Tit 1:10 | KingComments | STEP | . The work that Paul has achieved in Crete was much blessed. In many cities churches have come into existence. However, where the Lord is at work satan also becomes active. The adversary has not only sneaked a few insubordinate people into the churches to destroy the work, but “many”. That’s why formal authority in Crete is so useful and necessary. These “many rebellious men” are people who are baptized and who profess to be Christians. They have taken their place in the church, but they are wolves in sheep’s clothing. They openly resist the truth that is revealed by God and preached by Paul. By opposing sound doctrine they reveal their rebelliousness. These people have no respect at all for authority. Paul also calls them “empty talkers”, who spit out only empty words that lead to no good at all. They possibly are eloquent people, who have a ready tongue. Believers who have no spiritual discernment are being deceived by this empty talk. That’s what it is all about for this people. They are “deceivers” who fool the thoughts of the believers, misguide them and lead them in the wrong direction. They are not people who sincerely think that they are right, but swindlers who confuse the believers inwardly. Most of these false teachers are “of the circumcision”, so from Judaism. They are Christians who are originally circumcised Jews. They have never been totally freed from the law and are trying to impose the law on the Christians in Crete. Also today there are many of such people to be found in professing Christianity where so much Jewish religiosity from the Old Testament is present. A Judaist spirit of outward form service and legalism pervades professing Christianity. It is in contrast with the spirit of the Scripture to introduce elements of the Jewish religion, especially the law. There has been a contention about this in the early church. This contention had come to a solution at an apostles’ meeting in Jerusalem ( ). There it was decided that the law is not to be imposed on the believers ‘from the nations’. The law cannot be the rule of life for the Christian. You are not legalistic if you live strictly for yourself and at the same time give freedom to the other. You become legalistic only if you impose your rules of life on others. . We should combat legalism radically, for it permeates whole families. In the letter to the Galatians Paul also sharply responds to these false brothers ( ). Their doctrine is wrong and it is preached from evil motives. Paul commands here in general, so also you, that they must be silenced. ‘To silence’ is to muzzle the mouth, that it is not able anymore to do any harm. That is only possible through the power of God’s Word and through His Spirit (cf. ). You cannot take a passive attitude toward false teachers. The moment they get an entrance in a family, if for instance a member of a family joins them, they disrupt the whole family. They ruin families by sowing confusion regarding sound doctrine. The motive that is hidden behind it, is the greed for money (cf. ). . These Jewish false teachers easily find entrance because of the depraved national character of the Cretans. If someone comes to faith, he fundamentally doesn’t belong to a certain nation anymore. Still he bears with him the national nature with its evil characteristics. He always has to be alert that it will not control him again. Paul point this out to Titus. It is necessary to take a stand and act with authority against the expressions of this evil national character, that the believers may remain sound in faith. This assertion about their national character is not just a view of Paul, but is confirmed by one of their own prophets, a certain Epimenides. He states without circumlocution that Cretans always lie. Their mendacity is even proverbial. ‘Speaking like a Cretan’ means lying. Their own prophet compares them also with an evil, wild beast. Such a beast doesn’t want any bridle, for its nature is rebellious. It wants to bite and has a propensity for cruelty. A ‘lazy glutton’ thinks of nothing else than the satisfaction of his own lowest needs. He has an uncontrollable gluttony. . Paul underlines the truth of their own prophet. Although Epimenides is not a prophet of God, God acknowledges his testimony through the mouth of Paul. The false teachers are being led in their evil practices by this depraved national character. Paul knows what he is talking about. He has experienced during his stay in Crete that they are troublesome people. Therefore he tells Titus to act sharply against the outbreaks of that national character in the church. The goal of this action is that they may be sound in the faith. . Paul connects another goal to this action. Titus must severely rebuke fantasies, human statutes and traditions. They are evil plagues in the church of God that stir Him up to jealousy and that are in contrast with His grace, for they exalt man. That applies to the believers in Crete and that applies to all believers at all times all over the world. It concerns in the first place “Jewish myths”. Those are all kinds of fantasies and fabrications about the origin of spiritual beings like angels and demons. Those are all speculations without even a modicum of truth. It may seem interesting and books are written about it that also find readers. But to be sound in faith the believers should turn away from it. We must not pay attention to that, we must totally ignore it. In the second place it concerns “commandments of men”. The commandments of men put man in the middle and make him imagine that he can earn salvation by complying with certain traditions and rituals. That can happen by additions to a commandment of God or by a distortion of a commandment of God. Jewish scribes are excellent masters in that. The result is that people neglect the commandment of God, while they keep the traditions of people ( ). In both cases there is mention of a “turn away from the truth” (cf. ). You recognize it today in many protestant churches where human statutes (reverends and pre-programmed services) play a major role and in the roman-catholic church where traditions (fables, mystics and idolatry) also play a major role. . The Christendom that the Scripture shows us, doesn’t know any external rituals, except baptism and the Lord’s Supper. It comes down to the innermost being ( ; ). He, who is inwardly pure, is allowed to freely make use of all things, without any fear to get defiled. Such a person is not guided by his fleshly lusts, but by love ( ). “All things” doesn’t refer to morally evil things of course, but to external things like eating and drinking. Nothing of that is impure in itself ( ; ). But those who have defiled themselves by sin and the unbelievers, defile everything they come into contact with. That’s because their mind and also their will and all their desires and goals have been blemished and defiled. That goes also for their conscience, their inward awareness. They have lost the ability to discern between good and evil. Where the mind and the conscience are defiled, there can be no purity. . It is not about plain apostates. They claim to be fully informed about God and so join the ranks of believers. But profession and practice with these people are opposites. If you see what they are doing, it has got nothing to do with God. This denial of God by their deeds makes them “detestable” or ‘abominable’. The word ‘detestable’ is also used for an idol image and then it is indicated by ‘abomination’ ( ; ). Here lies a close relation with the performance of the antichrist. These false teachers are breathing his spirit. Another characteristic is that they are disobedient to God and His truth. They do not want to bow to it, but oppose it. There is not “any good deed”, i.e. everything that is useful, of such people to be expected; they are totally “worthless” for that. Now read Titus 1:10-16 again. Reflection: How can you recognize false teachers and how should you protect yourself against their influence?

