Titus 3:9-11 – Dealing with a divisive person

In these verses, Paul gave something for Titus and the believers to avoid. Notice that he did not say Christians should avoid controversies, but only foolish controversies. A careful study of the Bible tells us that even the Lord Jesus Christ Himself had often time engaged in controversies. So also did Paul, Peter, and the other apostles. The word “foolish” qualifies the kind of controversy believers should not engage in. So what are the foolish controversies that Paul was referring to? Verse 9 tells believers to avoid debates on: genealogies, and strife and disputes about the Law. Genealogies would involve tracing their Jewish roots to the Old Testament Patriarchs. They did this as if they would be more favored than others. Strife and disputes about the Law would refer to the intellectual and whimsical methods designed by those false teachers to interpret the Law. Their motive was to regulate and control the lives of the people. The reasons he urged that these be avoided were because they were unprofitable and worthless.

In verse 10, Paul told Titus that a factious man should be rejected. The term “factious” needs to be defined. A factious man is not someone who merely disagrees with our position. It is someone who has a superiority attitude and had taken a certain dogmatic stand with no regard for the centrality of Christ and the Gospel. Such a person would hold on to his position even if it means dividing believers. This person is also stubborn and not teachable and would keep distracting others from the Lord Jesus Christ. He would even ridicule others who do not share their view. Biblically speaking, this man is totally out of line.

In the same verse, Paul showed Titus how to deal with such a man. Firstly, he must be warned or admonished concerning his error. This should be done with the hope that he would repent. If he does not respond the first time, admonish him again a second time. If he refuses to acknowledge his errors despite the second warning, it would indicate that he is perverted. He is one with a twisted and warped mind. This would reveal his real person, one who persists in sin and is already condemned by his own choice. Such a man should be rejected, so have nothing to do with him.