Inductive Study: Titus 1:10

For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, 

Titus 1:10

Dear Heavenly Father, I pray that you keep me focused on You and not what the world draws me into.  Please help me to have a just heart able to give people the benefit of the doubt.  Please be with my family, keep them close to You.  Thank you for everything, especially that You took the punishment for my depravity.  As we celebrate this week, help me not lose sight of You.  In Jesus's name I pray, Amen.

Happy Easter!  We are still in the body portion of the letter which focuses on doctrine and encouragement.  We are transitioning from the qualifications of an elder to their responsibilities.  To bring deeper understanding to today's text, let's examine some key words and their companion or similar verses.

"Insubordinate" in the Greek is anupotaktoswhich means unruly, not subject to rule, disobedient, uncooperative, defiant attitude towards duly appointed authority, uncontrollable, rebellious, that cannot be subjected to control.  It is made up of the word, a, which means not and the word, hyprokrites, which means under God's arrangement.  In this verse, Paul will be talking about people in the church that trying to gain something from their relationships.  Here, Paul describes them as people defiant against God's authority.

"Idle talkers" in the Greek is mataiologoswhich means vain empty talker, talking idly, one who utters empty senseless things, no particular reason-purpose-foundation for talk.  This word only appears once in the Bible, here in Titus.  1 Timothy 1:6-7 states "from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk, desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm." "Deceivers" in the Greek is phrenapateswhich means seducer, self-deceiving, leading others into their delusions, exploiting those with a narrow mind. This word also only appears once in the Bible, here in Titus.  Paul further describes these forces in the church attempting to undermine God's work. They desire to be elders so they can talk about senseless things to exploit those that are gullible.

"Especially" in the Greek is malistawhich means most of all, very much the case, chiefly, above all. "Circumcision" in the Greek is peritomewhich means cut around, the removal of the male foreskin, visible sign of God's covenant in the Old Testament, Jews, they of the circumcision.  Acts 11:2 states "So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, those of the circumcision [certain Jewish believers who followed the Law] took issue with him [for violating Jewish customs]."  Although Paul has already warned us of defiant, deceiving, empty talkers, he adds another group that is worse than the first, Jewish believers who strictly follow the Law and customs (legalists).

Let's try to understand the people that Paul is talking about in this verse.  These people are disobedient, defiant, uncontrollable, rebellious towards duly appointed authority whether it be church leaders or God Himself.  These people utter empty foolish things with no common sense with no understandable purpose, reason, or foundation for the discussion.  These people are legalistic and add to the Gospel for what is needed for salvation, that you need the Law, customs, and traditions.  All of this is in an effort to accomplish their goal to lead others into their delusions (an idiosyncratic belief or impression that is firmly maintained despite being contradicted by what is generally accepted as reality or rational argument, typically a symptom of mental disorder) specifically to derive some benefit from easily persuaded people.  

If you have leaders either in your church, organization, or work, be aware.  They will take advantage of you.  To spot them, look for these characteristics: Rejects authority that may even reject Biblical teachings, uses charisma to engage you in nonsense, legalistic, and exploits others for their personal gain.

For there are many rebellious men who are empty talkers [just windbags] and deceivers; especially those of the circumcision [those Jews who insist that Gentile believers must be circumcised and keep the Law in order to be saved].

Amplified Bible

WORD Worksheet

Inductive Study: Titus 1:9

holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.

Titus 1:9

Dear Heavenly Father, please speak to me today so I can continue to grow in the love and knowledge of You.  Let this passage permeate my heart and help to live by it.  In Jesus's name I pray, Amen.

We are in the body portion of the letter which focuses on doctrine and encouragement.  In verse 9, Paul continues to outline requirements for elders.  To bring deeper understanding to today's text, let's examine some key words and their companion or similar verses.

"Holding fast" in the Greek is antecho which means hold against, hold firmly, cleave to, to keep one directly opposite to anyone, endure, withstand, hold back, devoted.  2 Thessalonians 2:13-15 states "But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle."  1 Timothy1:15 states "This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief." 2 Timothy 1:13 states "Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus."

"Faithful Word" in the Greek is made of two words, pistos which means reliable, trustworthy, believing, worthy of trust, can be relied on and logos which means embodying an idea, statement, speech, expressing the thoughts of the Father through the Spirit, message.  Therefore, "Faithful Word" means the reliable, trustworthy message of Father God told through the Holy Spirit.  Elders must cleave and be devoted to the trustworthy message of the Gospel that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.

"Taught" in the Greek is didache which means doctrine, teaching, reliable time honored teaching, summarized body of respected teaching, instruction.  Elders keep firmly the doctrine taught by respected teachers.

"Able" in the Greek is dunatos which means strong, mighty, powerful, made possible by the power exerted, mighty in wealth and influence, strong in soul, to be able to do something.  By embracing the Gospel, elders are mighty in power, wealth and influence.

