Titus 1:11 kjv

Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.

Titus 1:11 nkjv

whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain.

Titus 1:11 niv

They must be silenced, because they are disrupting whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach?and that for the sake of dishonest gain.

Titus 1:11 esv

They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach.

Titus 1:11 nlt

They must be silenced, because they are turning whole families away from the truth by their false teaching. And they do it only for money.

Titus 1 verses

Titus 1 11 Meaning

Titus 1:11 means that certain disruptive individuals must be authoritatively stopped from teaching because their doctrines corrupt entire family units, and their ultimate motivation is sordid financial gain. This highlights the severe threat false teaching poses to the Christian community, especially when fueled by greed, demanding decisive action from church leaders like Titus.

Titus 1 11 Context

Titus chapter 1 opens with Paul affirming his apostleship and stating the purpose of his letter to Titus: to appoint elders in every town in Crete and to establish proper order in the churches. Verses 5-9 outline the essential qualifications for overseers (elders), emphasizing their blameless character and ability to teach sound doctrine. Immediately after setting these standards, Paul identifies a significant problem in Crete: rebellious people, especially from the circumcision party (likely Jewish believers insisting on Mosaic Law), who were speaking deceptive and harmful things. Titus 1:10 explicitly names these groups as disobedient, empty talkers, and deceivers. Verse 11, therefore, explains why these individuals, previously mentioned, must be "silenced"—their teaching corrupts families, and their motive is mercenary, undermining the very foundation of godly order Paul sought to establish. The broader context of the letter is about establishing sound leadership, combating false teaching, and promoting ethical conduct rooted in the Gospel.

Titus 1 11 Word analysis

• They: Refers back to the "rebellious people, empty talkers and deceivers" mentioned in Titus 1:10, particularly those of the circumcision group, who undermine the true faith.
• must be: Greek dei (δεῖ), conveying a strong sense of divine necessity or obligation. This is not optional but a requirement for the spiritual well-being of the church.
• silenced: Greek epistomízein (ἐπιστομίζειν), literally meaning "to muzzle the mouth" or "to put a bridle on." It denotes a decisive and authoritative act to stop or prevent someone from speaking or exercising their harmful influence within the church. It's not about physical violence but stopping their teaching activity and impact.
• because: Introduces the crucial reason and justification for the need to silence them, outlining their destructive actions and motives.
• they are upsetting: Greek anatrépousin (ἀνατρέπουσιν), meaning "to overturn," "subvert," "ruin," or "overthrow." It vividly pictures the destructive, destabilizing impact of their false teaching.
• whole households: Greek hólous oíkous (ὅλους οἴκους). In the Greco-Roman world and the early church, the "household" encompassed the nuclear family, extended relatives, servants, and often house churches. Subverting entire households indicates a systemic and widespread corruption of the very foundation of the church's social and spiritual structure.
• by teaching: Greek didáskontes (διδάσκοντες), indicating that their primary method of subversion is through instructing or propagating doctrines.
• things they ought not to teach: Greek ha mè deî (ἃ μὴ δεῖ), meaning "what is not proper" or "what is not necessary." This refers to false doctrines, unprofitable myths, human commands, or legalistic teachings that contradict sound Christian doctrine and Gospel truth.
• and that for the sake of: Greek chárin (χάριν), meaning "for the sake of," "on account of," or "by reason of." It clearly states their corrupt underlying motive.
• dishonest gain: Greek aísxroû kérdous (αἰσχροῦ κέρδους), literally "shameful gain" or "sordid profit." This exposes their motivation as mercenary and utterly antithetical to the selfless service expected of true Christian teachers and leaders. It signifies material greed acquired through base, disgraceful means, rather than spiritual growth.

Titus 1 11 Bonus section

The emphasis on "whole households" in this verse is significant. In the early church, the oikos (household) was the primary locus of Christian discipleship and communal gathering. To "overturn" a household meant to dismantle the very operational unit of the church. This speaks to the holistic damage false teaching inflicts—not just on individual beliefs, but on relational harmony, financial stability, and the overall Christian witness within a community. The identification of "dishonest gain" as a key motivator is a recurring theme in warnings against false teachers throughout the New Testament, signaling that genuine ministry is fundamentally selfless, in stark contrast to those who "peddle the word of God for profit" (2 Cor 2:17). This also implicitly instructs true teachers to model selfless service and avoid even the appearance of greed.

Titus 1 11 Commentary

Titus 1:11 serves as a stark warning and a call to action regarding the insidious nature of false teaching. Paul, through Titus, mandates decisive intervention to silence those who distort truth, not merely for intellectual error, but because of their profound and systemic harm. The specific accusation of "upsetting whole households" underlines that false doctrine is not a benign intellectual exercise but a corrosive force that devastates the very fabric of family life and the domestic churches within. Moreover, revealing their motivation as "dishonest gain" unmasks the spiritual charlatan: individuals whose interest is not in the souls of others or the glory of God, but in personal enrichment. This mercenary spirit marks them as antagonists to the Gospel, which promotes generosity and selflessness. Thus, Titus, and all church leaders, are charged with the sacred responsibility to protect the flock from these spiritual predators, preserving both doctrinal integrity and community health.