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Survey of the
Letters of Paul
Lesson: Titus 3:9
This section has 4 verses.
Titus 3:8-11
8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will
that thou affirm constantly, that they which have
believed in God might be careful to maintain good
works. These things are good and profitable unto
men.
9 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.
We will begin with the Barclay commentary.
THE NECESSITY OF ACTION AND THE DANGER OF
DISCUSSION
First, the paraphrase of verses 8-11:
This is a saying which we are bound to believe – and
I want you to keep on affirming these things – that
those who have put their faith in God must think and
plan how to practice fine deeds. These are fine
things and useful to men. But have nothing to do
with foolish speculations and genealogies and
contentious and legalistic battles, for they are no
good to anyone and serve no useful purpose. Avoid a
contentious and self-opinionated man, after giving
him a first and a second warning, for you must be
well aware that such a man is perverted and stands a
self-condemned sinner.
THIS passage stresses the need for Christian action
and the danger of a certain kind of discussion.
The word we have translated as to practice fine
deeds is proistasthai, which literally means to
stand in front of and was the word used for a
shopkeeper standing in front of the shop and calling
out to advertise the produce. The phrase may mean
either of two things. It might be a command to
Christians to engage only in respectable and useful
trades. There were certain professions which the
early Church insisted that people should give up
before they were allowed even to ask for membership.
More probably, the phrase has the wider meaning that
Christians must practice good deeds which are
helpful to others.
The second part of the passage warns against useless
discussions. The Greek philosophers spent their time
on their over subtle [over precise, picky,
hair-splitting] problems. The Jewish Rabbis
spent their time building up imaginary genealogies
for the characters of the Old Testament. The Jewish
scribes spent endless hours discussing what could
and could not be done on the Sabbath, and what was
and was not unclean. It has been said that there is
a danger that people might think themselves
religious because they discuss religious questions.
It is much easier to discuss theological questions
than to be kind and considerate and helpful at home,
or efficient and conscientious and honest at work.
There is no virtue in sitting discussing deep
theological questions when the simple tasks of the
Christian life are waiting to be done. Such
discussion can be nothing other than avoidance of
Christian duties.
Paul was certain that the real task for Christians
lay in Christian action. That is not to say that
there is no place for Christian discussion; but the
discussion which does not end in action is very
largely wasted time.
It is Paul’s advice that contentious and
self-opinionated people should be avoided. The
Authorized Version calls that kind of person the
heretic. The Greek is hairetikos. The verb hairein
means to choose, and hairesis means a party, or a
school or a sect. Originally, the word carried no
bad meaning. This creeps in when someone sets
private opinion against all the teaching, the
agreement and the tradition of the Church. Heretics
are simply people who have decided that they are
right and everybody else is wrong. Paul’s warning is
against those who have made their own ideas the test
of all truth. We should always be very careful of
any opinion which separates us from the fellowship
of our fellow believers. True faith does not divide
people; it unites them. ~Barclay Commentary
Note: Heretic
A professed believer who maintains religious
opinions contrary to those accepted by his or her
church or rejects doctrines prescribed by that
church [from the Word of God].
Now to the other commentaries. We will begin with
the general and go to the specific. First the
Matthew Henry. This section we are in is verses
8-11. Interestingly, the Matthew Henry makes the
segment verses 9-15. I will give you the text it has
for verse 9.
Here is the fifth and last thing in the matter of
the epistle: what Titus should avoid in teaching;
how he should deal with a heretic; with some other
directions. Observe,
I. That the apostle's meaning might be more clear
and full, and especially fitted to the time and
state of things in Crete, and the many judaizers
among them, he tells Titus what, in teaching, he
should shun, Titus 3:9. There are needful questions
to be discussed and cleared, such as make for
improvement in useful knowledge; but idle and
foolish enquiries, tending neither to God's glory
nor the edification of men, must be shunned.