‏ Titus 1:10

False Teachers

Tit 1:10. The work that Paul has achieved in Crete was much blessed. In many cities churches have come into existence. However, where the Lord is at work satan also becomes active. The adversary has not only sneaked a few insubordinate people into the churches to destroy the work, but “many”. That’s why formal authority in Crete is so useful and necessary.

These “many rebellious men” are people who are baptized and who profess to be Christians. They have taken their place in the church, but they are wolves in sheep’s clothing. They openly resist the truth that is revealed by God and preached by Paul. By opposing sound doctrine they reveal their rebelliousness. These people have no respect at all for authority.

Paul also calls them “empty talkers”, who spit out only empty words that lead to no good at all. They possibly are eloquent people, who have a ready tongue. Believers who have no spiritual discernment are being deceived by this empty talk. That’s what it is all about for this people. They are “deceivers” who fool the thoughts of the believers, misguide them and lead them in the wrong direction. They are not people who sincerely think that they are right, but swindlers who confuse the believers inwardly.

Most of these false teachers are “of the circumcision”, so from Judaism. They are Christians who are originally circumcised Jews. They have never been totally freed from the law and are trying to impose the law on the Christians in Crete. Also today there are many of such people to be found in professing Christianity where so much Jewish religiosity from the Old Testament is present. A Judaist spirit of outward form service and legalism pervades professing Christianity. It is in contrast with the spirit of the Scripture to introduce elements of the Jewish religion, especially the law.

There has been a contention about this in the early church. This contention had come to a solution at an apostles’ meeting in Jerusalem (Acts 15:5-10). There it was decided that the law is not to be imposed on the believers ‘from the nations’. The law cannot be the rule of life for the Christian. You are not legalistic if you live strictly for yourself and at the same time give freedom to the other. You become legalistic only if you impose your rules of life on others.

Tit 1:11. We should combat legalism radically, for it permeates whole families. In the letter to the Galatians Paul also sharply responds to these false brothers (Gal 2:4-5). Their doctrine is wrong and it is preached from evil motives. Paul commands here in general, so also you, that they must be silenced. ‘To silence’ is to muzzle the mouth, that it is not able anymore to do any harm. That is only possible through the power of God’s Word and through His Spirit (cf. Mt 22:34).

