Titus 3 10

Titus 3:10 kjv

A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;

Titus 3:10 nkjv

Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition,

Titus 3:10 niv

Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them.

Titus 3:10 esv

As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him,

Titus 3:10 nlt

If people are causing divisions among you, give a first and second warning. After that, have nothing more to do with them.

Titus 3 verses

Titus 3 10 Meaning

Titus 3:10 instructs church leadership on how to deal with individuals who cause division within the body of Christ. It mandates a process of patiently warning such a person, giving them an opportunity to repent and change their ways. However, if they persist in their divisive behavior after a first and second warning, the instruction is to definitively separate from them. This action serves to protect the unity, peace, and doctrinal purity of the church community.

Titus 3 10 Context

Titus chapter 3 transitions from discussing the good conduct expected of believers (v. 1-2), particularly their submission to governing authorities and their general goodness to all people, to highlighting the foundational grace of God (v. 3-7) that enables such conduct. Within this flow, Titus 3:9 warns against "foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law," declaring them "unprofitable and worthless." Immediately following, verse 10 provides a specific, strong injunction for handling individuals who persist in such divisive behavior despite the overall call to sound doctrine and good works. This passage emphasizes Paul's concern for the internal health and unity of the Cretan churches, facing both external societal pressures and internal doctrinal or behavioral challenges. It reinforces the importance of maintaining order and preventing individuals from actively undermining the church's peace and mission.

Titus 3 10 Word analysis

• A divisive person (αἱρετικὸν ἄνθρωπον - hairetikón anthrōpon):

  • αἱρετικὸν (hairetikón): Adjective derived from hairesis (heresy, faction, party). It denotes one who causes division or forms a sect, a "party spirit." In New Testament Greek, hairesis does not always mean doctrinal error per se, but often indicates divisions or factions within a group (e.g., Acts 24:14 referring to Christianity as a "sect"). Here, coupled with anthropon, it signifies a person whose character is marked by causing strife, dissent, or fostering factions, regardless of the specific doctrinal basis for their division. It describes a persistent, deliberate propensity to create schisms rather than merely holding a mistaken belief. The term here implies behavior, not just belief.
  • ἄνθρωπον (anthrōpon): Simply "man" or "person." Emphasizes that this is about a particular individual whose actions lead to division.

• after (μετὰ - meta): A preposition indicating sequence or timing, "after" or "following." Signifies that the action of rejection must follow the specified warnings.

• a first and second (μίαν καὶ δευτέραν - mian kai deuteran):

  • μίαν (mian): "one" or "first."
  • δευτέραν (deutéran): "second." This specifies a clear, measured process. It denotes ample opportunity for correction and repentance, underscoring the church's patience before enacting discipline. It’s not about immediate rejection for a single mistake but for persistent divisive action.

• warning (νουθεσίαν - nouthesian): Admonition, instruction, reproof, caution, exhortation. It implies a kind of "putting sense into" someone, involving gentle correction but also firm caution. It is meant to educate, encourage, and call to a change of mind or behavior. It’s not merely a harsh reprimand but an earnest effort to guide the person back to sound conduct and unity.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "A divisive person... warning": This combination highlights that the issue is not primarily about simple doctrinal error but about behavior that fractures the community, for which corrective warnings are required. The process starts with the individual, emphasizing their role in the division.
  • "after a first and second warning": This phrase mandates patience and due process before decisive action. It illustrates a balance between mercy and discipline, offering a period for repentance. It implies the warnings are specific, clear, and documented in some form, giving the individual full awareness of the consequence of continued division.
  • "reject" (παραιτοῦ - paraitou):
    • An imperative verb, meaning "reject," "refuse," "avoid," "have nothing to do with," "dismiss." It is a strong command for decisive action. In other contexts, it can mean to beg off, or to decline. Here, it denotes cutting ties, not in the sense of physically driving out, but ceasing fellowship and not considering them part of the core community if they persist in divisive behavior. It aims to protect the church from further harm and to cause the individual to reflect on their ways, potentially leading to repentance.

Titus 3 10 Bonus section

The context of "good works" (Titus 3:8) immediately preceding this instruction indicates that handling divisive individuals is itself a form of good work or a necessary component for the church to continue doing good works. Unchecked division hinders the mission and testimony of the church. The action described in verse 10 is therefore a pastoral responsibility essential for maintaining church order and promoting unity and sound doctrine, preventing what is "unprofitable and worthless" (Titus 3:9) from taking root and consuming the energy and resources of the congregation.

Titus 3 10 Commentary

Titus 3:10 offers practical, principled instruction for church leaders on how to manage persistent internal conflict. It addresses a specific type of individual: the "divisive person" (αἱρετικὸν ἄνθρωπον), one whose actions sow discord, promote factions, or consistently undermine unity rather than merely holding differing opinions on secondary matters. The crucial process involves a "first and second warning," emphasizing the church's commitment to patient engagement, instruction, and offering grace for repentance. This sequence aligns with broader biblical principles of progressive discipline (e.g., Matt 18:15-17), ensuring that no one is summarily dismissed without opportunity for change. If, despite these earnest warnings, the individual remains unrepentant and continues their divisive behavior, the directive is to "reject" them. This "rejection" (paraitou) signifies a cessation of church fellowship and recognition, not out of malice, but out of a sober responsibility to safeguard the spiritual health, peace, and doctrinal integrity of the body of Christ from ongoing damage. It is an act of spiritual surgery, painful yet necessary to prevent infection from spreading. It protects the sheep from wolves within.