Some may have a show of wisdom, but are vain, as
many among the Jewish doctors, as well as of later
schoolmen, who abound with questions of no moment or
use to faith or practice; avoid these. - And
genealogies (of the gods, say some, that the
heathen poets made such noise about; or rather those
that the Jews were so curious in): some lawful
and useful enquiries might be made into these
things, to see the fulfilling of the scriptures in
some cases, and especially in the descent of Christ
the Messiah; but all that served to pomp only, and
to feed vanity, in boasting of a long pedigree, and
much more such as the Jewish teachers were ready to
busy themselves in and trouble their hearers with,
even since Christ had come, and that distinction of
families and tribes had been taken away, as if they
would build again that policy which now is
abolished, these Titus must withstand as foolish and
vain. - And contentious, and strivings about the
law. There were those who were for the Mosaic rites
and ceremonies, and would have them continued in the
church, though by the gospel and the coming of
Christ they were superseded and done away.
Titus must give no countenance to these, but avoid
and oppose them; for they are unprofitable and vain:
this is to be referred to all those foolish
questions and genealogies, as well as those
strivings about the law. They are so far from
instructing and building up in godliness, that they
are hindrances of it rather: the Christian religion,
and good works, which are to be maintained, will
hereby be weakened and prejudiced, the peace of the
church disturbed, and the progress of the gospel
hindered. Observe, Ministers must not only teach
things good and useful, but shun and oppose the
contrary, what would corrupt the faith, and hinder
godliness and good works; nor should people have
itching ears, but love and embrace sound doctrine,
which tends most to the use of edifying. ~Matthew
Henry
Now the Matthew Henry Concise which covers verses
8-11 unlike its big brother, the main commentary.
When the grace of God towards mankind has been
declared, the necessity of good works is pressed.
Those who believe in God, must make it their care to
maintain good works, to seek opportunities for doing
them, being influenced by love and gratitude.
Trifling, foolish questions must be avoided, and
subtle distinctions and vain inquiries; nor should
people be eager after novelties, but love sound
doctrine which tends most to edifying. Though we may
now think some sins light and little, if the Lord
awaken the conscience, we shall feel even the
smallest sin heavy upon our souls. ~Matthew Henry
Concise
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Note:
Two comments here:
1] Clearly we understand there are no light
sins. Sin is Sin.
2] We have spoken much about the concept of
edifying and most of that about
edifying others.
Here, in this commentary, where it says, in
essence, "love sound doctrine which tends
most to edifying" we are speaking both the
edifying of others and the self. You are
edified when you immerse yourself into the
Word of God. You are edified to be holy. You
are edified to move closer to spiritual
maturity. When you are specifically edified,
you are able to edify others in the Body of
Christ. As they are collectively edified,
the entire church is edified.
1 Corinthians 14:12
Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of
spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to
the edifying of the church.
Ephesians 4:12
For the perfecting of the saints, for the
work of the ministry, for the edifying of
the body of Christ:
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Here is something
from the Biblical illustrator on foolish questions.
Avoid foolish questions
Foolish questions reproved
I. Amongst the questions to be avoided, such as the
following may be included.
1. Those which savour of skepticism and unbelief, or
which imply a doubtfulness of the truth of Divine
revelation, or of any of its fundamental doctrines.
Religion is not intended to gratify our curiosity,
or to answer our speculative inquiries; its object
is to renew and sanctify the heart, and to meeten us
[prepare us; make us suitable or fit] for [the
Kingdom].
2. Intricate [entangled; involved] and
controversial questions are in general to be
avoided, as engendering strife rather than
ministering to godly edifying.
3. Prying questions relative to futurity [a
future time], and which tend only to gratify a
vain curiosity, ought to be avoided.
Note: This does not mean we are forbidden
from talking about prophecy. The key phrase in item
3 is "prying questions." We can discuss prophecy but
it should not be the foundation of our talk. The
foundation should be salvation and developing the
character of Christ.
4. Questions arising from impatience and discontent
are generally in a high degree improper, and
unworthy of a Christian. When the mind is disquieted
and full of trouble, we are commonly dissatisfied
with everything about us, and wish if it were
possible to have it otherwise. But this is a spirit
which the Scriptures condemn, as utterly
inconsistent with submission to the will of God, and
as savoring of presumption and unbelief.
5. Perplexing and disquieting questions, which have
no tendency to promote the great objects of
practical religion, but only to excite unnecessary
doubts and fears, are also prohibited in the text.
Instead of asking the anxious question, for example,
Are we elected? our great concern should be to know
whether we be effectually called? Not, are our names
written in heaven, but is God’s law written in our
hearts?
