Survey of the Letters of Paul

Lesson:  Titus 3:9

This section has 4 verses.
 
Titus 3:8-11
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 heretick after the first and second admonition reject;
11 Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.
 
We will begin with the Barclay commentary.

THE NECESSITY OF ACTION AND THE DANGER OF DISCUSSION

First, the paraphrase of verses 8-11:

This is a saying which we are bound to believe – and I want you to keep on affirming these things – that those who have put their faith in God must think and plan how to practice fine deeds. These are fine things and useful to men. But have nothing to do with foolish speculations and genealogies and contentious and legalistic battles, for they are no good to anyone and serve no useful purpose. Avoid a contentious and self-opinionated man, after giving him a first and a second warning, for you must be well aware that such a man is perverted and stands a self-condemned sinner.

THIS passage stresses the need for Christian action and the danger of a certain kind of discussion.

The word we have translated as to practice fine deeds is proistasthai, which literally means to stand in front of and was the word used for a shopkeeper standing in front of the shop and calling out to advertise the produce. The phrase may mean either of two things. It might be a command to Christians to engage only in respectable and useful trades. There were certain professions which the early Church insisted that people should give up before they were allowed even to ask for membership. More probably, the phrase has the wider meaning that Christians must practice good deeds which are helpful to others.

The second part of the passage warns against useless discussions. The Greek philosophers spent their time on their over subtle [over precise, picky, hair-splitting] problems. The Jewish Rabbis spent their time building up imaginary genealogies for the characters of the Old Testament. The Jewish scribes spent endless hours discussing what could and could not be done on the Sabbath, and what was and was not unclean. It has been said that there is a danger that people might think themselves religious because they discuss religious questions. It is much easier to discuss theological questions than to be kind and considerate and helpful at home, or efficient and conscientious and honest at work. There is no virtue in sitting discussing deep theological questions when the simple tasks of the Christian life are waiting to be done. Such discussion can be nothing other than avoidance of Christian duties.

Paul was certain that the real task for Christians lay in Christian action. That is not to say that there is no place for Christian discussion; but the discussion which does not end in action is very largely wasted time.

It is Paul’s advice that contentious and self-opinionated people should be avoided. The Authorized Version calls that kind of person the heretic. The Greek is hairetikos. The verb hairein means to choose, and hairesis means a party, or a school or a sect. Originally, the word carried no bad meaning. This creeps in when someone sets private opinion against all the teaching, the agreement and the tradition of the Church. Heretics are simply people who have decided that they are right and everybody else is wrong. Paul’s warning is against those who have made their own ideas the test of all truth. We should always be very careful of any opinion which separates us from the fellowship of our fellow believers. True faith does not divide people; it unites them. ~Barclay Commentary

Note: Heretic
A professed believer who maintains religious opinions contrary to those accepted by his or her church or rejects doctrines prescribed by that church [from the Word of God].

Now to the other commentaries. We will begin with the general and go to the specific. First the Matthew Henry. This section we are in is verses 8-11. Interestingly, the Matthew Henry makes the segment verses 9-15. I will give you the text it has for verse 9.

Here is the fifth and last thing in the matter of the epistle: what Titus should avoid in teaching; how he should deal with a heretic; with some other directions. Observe,

I. That the apostle's meaning might be more clear and full, and especially fitted to the time and state of things in Crete, and the many judaizers among them, he tells Titus what, in teaching, he should shun, Titus 3:9. There are needful questions to be discussed and cleared, such as make for improvement in useful knowledge; but idle and foolish enquiries, tending neither to God's glory nor the edification of men, must be shunned.

Some may have a show of wisdom, but are vain, as many among the Jewish doctors, as well as of later schoolmen, who abound with questions of no moment or use to faith or practice; avoid these. - And genealogies (of the gods, say some, that the heathen poets made such noise about; or rather those that the Jews were so curious in): some lawful and useful enquiries might be made into these things, to see the fulfilling of the scriptures in some cases, and especially in the descent of Christ the Messiah; but all that served to pomp only, and to feed vanity, in boasting of a long pedigree, and much more such as the Jewish teachers were ready to busy themselves in and trouble their hearers with, even since Christ had come, and that distinction of families and tribes had been taken away, as if they would build again that policy which now is abolished, these Titus must withstand as foolish and vain. - And contentious, and strivings about the law. There were those who were for the Mosaic rites and ceremonies, and would have them continued in the church, though by the gospel and the coming of Christ they were superseded and done away.

Titus must give no countenance to these, but avoid and oppose them; for they are unprofitable and vain: this is to be referred to all those foolish questions and genealogies, as well as those strivings about the law. They are so far from instructing and building up in godliness, that they are hindrances of it rather: the Christian religion, and good works, which are to be maintained, will hereby be weakened and prejudiced, the peace of the church disturbed, and the progress of the gospel hindered. Observe, Ministers must not only teach things good and useful, but shun and oppose the contrary, what would corrupt the faith, and hinder godliness and good works; nor should people have itching ears, but love and embrace sound doctrine, which tends most to the use of edifying. ~Matthew Henry

Now the Matthew Henry Concise which covers verses 8-11 unlike its big brother, the main commentary.

