Christ, sound doctrine, and confronting false teaching. The result will be “good works.”

[1] King James Version Study Bible ., electronic ed. (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1997). [2] Thomas D. Lea and Hayne P. Griffin, 1, 2 Timothy, Titus, vol. 34, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992), 328.