QT 6/19/2024 Tit 1:10-16, Teaching truth, not accepted culture

Titus 1:10–16 (ESV) — 10 For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party. 11 They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach. 12 One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” 13 This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, 14 not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth. 15 To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. 16 They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.

 

NOTE: Except for Galatians, and maybe another case in his first letter to Timothy, Paul's response is usually more gentle and meek. "… rebuke them sharply …" is a very strong command. Agreeing with one of the Cretan poets (Epimenides) on the Cretan's lying, evil, laziness, and gluttony is also unusual. The issues apparently are very important although not clearly laid out here (I'm sure Titus knew what the problems were). The latter part of the passage (vs 15) suggests that one of the issues is asceticism (abstaining from certain foods). I think these issues is one of the reasons Paul wants Titus to appoint elders, giving spiritual authority to sound teachers. Some of these teachers sound religious, but don't really know God (vs 16).

 

"Of all bad men religious bad men are the worse.” [C. S. Lewis, Reflections on the Psalms, p. 32.]

 

I think it is very important that I (we) check my (our) own teaching and my (our) own behavior.

 

PONDER:

1. Am I teaching the scriptures or my own opinion?
2. Does my behavior match my words?

 

PRAYER: Father, I pray for your Holy Spirit to guide me as I study your word. Give me insight into truth. Protect me from the culture and the worldview that wants to fit scripture into what they want to be true.