HERESIES and HERETICS
3:1 Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be
ready to every good work,
2 To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, showing all meekness unto all men.
3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and
pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by
the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
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 heretic after the first and second admonition reject;
11 Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself…” Titus
3:1-11.
“…17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to
the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them…” Rom 16:17
“..A man that is an heretic after the first and second admonition reject..”
Titus 3:10.
Some have thought that this verse refers to those who held some differing
views from the majority, and that these were to be rejected after they had been
warned and admonished at least once or even twice. Others have thought that the
Apostle was referring to the two (main) admonitions that he had just mentioned.
(ver 1, 2, and 9)
1. “..Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to
be ready to every good work, To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, showing all
meekness unto all men..” (ver 1-2) and –
2. “.. But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law;
for they are unprofitable and vain…” (ver 9)
Though many have thought that the sentence above refers only to those
who held and (perhaps) advocated some perceived important and differing views
from the majority, some scholars have defined the word ‘heretic’ (from the
original Greek word hairetikos) as meaning being ‘divisive’, ‘factious’, or
‘contentious’ The Greek hairesis means a sect, party or school of thought, and is
also used to apply to such in the New Testament, such as Scribes, Pharisees,
Sadducces and Christians. So a heretic (hairetikos) in the text would be a
divisive or contentious person, or one who would strive to constantly cause
divisions and offenses and hard feelings among brethren by their
contentiousness in support of certain doctrines (or other things), as the term is
used in the above verse.
1. Where the first admonition would be under the heading of obedience
to civil government and laws, and to not speak evil of these as being contrary
to the government of God, or to have the habit of constantly, contemptuously
and contentiously speaking evil of men in general; or especially of any that
they may disagree with.
“…To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, showing all
meekness unto all men…” (ver 2)
2. Then the second admonition would follow under the heading to:
“…Avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings
about the law…”
These are basically the two admonitions that are mentioned in the context,
and seem to refer to two main points that most contentious person are infected
with, and these do often cause divisions and offenses among otherwise
peaceable brethren.
To further prove this point the Apostle exhorts the brethren (through Titus) to
remember their own past lives when they walked in and after the flesh and
followed these fleshly principles:
“.. For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers
lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another…” (ver 3)
Interpreting the text in the manner in which many have, (that the Apostle meant to
reject one that had differing views on some things from the majority after they
had been admonished once or twice) - but by whom, or by whose authority? - has
throughout past history resulted in much persecution and injury to honest and
sincere people, if not to say the least, intimidation of their character and
exclusion from the fellowship of otherwise peaceful and loving brethren.
Diotrephes seemed to be one of these types:
“…I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among
them, receiveth us not.
Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious
words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth
them that would, and casteth them out of the church…” 3 John 3:9-10.
No doubt there were some in the Apostolic church assemblies that
continued to hold to the tenants of Judaism, and these were generally
contentious persons for we would assume that many of these were those at that
time the Apostle referred to; for he specifically mentions those that brought up
foolish questions concerning there fleshly lineage or the importance of
genealogies and in such a contentious way, and also those who were so
contentious that they were always striving about the works of the law. The word
subverted means ‘overthrown or ruined’. Those professed believers who have
fallen into the habit of constant contentiousness and the character that defines
this condition are therefore the subjects under consideration, and if any are to be
admonished by the church, it seems that these would be the ones to come under
consideration according to Paul’s context.
The great doctrine(s) to be constantly maintained in the assembly of saints, and
which is paramount to all others is viz:
“…But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by
the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
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… (ver 4-8)
This would include (the first admonition) that the doctrine of truth that
salvation is fully and wholly according to the mercy and grace of God, and not
according to works of righteousness which saints have done, and is to be
constantly maintained and preached above all other.
The second admonition would be next in importance, that in the careful adorning
of this doctrine, is that the professed believers in Christ do pray and strive by the
power of God in Christ to so manifest those good works that are produced by His
Spirit and the knowledge of the truth (of this doctrine) within them and among
them. Paul has previously said to Titus in Chapter 2:
“… In all things showing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine showing
uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,
Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed,
having no evil thing to say of you.
Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not
answering again;
Not purloining, but showing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our
Saviour in all things.
For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and
godly, in this present world…” Titus 2:7-12.
OAB