6. Trifling and uninteresting questions which serve
only to amuse and not to impart any useful
information, ought by all means to be avoided. There
is too great a disposition, even in serious people,
to indulge in frivolous disputes, or in a strife
about words rather than things, to the neglect of
the weightier matters of the law, judgment, charity,
and the love of God.
II. Notice some things that are necessary to a
profitable conversation.
1. Beware of loquacity, or too much speaking. Let
not your words go before your thoughts; think twice
before you speak once.
2. Accustom yourselves to a sober way of thinking
and talking, using at all times sound speech which
cannot be condemned.
3. It may be proper to lay in a stock of interesting
questions as matter for after conversation.
Inquiries relative to our state, tending to promote
experimental religion [examples as you read on],
both in ourselves and others, would at all times be
useful and edifying. We cannot too frequently ask
ourselves, Are we in a state of acceptance with God;
do we grow in grace; do we hate sin and love
holiness; are we more weaned from the world, and fit
for [the Kingdom]? An awakened sinner would
naturally inquire, What must I do to be saved? and
those who have believed through grace should be
anxious to inquire, What shall we do that we may
work the works of God?
4. Living as in the sight of God, and under a
conviction that for every idle word we must give an
account in the day of judgment, will exclude a great
deal of light and trifling conversation, and give a
savouriness to our speech, which will minister grace
to the hearer. ~Biblical Illustrator
Now to the specific commentaries.
The verse is primarily in 3 parts:
1]But avoid foolish questions and genealogies.
2] And contentions, and strivings about the law.
3] For they are unprofitable and vain.
1]But
avoid foolish questions and genealogies.
But avoid foolish questions and genealogies - See
the 1 Timothy 1:4 note; 2 Timothy 2:16, 2 Timothy
2:23 notes. ~Barnes Notes
Quoted verses:
1 Timothy 1:4 [see
Lesson]
Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies,
which minister questions, rather than godly edifying
which is in faith: so do.
2 Timothy 2:16 [see
Lesson]
But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will
increase unto more ungodliness.
2 Timothy 2:23 [see
Lesson]
But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing
that they do gender strifes.
Avoid foolish questions, and genealogies - In these
the Jews particularly delighted; they abounded in
the most frivolous questions; and, as they had
little piety themselves, they were solicitous to
show that they had descended from godly ancestors.
~Adam Clarke
But avoid foolish questions. - Such as were started
in the schools of the Jews. ~John Gill
2] And
contentions, and strivings about the law.
And contentions, and strivings about the law - Such
as the Jews started about various matters connected
with the law - about meats and drinks, etc.; the
notes at 1 Timothy 1:4 [quoted above];
compare the notes at Acts 18:15.
Quoted verse:
Acts 18:15
But if it be a question of words and names, and of
your law, look ye to it; for I will be no judge of
such matters.
Notice the commentary
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Of words - A dispute about words, for
such he would regard all their controversies
about religion to be.
And names - Probably he had heard something
of the nature of the controversy and
understood it to be a dispute about names;
that is, whether Jesus was to be called the
Messiah or not. To him this would appear as
a matter pertaining to the Jews alone, and
to be ranked with their other disputes
arising from the difference of sect and
name.
Of your law - A question respecting the
proper interpretation of the Law, or the
rites and ceremonies which it commanded. The
Jews had many such disputes, and Gallio [the
deputy of Achaia-(uh-KAY-uh)] did
not regard them as coming under his
cognizance as a magistrate.
Look ye to it - Judge this among yourselves;
settle the difficulty as you can.
For I will be no judge ... - I do not regard
such questions as pertaining to my office,
or deem myself called on to settle them.
~Barnes Notes |
3] For they are
unprofitable and vain.
For they are unprofitable and vain - They disturb
and embitter the feelings; they lead to the
indulgence of a bad spirit; they are often difficult
to be settled and are of no practical importance if
they could be determined. The same thing might be
said of multitudes of things about which men dispute
so earnestly now. ~Barnes Notes
For they are unprofitable and vain - empty things,
of no manner of use, to inform the judgment, improve
the mind, or influence the life and conversation.
~John Gill
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