They profess to know
God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and
disqualified for every good work
Titus 1:16
Dear Heavenly
Father, in these challenging times, let us not lose heart. Help us have confidence in You. As I struggle to balance all activities, help
me not forget to focus on You and studying Your word. Please bless this time of study. In Jesus's name I pray, Amen.
We are still in the
body portion of the letter which focuses on doctrine and encouragement. "They" is a reference to the
defiled and unbelieving in the previous verse.
To bring deeper understanding to today's text, let's examine some key
words and their companion or similar verses.
"Profess"
in the Greek is homologeó which means
promise, agree, confess, publicly declare,
to profess (confess)
because in full agreement, to align with (endorse), to speak the same thing.
1 John 2:4 states
"He who says, 'I know Him,' and does not keep His commandments, is a liar,
and the truth is not in him."
"Works" in
the Greek is ergon which means task,
employment, action, that which is wrought or made, work that accomplishes
something, deed that carries out inner desire.
"Deny" in the Greek is arneomai
which means say no, repudiate, refuse to affirm or to confess, disown, not to
accept, reject, refuse. 1 Timothy 5:8
states "But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for
those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an
unbeliever." In their attempts at
charity and helping others, these unbelievers refuse to affirm God since the
deed is really only about them and not the ones they are trying to "help."
"Abominable"
in the Greek is bdeluktos which means
detestable, causing moral revulsion, very bad, unpleasant, deserving intense
dislike, abhorrent, repugnant, revolting.
"Disobedient" in the Greek is apeithes
which means unbelieving who will not be persuaded, disobedient because
unpersuaded, rejecting God, uncompliant, stubbornly or willingly disobedient to
authority. The unbelievers' deeds are
abhorrent, revolting and willingly reject God.
"Disqualified"
in the Greek is adokimos which means
failing to pass the test, unapproved, counterfeit, does not prove itself to be
such as it ought, unfit, worthless. 2
Timothy 3:8 states "Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these
also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the
faith." "Good" in the
Greek is agathos which means
intrinsically good, good whether it be seen to be or not, inherently good,
originates from God and is empowered by Him in their life through faith. The unbelievers' deeds aren't even considered
by God. They are unapproved and worthless.
False teachers swear
that they know God, but in deeds carried out by their inner desire they disown
Him, being morally revolting, stubbornly and willingly rejecting God, and
worthless for every inherently good action. The unbelievers' deeds do not go on
the positive side of the ledger. They
are disqualified. So, even if the
unbeliever hopes that they are "good enough" for heaven, those deeds
aren't even considered. Think about that. All of the world's religions focus on "works." This verse states that God doesn't even considered them or see them. All the unbelievers' striving is in vain.
When you do an
action or "good" work, what is your inner desire for that work? If it is to further your personal self esteem, is that deed even "good?" But if the inner desire is help others and is
focused on God's will and done by a believer, the deed is rightly done. 1 Corinthians 3:13-15a states "each one’s
work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be
revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it
is. If anyone’s work which he has built
on it endures, he will receive a reward.
If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss."
They profess to know
God [to recognize and be acquainted with Him], but by their actions they deny
and disown Him. They are detestable and disobedient and worthless for good work
of any kind.
Amplified Bible
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