When the grace of God towards mankind has been declared, the necessity of good works is pressed. Those who believe in God, must make it their care to maintain good works, to seek opportunities for doing them, being influenced by love and gratitude. Trifling, foolish questions must be avoided, and subtle distinctions and vain inquiries; nor should people be eager after novelties, but love sound doctrine which tends most to edifying. Though we may now think some sins light and little, if the Lord awaken the conscience, we shall feel even the smallest sin heavy upon our souls. ~Matthew Henry Concise

 

Here is something from the Biblical illustrator on foolish questions.

Avoid foolish questions
Foolish questions reproved
I. Amongst the questions to be avoided, such as the following may be included.

1. Those which savour of skepticism and unbelief, or which imply a doubtfulness of the truth of Divine revelation, or of any of its fundamental doctrines. Religion is not intended to gratify our curiosity, or to answer our speculative inquiries; its object is to renew and sanctify the heart, and to meeten us [prepare us; make us suitable or fit] for [the Kingdom].

2. Intricate [entangled; involved] and controversial questions are in general to be avoided, as engendering strife rather than ministering to godly edifying.

3. Prying questions relative to futurity [a future time], and which tend only to gratify a vain curiosity, ought to be avoided.

Note: This does not mean we are forbidden from talking about prophecy. The key phrase in item 3 is "prying questions." We can discuss prophecy but it should not be the foundation of our talk. The foundation should be salvation and developing the character of Christ.

4. Questions arising from impatience and discontent are generally in a high degree improper, and unworthy of a Christian. When the mind is disquieted and full of trouble, we are commonly dissatisfied with everything about us, and wish if it were possible to have it otherwise. But this is a spirit which the Scriptures condemn, as utterly inconsistent with submission to the will of God, and as savoring of presumption and unbelief.

5. Perplexing and disquieting questions, which have no tendency to promote the great objects of practical religion, but only to excite unnecessary doubts and fears, are also prohibited in the text. Instead of asking the anxious question, for example, Are we elected? our great concern should be to know whether we be effectually called? Not, are our names written in heaven, but is God’s law written in our hearts?

6. Trifling and uninteresting questions which serve only to amuse and not to impart any useful information, ought by all means to be avoided. There is too great a disposition, even in serious people, to indulge in frivolous disputes, or in a strife about words rather than things, to the neglect of the weightier matters of the law, judgment, charity, and the love of God.

II. Notice some things that are necessary to a profitable conversation.
1. Beware of loquacity, or too much speaking. Let not your words go before your thoughts; think twice before you speak once.

2. Accustom yourselves to a sober way of thinking and talking, using at all times sound speech which cannot be condemned.

3. It may be proper to lay in a stock of interesting questions as matter for after conversation. Inquiries relative to our state, tending to promote experimental religion [examples as you read on], both in ourselves and others, would at all times be useful and edifying. We cannot too frequently ask ourselves, Are we in a state of acceptance with God; do we grow in grace; do we hate sin and love holiness; are we more weaned from the world, and fit for [the Kingdom]? An awakened sinner would naturally inquire, What must I do to be saved? and those who have believed through grace should be anxious to inquire, What shall we do that we may work the works of God?

4. Living as in the sight of God, and under a conviction that for every idle word we must give an account in the day of judgment, will exclude a great deal of light and trifling conversation, and give a savouriness to our speech, which will minister grace to the hearer. ~Biblical Illustrator

Now to the specific commentaries.

The verse is primarily in 3 parts:

1]But avoid foolish questions and genealogies.
2] And contentions, and strivings about the law.
3] For they are unprofitable and vain.

1]But avoid foolish questions and genealogies.

But avoid foolish questions and genealogies - See the 1 Timothy 1:4 note; 2 Timothy 2:16, 2 Timothy 2:23 notes. ~Barnes Notes

Quoted verses:
1 Timothy 1:4 [see Lesson]
Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.

2 Timothy 2:16 [see Lesson]
But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.

2 Timothy 2:23 [see Lesson]
But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.

Avoid foolish questions, and genealogies - In these the Jews particularly delighted; they abounded in the most frivolous questions; and, as they had little piety themselves, they were solicitous to show that they had descended from godly ancestors. ~Adam Clarke

But avoid foolish questions. - Such as were started in the schools of the Jews. ~John Gill

2] And contentions, and strivings about the law.

And contentions, and strivings about the law - Such as the Jews started about various matters connected with the law - about meats and drinks, etc.; the notes at 1 Timothy 1:4 [quoted above]; compare the notes at Acts 18:15.

Quoted verse:
Acts 18:15
But if it be a question of words and names, and of your law, look ye to it; for I will be no judge of such matters.

Notice the commentary

3] For they are unprofitable and vain.

For they are unprofitable and vain - They disturb and embitter the feelings; they lead to the indulgence of a bad spirit; they are often difficult to be settled and are of no practical importance if they could be determined. The same thing might be said of multitudes of things about which men dispute so earnestly now. ~Barnes Notes

For they are unprofitable and vain - empty things, of no manner of use, to inform the judgment, improve the mind, or influence the life and conversation. ~John Gill