These small group studies of Titus 1:9-16 contain outlines, cross-references, Bible study discussion questions, and applications. Visit our library of inductive Bible studies for more in depth inductive studies on this and other books of the Bible you can use in your small group.
Titus 1:9-16 Bible Study Video
Titus 1:9-16Podcast
Titus 1:9-16 Bible Study Commentary And Discussion Questions
Outline
I. Elders should rebuke false teachers (9-14)
II. A false teacher is exposed by his lifestyle (15-16)
I. Elders should rebuke false teachers (9-14)
Discussion Questions
• What does the phrase “that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine” mean?
• Why must an elder be able to rebuke?
• In what kind of situations should an elder rebuke someone?
• Is this only the job of an elder or of all believers?
• What verbs are used in verse 9?
• What kind of people does an elder need to deal with (10)?
• What is the “circumcision party”?
• Why must these people be “silenced”?
• What should motivate an elder to either speak up or not (11)?
• What do verses 12-13 teach us about man’s sinful nature? Were Cretans just especially sinful?
• What is the goal of the rebuke according to verse 13?
• What are these Jewish myths?
• When a normal church member sees false teaching or someone in sin, what is their responsibility?
Cross-References
Galatians 6:1 – Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.
James 5:19-20 – My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.
2 Thessalonians 3:14-15 – If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.
2 Timothy 2:24-26 – And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.
Verse by Verse Commentary
1. Hold firm to the trustworthy word – One foundational key of a qualified elder is that he must hold firm to the Word of God. He must stand on it without compromise. It is the absolute standard for the church and believers to live by.
Many churches have floundered and eventually fallen away because their leaders stopped holding firm to the Scriptures. They allowed worldly teachings and arguments to win the battle in their minds. Many fell for Darwinism and attempted to compromise with the world by explaining away literal creation and trying to shoehorn the Bible into the theory of evolution. Many more have fallen away because they have abandoned Biblical truth on the design of the family and embraced the world’s false teaching that a person can choose their own reality. Still, others stray because their leaders are holding on to some alternative dogma, such as politics or religion, rather than to the Word.
The number one question you should ask when deciding whether to join a church is, “Is it Bible-believing?” If the leaders do not hold on to the truth of God’s Word–run.
2. Be able to give instruction – An elder is not mandated to be a gifted speaker. In a team of elders, it is undoubtedly beneficial if some have the teaching gift, but it is not required for each elder. Furthermore, a person may have the gift of teaching but not be qualified in other areas.
However, elders should be “able to give instruction.” They should be able to open up the Bible and explain it clearly and logically. This will enable them to answer questions or refute false teaching. Therefore, elders should be students of the Word and able to “accurately divide the Word of Truth.”
3. Rebuke those who contradict it –
An elder must accurately handle the Word of Truth. He must hold on to sound doctrine and use this to exhort the members of his church to godly living. At the same time, the elder must refute those who contradict the Scriptures.
There will be false teachers. There will be people who base their opinions on what is popular, what is culturally correct, what is expedient, or what makes them feel good. An elder must not give in to these people. He must stand on the Word of God without moving and use it to rebuke those who want to cause trouble.
Acts 20:28-32 – Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish everyone with tears. And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
Unfortunately, where God is working, Satan also is working against Him. Most churches will occasionally run into problems with troublemakers and false teachers.
Where do wolves go? They go where the sheep are.
“The pastor ought to have two voices, one, for gathering the sheep. And another, for driving away the wolves.” – John Calvin
An elder is called to be gentle toward the weak but bold toward the malicious.
One problem is that some leaders generally go one way or the other. Either they are always rebuking and correcting or never doing so. Finding the right balance between knowing when to speak up and when not to can be difficult. Nonetheless, an elder cannot be passive. Overseeing is his duty.
As a shepherd of the flock, an elder cannot sit idly by and let false teachers come in and mislead. He is the one who is charged with the responsibility to speak up and expose any subtle lies or false ideologies that creep in the church.
Reflect – Should a church member be silent when he sees false teaching and wait for the church leader to do something about it? Why or why not?
4. Verse 10 –
Titus 1:10 – For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party.
The church is not like some idyllic stained glass window scene. It is composed of all types of people. And sometimes, enemies of Christ infiltrate the church to cause havoc. Paul warned Titus that he should expect rebellious people within the church. Not everyone would listen to him or respect his authority.
There would be “empty talkers and deceivers.” These are people who would mislead the flock through false teaching. False teachers often sound smart. Most are very proficient at public speaking. But they are deceivers.
Here are a few possible methods they use:
• They look like Christians. They dress like Christians.
