For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:
Paul left Titus, his own son after the common faith, in Crete to set in order what was lacking and ordain elders in every city, and for this reason the overseer as God's steward must be blameless, not self-willed, not soon angry, not given to wine, not violent, and not greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, sober, just, holy, temperate, and holding fast the faithful word as taught. The instruction is given by the Holy Spirit to the church to show why such character is required in those placed in charge of the flock.
There are many disobedient, unruly and rebellious persons who resist sound teaching and order, speaking empty words and deceiving others, with those of the circumcision especially prominent among them. They are found inside the church among professing members. They belong to the class that brings in false religion to oppose faithful preaching of God's Word. They overturn and subvert whole households and houses by teaching things they ought not for shameful and filthy gain. Those so described profess to know God but deny Him in works, being abominable and disobedient and unfit for every good work.
Because such deceivers exist, those in charge of the flock must hold fast the faithful word as taught so that by sound doctrine they are able both to exhort and to convince and rebuke the gainsayers. Faithful workers will therefore meet seductions and evil men who choose to continue in sin, so they must be wise as serpents and harmless as doves, quick to see and avoid evil, and give no occasion for the wicked to excuse wickedness by the minister's own sins, while still laboring with fear to save some.
Their mouths must be stopped and they must not be left to deceive, but sin must be called by its right name and laid plainly before them with reproof, rebuke and exhortation in longsuffering and doctrine, and they must be rebuked sharply so they may become sound in the faith, in order to maintain order in the church and not let sin pass as righteousness. Faithful ministers have a duty to give this reproof even when it is unpleasant, and to avoid it is to fail responsibility toward souls. Stopping their disruptive speech requires faithful personal labor and patient instruction, and if after the steps required by Christ they will not hear and will not change but refuse correction and persist, they are to be separated from fellowship so their influence does not damage unity, defile the church, or dishonor God, including suspending sympathizers who choose the wrong side or requiring offenders to bridle the tongue or worship elsewhere.
The description applies to professing members who act as busybodies speaking evil and sowing doubt, infidelity, irritation, evil-surmising and disaffection, counterworking the minister of Christ and breaking the unity of the brethren. It also applies to careless, reckless and trivial speech about truth that weakens witness, causes others to doubt the speaker's faith, and lowers the speaker's standing in their eyes. Words spoken calmly, with a right purpose and a pure heart and supported by consistent godly conduct, can disarm opposition and win souls, while harsh, selfish and denunciatory speech drives people farther from the truth. Evil is not to be encouraged, and faithful reproof aims to restore people to sound faith and may save those who are misleading others if they repent, while the unrepentant will be weighed and found wanting.
Paul left Titus, his own son after the common faith, in Crete to set in order what was lacking and ordain elders in every city, and for this reason the overseer as God's steward must be blameless, not self-willed, not soon angry, not given to wine, not violent, and not greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, sober, just, holy, temperate, and holding fast the faithful word as taught. The instruction is given by the Holy Spirit to the church to show why such character is required in those placed in charge of the flock.
There are many disobedient, unruly and rebellious persons who resist sound teaching and order, speaking empty words and deceiving others, with those of the circumcision especially prominent among them. They are found inside the church among professing members. They belong to the class that brings in false religion to oppose faithful preaching of God's Word. They overturn and subvert whole households and houses by teaching things they ought not for shameful and filthy gain. Those so described profess to know God but deny Him in works, being abominable and disobedient and unfit for every good work.
Because such deceivers exist, those in charge of the flock must hold fast the faithful word as taught so that by sound doctrine they are able both to exhort and to convince and rebuke the gainsayers. Faithful workers will therefore meet seductions and evil men who choose to continue in sin, so they must be wise as serpents and harmless as doves, quick to see and avoid evil, and give no occasion for the wicked to excuse wickedness by the minister's own sins, while still laboring with fear to save some.
Their mouths must be stopped and they must not be left to deceive, but sin must be called by its right name and laid plainly before them with reproof, rebuke and exhortation in longsuffering and doctrine, and they must be rebuked sharply so they may become sound in the faith, in order to maintain order in the church and not let sin pass as righteousness. Faithful ministers have a duty to give this reproof even when it is unpleasant, and to avoid it is to fail responsibility toward souls. Stopping their disruptive speech requires faithful personal labor and patient instruction, and if after the steps required by Christ they will not hear and will not change but refuse correction and persist, they are to be separated from fellowship so their influence does not damage unity, defile the church, or dishonor God, including suspending sympathizers who choose the wrong side or requiring offenders to bridle the tongue or worship elsewhere.
The description applies to professing members who act as busybodies speaking evil and sowing doubt, infidelity, irritation, evil-surmising and disaffection, counterworking the minister of Christ and breaking the unity of the brethren. It also applies to careless, reckless and trivial speech about truth that weakens witness, causes others to doubt the speaker's faith, and lowers the speaker's standing in their eyes. Words spoken calmly, with a right purpose and a pure heart and supported by consistent godly conduct, can disarm opposition and win souls, while harsh, selfish and denunciatory speech drives people farther from the truth. Evil is not to be encouraged, and faithful reproof aims to restore people to sound faith and may save those who are misleading others if they repent, while the unrepentant will be weighed and found wanting.