Titus 3:9-11 Avoid
Some
Things To Avoid
9
Avoid foolish questions, genealogies, big arguments and battles over
the law, for they are not beneficial and useless.
10
Reject a heretic—after the first and second warning—
11
Knowing that such a person is twisted and sins, being self-condemned.
Notes
B1
Actions to avoid
C1
The actions
D1
Foolish questions
E1
Some cross references
F1
2 Timothy 2:23 WEL Avoid
foolish and stupid questions, knowing that they breed hostilities.
G1
The
Greek word
for foolish is μωρός mōrós. It means imprudent,
without forethought or wisdom, useless, impious, godless.
G2
The
Greek word
for stupid
(unlearned KJV)
is ἀπαίδευτος
apaídeutos.
It means questions that are without
instruction, and disciple, uneducated, ignorant, rude.
G3
To
avoid means
to decline to answer.
G4
Some examples:
H1
Who is 666? Whose name can be reduced to these numbers?
H2
Could
Jesus have sinned? A brief answer
would suffice, but to prolong an answer to this or get in an argument
over it, would be foolish.
F2
1 Timothy 4:7 CSB But
have nothing to do with pointless and silly myths. Rather, train
yourself in godliness.
F3
1
Timothy 6:4 CSB he
is conceited and understands nothing, but has an unhealthy interest
in disputes and arguments over words. From these come envy,
quarreling, slander, evil suspicions,
F4
Dealing with foolish questions
G1
Proverbs 26:4-5 NLT Don’t
answer the foolish arguments of fools, or you will become as foolish
as they are. 5 Be sure to answer the foolish arguments of fools, or
they will become wise in their own estimation.
H1
A strange pair of verses. Are we to answer or not?
H2
My opinion is that there are fools with different attitudes. Some you
can discuss and deal with questions. Others you cannot, for they
become angry or abusive. We need to answer the former and decline to
answer the latter.
H3
We
must state the truth. We must state truth calmly, not as an abusive
bully.
H4
We are not to use the same method of argument as a foolish person.
G2
Listen. Really listen, so that we understand what the other person is
saying.
H1
If they criticism me, just be
quiet and don’t respond.
Do not defend yourself. We may need to clarify what we believe, but
to angrily
argue to defend myself, is wrong.
H2
If they criticize
God, we must tell them the truth.
H3
If they blaspheme, we must warn them that it is dangerous to do so.
G3
Christians are not to have blind faith; we have a reasonable faith.
Thus, we need to study the Bible and know philosophical basics to
have an answer to seekers or challengers.
D2
Genealogies.
E1
This mainly deals with Jewish genealogies, but certainly other groups
place a great importance on their heritage.
E2
Titus 1:10-11 CSB For there are many rebellious people, full of
empty talk and deception, especially those from the circumcision
party. 11 It is necessary to silence them; they are ruining entire
households by teaching what they shouldn’t in order to get money
dishonestly.
D3
Arguments
E1
How is this for arguing? Instead of corporate worship, they fight:
Isaiah 58:4 NET Look, your fasting is accompanied by arguments,
brawls, and fistfights. Do not fast as you do today, trying to make
your voice heard in heaven.
E2
Hebrews 13:9 NET Do not be carried away by all sorts of strange
teachings. For it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace,
not ritual meals, which have never benefited those who participated
in them.
D4
About the Law. This deals with Judaizers who felt that Christians had
to keep the Law or at least the feasts, etc. This was answered at the
Jerusalem Council. See Acts 15.
C2
The reason
D1
God wants reconciliation not revenge, nevertheless He is just and
will judge and sentence. Ezekiel 18:23 NET Do I actually delight
in the death of the wicked, declares the sovereign LORD? Do I not
prefer that he turn from his wicked conduct and live?
D2
2 Peter 3:9 NET The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as
some regard slowness, but is being patient toward you, because he
does not wish for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
D3
We Christians want to reflect the character of God to enemies and
friends. Arguing, issues about Mosaic law, genealogies, and/or
foolish questions are not important. These things to not reflect
God’s character. Often we see the Lord Jesus ignoring these
questions.
E1
Matthew 26:62-64 CSB The high priest stood up and said to him,
"Don’t you have an answer to what these men are testifying
against you? " 63 But Jesus kept silent. The high priest said to
him, "I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you
are the Messiah, the Son of God." 64 "You have said it,"
Jesus told him. "But I tell you, in the future you will see the
Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds
of heaven.
E2
Luke 23:8-9 NET When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had
long desired to see him, because he had heard about him and was
hoping to see him perform some miraculous sign. 9 So Herod questioned
him at considerable length; Jesus gave him no answer.
B2
People to avoid
C1
Heretic
D1
Christianity has a gospel, a set of beliefs, and a lifestyle
(worldview).
D2
Many claim to be Christians but have non-biblical beliefs.
E1
Revelation 2:6 NET But you do have this going for you: You hate
what the Nicolaitans practice – practices I also hate.
E2
Revelation 2:14 NET But I have a few things against you: You have
some people there who follow the teaching of Balaam, who instructed
Balak to put a stumbling block before the people of Israel so they
would eat food sacrificed to idols and commit sexual immorality.
E3
2 Timothy 2:17-18 NET and their message will spread its infection
like gangrene. Hymenaeus and Philetus are in this group. 18 They have
strayed from the truth by saying that the resurrection has already
occurred, and they are undermining some people’s faith.
E4
2 Corinthians 11:13-15 NET For such people are false apostles,
deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14
And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.
15 Therefore it is not surprising his servants also disguise
themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will correspond to
their actions.
D3
How to deal with what is false
E1
Remain calm: Colossians 4:6 CSB Let your speech always be
gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you should
answer each person.
E2
Pray for wisdom
E3
Know the truth
F1
Bible knowledge:
G1
Colossians 3:16 CSB Let the word of Christ dwell richly among you,
in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another through psalms,
hymns, and spiritual songs, singing to God with gratitude in your
hearts.
G2
2 Timothy 2:15 NET Make every effort to present yourself before
God as a proven worker who does not need to be ashamed, teaching the
message of truth accurately.
F2
Bible theology
F3
Answers to people’s questions. This is apologetics.
E4
Correct Bible
interpretation
C2
Reason
D1
Twisted
E1
The Greek word
is ἐκστρέφω ekstréphō. This
has the idea of turning something inside out.
E2
Redefining words
E2
Explaining away the plain, normal sense.
E3
You
can read more here
and here.
D2
Sins
E1
The sin is mainly lying. Lying in the sense of misrepresenting what
the text actually states.
E2
Proverbs 19:3 NLT People ruin their lives by their own foolishness
and then are angry at the LORD.
A
Few Thoughts on the Epistle of Titus Part 9
Titus,
advice to pastors, heretics, people to
avoid, things Christians should not do,