• They talk like Christians. They often use a Bible (sometimes with a good translation and sometimes not). They often quote Scripture. However, they do not apply sound hermeneutics. They take verses out of context and twist the meaning to suit their own purposes.
• They often pretend to be a godly believer while lulling the flock into a false sense of security.
• They often begin spreading their false teachings to the immature or more vulnerable such as new believers or the sick or poor who are desperately searching for help.
Application: How can you protect yourselves from these false teachers?
You have probably never heard a heretic stand up at the pulpit and say, “I am a false teacher. I am an instrument of Satan. I am a wolf and want to devour you. Today I am going to deceive you.” Such a method would fail. Instead, they seek to come in deceitfully. The arguments they make sound spiritual but are empty.
2 Peter 2:1 says that they “secretly bring in destructive heresies.”
They are big talkers. But what they offer never materializes. As Peter says, it is a mirage.
2 Peter 2:17 – These are waterless springs and mists driven by a storm.
Paul frequently warned the churches about the circumcision party. These people preached a gospel of faith plus works, proclaiming that a person must be circumcised to be saved. And it wasn’t only about circumcision. Their converts were required to keep the Old Testament law. Such teachings misrepresented God’s grace and the core truths of salvation.
5. They must be silenced – Paul holds no punches. He doesn’t say, “reason with them” or “try to negotiate with them.” He says that they must be silenced! The safety of the flock is at stake. And that is the responsibility of the shepherd.
If a wolf came into the midst of a flock of sheep, a shepherd wouldn’t mildly approach the wolf and ask, “How was your week? Why do you like to eat sheep? Could I offer you something vegetarian instead?”
Confronting false teaching is an unpleasant task. It can be awkward and time-consuming as well as mentally wearying. Most people tend to prefer to avoid conflict. Yet it is necessary. As Paul said, “they must be silenced!”
6. Why does Paul advocate such a strong course of action? – The reason is that they “are upsetting whole families.”
People were being led astray. Their spiritual well-being would be damaged, which might lead to irreparable harm that could even affect their eternal destination.
7. They are teaching for shameful gain – There are many marks of false teachers. Peter writes extensively about their lifestyle in 2 Peter 2:10-22.
One of the marks of a false teacher is greed.
Some false teachers accumulate immense wealth for themselves and live a life of luxury.
A popular South African pastor called Shepherd Bushuri has not one, not two, but three private jets. And these are in addition to his fleet of luxury cars.
In a church I attended a long time ago, it was discovered that the pastor embezzled money meant for the church into his own private account.
Brothers and sisters, this should not be. God does give nice things. James 1:17 says, “every perfect gift is from above.” Paul said that Christian workers could make their living by working for God. But that is far different than becoming rich and living a life of wanton luxury, all from the money given by the people one is supposed to serve.
Greed is not a new thing. Solomon said that there is nothing new under the sun. The same desire for personal gain motivated false teachers in the time of Paul. They are looking to get rich from the gospel.
What attitude should we have?
1 Timothy 6:6 – But godliness with contentment is great gain.
The gain of sharing the gospel and teaching others the Bible is NOT the money you can get, but it is the privilege and blessing of serving Jesus Christ.
Application – When you move to a new place, please do not just immediately join the first church you see. Pay attention to the lifestyle of the leaders of the church. If the church leaders are living a lifestyle way higher than everyone around them, beware. Go to a church where the Bible is faithfully taught. Pay careful attention to the lifestyle of the pastors.
8. Cretans were notorious sinners – Titus served on Crete and Cretans had a bad reputation. One of their own said they were “always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” And Paul agreed with him!
At first glance, one might think that Paul was overly strict with them. However, we should keep in mind that Paul called himself the “chief of sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15).
Paul knew the truth. Every person ever born was born with a sinful nature. Different cultures tend to have different sins, which are more systemic in their society. The Cretans were no exception.
There was no need to sugarcoat things. This was the reality of the place where Titus served.
But note that Paul and his team still ministered among them. The gospel still gave them hope. They could still be saved and forgiven. Jesus was willing to associate with the sinners of society. He loved them. But Jesus did not give excuses for their sin. Instead, He encouraged them to repent and receive forgiveness.
Here, Paul did the same thing. While acknowledging their sins, he did not give up on them. They needed to be corrected so that they could repent and receive God’s grace.
9. Rebuke them so that they may be sound in the faith –
What was the goal of rebuking these people? The goal was that they would eventually be sound in the faith. Paul hoped they would repent and become faithful disciples of the Lord.