You cannot take a passive attitude toward false teachers. The moment they get an entrance in a family, if for instance a member of a family joins them, they disrupt the whole family. They ruin families by sowing confusion regarding sound doctrine. The motive that is hidden behind it, is the greed for money (cf. Acts 20:33).

Tit 1:12. These Jewish false teachers easily find entrance because of the depraved national character of the Cretans. If someone comes to faith, he fundamentally doesn’t belong to a certain nation anymore. Still he bears with him the national nature with its evil characteristics. He always has to be alert that it will not control him again. Paul point this out to Titus. It is necessary to take a stand and act with authority against the expressions of this evil national character, that the believers may remain sound in faith.

This assertion about their national character is not just a view of Paul, but is confirmed by one of their own prophets, a certain Epimenides. He states without circumlocution that Cretans always lie. Their mendacity is even proverbial. ‘Speaking like a Cretan’ means lying.

Their own prophet compares them also with an evil, wild beast. Such a beast doesn’t want any bridle, for its nature is rebellious. It wants to bite and has a propensity for cruelty. A ‘lazy glutton’ thinks of nothing else than the satisfaction of his own lowest needs. He has an uncontrollable gluttony.

Tit 1:13. Paul underlines the truth of their own prophet. Although Epimenides is not a prophet of God, God acknowledges his testimony through the mouth of Paul.

The false teachers are being led in their evil practices by this depraved national character. Paul knows what he is talking about. He has experienced during his stay in Crete that they are troublesome people. Therefore he tells Titus to act sharply against the outbreaks of that national character in the church. The goal of this action is that they may be sound in the faith.

Tit 1:14. Paul connects another goal to this action. Titus must severely rebuke fantasies, human statutes and traditions. They are evil plagues in the church of God that stir Him up to jealousy and that are in contrast with His grace, for they exalt man. That applies to the believers in Crete and that applies to all believers at all times all over the world.

It concerns in the first place “Jewish myths”. Those are all kinds of fantasies and fabrications about the origin of spiritual beings like angels and demons. Those are all speculations without even a modicum of truth. It may seem interesting and books are written about it that also find readers. But to be sound in faith the believers should turn away from it. We must not pay attention to that, we must totally ignore it.

In the second place it concerns “commandments of men”. The commandments of men put man in the middle and make him imagine that he can earn salvation by complying with certain traditions and rituals. That can happen by additions to a commandment of God or by a distortion of a commandment of God. Jewish scribes are excellent masters in that. The result is that people neglect the commandment of God, while they keep the traditions of people (Mk 7:5-13).

In both cases there is mention of a “turn away from the truth” (cf. 2Tim 4:3-4). You recognize it today in many protestant churches where human statutes (reverends and pre-programmed services) play a major role and in the roman-catholic church where traditions (fables, mystics and idolatry) also play a major role.

Tit 1:15. The Christendom that the Scripture shows us, doesn’t know any external rituals, except baptism and the Lord’s Supper. It comes down to the innermost being (1Sam 16:7; Psa 51:6). He, who is inwardly pure, is allowed to freely make use of all things, without any fear to get defiled. Such a person is not guided by his fleshly lusts, but by love (Rom 14:20).

“All things” doesn’t refer to morally evil things of course, but to external things like eating and drinking. Nothing of that is impure in itself (Rom 14:14; 1Tim 4:4). But those who have defiled themselves by sin and the unbelievers, defile everything they come into contact with. That’s because their mind and also their will and all their desires and goals have been blemished and defiled. That goes also for their conscience, their inward awareness. They have lost the ability to discern between good and evil. Where the mind and the conscience are defiled, there can be no purity.

Tit 1:16. It is not about plain apostates. They claim to be fully informed about God and so join the ranks of believers. But profession and practice with these people are opposites. If you see what they are doing, it has got nothing to do with God. This denial of God by their deeds makes them “detestable” or ‘abominable’. The word ‘detestable’ is also used for an idol image and then it is indicated by ‘abomination’ (Mt 24:15; Mk 13:14). Here lies a close relation with the performance of the antichrist. These false teachers are breathing his spirit.

Another characteristic is that they are disobedient to God and His truth. They do not want to bow to it, but oppose it. There is not “any good deed”, i.e. everything that is useful, of such people to be expected; they are totally “worthless” for that.

Now read Titus 1:10-16 again.

Reflection: How can you recognize false teachers and how should you protect yourself against their influence?