"Sound Doctrine" in the Greek is made of two words, hugiano which means healthy, reasonable, pure, uncorrupted, good working order, free from debilitation, true, in corrupt and didaskalia which means instruction, teaching, precepts, rule to regulate behavior or thought.  Therefore, "Sound Doctrine" means reasonable, uncorrupted rules to regulate behavior and thought.  1 Timothy 1:10 states "for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine."

"Exhort" in the Greek is parakaleo which means to call to or for, encourage, admonish, comfort, console, offering up evidence that stands up in God's court, instruct, teach, beseech, ask urgently and fervently.  "Convict" in the Greek is elegcho which means expose, reprove, rebuke, discipline, show to be guilty, to convince with solid compelling evidence, bring light to, expose false teachers.  "Contradict" in the Greek is antilego which means speak against, oppose, resist, voicing opposition in a hostile argumentative way, dispute in order to thwart, deny.  With quality instruction of uncorrupted rules to regulate behavior and thought and the Good News, an elder has the fervent power to present solid, truthful, compelling evidence that thwarts and exposes false teachers.

At the end of each Bible Study blog, I add the Amplified Bible text for the study's Scripture.  The Amplified Bible is based on the American Standard Version (ASV), but references various texts in original languages to deepen the understanding and meaning for the Scripture.  I use the Amplified Bible to compare and confirm the word studies done for the Scripture. 

For today's verse, the Amplified Bible confers to me a different meaning than from the New King James version (NKJV).  From the NKJV as with the Amplified Bible, an elder has been taught the faithful, trustworthy message from God.  However in the NKJV, the text shows by this teaching, the elder can dispute and expose false teachers.  The Amplified relays the same thought, but adds that the elder also gives "accurate instruction in sound [reliable, error-free] doctrine."  An elder is a teacher.

In previous verses, Paul outlines the elder's characteristics both internal and external, but we haven't touched on what an elder does.  In this verse, Paul begins to describe the tasks of an elder.  An elder is a teacher and a lawyer.  He will instruct people in the same Gospel and doctrines that were taught to him.  He will also prosecute the Gospel to uncover, reveal misleading, corrupt teaching that could lead people away from the true message.  To have power to teach and prosecute, an elder must be bathed and immersed in God's Word.  So, no matter how difficult the entrapments and busyness of the world can be, you must diligently study and learn from the Bible, God's Word, everyday.

He must hold firmly to the trustworthy word [of God] as it was taught to him, so that he will be able both to give accurate instruction in sound [reliable, error-free] doctrine and to refute those who contradict [it by explaining their error].

Amplified Bible

W.O.R.D. Worksheet

Inductive Study: Titus 1:8

but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled,

Titus 1:8

Dear Heavenly Father, I praise You and thank You for my forgiveness through Christ.  Please help navigate through all the conflict in my life.  No matter how hard I try to be fair and just and accommodating, some people are never satisfied, thankful, or appreciative.  Help me to stay true to You.  Help me not be discouraged.  In Jesus's name I pray, Amen.

We are in the body portion of the letter which focuses on doctrine and encouragement.  In verse 8, Paul continues to outline requirements for elders.    To bring deeper understanding to today's text, let's examine some key words and their companion or similar verses.

"Hospitable" in the Greek is philoxenos which means loving strangers, generous to guests, fond of guests.  This word is only used three times in the New Testament.  "Lover of what is good" in the Greek is philagathos which means loving that which is good, personal affection for what is intrinsically good.  It is made from the word philos, friend, and agathos, inherently good.  This word only appears in Titus.

"Sober-minded" in the Greek is sophron which means sound mind, temperate, chaste, modest, safe because moderated, a man who doesn't command himself but rather is commanded by God, curbing one's desires and impulses.  This word is used four times in the New Testament only when describing elders and older men in the church.  "Just" in the Greek is dikaios which means correct, righteous, by implication innocent, just in the eyes of God, the elect, approved by God, innocent, observing divine and human laws, faultless, guiltless, passing just judgement on others.

"Holy" in the Greek is hosios which means righteous, pious, beloved by God, accords with divine truth and hence deserves respect.  "Self-controlled" in the Greek is egkrates which means strong, master of, mastered from within, temperance, controlling, curbing, restraining.  1 Corinthians 9:25 states "And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown."  Temperate in this verse is the same as self-control used in Titus.

An elder must be fond and generous to guests, love strangers, have personal affection for what is inherently and intrinsically good, curb one’s desires and impulses, observe divine and human laws, accord with divine truth hence deserves respect, and be master of temperance  and restraint. An elder must be one with God’s moral code which can only happen if indwelled by the Holy Spirit.

Galatians 5:22-23 states “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.”  John 16:7-8 states "Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment."  God's Helper, the Holy Spirit, enables a believer to be this hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled man.  An elder must be a believer in Jesus Christ.

And he must be hospitable [to believers, as well as strangers], a lover of what is good, sensible (upright), fair, devout, self-disciplined [above reproach—whether in public or in private].

Amplified Bible

W.O.R.D. Worksheet