This is always the ultimate goal of rebuke. One should not rebuke and stop there. We rebuke and then correct. One should not discipline his child and then leave him in some kind of vague purgatory zone where he does not know his standing. The goal of discipline is always restoration.
In the Old Testament, when God disciplined the nation of Israel, He did so with the intention of restoring them to a proper relationship with Him. If there is a wolf amid the flock, the immediate need is to protect the flock. But there is also the goal that the wolf will one day become a sheep.
Application – If you ever need to rebuke someone, make sure that one of your key goals is their growth and restoration.
10. Paul’s approach was well-rounded –
If an elder only rebukes people without any positive encouragement, the church will likely dwindle in size. If a pastor only praises (ear tickler), a church might explode in size. A good leader needs to use an appropriate balance of criticism with praise. This applies not only to church leaders but also to parents, teachers, etc.
11. Not devoting themselves to Jewish myths – Most likely, this is a reference to the teaching of the Judaizers. This sect basically taught that a person must become a Jew in order to be saved. Circumcision and following the Old Testament law were required. Paul derogatorily refers to these teachings as “myths.”
II. A false teacher is exposed by his lifestyle (15-16)
Discussion Questions
• What does the phrase mean, “to the pure all things are pure?” How can we understand this phrase within its context?
• What does verse 15 teach us about the importance of the heart?
• Why is nothing pure to an unbeliever?
• How does one’s conscience become defiled?
• How can one’s conscience be sanctified?
• What kind of works show that a person does not know God?
• What practical application can you make based on this passage?
Cross-References
Psalms 51:10 – Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
Proverbs 4:23 – Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.
Verse by Verse Commentary
1. To the pure all things are pure – This is an oft-quoted phrase.
We should be careful to understand this verse within its context. Some have, with impure motivations, tried to use this verse to excuse various kinds of sin. They attempt to twist this verse and use it as a justification for satisfying the flesh.
The statement reminds us that motivations are important and that God weighs the heart. Even trying to use this verse to justify self-gratification reveals the impure motivation of the one who so wields it.
But what does it mean?
Paul applies this verse to the group of false teachers that Titus needed to confront. His point is that their motives are wrong and stream from a corrupt heart. Therefore, everything they do, even seemingly pure/innocent/good things, are corrupt by extension. Their selfish motives pollute what they do, although some of those things may appear good on the surface.
For example, they may teach the significance of obedience to the ten commandments and the rest of the Old Testament law. On the surface, this is good. We should obey the ten commandments. However, they aim to impose the law and the old covenant on their converts. They espouse salvation by works and, in doing so, would bind the listener in the chains of graceless religion based on self-merit.
On the other hand, a preacher who understands God’s grace and Christ’s atonement on the cross could also preach on the Old Testament and do so in a pure way.
The key takeaway from this is that God looks at the heart.
Proverbs 21:2 – Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart.
Matthew 12:34 – For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
Our heart’s motivations are very important to God. He doesn’t only look at our actions but at why we do those actions.
Reflect – What examples can you see in the Bible of correct actions done with wrong motives? What examples can you see of the right actions (that seemed small) done with the right motivations?
One example is those who gave to God in the temple. Some contributed a lot of money, but they gave to be seen by men. Jesus appreciated the widow’s small gift because it was offered with sincerity.
Application – We should learn to weigh our heart motivations. If you minister for the Lord, evaluate why you do it. Be honest with yourself. Pay attention to your desire for commendation or your susceptibility to criticism.
2. Verse 16 – Actions speak louder than words. You will know a tree by its fruit. This group of people could talk a good game. They sounded convincing. Their talk was probably smooth and persuasive. Yet their actions revealed that they did not belong to Christ. And because they did not belong to Him, they were “unfit for any good work.”
Their heart did not belong to God. Therefore, He did not accept their actions, regardless of how good they looked.
There are many examples in the Bible of people who claimed to serve God but did not give Him their hearts. Eli’s sons are one example. For years, they served God daily in the temple. They were priests. The clothing they wore and the words they said made them look the part. But their hypocrisy was repulsive to the Lord.
Jesus made it clear what will happen to all of the fakes.
Matthew 7:21 – Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
Application – Are you just talking the talk, or are you walking the walk? How can sincere believers properly evaluate their hearts?
Titus Bible Study Guide – If this study is helpful, you can download the complete Titus study in PDF or get the paperback from Amazon.
Comment – We would love to hear your thoughts on this Titus 1:9-16 Bible study. Please share your insights in the comment section below!
This is just what I need to facilitate a new women’s small study group in a new church I have joined. We are Titus 2 Women of LifeQuest Church. So we starting a study on the book of Titus.