Titus 3 11

Titus 3:11 kjv

Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.

Titus 3:11 nkjv

knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned.

Titus 3:11 niv

You may be sure that such people are warped and sinful; they are self-condemned.

Titus 3:11 esv

knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.

Titus 3:11 nlt

For people like that have turned away from the truth, and their own sins condemn them.

Titus 3 verses

Titus 3 11 Meaning

Titus 3:11 describes the state of a divisive person who persists in their harmful conduct despite repeated warnings. Such an individual is not merely mistaken but has fundamentally deviated from sound truth and godly practice. Their continued actions are a form of ongoing sin, and crucially, they condemn themselves because their own conscience, informed by the truth they have heard and rejected, renders them without excuse. This is an internal self-judgment stemming from a deliberate choice to remain in error.

Titus 3 11 Context

Titus 3:11 concludes Paul’s specific instruction to Titus regarding handling "divisive people" (v. 10). The immediate context begins in Titus 3:9, where Paul warns against foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law, which he labels as unprofitable and useless. Following this, verse 10 states that a person who is divisive (Greek: hairetikon) should be rejected after a first and second warning. Verse 11 provides the theological justification for this severe directive: such an individual's state of spiritual depravity.

Broadly, this verse fits within Paul's letter to Titus, which serves as a pastoral manual for establishing order and sound doctrine within the Cretan churches. Crete was known for its moral decay and prevalence of false teachings. Therefore, maintaining purity of doctrine and unity of fellowship was paramount. Paul outlines qualities for leaders, gives instructions for various groups within the church, and repeatedly emphasizes "sound doctrine" and "good works," which stand in direct contrast to the behavior described in 3:11. The handling of divisive persons is a practical outworking of guarding the church against internal threats to its integrity and witness.

Titus 3 11 Word analysis

• Knowing (εἰδώς - eidos): This is a perfect active participle from oida, implying an established state of understanding or clear perception. It signifies not merely a casual observation but a certain and settled knowledge. It underscores that Titus (and by extension, the church leaders) is to recognize this state definitively, rather than speculate. This understanding is crucial for implementing the directive of rejecting such a person.
• such a person (ὁ τοιοῦτος - ho toioutos): This definite article with the demonstrative pronoun points directly back to the "divisive person" (hairetikon anthropon) mentioned in verse 10. It categorizes them based on their persistent, warned-against conduct, emphasizing that the judgment applies to a specific kind of individual.
• is perverted (ἐξέστραπται - exestraptai): This verb is a perfect passive indicative from ekstrephō, meaning "to turn inside out," "to twist," "to distort," "to deviate from a right course." The perfect tense signifies a completed action with lasting results—they have been perverted and remain in that state. The passive voice indicates that while the perversion is their choice, it might also suggest a degree of having been influenced into that twisted state. This points to a fundamental distortion of character and belief.
• and sinning (καὶ ἁμαρτάνει - kai hamartanei): This is a present active indicative of hamartanō, meaning "to miss the mark," "to err," "to commit sin." The present tense here signifies a continuous, ongoing, and habitual practice of sin, not just an isolated mistake. Their divisive actions are not mere errors in judgment but flow from a deeper, consistent pattern of spiritual deviation.
• being self-condemned (αὐτοκατάκριτος - autokatakritos): This is a unique Greek word in the New Testament. It is an adjective formed from autos (self) and katakrino (to condemn). It literally means "self-condemned" or "condemned by oneself." This is a profound descriptor: the divisive individual is not condemned solely by external judgment or church leaders; rather, their own conscience and actions serve as the basis of their condemnation. They possess enough understanding of the truth, often having received explicit warnings, that their continued refusal leaves them without excuse, sealing their own adverse verdict. This signifies a subjective state where one knows the truth but rejects it, thereby bringing judgment upon themselves.
• Words-group Analysis:
  • "is perverted and sinning": This phrase connects their internal, distorted spiritual state ("perverted") with their outward, habitual actions ("sinning"). The perversion isn't passive; it leads to active, continuous rebellion against what is right and godly. Their spiritual health is compromised, leading to practical disobedience and harm within the community.
  • "being self-condemned": This emphasizes the ultimate reason for rejecting such a person. Their condemnation is self-imposed. They know what they are doing is wrong, or at least they have been amply warned and instructed. Their rejection of sound teaching and persistent divisiveness, despite this knowledge, seals their own spiritual fate in the sight of God and justifies the church's action to disassociate. This eliminates any possibility of ignorance or unwitting error as an excuse for their conduct.

Titus 3 11 Bonus section

The progressive nature of handling a divisive person (warning, then a second warning, then rejection) culminates in this verse's assessment of their spiritual condition. It implies a degree of patience and attempt at restoration, but ultimately, the individual’s choice determines their outcome. The emphasis on "self-condemned" means that the church's act of "rejection" (as instructed in v. 10) is not arbitrary judgment, but a recognition and affirmation of the judgment that the individual has already enacted upon themselves through their obstinate refusal to repent and conform to truth. This principle underlines a significant aspect of biblical church discipline: when formal measures are taken, they are often in response to and in agreement with an individual’s manifest spiritual condition, particularly a persistent rejection of light and truth.

Titus 3 11 Commentary

Titus 3:11 succinctly outlines the spiritual bankruptcy of a persistently divisive individual. After being warned one or two times (v. 10), their continuation in discord demonstrates a state of being "perverted" (exestraptai), suggesting a turning away from sound doctrine and godly conduct, a spiritual distortion that is deep-seated and persistent. This isn't merely an error in judgment but a fundamental deviation from truth, a twisted spiritual compass. Flowing from this internal perversion is their continuous "sinning" (hamartanei), indicating that their divisive actions are not accidental but represent an ongoing, habitual practice of violating God's truth and church harmony.

The gravest descriptor is "being self-condemned" (autokatakritos). This powerful and unique term signifies that their own conscience and deliberate choices are the basis of their spiritual indictment. They are not merely judged by an external authority but pronounce judgment upon themselves by consistently rejecting truth they know or have been clearly presented with. This knowledge makes their ongoing sin indefensible and removes any ground for excuse. The individual's state implies a hardness of heart that resists correction, turning from light to darkness. Therefore, the directive to reject them (v. 10) is a recognition of their unrepentant, self-chosen spiritual condition, aiming to protect the community from the detrimental influence of such wilful spiritual perversion.