What Does Titus 3:10 mean?

 

“A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject” (Authorized Version).

“Reject a factious man after a first and second warning” (New American Standard Bible 95).

“As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him” (English Standard Version).

Above are some translations of Titus 3:10 from some English translations of the Bible. Each of them teach the rejection of a person after the first and second warning. However, at first look it may not be clear what kind of man is to be rejected as they say, “an heretick” (KJV/AV), “a fractious man” (NASB) and “a person who stirs up division” (ESV). It is my opinion that the best translation of Titus 3:10 is the New American Standard Version. A factious person is someone who stirs up division among the brethren. They are divisive as they will often teach things that are heretical in nature. I believe that the KJV rendering of this verse is a true translation, but the other versions explain it better as they tell you what a heretic does. A heretic is a person holding an opinion at odds with the fundamental and essential truths of the Bible. For example, the virgin birth of Christ, the divinity of Christ, and His death, burial, and resurrection. These are some of the key truths of the Bible that every believer holds to. We may have differences of opinion in some areas of doctrine, but if the key elements of the faith are not held to then that individual is a heretic.

I don’t normally like to name people who are heretics because I don’t find it helpful and an unprofitable use of my time. However, I will use one recent event to make my point clear to you and to give you an example of a teaching that is heretical. In a recent visit to East Asia and Oceania Pope Francis, Bishop of Rome and Head of the Roman Catholic Church said that, “All religions are paths to God. I will use an analogy, they are like different languages that express the divine.” This quote from Pope Francis is heretical. All religions are not a path to God. Our Lord said that there is only one way to Heaven and that is through Himself (John 14:6).  The Bible says that Christ is the only mediator between man and God (1 Timothy 2:5). So to make it clear a heresy is when a teaching, message, belief, or view is held that is contrary to the clear and fundamental teaching of Holy Scripture. There is nothing wrong with having a different opinion on a topic, for example, how often we ought to observe the Lord’s Supper or how many hymns should be sung on Sundays. The teaching or view becomes heretical when the authority of the Bible is brought into question.

Now we have some grounding in what heresy is, let’s look more closely at Titus 3:10. In the previous verse, Titus is commanded by Paul to avoid wasting time on certain activities. Titus 3:9 says, “But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and strife and disputes about the Law, for they are unprofitable and worthless.” The point that Paul is making here is to shun foolish questionings and fights about unprofitable matters as they are vain. Most of this involves bickering, arguing, and squabbling over matters of faith and practice. Paul adds a warning about people who continually stir up division among the believers. The warning is this, after the first and second reprimand have nothing more to do with them.

This godly wisdom and teaching is also found in Matthew 18:15-17. The principles of discipline and fellowship are set out in these verses. If your brother sins against you then you ought to go to him in private and in a loving a winsome manner point out the fault. If he listens to you then you have won your brother. However, if he does not listen then one or two witnesses are to be brought to the one at fault with the aim of establishing the sin done and for fellowship to be restored and maintained. If that matter continues to be unresolved then it is to be brought before the assembly of believers. If the one at fault persists in his fault or sin then that person is to be put out of the assembly. This is the principles of what we call, Church Discipline. Sadly, there are fellowships that do not practice Church Discipline that is set out in Matthew 18:15-17 and that is how false doctrine spreads and ruins a church. This is why it is very important that false  teachers are not given a platform in the church. Their conduct condemns them and disqualifies them from teaching and in some cases from fellowship. Those who are at fault in their teaching ought not to be given a space in the pulpit and ought to sit in the pews for some time in order to learn correct doctrine. However, if they attempt to spread their falsehood among the church then they are to be asked to abstain from the fellowship. Removing someone from fellowship is not to throw them to the wolves, as it were, but to firstly, as an acknowledgement of the seriousness of false doctrine and secondly, in the hope that the person at fault will understand their error and will reconsider their position.

It was much easier in Paul’s day to practice the principles set out in Matthew 18:15-17. However, with the birth of the internet and social media false teachers will always have a platform to air their ungodly views and doctrines. It is much easier today to spread falsehoods and to get your message and point of view out to literally thousands of people by the click of a button. Having said that we ought to glean wisdom from the Word of God when it comes to dealing with false teachers and those who wish to stir up divisions among the people of God. Titus is told in no uncertain terms not to have any association with someone who tries to sow divisions within the church.

2 John 10–11 says, “If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting; for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds.” Here we have a similar warning to that of Paul. John writes that anyone who insists on rejecting sound doctrine should not be supported in any shape or form whatsoever. Jude appears to suggest that these people come into the church often unnoticed. Jude 4 says, “For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.”

The Bible instructs us to insist on these basic principles of fellowship and discipline. Paul lists four things that ought to be avoided. Most of them involve arguments about petty and trivial matters. The key principles that Titus 3:10 teach us are these, false teachers are to be cut off and not given a platform, and believers are not to waste time in arguing about trivial matters, but are to focus their time and energy on good works and the needs of the church.

In closing, I would like to say the following regarding my own conduct. Writing this article has taught me a lot and I have grown spiritually from it. I preach this article to myself not only to those who read it. Recently, I have found myself debating and arguing with people on social media about matters that in the grand scheme of events are trivial. I have posted and commented on matters that are not that important. Most of the interactions have been unprofitable and a waste of time. I have tried to defend my doctrinal position to people that fundamentally disagree with me. Strong views and words have been exchanged and nothing has been achieved. It has resulted in misunderstanding and a vain attempt to make points clear. It has also resulted in the removal of certain people from my social media contact list. I have learnt that it is not wise to always stand your ground and defend what you believe to everyone you meet.

There will always be people that hold a different view to yourself. You don’t have to defend what you believe at every given opportunity. There is nothing wrong in making your point and having a conversation about what you believe, but if that turns into a debate and bickering then all involved have lost and achieved nothing. I am just as guilty as those who oppose my theological understanding and views. Social media if used correctly is a powerful and useful tool, but if misused it can harm your witness. This is why I have privately spoken to people I was in contact with to try and resolve matters, but alas an agreement could not be settled so have agreed to part on good terms. The bottom line is this, as Christians we can have respectful conversations on any topic, but be careful not to bicker and argue. Protect your witness and the witness of the person you are talking to. Remember on social media all your “Facebook friends” can see what you write and post and in some cases on other platforms everything you say is public. Ask yourself the question, are you comfortable with what you say online being known to the world and how does what you say reflect on you, the witness of the church and the person you are saying it to? I hope you have found this helpful and have learnt the key principles of Titus 3:10. Remember to always build up others in what you say and do, never seek to win an argument just for the sake of self-esteem, pride, or self-gain. Let us be people that love each other as children of God despite our differences. Let us promote peace and harmony among the people of God. May we be reminded daily to serve God and each other with a clear conscience and loving-kindness.